Kimberly Nee's Blog, page 12
November 10, 2011
The Eleventh Hour...
*Note - this blog post originally appeared November 11, 2008*
Of the eleventh day.
Of the eleventh month.
Yes, today is that day. It's Veterans Day.
I could go into a long, winding post about how important today is, and you'd hear the patriotic music swell in the background and see flags waving all over the place.
But I'm not going to do that.
You don't need me to tell you what today means. Or why it's important. Or why you should take one moment out of your likely busy day to stop, and think about the significance of the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Or why you should thank a veteran for putting on that uniform, even if you don't agree with the cause.
You don't need me to say any of that, right?
I hope not.
Happy Veterans Day.
And to all who have served - or are currently serving -
Thank you.
Of the eleventh day.
Of the eleventh month.
Yes, today is that day. It's Veterans Day.
I could go into a long, winding post about how important today is, and you'd hear the patriotic music swell in the background and see flags waving all over the place.
But I'm not going to do that.
You don't need me to tell you what today means. Or why it's important. Or why you should take one moment out of your likely busy day to stop, and think about the significance of the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Or why you should thank a veteran for putting on that uniform, even if you don't agree with the cause.
You don't need me to say any of that, right?
I hope not.
Happy Veterans Day.
And to all who have served - or are currently serving -
Thank you.
November 7, 2011
So Many Things...
And so little time.
Really, that's how my life feels these days. I have so much to do, I need probably another ten hours in my day. Once the school year gets underway, my days have a way of filling up within the matter of a few hours. I'll look at the calendar on Sunday and see a mostly free week (YAY!) but then by Monday morning, this has been penciled in and all of the sudden I'm committed to that and doncha know it? BAM! Week's entirely taken up.
But I have a routine. And that helps.
I wish I had a nickel for the number of times someone has said to me, "You know, I would love to write a book. But I just don't have the time."
Excuse me whilst I call 'bullshit' on that.
Yep - I said it.
Bullshit.
I could use another 10-12 hours in my day but you know what? I don't get them. I have the same 24 hours as everyone else. Now, I'll admit, I don't work outside the home. I'm a full-time mom, but when I did work, I still managed to write.
What's my secret?
I wanted to write.
When my daughter was an infant, I would get up with my husband at 5AM every morning (he's in construction, so his day begins and ends early) and after he went to work, I'd put a fresh pot of coffee on, go down into my office (baby monitor in hand) and I'd write from 5:30 or so every morning, until she got up. I was fortunate. Once I managed to convince her that she wasn't really missing much by sleeping, she'd snooze until 9 or 10AM most days. Which gave me 5 hours of writing time.
By the time my son was born (almost 5 years later), I had to deal with getting the Girl to preschool and a newborn. There went getting up at 5AM. I was just too tired and I am NOT someone who does tired real well. So, I wrote after the kidlets went to bed. I'm a night owl by nature, so that was easier for me right from the get go.
Well now, they are 11 and 6 and in school. The Boy will go full days next year, when he starts first grade, so he's half days now. And now my routine is something like this:
7:50AM - roll out of bed, shower, dress, etc.
8:20AM - stagger downstairs for much needed coffee
8:40AM - take Girl to bus stop. Usually with Boy in tow.
8:50-11:45AM - do morning chores and hang with the Boy.
11:45AM - Wait outside with Boy for bus.
12PM - Boy goes off to school
12:01PM- BICFOK (Butt in Chair, Fingers on Keys)
12:01 - 3PM - Write. Research. Revise (it all depends on what stage in what project I'm at, or what deadlines I have.)
3-5PM - hang with kids.
5PM - start getting dinner ready
7PM- Clean up
8-9PM - Get kids in bed
9:01PM - BICFOK and I'll write until I can't see straight or I want to kill the characters.
The thing is, I want to write. I need to write. And in some cases, I can get sued if I don't, so it's in my best interest to write. So for anyone who claims they would write if only they had the time, I say:
Put up or shut up. You have the time. It's up to you what you choose to do with that time.
It isn't that we writers have magical extra time packed into our days. It's important to us, so we find a way to fit it in. Before my kids were old enough, I would write whenever I could squeeze it in - during naptimes, or I'd bring my Alphasmart and write while my daughter was at gymnastics or swimming or whatever. I still do it. I get strange looks sometimes, but who cares?
And now, if you'll excuse me, it's time for me to get dinner started. CCD tonight. :D
Really, that's how my life feels these days. I have so much to do, I need probably another ten hours in my day. Once the school year gets underway, my days have a way of filling up within the matter of a few hours. I'll look at the calendar on Sunday and see a mostly free week (YAY!) but then by Monday morning, this has been penciled in and all of the sudden I'm committed to that and doncha know it? BAM! Week's entirely taken up.
But I have a routine. And that helps.
I wish I had a nickel for the number of times someone has said to me, "You know, I would love to write a book. But I just don't have the time."
Excuse me whilst I call 'bullshit' on that.
Yep - I said it.
Bullshit.
I could use another 10-12 hours in my day but you know what? I don't get them. I have the same 24 hours as everyone else. Now, I'll admit, I don't work outside the home. I'm a full-time mom, but when I did work, I still managed to write.
What's my secret?
I wanted to write.
When my daughter was an infant, I would get up with my husband at 5AM every morning (he's in construction, so his day begins and ends early) and after he went to work, I'd put a fresh pot of coffee on, go down into my office (baby monitor in hand) and I'd write from 5:30 or so every morning, until she got up. I was fortunate. Once I managed to convince her that she wasn't really missing much by sleeping, she'd snooze until 9 or 10AM most days. Which gave me 5 hours of writing time.
By the time my son was born (almost 5 years later), I had to deal with getting the Girl to preschool and a newborn. There went getting up at 5AM. I was just too tired and I am NOT someone who does tired real well. So, I wrote after the kidlets went to bed. I'm a night owl by nature, so that was easier for me right from the get go.
Well now, they are 11 and 6 and in school. The Boy will go full days next year, when he starts first grade, so he's half days now. And now my routine is something like this:
7:50AM - roll out of bed, shower, dress, etc.
8:20AM - stagger downstairs for much needed coffee
8:40AM - take Girl to bus stop. Usually with Boy in tow.
8:50-11:45AM - do morning chores and hang with the Boy.
11:45AM - Wait outside with Boy for bus.
12PM - Boy goes off to school
12:01PM- BICFOK (Butt in Chair, Fingers on Keys)
12:01 - 3PM - Write. Research. Revise (it all depends on what stage in what project I'm at, or what deadlines I have.)
3-5PM - hang with kids.
5PM - start getting dinner ready
7PM- Clean up
8-9PM - Get kids in bed
9:01PM - BICFOK and I'll write until I can't see straight or I want to kill the characters.
The thing is, I want to write. I need to write. And in some cases, I can get sued if I don't, so it's in my best interest to write. So for anyone who claims they would write if only they had the time, I say:
Put up or shut up. You have the time. It's up to you what you choose to do with that time.
It isn't that we writers have magical extra time packed into our days. It's important to us, so we find a way to fit it in. Before my kids were old enough, I would write whenever I could squeeze it in - during naptimes, or I'd bring my Alphasmart and write while my daughter was at gymnastics or swimming or whatever. I still do it. I get strange looks sometimes, but who cares?
And now, if you'll excuse me, it's time for me to get dinner started. CCD tonight. :D
October 31, 2011
Happy Halloween!
BOO!
Did I scare you? ;-)
NaNo starts tomorrow (yay!) so my posts may be sporadic, since I'll be writing furiously for the next 30 days or so. My NaNo project is the second book in my Mordainia series and I'm hoping to finally get it finished. In the meantime...
Happy Halloween, everyone and don't overdo it on the candy!
October 24, 2011
And The Winner is....
Sebrina!!
Congratulations and I'll get those copies of A Perfect Lady and Playing with Fire to you ASAP!
Thanks to everyone who followed and commented! It's great to see some new faces around here and I hope you'll all come by and visit again!
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Congratulations and I'll get those copies of A Perfect Lady and Playing with Fire to you ASAP!
Thanks to everyone who followed and commented! It's great to see some new faces around here and I hope you'll all come by and visit again!
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October 14, 2011
Happy Birthday, Aurora Regency!!!
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It's hard to believe but Aurora Regency is turning one already! So, we're getting this anniversary started by -- ta da! - giving stuff away!
I don't write traditional Regencies, but I do write historical romance under the Aurora Regency Historicals imprint, and now the Clio Imprint at Musa Publishing. And to help Aurora celebrate this milestone, I'm giving away a copy of The Pursuit and Playing with Fire - the first two books in my McKenzie Brothers series.
To win these books, all you have to do is just follow my blog and then leave me a comment. Make sure you leave an email address, since I need to be able to get in touch with you if you win.
If you want to participate in full blog hop, here are the official rules from Musa Publishing:
TOUR RULES:
1) TOUR STARTS: Saturday October 15th
THIS TOUR ENDS: October 22nd, at Midnight (PST)
Final Celebration October 22th 7pm -11pm (EST) at Two Lips Reviews Chat
***Individual Winners from Authors contests will be drawn and posted October 23rd on their individual sites***
1) Prizes at individual Blogs are completely at the discretion of the individual authors and are not in association with Musa Publishing and its prize system. To enter the Contest on any given blog you must follow their contest rules and objectives.
2) By commenting on any blog on the tour the participant is agreeing to these rules and policies.
3) All prize winners will be chosen randomly using Random Line Picker.
To get to the next blog in the hop, just click on the banner below and it'll take you there!
Good Luck!!
[image error]
[image error]
It's hard to believe but Aurora Regency is turning one already! So, we're getting this anniversary started by -- ta da! - giving stuff away!
I don't write traditional Regencies, but I do write historical romance under the Aurora Regency Historicals imprint, and now the Clio Imprint at Musa Publishing. And to help Aurora celebrate this milestone, I'm giving away a copy of The Pursuit and Playing with Fire - the first two books in my McKenzie Brothers series.
To win these books, all you have to do is just follow my blog and then leave me a comment. Make sure you leave an email address, since I need to be able to get in touch with you if you win.
If you want to participate in full blog hop, here are the official rules from Musa Publishing:
TOUR RULES:
1) TOUR STARTS: Saturday October 15th
THIS TOUR ENDS: October 22nd, at Midnight (PST)
Final Celebration October 22th 7pm -11pm (EST) at Two Lips Reviews Chat
***Individual Winners from Authors contests will be drawn and posted October 23rd on their individual sites***
1) Prizes at individual Blogs are completely at the discretion of the individual authors and are not in association with Musa Publishing and its prize system. To enter the Contest on any given blog you must follow their contest rules and objectives.
2) By commenting on any blog on the tour the participant is agreeing to these rules and policies.
3) All prize winners will be chosen randomly using Random Line Picker.
To get to the next blog in the hop, just click on the banner below and it'll take you there!
Good Luck!!
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Happy Sixth Birthday to the Boy
**Note - this post first appeared last October
At about 12:30PM today, my son, The Boy, officially turns six.
How is that possible? It seems like only yesterday he was born. Small, but stocky, he was quickly nicknamed Tank. When Tank because mobile, look out. Nothing was safe. Unless you made him laugh. I wish I could describe his laugh because it is the most infectious, silvery giggle I've ever heard. He still has that laugh and it is impossible to hear it and not join in. And he has a charmer's personality to boot. I can just imagine the endless stream of girls who are going to be calling my house in the near future. Not looking forward to it.
But now, he is still my baby. He hates being called my baby boy, but he will always be my baby boy. Always. That's how it works for us mothers. Our babies are always our babies, right, moms?
So, putting the silliness aside, I love my boy. He's come a long way in the last four - when we first thought he might be autistic and began working with him to get him to speak. Now, he never shuts up and that's a good thing. He's becoming a normal, happy, healthy little boy with a little extra energy who loves a good hug every now and again. He started kindergarten in a regular ol' school. He's amazing and I love him more than I ever thought possible to love another person. He's my boy.
Happy 6th Birthday, my little man,
Mommy loves you.
At about 12:30PM today, my son, The Boy, officially turns six.
How is that possible? It seems like only yesterday he was born. Small, but stocky, he was quickly nicknamed Tank. When Tank because mobile, look out. Nothing was safe. Unless you made him laugh. I wish I could describe his laugh because it is the most infectious, silvery giggle I've ever heard. He still has that laugh and it is impossible to hear it and not join in. And he has a charmer's personality to boot. I can just imagine the endless stream of girls who are going to be calling my house in the near future. Not looking forward to it.
But now, he is still my baby. He hates being called my baby boy, but he will always be my baby boy. Always. That's how it works for us mothers. Our babies are always our babies, right, moms?
So, putting the silliness aside, I love my boy. He's come a long way in the last four - when we first thought he might be autistic and began working with him to get him to speak. Now, he never shuts up and that's a good thing. He's becoming a normal, happy, healthy little boy with a little extra energy who loves a good hug every now and again. He started kindergarten in a regular ol' school. He's amazing and I love him more than I ever thought possible to love another person. He's my boy.
Happy 6th Birthday, my little man,
Mommy loves you.
October 10, 2011
New Digs!
Way back before we bought our first house, when we lived in the townhouse, I had an office built in our basement. We had a two bedroom unit and a partially finished basement, and I used that second bedroom as my office. But when the Girl was born, I had to find new digs. So we had the basement finished into my husband's mancave, and in one corner, I had an office built. It had no windows, since there was a main sewer pipe right behind the wall, there was a door on the back wall that lead to nowhere (anyone in my office for the first time would inevitably want to know where the door led, and had to see for themselves when I said it went nowhere. I guess it never occurred to anyone that the front wall of my townhouse didn't magically expand at the basement level.)
I loved that office. I had a writing table that I'd gotten for nothing from a place where my mom used to work (they did advertising, so it was just a big table. Perfect.) And I had the crappiest, most un-ergonomically designed chair ever. Like I said, there were no windows and just enough space. Perfect.
Well, I gave it up when we moved, which was fine because our house has four bedroom, we only needed three, so I'd still have an office. And this one has a window - yay! My table cracked a little more when we moved (it was already falling apart when I got it. Why do you think I got it for nothing?) But it was my own space. Just slightly bigger. :D
When my mom got sick last summer, I gave up my office so she could stay with us. The table and chair went, and bit by bit, box by box, file by file, my office was dismantled.
By this summer, my mom required more care than I could give her. So we got her settled in an assisted living facility. Which means I have an office once more. And that means I spent the weekend putting together furniture (my hand is bruised from the screwdriver and my left knee is bruised from kneeling on the hardwood floor. Once the desk was built, everything else got assembled in the carpeted hallway.)
So now, I have a new desk (I miss my raggedy table and crappy chair, though.) My bookshelves are back. I just need to bring up my stereo and move a few more things, and then it'll be finished. I spent last NaNoWriMo with the laptop on my bed. This year I can work at my desk (in my new, not-crappy, totally comfy chair.)
It's nice to have my space back, I like my space. I'm possessive of my space (kind of like I'm possessive about my writing time.) I've missed it. My mom is happy where she is (she wants to keep as much independence as possible) and I'm happy because some of the stress that was on my entire family is gone.
So when it's finished, I'll post pictures. It's a cozy little writing space. And everything is together again (never mind my bedroom isn't in total chaos any longer, either.) It's a good thing.
I loved that office. I had a writing table that I'd gotten for nothing from a place where my mom used to work (they did advertising, so it was just a big table. Perfect.) And I had the crappiest, most un-ergonomically designed chair ever. Like I said, there were no windows and just enough space. Perfect.
Well, I gave it up when we moved, which was fine because our house has four bedroom, we only needed three, so I'd still have an office. And this one has a window - yay! My table cracked a little more when we moved (it was already falling apart when I got it. Why do you think I got it for nothing?) But it was my own space. Just slightly bigger. :D
When my mom got sick last summer, I gave up my office so she could stay with us. The table and chair went, and bit by bit, box by box, file by file, my office was dismantled.
By this summer, my mom required more care than I could give her. So we got her settled in an assisted living facility. Which means I have an office once more. And that means I spent the weekend putting together furniture (my hand is bruised from the screwdriver and my left knee is bruised from kneeling on the hardwood floor. Once the desk was built, everything else got assembled in the carpeted hallway.)
So now, I have a new desk (I miss my raggedy table and crappy chair, though.) My bookshelves are back. I just need to bring up my stereo and move a few more things, and then it'll be finished. I spent last NaNoWriMo with the laptop on my bed. This year I can work at my desk (in my new, not-crappy, totally comfy chair.)
It's nice to have my space back, I like my space. I'm possessive of my space (kind of like I'm possessive about my writing time.) I've missed it. My mom is happy where she is (she wants to keep as much independence as possible) and I'm happy because some of the stress that was on my entire family is gone.
So when it's finished, I'll post pictures. It's a cozy little writing space. And everything is together again (never mind my bedroom isn't in total chaos any longer, either.) It's a good thing.
October 6, 2011
Steve Jobs 1955 - 2011
I don't own an Apple computer, but that's only because they are out of my price range. I keep promising myself that as soon as I can afford one, it's MINE. My next cell phone is going to be an iPhone. I would have gotten one instead of a BlackBerry, but Verizon didn't get the iPhone until three months after my contract expired and unfortunately, I needed a new phone. But when this contract is up, I will be there.
I do however, own an iPod. Two actually. Well, three if you count the original Shuffle I bought way back when (the one that looked like the pack of gum), and then promptly washed. I replaced that one with a newer generation Shuffle (don't ask me which one because it was that long ago and I don't remember.) I then saved up to buy myself a classic iPod. It will hold all of the music I could ever want. I love it.
When I heard yesterday that Steve Jobs had died, my eyes actually teared up. The world has lost an innovator, a visionary, someone who gave new meaning to thinking outside the box and selling those ideas to the public. He made our lives easier, made them more enjoyable, made them better.
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
-- Steve Jobs (Stanford commencement speech, June 2005)
Thank you, Steve Jobs.
Rest in peace.
October 3, 2011
Trying to Keep Up With It
Blogging, that is. I've been good. So far.
So today, my other half and I went oven shopping. When we bought our house four years ago, the oven, dishwasher, and microwave came with the house. We were in the house for about a two days when the dishwasher died. So, off I went to replace it. I wasn't happy about it, but what can you do, right?
Well, since about that same time, I've had a love/hate relationship with my oven. I suppose it was a nice oven -- a JennAir, which is pretty good. It's a convection oven (which really means very little to me, because the woman we bought the house from took the owner's manual with her -- but left the installation manual, for some bizarre reason. Probably the same reason she took the bag for our pool cover, I dunno -- I don't know who or what convection is.) But while the rangetop is gas (and for that I was thankful for when the power went out after Irene) the oven is electric.
I don't like electric. You don't cook with electricity. The broiler leaves everything kind of... gray-looking. No matter how high I have the heat.
But the oven. Wouldn't. Die.
Well, that's it - we finally decided the time's come to replace it. I've suffered long enough. My husband knows I love to cook (and I've come a long way since the hard-as-a-rock-and-about-as-tasty meatloaf I made for him right after we got married) and he knows how much I hate this damned oven. So we went shopping today.
My new oven will be here this week. It's all gas. It's convection (so I'll finally find out what that actually does.) It has five burners.
I'm in love. :D
Oh, and the over the range microwave is twenty years old and the handle is held on by electrical tape, so that is being retired at the same time. It's earned a good, long rest. I actually hate to get rid of it (I think the electrical tape gives it a certain je ne sais quois. And I know that isn't spelled right. And I. Don't. Care. :D) because I don't like to throw anything out that still works or might have some life left in it (my husband should consider himself lucky, for that, :D) but at the same time, the time's come.
And now that my edits for A Perfect Lady have been turned in (now I sit back and wait for the final proof. Yay!) I actually have a little bit of free time, and that's good. I can catch up on my blog reading (I've been terrible about that of late), I can get back to Six-Sentence Sunday, and I might even be able to read a book. Of course, my current WIP, Don't Tempt Me suddenly picked up again. I shelved it while I did edits and polished something else that will be going on submission tomorrow. Then, when I was putzing around over the weekend, I took a peek at it and BAM! The words came almost as fast as I could type them. I love that. So I will probably work on that as long as my muse and I are on speaking terms.
And that's where I am now, and it's good to be back.
So today, my other half and I went oven shopping. When we bought our house four years ago, the oven, dishwasher, and microwave came with the house. We were in the house for about a two days when the dishwasher died. So, off I went to replace it. I wasn't happy about it, but what can you do, right?
Well, since about that same time, I've had a love/hate relationship with my oven. I suppose it was a nice oven -- a JennAir, which is pretty good. It's a convection oven (which really means very little to me, because the woman we bought the house from took the owner's manual with her -- but left the installation manual, for some bizarre reason. Probably the same reason she took the bag for our pool cover, I dunno -- I don't know who or what convection is.) But while the rangetop is gas (and for that I was thankful for when the power went out after Irene) the oven is electric.
I don't like electric. You don't cook with electricity. The broiler leaves everything kind of... gray-looking. No matter how high I have the heat.
But the oven. Wouldn't. Die.
Well, that's it - we finally decided the time's come to replace it. I've suffered long enough. My husband knows I love to cook (and I've come a long way since the hard-as-a-rock-and-about-as-tasty meatloaf I made for him right after we got married) and he knows how much I hate this damned oven. So we went shopping today.
My new oven will be here this week. It's all gas. It's convection (so I'll finally find out what that actually does.) It has five burners.
I'm in love. :D
Oh, and the over the range microwave is twenty years old and the handle is held on by electrical tape, so that is being retired at the same time. It's earned a good, long rest. I actually hate to get rid of it (I think the electrical tape gives it a certain je ne sais quois. And I know that isn't spelled right. And I. Don't. Care. :D) because I don't like to throw anything out that still works or might have some life left in it (my husband should consider himself lucky, for that, :D) but at the same time, the time's come.
And now that my edits for A Perfect Lady have been turned in (now I sit back and wait for the final proof. Yay!) I actually have a little bit of free time, and that's good. I can catch up on my blog reading (I've been terrible about that of late), I can get back to Six-Sentence Sunday, and I might even be able to read a book. Of course, my current WIP, Don't Tempt Me suddenly picked up again. I shelved it while I did edits and polished something else that will be going on submission tomorrow. Then, when I was putzing around over the weekend, I took a peek at it and BAM! The words came almost as fast as I could type them. I love that. So I will probably work on that as long as my muse and I are on speaking terms.
And that's where I am now, and it's good to be back.
October 1, 2011
To Celebrate...
Musa Publishing's launch, go and check out the contest on the Musa Publishing blog!!You can win free books (and who doesn't love free books?) and check out the two grand prize drawings coming next week!
