Victoria Zigler's Blog: Zigler News, page 66

#MondayMotivation, #Inspiration, And #Wisdom - #Quotes For June 3rd 2019

There is a solution. There is. But you must keep going to find it. You cannot stop, you cannot give up.
~Neale Donald Walsch

Imperfections are not inadequacies; they are reminders that we're all in this together.
~Brené Brown

Live your questions now, and perhaps even without knowing it, you will live along some distant day into your answers.
~Rainer Maria Rilke

Slow down. Calm down. Don't worry. Don't hurry. Trust the process.
~Alexandra Stoddard

Acts that proceed from your calm center are always more effective than acts that proceed from fear, guilt, or anger.
~Alan Cohen

The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.
~Joseph Campbell

Kind words are short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.
~Mother Theresa

#FurkidFriday: May 2019's Lilie The #Westie #Photos, #Video, Grooming Session, And #Vet Trip

Hi everyone. This is Lilie the Westie.

I have a few photos, and a video, to share with you.

First, here's one that was taken on May 5th, just standing there looking cute:


This one is from not long after that one was taken, with me running towards Mummy, while she was holding the flashy thing:


We took the flashy thing when we went walkies by the big water that day too, so Daddy took a couple of photos of me and Mummy. The first was just us...


But a dog named Callie - I think her humans said she's a Cockapoo, which is a cross between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle... She certainly looks like a Cockapoo anyhow - who belongs to one of the other people who were there - maybe some nearby neighbours - wanted to say, "Hi," (which was totally fine with me, since I wanted to say, "Hi," to her too) ended up included in the second photo...


When we got home, I rested in my bed a bit, but staying on alert, just in case something else fun was going to happen...


It's good I stayed on alert, because the humans were obviously in the mood to play with both me and the flashy thing. Well, they play with me lots - especially Mummy - but mostly they don't bother with the flashy thing. This time they did though, and got lots of photos of me running around playing in the bedroom.


Plus a video...



I can actually count to bigger numbers than three, but they haven't got videos to show you that yet.

Oh, and to prove I do actually know how to stay still and calm sometimes, here are a series of photos of me from May 6th, which were taken while I was having my afternoon nap:


I also have a couple of photos of me to show you that were taken on May 12th...


Including a couple of me trying to play with Mummy's unicorn slippers while she was wearing them...


And resting beside them, when I got bored of playing with them...


No unicorn slippers were harmed in the taking of those photos.

Anyway, here are a couple of photos of me and Daddy resting on a bench during our walkies on May 15th:


In other news: I went to the doggy groomer place last Wednesday (May 22nd) to have my nails trimmed, since I don't wear them down properly when we go walkies, even though I walk on concrete lots, so they need trimming regularly. I did have a vet appointment two days later, but I like the groomer doing them best, so Mummy and Daddy took me to both places. I'll be going to the groomer again in a few weeks for a full grooming session. Mummy and Daddy say I need to keep my fur short in the Summer, and the vet agrees. So I've got an appointment with the groomer on June 19th at 10:00am, this time for a full grooming session. I'll let Mummy worry about remembering when that is.

As I said, I also had a vet appointment. That was last Friday (May 24th). It was for what Mummy called my, "Yearly check-up," and involved me having something sharp the humans called a "shot" stuck in to my neck, being poked and prodded, and being weighed. At least, I got weighed eventually... When I could stop doing my happy dance long enough for them to read the numbers. I weigh 10kilos. That's what Mummy thought I weighed, and the vet says it's the perfect weight for my size. He also said I'm in excellent health, which made Mummy and Daddy very happy. Afterwards, I had to have more of the wet stuff the humans put on me each month that makes them talk about fleas and things, and more of the funny treats I get every so often that make them talk about worms too. I'm not sure what all that was about, but I loved having the outing, and getting all that attention, so I don't mind. Well, I could have done without the sharp thing in my neck, but the rest was kinda fun. I don't even mind the wet stuff they put on my neck. Mummy says that's probably because I'm so used to it by now, and always get something nice afterwards. She might be right.

Oh, and now I'm two I got upgraded to the next level of the shot stuff, so I have to go back in a couple of weeks to have the rest of it. I've got an appointment to go back on June 21st at 9:30am. I don't know when that is, but Mummy's good about knowing when I need to go to the vet, so I'll let her worry about that, along with my grooming appointment.

Lots of licks,
Lilie

#AmReading + #AmWatching - May 30th 2019 #Reviews

It's time to take a look at what I've been reading and watching during this past week.

If you want to know more about the book, or the author, click on whichever it is you want to learn more about, and it will take you to the appropriate page on Goodreads. Clicking on my rating should take you to my actual Goodreads review for the book in question. Please bear in mind that the format I've reviewed on Goodreads may not be the format I actually read.

Alternatively, if it's a movie or TV show you want to know more about, just click on the title to go to a page where you can find out more details about the movie or TV show in question; the title links will usually take you to a page on IMDB.

Don't forget: I read and watch things across multiple genres, as well as for different age ranges, so you should always check before reading or viewing, to make certain something is suitable for the intended audience, especially when children are involved.

OK...

Here's what I read this week:

Will O' the Wisp by C.S. Boyack
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a fantastic coming of age young adult story, perfect for those who enjoy a creepy paranormal tale. It's an excellent read, and does a great job of highlighting some of the issues faced by teens - especially those with disabilities - trying to fit in too. The plot is fast-paced and exciting, the characters are well-rounded and easy to connect with, and the whole thing is wonderfully written.

The Yak Guy Project by C.S. Boyack
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is an unusual and fast-paced story, with a variety of colourful and memorable characters. I especially love the talking yak who acts as the main character's guide during his journey of self-discovery and self-improvement. If you love imaginative and quirky tales, and are looking for a quick fantasy style read, you should definitely give this one a try.

Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.
~Lemony Snicket

As for what I've been watching:

I watched four DVDs during the past week: the rest of NCIS season 10.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I only have up to season 10 of NCIS on DVD at the moment, so I'm now as caught up as I can be on DVD. I'll get the rest at some point - I'm not sure when, though I'm hopeful not too far in the future - but at least I have enough other things I can watch in the meantime. You'll probably be glad to get to hear about me watching something besides NCIS anyhow. *wink*

#WriterWednesday - May 29th 2019 + Last Chance For Your #Free #KidLit #FairyTale #eBook

Well, I did it. I finally finished the first draft of the pirate themed adventure story I've been writing!

It's not because it's some enormous fantasy doorstop that it's taken me this long either. It's a middle grade novel.

Basically, between procrastination, getting distracted by another project last Summer, health issues, and conciously allowing other things to take priority over my writing at times, it's taken much longer than planned. In fact, it's never taken me this long to write a book before. But the first draft is finally done. Now I just have to deal with the rewrites, and all those other stages a book has to go through before it can be published. It's one step closer though, so watch out for more details of my 55th book soon!

Yes, you read that number right. At least, it will be the 55th if you count "Wyrd Worlds II" (the sci-fi and fantasy anthology I have a story in). 54th if you don't count that one.

Anyway, I also wrote a couple of poems recently, which will go towards my next poetry collection. Well, collections really, since I'm slowly putting together both another pet themed one and another general one, to be published whenever I feel they have enough poems in them. They're both some way off at the moment.

Speaking of my books... Don't forget: you can click here to get a free copy of "Frank The Friendly Ogre" using coupon code JV68T on Smashwords until June 1st 2019. This book was set to always be listed as free, but I recently decided to only offer my books for free during giveaways and promotions where I conciously decided to offer a freeby, so changed the list price to $0.99 (it will be changing on other retailers soon, if it hasn't already). However, I wanted to give you a final chance to get the book for free before the price change fully happens. So, you have until June 1st 2019 to grab it while it's still completely free. That's this coming Saturday, so hurry!

By the way, if you usually read books on your Kindle, remember you can still buy it from Smashwords, and then download the mobi version to send to your Kindle. That file can then either be put on your Kindle by connecting it to your computer via a USB cable, or eMailed to your device. If you want to do the latter of those two options, here's how to find out your Kindle's eMail address so you can do that.

On the subject of books and promo codes: ACX has new and improved promo codes authors who publish their audio books via ACX can give out for their books. I'm not offering any at the moment, but it's nice to know the option exists, and is available when I'm ready to make use of it.

Speaking of having things available when - or if - you need them, here's a great post about when the coffee turns cold. I don't drink coffee (I'm a tea person; I can't stand the taste of coffee) and I have mine in my red thermal cup, so it's not likely to go cold. But I love the post for the message.

So, why do we talk about writing more than we actually write? Whatever the reason, let's try and break that habit.

Now, let's talk about your characters. So, here's a post with some tips for character development. You don't have to spend as long as J K Rowling did on it, but you should consider the things mentioned in the post. Your readers will thank you for it, and be more likely to fall in love with your characters. Also, here's one about
Next, here's a deep dive in to POV, as well as some advice for showing your scenes through your characters' senses.

By the way, here are some reasons to use action beats when writing.

Here's a post with some advice on how to avoid clichéd emotional responses in your writing Speaking of which, this next post talks about writing empathy as a power or ability, and is a great reminder that it applies to all characters to some degree. Yes, even those with no paranormal talents or abilities.

No matter who your characters are, what their emotional responses might be, or what their abilities or talents are, if you write mysteries, use those red herrings wisely, so you can keep your readers guessing, while delivering a satisfying read.

On the other hand, if you write fantasy, you might want to read this advice on fantasy food.

Regardless of the genre you write in, if you write short stories or flash fiction, you might want to take a look at these tips for writing better short stories.

Whether you write short stories or longer works, write with the door closed, and then throw it wide open. also, though this post isn't about how I learned to write fast exactly, it is essentially the same advice I would give. When I put my mind to it, I can get a lot of writing done in a short amount of time. With practice, you may be able to as well. But it's not a big deal if you don't ever learn to. Just write at your own pace. Quality counts more than quantity.

No matter how fast you write, here's some advice for how to turn your wishes in to goals, as well as a reminder that the writing life you're imagining will never become your reality. But that's OK. If you make sure to just write about what you care about, you'll enjoy the journey anyway.

By the way, here's a post about how changing your morning routine might make you a stronger writer, and another about writers and the fear of failure, both of which you might like to read. This post containing 12 steps that will take you from 'I don't feel like writing' to 'where did those words come from?' is worth a read too, especially if you're currently struggling with actually sitting down and getting that writing done, or dealing with the one 'creative barrier' you can't erase.

Finally, here's a post about the fact Facebook has been making some changes - again - and what Facebook's latest changes mean for you as an author.

Of Wedding Anniversaries, Weather Reports, And Day To Day Life

Last Wednesday (May 22nd) was our 16th wedding anniversary.

16 years... I can hardly believe it!

I wonder every year how come Kelly's put up with me this long. This year was no exception. *wink*

Anyway, we didn't do much to celebrate. Neither of us are big on huge celebrations. I mean, our wedding involved a registry office type ceremony with only his Mom and Aunt Sue there as witnesses, followed by food for us all at a food court. So, yeah... Not big on huge celebrations over here, like I said. We did have Chinese food for dinner though, and I didn't finish mine, so had leftovers to enjoy the following day. Kelly had sweet and sour chicken, I had sweet and sour vegetables (since, being a vegetarian, I don't eat chicken) and even Lilie got in on it, with a little of Kelly's chicken and rice (without the sauce though, obviously).

My Mam and Grandma sent us some money. We'd usually also get each other something, but have been watching what we spend because of covering expenses of the thing happening in June. So we agreed to do an IOU, and get each other something after the June thing has happened. We haven't spent the money from Mam and Grandma yet either.

The weather was lovely on Wednesday. One of those days nice enough for me to be able to have the windows open, without fear the furkids would get cold. Actually, it's been like that most of the week. Except Sunday, when it was drizzly, and the wind was quite chilly. The weather reports say it's going to be another scorching hot Summer like last year's was, so I'm enjoying the comfortable temperatures while I can. I hope it won't be too hot on June 9th. Well, I hope it won't get as hot as predicted this Summer in general, since I'm not big on heat - as those who know me well already know - and too much heat is as bad for the furkids as too much cold, just in different ways. But I especially don't want it to get too hot on June 9th.

Anyway, other than routine day to day stuff - household chores, care and playtime with the furkids, etc - the only other things that have really happened during the past week involve progress reports on the thing that will be happening in June, stuff covered in other posts, and things Lilie can tell you about on Friday. So I'll let this do for today.

Next week, I'll tell you what this mysterious June event is. After all, it's less than two weeks away now.

#MondayMotivation, #Inspiration, And #Wisdom - #Quotes For May 27th 2019

You fear change, yet you forget that life is an adventure, nothing stays the same, everything changes or we become stagnant.
~Leon Brown

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.
~George Bernard Shaw

Man is a genius when he is dreaming.
~Akira Kurosawa

Find a place inside where there's joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.
~Joseph Campbell

Worthiness doesn't have prerequisites.
~Brene Brown

Quality is not an act, it is a habit.
~Aristotle

In moments of surprise we catch at least a glimpse of the joy to which gratefulness opens the door.
~David Steindl-Rast

Friends Of #FurkidFriday: Chip

Hi everyone. This is Lilie the Westie.

I'm back with another friend for you all to meet today. So, let's meet him, shall we?

Hello little friend, what’s your name?

My name is Chip because my parents thought I looked like a chocolate chip when I was a puppy.

Interesting name, and cute how you got it. By the way, what species and breed are you?

I’m a dog, 100-percent mutt. I’m a mixture of four breeds and my mom always forgets what I am. All she remembers is that I’m a quarter Chihuahua.

Fair enough. OK, I've got a photo here, but please describe your appearance too, for the benefit of those who can’t see the photo.

I’m tiny weighing in at about 8-9 pounds – though my parents tell me I have a round belly. I’m completely black with a few grey hairs coming in here and there. I just turned 8-years-old, so it was bound to happen soon enough.

I have a curled tail that often rests on the top of my back when I walk. My parents think this is especially adorable when I wag my tail. I’m told my ears look like bat ears – they’re pretty tall and stick straight up. This doesn’t help my case when I try to ignore my parents.

I imagine not. I've got sticky up ears too, though mine are smaller in comparison to my size than yours are for you, but I understand what you mean. Anyway, here's the photo, for the benifit of those who can see it:



So, Chip, what sort of place do you live in? Who do you share it with?

I live in a comfortable home with a nice, fairly-quiet neighborhood. My parents are friends with just about everyone around our house, but I bark at them anyway because that’s my job.

I live with my parents, Rachel and Kris, and their parents, Peter and Karen. Chase is here too. He’s a cat and my younger brother. He pokes me a lot when I try to sleep, so I bark at him. He’s afraid of loud noises, but he’s been braver lately. There’s also Raph the turtle. I think that thing came from the devil. She chased me one time when I ate her banana – I’m still scarred.

You poor thing! Oh, and yes... You have to bark. It's in the job description. On the subject of things you do, what’s your favourite thing to do?

Sleep. I was raised by an older Golden Retriever, Comet, and a Ragdoll cat, Hunter. They loved to sleep and I took their example. I see why they loved it so much too. Sleep is a beautiful thing – when Chase isn’t poking and my parents aren’t in my face.

Never under-estimate the joy of a good nap! How about when you're not sleeping though? Do you have a favourite toy? If yes, what is it?

My monkey! I bring it to bed with me every night. Its head has a squeaker (though, I’ll admit, I’m not strong enough to squeak it) and its body is a rope. I have a lot of other rope toys too. They’re fun to chew on. Also, balls. I absolutely love chasing balls!

You have excellent taste in toys. Speaking of taste: what’s your favourite food?

Anything I can get my paws on. If it’s edible, I’ll eat it. Human food is my favorite, though I can only get Peter to feed me. I’ve trained him well. If I bother him enough – whine and bark – he’ll feed me when they eat dinner. My parents scold him for it, but I tell him not to listen to them. I’m the cute one, after all.

I hope Peter continues not to listen. Human food is the best! I expect your parents do some things you love too though, so what’s the one thing your humans do that you love most?

They cuddle and let me sleep in their beds. I get cold easily so they’ll tuck me in at night and let me sleep on their laps, chests, shoulders, where ever I can fit. Plus, they all tend to feel bad if they have to get up and I don’t want to move. So, they’ll stay longer because they don’t want to disturb me.

I see you have them pretty well trained. I bet there's things they do you don't like so much though. So, what’s the one thing your humans do that you hate most?

They give me a bath sometimes. I shudder at the thought. Why anyone would want to get wet, I’ll never understand. And what’s that stuff they rub in my fur? It smells funny and is gross. Unfortunately for me, I’m too small and short to hop out of the tub. Otherwise, I’d hide under the bed where they can’t get to me.

I don't mind the water part of baths, but have to agree about the stuff they rub on us... What's the deal with that stuff? Takes me ages to smell like a real dog again afterwards! Anyway, let's move on, since I know you're not a fan of baths in any form...

I know Rachel is a writer. Has she written anything about you? If yes, can you tell us about it? If no, do you think she will in the future?

She has thought about it, yes. For a while, she had a middle grade series all about Comet and Hunter – they were two peas in a pod those two – and I would have been in it eventually when I was born. Sadly, they both crossed the Rainbow Bridge a few years ago. Rachel hasn’t continued it since. I’d like to think she’ll do something else about me and them in the future though.

I hope she does. I know Mummy would enjoy a series like that for a start. Speaking of Rachel's writing: what do you do while she writes?

It’s so annoying when she writes. She’s staring at that glowing box all day long. If she’s on the couch, I try to sit in her lap, but the box is usually there so I have to sit at the end of the couch. I get her back though – I keep sliding over so I’m always touching her. Eventually, she’s squished on the couch and I have more than half of it to myself.

I’m rambling though, aren’t I? I usually sleep. If she’s at her desk I’ll fit in her lap or stay on the couch. If there’s a sunny spot on the floor, I’ll sleep there. I just like being in the same room as her. Sometimes, if I get a bout of energy, I’ll nag her to take a break and play with me. That doesn’t last too long though since I tire easily.

Sounds nice. Especially the part where you're cuddled up beside her, but have all that couch to stretch out on.

OK, you're probably getting tired now, so we should end this. Before we do, is there anything else you’d like people to know about you?

Just know that I love my parents very much and I appreciate you taking the time to let me do this interview. Thank you!

You're very welcome. Mummy and I enjoyed having you over for a visit. Come back any time.

***~~~***

Author bio, links, etc:

Rachel Poli is a writer, blogger, and entrepreneur. What started as simple Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan fiction grew into a writing career. Rachel runs a website for writers and readers as well as a video game website with her sister. She also contributes to Pure Nintendo Magazine.

Fueled by coffee, Rachel enjoys writing short stories and novels, especially the mystery genre. Her aim is to entertain and inspire others with any and all of her writings.

When she's not writing, Rachel is typically reading, playing video games, cleaning, or getting distracted by her dog, cat, and turtle.

You can connect with Rachel on her website, Twitter @RPoli3, or Instagram @RachelP_Reads.

To stay up to date with her writing and new books, sign up for her email list, or join her on Patreon.

Sunday Morning: A Collection of 52 Flash Fiction

An abandoned house. A heist. A new puppy. Lost Love.

From unbelievable to true-to-life, this flash fiction collection will take you to many places and get to know various characters. With no two stories alike each is thought-provoking, emotional, and open ended.

Rewritten from the author's blog, Short Story Sunday feature, this collection holds the first 52 prompts completely remastered from their original state. Sunday Morning is a unique collection of flash fiction where you'll be left to your own imagination.

Buy Links
Universal Link – books2read.com/sundaymorning
Amazon - US or UK.

***~~~***

I hope you enjoyed meeting Chip, and getting to know about him and his humans - especially Rachel.

If you're an animal who lives with a human who calls themselves a writer - writers of blogs count, by the way - and you want to be a friend of Furkid Friday too, check out the "Friends Of Furkid Friday" page to learn how. That page also contains direct links to the posts for previously featured friends of Furkid Friday, in case you missed those, and would like to go meet those friends now.

Lots of licks,
Lilie

#AmReading + #AmWatching - May 23rd 2019 #Reviews

It's time to take a look at what I've been reading and watching during this past week.

If you want to know more about the book, or the author, click on whichever it is you want to learn more about, and it will take you to the appropriate page on Goodreads. Clicking on my rating should take you to my actual Goodreads review for the book in question. Please bear in mind that the format I've reviewed on Goodreads may not be the format I actually read.

Alternatively, if it's a movie or TV show you want to know more about, just click on the title to go to a page where you can find out more details about the movie or TV show in question; the title links will usually take you to a page on IMDB.

Don't forget: I read and watch things across multiple genres, as well as for different age ranges, so you should always check before reading or viewing, to make certain something is suitable for the intended audience, especially when children are involved.

OK...

Here's what I read this week:

Assaulted Caramel by Amanda Flower
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was an intriguing mystery, with some fascinating characters, and a well-paced plot. I didn’t fully figure out the details of the murder before they were revealed either – though I was on the right track – which is great. Some of the things the main character did seemed to be done purely to put her in the right place at the right time though, which was a little irritating, and is the only thing stopping me from giving it the full five stars.

Glimpses by Hugh W. Roberts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a great collection of unique stories, usually with an unexpected twist to the tale. The stories are often a bit creepy, and not for the squeemish, so be warned. If you like that kind of thing though, you'll enjoy this book.

More Glimpses by Hugh W. Roberts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is another great collection from this author. The stories are unique and well-written, often with great twists, and always with fantastic characters. If you love tales of the weird or creepy, this book is for you.

Macabre Sanctuary by Staci Troilo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a great collection of well-written stories, guaranteed to give you thrills and chills. As with most collections like this, some of them appealed to me more than others. However, they were all enjoyable reads in their own ways.

The Playground by C.S. Boyack
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a kind of dark and creepy read, with a fast paced and action-packed plot, as well as a cast of compelling characters. If you enjoy books that fit that description, you should read this one.

As for what I've been watching:

I watched 1 DVD this week. I'd planned to watch more, but never mind. Anyway, I watched the next disk of NCIS season 10. So I'm now a third of the way through that season. Four more disks to go, and then I'll have to watch something else for a while, until I can get more NCIS. I've got no shortage of options though, even if most of them are movies I've seen before (many of the movies in my to-watch pile are ones I've seen before at some point - in some cases more than once - but not watched my DVD copy of).

#WriterWednesday: #Quotes About Creativity And #Writing

The world is but a canvas to the imagination.
~Henry David Thoreau

If you're a creative person, you're going to have more failures than successes. So let the failures steel your resolve and celebrate every little success. It's the way to stay sane.
~Tara Lazar

As a writer, you should not judge, you should understand.
~Ernest Hemingway

Many people hear voices when no one is there. Some of them are called mad and are shut up in rooms where they stare at the walls all day. Others are called writers and they do pretty much the same thing.
~Margaret Chittenden

A person is a fool to become a writer. His only compensation is absolute freedom. He has no master except his own soul, and that, I am sure, is why he does it.
~Roald Dahl

Find your best time of the day for writing and write. Don’t let anything else interfere. Afterwards it won’t matter to you that the kitchen is a mess.
~Esther Freud

I would advise anyone who aspires to a writing career that before developing his talent, he would be wise to develop a thick hide.
~Harper Lee

#Blind #Ocean #Photography, #Crafting Kits, Technical Issues, Weather Reports, And Day To Day Life

The photos at the top of this post are ocean photos taken during one of our walks with Lilie. In this case, on May 15th 2019. I took them while we were resting on a bench along the seafront. If you look at the second one, you should see that I snapped it just right to catch a passing bird in the shot.

Yes. I've been playing with the camera. Mostly I've been leaving photography up to Kelly. In fact, since we got the new camera just before my zoo experience, I haven't even touched it other than to hand it to him. Until recently, when I decided to have a go at using it. So I've been playing with it with Lilie - photos of her to come at the end of the month, since they're all in a post from her - and took a couple of photos while we were along the seafront last week. I've only had a couple of shots where I didn't get what I wanted in the shot properly. I guess all that practice when we used to have the bird feeder when we still lived in Wales, when Iggy patiently checked photo after photo for me in hopes of a successful bird shot - something I'm very grateful to him for having the patience and willingness to do - paid off. *wink*

Anyway, for the benifit of those who like to know: my May Makerly box contained a wet felt purse kit, which they say can be used to make a pouch for something else rather than a little coin purse, if you don't want a coin purse (they suggest something like a mobile phone pouch). These kits are certainly going to have me trying some new crafts.

Oh, and... Speaking of craft projects: there's progress on the unicorn, but Kelly hasn't quite finished helping me touch up the paintwork yet. Not because there's a lot to do for it, but because we've been doing other things. As eager as I am to get on with my next craft project, crafting has had to take a bit of a back seat over the past couple of weeks. It seems to happen like that for us though, despite my efforts to balance things out. We go in stages, where one thing gets made the priority for a while, and then another thing does, until we come back to the first thing. It all works out in the end though, so it's no big deal. At least, I don't think it is.

In other news...

I was almost no longer on Facebook, and if it happens again, I won't be on Facebook any more. Long story short, Facebook locked my account, and my attempts to prove I was me weren't working. I got to the stage where I wasn't even going to try any more, deleted the app from my phone, and sent out messages telling Facebook friends I could contact in other ways that I couldn't get on it any more. Then, Monday morning, I finally got the code through on my phone for the only way to prove I was me that was accessable to me, so was able to regain access to my account after all. Except the same thing happened again a few hours later, only I got back in quicker. As I said, if it happens again, I won't be on Facebook any more; if it happens again, I'm just deleting Facebook. If that happens, Kelly - who also has admin rights on my author page - will maintain that, and those of you who I connect with through Facebook will have to keep in touch in other ways. There's via this blog, Twitter, Goodreads, or eMail. I'm also on YouTube, which isn't as easy for keeping in touch, but I figured I might as well mention too.

On a more cheerful note, for those interested in weather reports: the weather's been lovely during the day over the past week, and kind of chilly but otherwise nice at night. We've had lots of times when we could have the window open. I was even able to leave it open all night one time. I love when I can do that. I'd do it more, but I have to think of others with temperatures. Mollie would be OK, since chinchillas can handle cold, but Joshua might not be. I'm willing to sacrifice having my window open more if it means reducing the chance he'll get sick. Especially with him getting up there in years in degu terms. It did get kind of cold and drizzly one day. But one day out of seven, and only a bit of light drizzle at that, isn't a big deal.

Anyway, it's been one of those weeks where it's a busy and productive week, but it's difficult to explain what took up all the time. We've been trying to finish up some stuff before the end of the month, so we're all caught up before the thing that's happening in June. My reading and DVD watching goals for the year are among those things. On top of that, the sores Kelly had on his legs before have come back, and this time the doctor is sending him for a bunch of tests to look in to why properly, so he's got various appointments to go to, one of which involved him having several vials of blood taken, so feeling pretty lousy and drained for a day or so afterwards. Then there are all the general day to day tasks that seem to need doing again as fast as you catch up with them. I'm sure you know the ones I mean.

We have more appointments coming up, since Lilie has an appointment to get her nails trimmed tomorrow (she doesn't wear them down properly on walks, even though she walks on concrete a lot; it's common for small dogs not to wear their nails down properly, and to need them trimmed regularly) as well as her yearly vet check-up, I've got the dentist stuff still being sorted, and Kelly's not done with his appointments yet.

You might think we should postpone the thing happening in June because of all the stuff going on. But we can't. Even if we could, I wouldn't want to. I'm super excited about it happening. When I tell you what it is, I expect you'll understand why. Those who know me well will anyhow. Besides, there's always something, isn't there? So it's happening, and I'm really looking forward to it. Just a couple more weeks.