OW! OW! OW! Otherwise known as Chaucerian Cooking Part 2

10:27am - chicken is finally done and I found another needed kitchen item: platters! I sure can't serve a formal holiday meal out of my house. I substituted a square cake pan.



Bread in pan; it would look better on a platter. *Sigh*



Finished at 10:45am! Lessons: need platters and need to learn how to present food attractively. Also don't cook as long because chicken is coming off the bones.

Tastes like chicken that needs salt to me even though the broth is green. Still need to experiment with the full bone and pay better attention to the cooktime.

I have nearly an hour before the pork broth is done, so I better start on the other meats for Mortreaux.

Mortreaux: I'm cheating a bit. I have no intentions of grinding meat with my mortar and pestle. What I expect to do is make friends with a butcher and get the bones, ground up chicken and pork from him! I cheated and made friends with the blender for this go-round.



Now for what I'm not looking forward to--chicken livers. Okay, it only takes 2 chicken livers to get 1/4 cup. Some critter is going to have field day with what I threw out tonight. No, Kindra doesn't eat fried livers.



Meat is ready, wash dishes while waiting on broth.



11:50am - started the pesen.



Noon - start to strain pork broth. Must find a canned version. This is too much work for 1 cup. But the pork broth is done, and I can now start on the Gode Broth.

12:15pm - Pesen ready for spices.



12:30pm - Pesen and Gode Broth done. Have to remember to do something with the pork steaks used for broth-making. Starting on the Mortreaux.



Gode Broth after meat is added.



Mortreaux after breadcrumbs and spices are added.



12:55pm - Mortreaux is finished. That's a sugar and ginger mixture on top. Now I have to start on the rest of the veggie dishes.





1:30pm - started Braised Spring Greens and grinding almonds.



1:45pm - Braised Spring Greens are done. Starting Golden Leeks and Onions.



Finished Golden Leeks and Onions. Go feed MawMaw. She liked everything. I got back at 3:05pm with one last dish to cook: Fecches.

First you have to make the almond milk to use in it. Simple receipe: 1 cup ground almonds to 2 cups boiling water. You're supposed to seep the almonds in the water first, and if you don't like the consitency, run it through a blender.

Weeeellll, I'm pretty tired by this point as you have seen. So I decided to put the ground almonds and boiling water from the teakettle into the blender and hit Blend (number 7 speed for this 7-speed blender.) The top wasn't on very tight but I was being a good blender operator and holding it down with my left hand. It didn't help.

3:15pm - Hot almond milk exploded from the top of the blender and my left hand was in the pow! zone. Luckily I still possessed enough sense to stop the blender and I was right next to the sink for cold water. But it hit the inside of my wrist and HURT.



Yeah, the towel was for take two, since I still had to finish the almond milk. That's also when I found out I messed up the steps.



But it turned out pretty good, if a little thick.

So at 3:25pm, I start the lima beans for the Fecches, wrap my wrist in an ice pack to stop the pain, and am prepared to finish cooking one handed. Sat down at the computer to nurse my wounds and catch up on email.

4:05pm - water all gone and beans burned. Gave up for the day.

Went to the gym and got my exercise in. The wrist is fine now, only still a little pink but it doesn't hurt to touch it.

I've hoped you've enjoyed this episode of cooking with Kindra.

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The BookWorm

Chaucerian Cooking Part 1

Slept in 'til 5:30am. Not that you really call it sleeping in. The cat, the bedroom alarm clock, and the living room alarm clock all have a slightly different time. Guess who starts first? Boy, is he going to be disappointed when I don't throw him out tomorrow.

Today is a good cooking day. The storming that lasted for hours and messed up my yard work plans yesterday apparantly came attached to a cold front. Not dripping humidity out of the air yet and doesn't feel over 80s yet. Which is good, because the AC is busted in the kitchen and it easily becomes the hottest room in the house even with the stove off.

So I started cooking around 7am. It's probably incredible narrsicitis of me, but I can't help documenting these crazy ideas I try to implement.

Menu

• Mortreaux


• Gode broth


• Clarree


• Chicken with the Marybones


• Braised Spring Greens


• Golden Leeks and Onions


• Pesen


• Fecches

You can see I've dug out most the pots and pans.

First: started unrelated London broil. It's been marinating for a couple of days now.
Second: figure out what to cook first. Gode broth is an ingrediant for Mortreaux, and I need to make pork broth for the Gode broth.
Third: breakfast!

Pork broth: Apparantly the Vietemese use it frequently and I found a brand name on the Net. Stores in my area do not cater to the Veitemese population yet. So making it from scratch.

7:38am - the smoke alarm goes crazy from the heat. No smoke. And it's in the office above the AC in there. *Sigh* And people wonder why I don't cook more often.

Pork broth is going to take four hours to cook. Next step after eating breakfast is to start on the next longest dish. Looks like chicken with marybones and clarree are up next.

Chicken with Marybones: "Marybones" actually means "marrow bones." This chicken is stewed with a beef shank bone split down the middle to expose all the marrow. So I go shopping yesterday. Hammond doesn't have an independent butcher anymore, and I could not get the Winn-Dixie butchers to understand that all I needed was the bone. I ended up with four peices of shank with the bones in them. My observation at the time to another customer: "I'm sure this receipe was a lot easier when you had to kill your own cow."

So I had to trim all the meat off the bones before cooking. Bless Miss Goldie, at least I didn't have to cut up a chicken. The extra beef I grilled on the George Foreman grill. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it--it's stough meat--but at least it should spoil in the fridge while I think about it.

And after I got everything in the pot, I realized I need a bigger pot for it. Shouldn't be an issue for the cooking show since I'll be working with caldrouns, but still.



Clarree is a spiced wine I won't be able to do in the cooking show since we are a no-alcohol event. But the receipe is in the Resource Guide for the teachers. *wink* It didn't take any time but now it has to sit for twenty-four hours. I may end up bottling it early tomorrow.







So now it's 9:10, and I'm taking a break while waiting on things to cook. I don't want to cook the veggier until more of the meat dishes are done.

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The BookWorm

Yesterday's totals

Zy's Novel

Progress Bar from Writertopia

New words for 2007 AMF Resource Guide

Progress Bar from Writertopia

Monthly goal for 2007 AMF Resource Guide

Progress Bar from Writertopia

WEEKLY GOAL

Progress Bar from Writertopia

MONTHLY GOAL

Progress Bar from Writertopia

My first Saturday on the new schedule

I slept in 'til 4:30am. Had most of the daily chores done by 7am when I left to go shopping. I'm convinced that is the best time to shop. The only store that was mobbed was Office Depot at 9am and they were having a get ready for back to school party for teachers. Ran into Texas, a friend from LRF there. But I finally got everything on the shopping list--except for pork liver--and was home in time for Mom to leave for work at 10.

Saw MawMaw's nurse and we think we got the insulin straightened out. They had given her the wrong kind in the pens. *Sigh* Luckily Mom caught it. So I've been back and forth between houses since. Fridge is clean and full of groceries. I found a corner of the table behind me, but I'm only working on that in 15 minute spurts. After I finish this post, I'm going to work on the Resource Guide for 15 minutes. Being nonfiction, it's easier for me to leave it if I need to. And between alternating the two, I'll have a clean office once again.

Well, I'm down to two boxes of papers to deal with and two boxes of junk and three boxes of scanning papers to deal with. I can see my desk top and tabletop, as long as I shove the cat aside. (The real reason why I clutter, to make the surface less inviting to a feline. ;) ) I still have a pile of supplies to deal with, but I think I've done enough for today.

Also forgot about gym. *headdesk* I didn't mean to do it, but I was grandmother-sitting and caught up in the 15-minutes type like mad, 15-minutes clean like mad. And now it's storming which also ruins the second Saturday chore, yard work.



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The BookWorm


Progress Bar from Writertopia

Found the dental insurance card

It was hiding in the receipts along with my MWA membership card. I don't know how it got there.

I actually got fifteen minutes to psend on the office clutter mess this morning, even though I didn't get very far. Just started sorting stuff into filing piles. I suppose some things I could have put directly into the filing cabinet, but I'm no used to making the piles as the first step. *headdesk*

Made some changes to the sidebar. I don't like having to tweak the template everytime I write more words, so I moved the writing stuff that I will update frequently to a Backpack page made public. I think I have fallen out of lonve with the zokutou word meter because you have to go to their site in order to update it. The progress bar from Writertopia is so much simpler to change. I'll be changing them out as I do updates to the word counts.

Which reminds me, I need to do some counting. I've done some work on the Resource Guide last week but I forgot to keep track of the word count. I also need to go home and work on writing tonight. The past two night have been shot by running errands.

I started working with Backpack which Mez recommended. So far I'm liking it. There's still a lot of stuff I need to add from home--like my When-I-can-afford-it shopping list--but I've got a pretty good handle on it. We might be able to handle collaboration edits via the Writeboard feature.

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The BookWorm

Back on the Track Day 6

After making it through a week of exercise, I rewarded myself with 4 pairs of walking socks from Thorlos. I'm hoping to get some new sports bras too, but that depends on the budget after food buying. I know it's only day six, but day seven is a rest day. My plan is to go, stretch, and sit in the sauna with a bottle of Propel. It's an exercise in meditation while doing a little detox. And in the sauna I can control the steam level, unlike outside.

I'm thinking I'm going to break the workout printouts from the tracking weight info, and put them in a bigger binder. I still have two more weeks to print out plus the ten week program. This way I can pass it to Chad or Mom without any embarrassing details getting mixed in.

Also need to buy: 1 pair of Thorlos, 3 new sports bras grey or white, and the smallest ab ball.

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The BookWorm

Adjusting to the New Schedule

Okay, I found sheet protectors with divider labels and they are long enough to stick out. Yeah! Now I just have to get the exercise binder together. I am rather impressed with myself; I haven't needed a rest day yet. I must have muscles under all this fat. Though as you go further the time spent walking gets longer and rest days become crosstraining days. Current research is saying diabetics need 38 minutes of walking (or other aerobics) a day to see a difference in their blood chemistry. Get up to 90 minutes of walking a day, and you really see a boast--like some had to decrease their insulin intake. Okay, time to play the Lotto so I can afford to have 90 minutes a day just for exercise.

The new art rules have been added to Alt. BM Site, and not a momment too soon.

I started the new schedule today. And I actually got up at 4am! I didn't get everything finished because I was revising the chore list, but once I got it posted on the fridge, I checked a lot of items off. And I actually got up at 4am! I don't think I have any errands to run tonight, so I should be home and fed at the right time today.

There! Exercise binder divided and prettied up. But now I think I'm going to need a bigger binder for it. Or separate the workouts from the FitTogether progress tracking sheets.

I have socks on the shopping list along with a new pair of work shoes. After reading the article on walking sock, I'm thinking I should invest in a couple of pairs for the gym and free up other socks for daily wear. I need four pairs and there's a store in Hammond that has them, yeah! Okay, it's supposed to be close to the Interstate heading down 51 toward Ponchatoula--I don't remember seeing a sports store over there? Typical Mapquest, put it on the wrong side of the street. It's on the other side of the Interste in the Mall. That makes more sense. So I guess I'm going to the mall--I need vitamins there too--but after I eat!

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The BookWorm

Story of my life

Dump purse out to find all stray cards and organize them into special holder. Find everything but my dental insurance card. I have no idea how long said insurance card has been gone, but I last remember seeing it when I had to find all my insurance cards on Friday. Now the binder clip basket has over turned and found the letters that came with the card, but no, they only gave me one dental card. I got two of the eye care insurance card :p

Damnit, I'm going to need that card.

*Sigh* And now the stomach hurts, and I'm crabby cause I'm sleepy, and I yelled at everybody trying to fix the problem. I'm sorry really. Aggravation seized control of my brain. At least all, I was weilding is the keyboard bloodlust was running high too.

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The BookWorm

Better on Wednesday

Not that I managed to accomplish anything other than getting through yesterday. Well, that's not entirely true. I found the site to submit Chad's junker to for refurbishing. I have to write the submission letter today.

I have to go shopping for soft drinks and binder dividers and something to hold card in. The ones I put in the exercise binder to separate stuff don't stick out past the sheet protectors. *Sigh*

I finally got the updated Alt. BM Site rules written. Approval may take longer since Foxy's not feeling well.

Time to update the To Do List.

• Shopping


• soft drinks


• longer dividers


• card sheets for purse


• vitamins


• Clean fridge


• Cook


• Dust and Vacuum office


• Sort and file paper work in office


• Laundry


• Clean back porch


• Scan papers


• Mop kitchen


• Wash dishes


• Work on Writing To Do List


• Zy's Novel


• Submit two stories


• Edit Blue Man


• Edit Capt. Kate


• Canterbury Murder Mystery


• AMF 2007 Resource Guide


• Cooking Show script


• Let Us Give Thanks


• Contact the LaPlace author

I think it's time to reevaluate my schedule. Getting up at 4 am to write hasn't happened once since I created the first schedule back on May 3rd. So the brain really doesn't want to engage at that time in the morning. I can't really blame it, after all, I'm the one hitting the snooze button. And I hate coming home and doing chores after exercising. So what will happen if I switch the two?

Getting up at 4am shouldn't be an issue. I can set up Chad's alarm clock in the living room, now that I can go through the living room without killing myself on something set in the walkways.

I like the idea out of "Cleaning Up Clutter" for dividing chores into daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly duties. But Emilie Barnes's idea of putting them on notecards and shuffle through them doesn't work for me; possibly because of my constant use of list. Damn, now that I've had the brainwave to make lists to crossout, I wish I had packed the book. Google search hasn't given me what I really need. I started the check list and will have to add to it once I get home.

Updated the weekly schedule. I'm going to try this out for a week. Workout and writing times will probably get tweaked, but overall, I think this is doable.

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The BookWorm

Tuesday blahs

Today's just icky; nothing's going right; and everything coming out of my mouth wrong. Even though I go over it in my head and it sounds fine. Should've just stayed in bed day.

I finished the rough draft of "Let Us Give Thanks." I know, I know, supposed to let it sit and work on original fiction. I got tired of my muse beating up on me. I need to work on editing, but nobody has come forward to help with Blue Man yet. I'm waiting for the group I sent Capt. Kate's story to send it back--they might need a reminder.

I should reconnect with the LaPlace author I found at the writing conference, but today my gumption to do anything is nil.

Work through the funk. That's the only remedy I have right now.

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The BookWorm

Back on the Track Day 3

I need to put some dividers into my Exercise Records binder. I'm trying to keep the day I'm on at the front of the binder, but it is getting mixed up with other information--like the stretching routine. Maybe if I had a divider labeled "Today's Workout." Remember to look through office supplies at home.

Even though I never stopped moving Thursday - Saturday, I didn't go to the gym for my scheduled time. So I'm only on Day 3 of the program. To combat my lack of exercise progress, I'm back on the diet as strict as possible--measure, measure, measure.

It's also Monday, so it's time for the weekly update.

Weight: 197 lbs/89.36 kg
Height: 61.5 in/156.21 cm
Waist: 107.8 cm
Abdomen: 107.6 cm
Hips: 122.50
Knee: 43 cm
Neck: 38 cm
Shoulders: 122.4 cm
Chest: 117.6 cm
Thigh: 63.8 cm
Calf: 42.5 cm
Ankle: 23.8 cm
Arm: 31 cm
Forearm: 26.6 cm
Wrist: 15.6 cm
BMI: 36.62

I may start playing with the other health tools at FitTogether.Net. They also have a food log and an exercise log. Ah, I can't play with those without upgrading to a paid membership. Pass, I can't afford that right now.

The new shoes worked better without the inner soles back on Wednesday. I'm going to try to give them a full week, which isn't hard since I don't get paid till Thursday.

You may not know that I write most of these entries before I actually go work out. So I didn't know until before I went to bed that I lost 2 pounds! Okay, it probably is water weight, but yeah! something's shrinking!

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The BookWorm

Pigsty Office

My parents got home 11pm last night, so this morning I moved back home. So now I'm down to the last cleaning project ... the office.

The problem is literally where to start: a stack to my left covering the desk, the table behind me covered a foot deep, at least four stacks of books, and I don't know how many boxes stacked on the other side of the computer desk. Don't freak out.

Opening BookCAT, I'll start with the books. It's 11:22am.

11:58am had to stop and keep an eye on my grandmother while Mom went grocery shopping.
3:00pm get back to my house.
6:00pm finish with all the books. Yes, I stopped to read. And I'm out of book shelving space again.

By the time I called it quits, I had delt with two boxes of junk that was part of the pile to my left on the computer desk. I found the scanner again. But I really lost my momentum with the two hour break.

Monday, my regualr routine goes into affect again--YEAH! Including back to work and back to the gym. I haven't ever made it through the first week's workouts yet. *Sigh*

I'll probably get to see Christopher Atticus over the Labor Day weekend. I think that should give me enough time to get over there and back without having to miss any work.

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The BookWorm

I AM AN AUNT!

Sister Kai gave birth to a healthy baby boy at 4:59pm: Christopher Atticus Coates-Warling. 6 pounds 14 ounces, and 20 inches long. Baby Christopher does have a full head of dark hair that you can't see because of the cap.

Mother and son are doing fine.

The first picture! Courtesy of their friend Eric.


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The BookWorm

I think I got my exercise in anyway

My maternal grandmother is mostly moved in. There's still a lot of missing details--oh like the electric bed she needs since she only has one functioning arm--but she's out of the nursing home.

And I got a lot ot get used to too. Being completely spazed out of it and in pain is no excuse for anything now.

Oh the pain. The feet still hurt and this is after icing them down during the "Murders of the Rue Morgue" movie and doing the stretching exercises and eating Aleve, and staying off of them so more while watching "Spaceballs." So I didn't get to the gym today, but I think i managed some crosstraining today.

But it looks like I'll be buying new shoes next paycheck to replace the black sneakers I've been wearing constantly lately. *Sigh* And I really liked them too.

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The BookWorm

Back on the Track Again: Day One

I got my 15 minutes done. However I'm still dealing with plantar fasciitis pain. I have to remember to stretch my feet more during the day.

I thought new shoes and new inner soles would help, but more pain while walking. I'm going to try the new Dr. Scholl's walking shoes tomorrow without the inner soles and see if that helps. If not, I'm probably going to have to shell out money on another but bigger pair.

Right now I'm getting my exercise binder together with all the printed out tips.

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The BookWorm

Back on the Track Again: Intro

The major stress of recent time is over; Alt. BM Site is now up and running, and appears to be mostly stable. So it's time to get to get my fat ass back in the gym.

Weight: 199.5 lbs / 90.49 kg
Height: 61.5 in / 156.21 cm
Neck: 39.00 cm
Shoulders: 123.20 cm
Chest: 118.50 cm
Waist: 104.00 cm
Abdomen: 104.70 cm
Hips: 123.00 cm
Thigh: 66.00 cm
Knee: 42.00 cm
Calf: 42.70 cm
Ankle: 22.40 cm
Arm: 32.80 cm
Forearm: 26.60 cm
Wrist: 15.30 cm
FitToGether.net BMI: 37.08

So nah, I'm not being down on myself with that description--I'm trying to be blunt with myself. I'm going to be starting with About Walking's Let's Get Walking 4 week course and will follow that up with the Walk of Life Program.

So what are my goals? The Ideal Weight Calculator says I should be 105 lbs. I was 120 lbs. only 11 years ago. I don't want to set myself up for failure; however, I don't want Faire in April to kill me. I'm going to lose 5 pounds a month. So by March 24th, I should weight at the most: 159.50 pounds. The BMI needs to move down between 20 - 25. I'd be thrilled if I got back into the size 14s or size12s I have lurking in the closet. And once I get some progress on the weight losss, I can confront the size 4 leftovers in the closet. That covers seven months. The other reason to have small goals is classes start in about four weeks. There goes two nights a week for exercise.

Goals
Aug. 24th = 194.5 lbs
Sep. 24th = 189.5 lbs
Oct. 24th = 184.5 lbs
Nov. 24th = 179.5 lbs
Dec. 24th = 174.5 lbs
Jan. 24th = 169.5 lbs
Feb. 24th = 164.5 lbs
Mar. 24th = 159.5 lbs

Then it will be time to reaccess. I'm secretly hoping to lose more than that (don't we all). More importantly though, I have to get in shape and lose weight to get the diabetes under control and keep it there.

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The BookWorm

Cleaning blues

If I only have one day of cleaning energy out of seven available, maybe I shouldn't be so messy.

In short, I can't get myself geared up for the second half of the house. I'm almost done with the living room, but mostly because what was in there was shuffled back to the office and back bedroom. The back bedroom isn't too bad, mostly get the AMF garb out of the way and break down the sewing stuff. The office is now very scary.

And I got cabin fever thanks to all the rain.

Okay, I'm going to finish up the living room and treat myself to Mexican that somebody else cooks. Then I should be fortified enough to come back and conquer the kitchen, and vacuum the office. The back bedroom and actual office organization (i.e. go through the damn paperwork piled up) may have to wait till next weekend.

8pm After supper update. I think I'm done for the night. My feet are all achey, and I can't stand up any more.

So how far did I make it on the dreaded TO DO LIST Day Two?

• Cook = have to clean the fridge out first.


• Dust and Vaccuum = everywhere vacuumed but the office proper.


• Scrub bathroom


• Sort paperwork in living room office


• Laundry


• Move table and chairs


• Clean back porch


• Clean office


• Enter books and shelve = done with bedroom and living room shelves. Need to finish office shelves and pile of new books.


• Scan papers


• Mop kitchen


• Go back to gym


• Burn trash paper and wood pile


• Work on Writing To Do List


• WRITING TO DO LIST


• Zy's Novel


• Submit two stories


• Edit Blue Man


• Edit Capt. Kate


• Canterbury Murder Mystery


• AMF 2007 Resource Guide


• Cooking Show script


• Let Us Give Thanks

A few more things gone. You can add "walking into the back bedroom is possible now" but I did pile a lot on the bed to achieve that. Poot, nobody's sleeping in said bed anyway.

However cleaning-off the back porch and installing lockable cabinets out there need to go up the priority chain. I have a set of shelves in my kitchen filled with tools that I can't leave outside because someone may walk off with them. Mind you, it's not professionals; it's people we have a genetic tie to who "borrow and never return." A nice shinny padlock usually deters that. And then I would have a set of shelves to put kitchen stuff on.

The office is going to be a pain in the ass. And while cleaning the living room I realized that I have overflown the movie bookshelves again. I'm thinking of media shelves to replace it, that way I don't have to drill holes to space things right. However I got more vertical space to take advantage of and it looks like most of the ones I could buy and bring home are only waist high. It'll probably end up being a special order item.

Writing was pretty much shot this weekend, but my stove is white and shinny again. Hopefully I can peck away at the office jobs during the week. I would kind of like the enjoy one weekend off from everything this month.

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The BookWorm

Less stress, the fantasy goal was less stress

"Fantasy" because it hasn't happened yet and I was silly enough to think it would.

Yes, this was started way earlier in the day, and I forgot about it. Now I'm tired, icky, and only half the house is done. And now the massive storm we're having is messing with the DSL. Fun. My feet hurt and I want everyone to play nice.

I may have a chance with making my feet not hurt.

SHIT! I think that lightening bolt struck the ground right outside the window! Nothing's on fire so I guess it didn't.

So how far did I make it on the dreaded TO DO LIST.

• Cook


• Dust and Vaccuum--especially AC filters = bedroom, hall, bathroom through dusted and vacuumed.


• Scrub bathroom


• Sort paperwork in living room


• Laundry = almost done but with horizontal rain coming onto the back porch, clothes don't stay dry.


• Move table and chairs = not yet, Mother nature is trying to wash us away right now. And nobody was home earlier.


• Clean back porch


• Clean office


• Enter books and shelve = done with bedroom shelves and got rid of duplicate books. *Sigh* I really need a nice set of Agatha Christie's all in hardcover.


• Scan papers


• Mop kitchen


• Go back to gym


• Burn trash paper and wood pile


• Work on Writing To Do List


• WRITING TO DO LIST


• Zy's Novel


• Submit two stories


• Edit Blue Man


• Edit Capt. Kate


• Canterbury Murder Mystery


• AMF 2007 Resource Guide


• Cooking Show script


• Let Us Give Thanks

Yeah, I', going to be working at this tomorrow too. Now to go make sure my roof's not leaking and cook supper.

Finally, the storm has eased up and I can post this.

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The BookWorm

Spinning wheels round and round

I doubt very seriously I have ever been in a moderating syndrome like this one. I've tried initiating "Robert's sliding rules for parlimentary behavior" as we called it in our meeting Sunday. Basically, sticking to the voting and "seconds" of ideas and make the rest up as we go along. It's not working.

I'm not surprised really. But that's all the hand-wringing I'm going to do on the issue.

I found my To Do List at home, and it is mostly housework related. :p

TO DO LIST

• Cook


• Dust and Vaccuum--especially AC filters


• Scrub bathroom


• Sort paperwork in living room


• Laundry


• Move table and chairs


• Clean back porch


• Clean office


• Enter books and shelve


• Scan papers


• Mop kitchen


• Go back to gym


• Burn trash paper and wood pile


• Work on Writing To Do List

WRITING TO DO LIST

• Zy's Novel


• Submit two stories


• Edit Blue Man


• Edit Capt. Kate


• Canterbury Murder Mystery


• AMF 2007 Resource Guide


• Cooking Show script


• Let Us Give Thanks

I really hate the To Do List, but most of what's on it is stuff I've ignored for a while.

So I'm skipping a pirate test film shoot with Castaways to save on gas and clean house so I don't kill my boyfriend should he actually get to come to my house in August and to get these projects done before school starts on August 21st. And my first class would be that night too.

So today, I'm going to relax and finish out the fanfic. I only have a few more scenes to go before the end and then need to go back for an extra scene from Tala's POV. It may end up unneccessary, but being this is the second time in so many months (for the story timeline), she's being called to be altruistic, some self-reflection maybe in order. It can always go out.

*Sigh* I just don't know. Maybe it's the breaks inbetween working on this project, but I really think the last half of this story does not measure to the first half. I don't seem to be feeling this way about Zy's Novel when I get to work on it, so maybe I'm just dissatisified with the story overall. Better idea than executed type of thing.

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The BookWorm

No more chocolate milkshakes on the way home

Making me really cranky by the time I'm at home. REALLY cranky.

I had a To Do List, but I think I left it at home. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that the thumbnails stick this time around. Drupal hasn't answered that stuff yet.

Other than my vanished list, I seem to be caught up. I need to finish the list before tackling anything else; I think it was mostly housework. Some of my July goals, but if I'm not going to wake up at 4am, I've got to rethink the goals. *Sigh*

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The BookWorm

Typing in the dark

So I won't wake the boyfriend, but also why this is short.

Welp, the no thumbnail issue seems to be a completely random thing. Fun. So far the only answer I've gotten is to try the gallery.module but I'm worried if that is overkill for what we're doing at the site.

I'm waiting till I get home before declaring when the maintence time will be to try to fix the database issue. I'm trying to schedule it so people experience the least amount of down time.

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The BookWorm

Going live blues

Bek sent me helpful ideas and I broke down and asked Drupal. I'm think it is a database issue, and I'll keep having little headaches like this until I get that cleaned up. Everybody else just make soothing noises in my directions. (Note to self, don't plan to go online during PMS week with a new system EVER again. I swear this tension and stress is hormone induced.)

So I suppose my next step is to design something for people to get redirected to if I need to go offline to fix the database issue. Or just tweak the message Drupal provides.

I'm tired of being so confused and want to have a class on Drupal. I think I'll go do filing now. Soothing filing. And then have Modo quote "Law and Order" at cops. I think the guy who watched every episode of "L.A. Law" 3 times would have started on that series too. And the times fit.

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IT'S ALIVE! IT'S ALIVE!

Xanatos is right; you do always want to say that.

Alternative Biker Mice Site Version 2.0

(cue manaical laughter please)

Starting on the official announcements tomorrow. I can probably start the emails while it is slow at work. I'd like to tell the established contributors before publically announcing it.

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The BookWorm

The light at the end of the tunnel

I'm finished uploading all content for Alt. BM Site version 2.0 (cue all the neato sound effects)!

No, I didn't get the last two issues fixed. I'm going to keep the test site for me to play with the Views module and see if I can fix the last two issues, while letting the fans play. Basically I'm tired of seeing the stuff in my emailboxes.

Tonight, is actually move the database and files into place on the correct server. Provided that goes smoothly, will start emailing the contributors. If it doesn't go smoothly, I have all night to fix it and then email and announce on Thursday. Friday is out because I'll be headed to Lafayette and probably offline for the rest of the weekend.

DON'T BREAK IT!

Ahem, right. It looks like I'll actually begin exercising again next week. In light of all this, I set Zy's Novel aside and picked up fanfic. Less higher brain functions involved, or maybe just different higher brain functions. The story's conclusion isn't making me jump up and down with joy though--but I think I'd feel that way about anything I'm writing right now. So best spend the blahs on something that's not career crucial. Maybe I need more scenes with Amethyst. I like Amethyst, even though she's not going to show up again till story 30 or so.

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Been busy and it's July already

I'll have to come back with my July goals. This afternoon is Pirates in garb followed by dinner and a haunted pub crawl tour. I had said I wasn't doing the pub crawl part, but now there's ghosts in the mix!

And I didn't get the red corset finished. At this point, I think this version is unfinishable and I need to start over.

I'll be sure to take lots of pictures and post tomorrow!

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The BookWorm

Odd duck day

Alt. BM Site version 2.0 is down to two issues that must be addressed before go time. That, I consider progress. Now I need to go work on sewing before leaving the house for the errand run.

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The BookWorm

Da Da Da ddah duh da

Okay my talent lies not in being able to type out notes. Needless to say I've got Superman theme song playing on the computer.

THE MOVIE IS AWESOME!

Now Supes isn't my favorite DC character (Bats is better), but we NEED Superman. And yes, this is a theme of the movie. When Superman is done right, he makes you feel good about humanity, truth, and justice. (And it doesn't hurt they get guys who look good in blue tights.) Another reason why I would love for there to be a film version of "Kingdom Come," but Hollywood will never do it justice. All that said...

SUPERMAN RETURNS IS AWESOME!

I haven't met a Bryan Singer movie I didn't like, but he does the mythos justice with this film. They used all John Williams music, and sharper version of the 70s titles. The special effects didn't overwhelm the movie. The newcomer was great in the cape and the glasses. Kate Bosworth plays a great Lois torn by passion and a need for stability. And I don't blame James Marsden for jumping ship. Who cares about being second-fiddle to Superman when you actually have lines!

AND KEVIN SPACEY IS SUCH A BAD ASS!

He got the conniving, smart, bastard that IS Lex Luthor. I'd give the man another Oscar for this role, but I bet they won't let me. Shoot.

I even liked the kid.

YES, EXACTLY!

Actually my one gripe is early on in the movie it seems apparant that Lois Lane's head is made of the hardest substance in the DC Universe, and she's knocked out cold by a pantry door. My father pointed out well the inside of a Boeing 757 is plastic where the pantry door looked like stainless steel.

But SOMEBODY GO SEE THE MOVIE SO I CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT I REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT!

P.S. I finally got my prize pack today too.

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The BookWorm

Get something fixed and something new pops up

Well I'm tired of things popping up like that! And I'm being really nice to Mr. "why don't you just make a module" over at Drupal. Where the frick were you when this topic thread got started, and me and the guy who started it were asking for help? Trust your maodule? Maybe after it's declared official or something.

*Sigh* The new mess is the index pages. Not only are they clunky--clunky seems to be the norm--but it doesn't show everything. I know you can limit these php codes by an amount; do they have anything that means unlimited? And EVERYTHING started with "The" is listed under "T." Ugh.

Well I get a nice long break from this and the sewing. "Superman Returns!"

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The BookWorm

A little excitement goes a long way

Yesterday was a weird day with lots of retirement excitement. Not mine of course, I haven't been working 30 years.

With all of that, and my utter joy at having the CRON job work, I forgot to post my numbers for yesterday. "Pirate Jeopardy" is a jeopardy game for when we get to go in garb for "Pirates of the Caribbean 2."

And that's my major project for today--get the garb ready!

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The BookWorm

Zy's Novel

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Pirate Jeopardy

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WEEKLY GOAL

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MONTHLY GOAL

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WIGGII! It works!

THE CRON JOB FINALLY WORKS!

I have no idea how many people actually worked on this. My friend Billy got me the original script. Drupal and the site hosting support staff finally got it working with in the confines of the site.

And it just occured to me that I'm probably going to have to rewrite a few things to make it work when I move the database over. *Bug-eyes*

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I know I've been quiet lately

But I've honestly been getting stuff done! See the numbers.

Right now I'm trying to get the server transfers done and the CRON job fixed. *Sigh* I'm still getting the bloody error message. Maybe on a new server it will work. I haven't gotten anything uploaded, waiting until I cracked 600 words a day and for the CRON job to work. :p

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Zy's Novel

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WEEKLY GOAL

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MONTHLY GOAL

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Not a good day

Didn't get to sleep until after midnight. Consequently, forgot about party today and left my contribution in the refrigerator. If the CRON job doesn't work... strike that train of thought, violence just takes too much energy.

Speaking of violence, I wanted to share this I found in the Shortpacked! forum.

GUIGUI wrote:

Crypto wrote:
Now that she ditched the yellow jump suit, April's actualy hot.

What? Stop looking at me like that.

Hum, I rather dig the yelow jump, for my part...

I'm now having visions of a Robot Chicken style video with the yellow jumpsuited April O'Neil in a re-enactment of Kill Bill.

"Where's Shredder?" >whack, whack<

Theno

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Which will do me in first?

The daily chores? The CRON job that won't do anything and also won't send me an email telling me what is wrong now? The sewing?

Lots to choose from. The CRON job is the most aggravating I think. Because I don't know if I fixed the error it was giving me so I can see if it is even coded right to do what I want it to do. GRRRR!

Anyways, I think I'm going to take a break (so I'm not watching the screen waiting for an update) and get the chores out of the way.

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The BookWorm

Zy's Novel

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WEEKLY PROGRESS

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MONTHLY PROGRESS

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Weekend Issues

I think I prefer the weekends I go out of town. It's stress in a different way then. However, this isn't one of those weekends and I have a project-to-do-list that's a mile long.

Spent the morning shopping to get it out of the way. Lunch, and then discovered that the CD storage boxes for the the entertainment center are too wide to fit two on a shelf. Okay take those back to the store and find some smaller. Now I have measurements. Do something else on the list.

Decided over the toliet was the perfect place for the shelf unit with no home. (I thought it would fit in the kitchen and it doesn't.) Shift the shelves, get it in the bathroom, it's fits in the space, but the toliet lid hits the shelf that cannot be shifted and won't stay up so you can USE the toliet. I'm thinking taking it apart and storing the peices is now my best bet.

Aggravating. And I don't know what to start next that won't go bad on me. I can't start on the sewing until the living room is done. I can't move the chairs and table out until Krista is done at my parents'. It all feels like it's circling around the drain.

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Weekly total so far

I'm hoping to have more.

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WEEKLY TOTAL

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My trip: Hardboiled Heroes and Cozy Cats 2006

Okay, the breakdown of my four day trip.

June 15
9:00am Left Lafayette. Took longer than I thought, because I got caught in Wal-Mart for an hour buying stuff I needed for trip but didn't have.
10:10am reached west Lake Charles.
12:15pm stopped for lunch 26 miles east of Houston.
1:28pm on the road again. Houston is lost in a long blur of construction and accident traffic. Eastbound I-10 had all three lanes closed due to a pileup that caused something to catch on fire. By the time I passed it going westbound, they were cleaning up the road. Of course everybody in all three landes of westbound I-10 had to look.
4:15pm turned off I-10 per Mapquest's instructions. I know a better way now. Not much shorter timewise, but a tad more direct.
5:20pm finally reached Kai's house. The rest of the night is a daze, a symptom of too-much-driving coma. Though I remember the Tex-Mex restaurant with the 50s decor.

June 16
9:05am Awake, dressed, and ready to go out the door. Being pregnant hasn't made Kai any faster on getting ready. She shows me the LBJ Presidential library after breakfast at IHOP, more of Austin, and lunch at Olive Garden.
2:00pm Finally able to leave my sister's. Much later than I wanted to. I took the new route that Kai recommended.
3:55pm Reached I-10.
6:00pm Finally checked into the hotel. NEVER schedule to go through rush hour traffic AGAIN!
8:00pm Cleaned up and prettied up for the $17 reception that ran from 7pm to 9pm. I agreed with another diabetic I met on the 17th, for that much money they could have had sandwiches or something besides eclairs, fruit, cheese, and cake. And the price did not include liquor. But I got to have room service for the first time.

June 17
The conference. I got all my goodies signed, and even found a couple of books I never thought I'd be able to read--like "Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her." I made some contacts, especially a lead on a writing group in LaPlace made up of people who also have jobs! And Toni Plummer thinks the Zy's novel idea is sellable, so I have something to shut that voice up with. I got fired up and actually got my outlining mostly done, and made headway into the next scene.

Funny observation: there was about 70 people at the conference. 4 of us looked under 30, and that's including Toni Plummer who was an invited guest. I want to publish before I'm retirement age, but there is a precedent if I don't.

June 18
11:00am Checked out the hotel and hit the road. Went around Houston and found all the new subdivion areas. But no having to stop for toll plazas! And no rush hour traffic!
1:15pm reached Lake Charles.
2:13pm reached Lafayette and stopped to see Chad. He's doing a lot better, even though he's still stuck on house rest for the next two months.
4:30pm left Lafayette.
6:00pm home finally.

And that's the trip in a nutshell. Next year's conference is in Dallas. And I promised Kai that Chad and I would go back for a longer, week-long trip, which will probably be next year after he's finished with eye surgeries.

I found a group for Pirates in garb! I won't be doing the New Orleans pub crawl with them--that pesky driving flare up again. And I have to finish at least the corset and red doublet by July 8th. Though this is a conversation more for the Garb Closet, but I am really impressed with the fifth picture in the Extreme Costuming gallery. So now I'm toying with the idea of making a version of the Effigy corset nice enough to show if I undo my doublet. May need to rethink the lining on the red doublet too. So you know what I'm going to be doing this weekend.

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The BookWorm

I'm home

Safe and sound. I will give the details on what I did tomorrow, after some sleep.

I did get my batteries recharged though and made a tiny it of Zy's Novel headway.

And as promised: Flash Fiction Winner: "The Gingerbread Girl"

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More Good News

I got first place for the flash fiction contest! I'll put up a link as soon as it is published.

Second detail is putting out the word for Dewey Donation System. The 2006 drive is helping rebuild the public libraries of Harrison County, Mississippi. Those guys got ravaged by Katrina too.

Tonight, I'll stop over at Chad's in Lafayette and start on the 7 hour drive to my sister's house in Austin, Texas.

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The BookWorm

Home and car is mostly packed

Chad came through the surgery fine. Now we have to wait and see how his body reacts to the transplant. I feel a lot better about that part. Took forever to get him a room. Yes, he is staying overnight in the hospital because they have to see the eye doctor in Baton Rouge tomorrow at some point and it made more sense to spend the night at Our Lady of the Lake.

Depending on if I can access the Inernet at the hotel, this might be the last you hear from me for a few days.

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The BookWorm

Chad's eye surgery tomorrow!

Yes, I know cornea transplants are easier than other transplants. I know it's an outpatient, only 45 minute operation. I KNOW! But he' still going under and I'm worried. Free-form anxiety. He'll be fine. He will be fine.

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The BookWorm

I keep forgetting sweat doesn't work in Louisiana

Yeap, hot and miserable. And this is while in front of the AC unit. But at least Mustard's litter box clean, garbage taken out to be hauled away, and plants are getting watered. We're currently under a drought while Florida gets Alberto.

I think I got the stories fixed--they aren't changing the format for everything now. There's still so much to do. *Sigh*

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The BookWorm

Home again

But for only three days this week, or is it two and a half? I don't think I'm ready to count this morning.

Yeah, I'm hitting the road again Wednesday after work. Stop over in Lafayette and I should get to my sister in Austin some time on Thursday. Then writing conference starts Friday night through Saturday. Sunday hauling ass back home, though I might make sure I have work clothes for Monday just in case I only make it to Lafayette.

I started uploading stories to version 2.0 and tweaking some other things. It's frustrating to have half an answer for the problems, but you need a whole answer for it to look right.

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The BookWorm

Saturday update

I sent off the pick. Now we just have to wait a couple of days to see how well it does.

Oh and I should have my car tended to more often. Three and half hours of forced inactivity was good for my numbers.

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The BookWorm

Flash Fiction Contest Entry 1 - Finished

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Flash Fiction Contest Entry 2 Long version - Finished

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Flash Fiction Contest Entry 2 Short version- Finished

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Zy's Novel

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WEEKLY GOAL

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MONTHLY GOAL

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Second Flash Fiction finished

With the slight problem of being too long. I haven't edited it yet, and I really don't know if it will be stronger by chopping off the bartender's exposition. If I did chop it off, I could probably add another line or two from the ghost to help point people in the direction of what inspired this story.

Time to check on the last load of clothes. I'll probably edit in the morning while getting the car fixed.

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The BookWorm

Flash Fiction Contest Entry 1 - Finished

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Flash Fiction Contest Entry 2 - Finished

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WEEKLY GOAL

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MONTHLY GOAL

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Taking the night has been fun

Been concentrating on getting clothes washed while watching a Jeff Foxworthy stand-up routine and "Rush Hour" that I just got on DVD. Goddess, did I need to laugh.

Since I was distracted, I haven't finished the second of my flash fiction ideas. I can only submit one to the contest by midnight on the 11th, which means I should probably send it on tomorrow. The problem is I don't know which one should go, and no one here to help me pick between them.

I still have to finish the second one. It may become a moot point.

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The BookWorm

Flash Fiction Contest Entry 1 - Finished

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Flash Fiction Contest Entry 2

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WEEKLY GOAL

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MONTHLY GOAL

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Flash Fiction Friday Update

Well the free-form anxiety is still there, but has relented since I got one of the peices done! And I fiddled with Alt BM Site version 2.0, getting rid of one of the items on the list (yeah!) and bumped all my issues back up the forum threads at Drupal. Somebody answered the main page problem! (yeah!) Looks like we need a Cron job because I don't want to have manually unselect "promoted to front page" on everything. How do you do Cron?

Later! Take a break! That's an order! No more verson 2.0!

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The BookWorm

Flash Fiction Contest Entry 1 - Finished

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WEEKLY GOAL

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MONTHLY GOAL

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Flash Fiction Friday

Had a big long post and was almost finished with it detail how I'm currently feeling about stuff when my work computer had a spontaneous reboot and ate it.

So trying to remember the salient points. My car brakes are messing up; I got that typo-d last night. Not enough sleep or exercise and stress over Alt BM SIte version 2.0. If I sound peevish, it's nothing personal.

Today I'm taking off from version 2.0 to get two flash fiction peices ready, even though only one can go in the contest. This weekend I'm taking off to spend time with the boyfriend and work on Acadiana Faire stuff.

I'm scared the forum is going to become a big black hole and suck all of my available time, and everything I'm trying to do now is an attempt to get more time and still satisify the obligations I feel guilty about. I'm not reacting out of anger and I'm probably going to cave on this issue because I ALWAYS cave when it comes to putting something ahead of writing time. I'm just a little depressed that after having a big blow up, then apologizing for it and explaining WHY I feel the way I do, something I didn't want is still being handed to me to do because I'm the one who must. *Resisting urge to pull out hair.* Why can't the damn forum wait until after we go online and then see if they want another bloody place to talk? (Yes, I know they will and yes, I know I will cave and give it to them and I know everybody is going to stick me with it and I know I'll never have time to write again unless I turn into screaming shrew banshee which I DON'T WANT TO DO!)

I guess what irks the most is at the same time I'm getting the message: give up this hobby and everything else and you'll have time for your writing career. Something, somewhere, doesn't add up and it's wearing me out trying to keep up with the mental gymnastics.

Stupid bug crawling in my ear last night and screwing up my sleep. I wouldn't be nearly this peevish with more sleep. Like I said, it's nothing personal. I'll feel better after this weekend. A lot of it is just free-form anxiety that has latched onto the forum issue with an ferocity that surprises even me. Bring it up after I get some fiction done, after I get the fanfics uploaded, after some of the damn issues get off the damn list, and it'll probably be easier for me to consider it.

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The BookWorm

Flash Fiction Contest Entry 1

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WEEKLY GOAL

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MONTHLY GOAL

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Clothes washing adventure

You expect the machines to crap out on you. Usually with the clothes half done and the tub full of suddsy water. You do not expect the washer to keep washing and washing and washing. I had to go to the laundromat because of the blankets. I figure about two and a half hours, get the blankets done, and then I can wash a load or two of regular laundry at home.

Well, I didn't listen to my better instincts nor the people who used the heavy washer ahead of me who said it wasn't acting right. Only two out of three were working, I already finished one blanket, and loaded second and third in.

Second finished, but the stains didn't come completely out. Gave it another whirl. Third still washing. This was probably before 8:15pm. Laundromat closes at 9.

Second finishes again, and the third is still going. Decided against washing the fourth--I had washed it in my machine at home and lined dried it being the only one out of the four that will fit in my washer--and dried to get rid of more cat hair. Second and fourth finish drying, and the third is still washing.

All other patrons are gone by 8:45pm. The employee gets off her phone conversation and then calls the owner because the same blanket that was washing before she started that conversation is still going.

The owner shows up at 9:00pm, right after the machine finally goes into final spin. He gave me my money back for the wash and apologizied. I dried the comforter enough to get into the car and got home by 9:35pm.

So I'm pooped and wired at the same time. But I made a lot of progress into "The Art of Detection." Oh and my breaks are going out, so I will spend Friday night at home so I can get them fixed Saturday morning and then go to Lafayette.

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The BookWorm

How much can I get done today?

Probably not as much as I would like. I'm going out of town this weekend, not even going home Friday night. So I have to get laundry done tonight. Also in the laundry pile are three blankets that have to go to the laundromat because they don't fit in my washing machine. I've been putting off washing them for far too long.

And no more 11pm bedtimes. I didn't get off the computer until 10:30 and then I had to wash dishes. I have been doing that every night. By the end of the month it should be a new habit! Now, when to schedule in taking dishes from the drainboards and putting them away?

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The BookWorm

Flash Fiction

I think I said Sunday I was working on flash fiction for a ghost story contest. Well I managed 93 words that day. Monday I trashed them, but they had given me a better idea of my protagonist Hattie. I have 308 words in the peice now. It's not very scary though; I have an issue with getting my stories scary.

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The BookWorm

Flash Fiction for Contest

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WEEKLY GOAL

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MONTHLY GOAL

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Bubble, bubble, boil, and trouble

12:30pm Well actually I'm cooking. Finished shopping and eating dinner out with the parents, and have five dishes on the menu. Granted I'll probably be eating for the next two week on these, but I'm not a cook-every-night gal.

Menu:

• Beef Stroganoff


• Eggplant Casserole


• Shrimp and Crab Casserole


• Chicken tortellini with alfredo sauce


• Chicked with rice and almonds - an experiment from the Medieval cookbook. If it's too complicated for the stove, I won't be cooking it over the campfire.

Made progress on the CSS and template stuff last night. I have to the updates to do and adding some new modules. Hopefully that will fix the image_exact error message. Then I need to tweak the pages, now that I finally figured what was going wrong with them. Once pages are done, it's fix the front page and signed-in front page and fix the FoxFire's Pick's random display--which would be the two issues that I've had no answer on my pleas for help. I'm not going to start on coding until I'm finished with cooking though.

So what to do while I'm waiting for the oven and finished with dishes? WRITE!

3:43pm I think I got some of my timing wrong. I've had to take a pause while waiting for rice to cook. I finished the Eggplant Casserole, the Beef Stroganoff is in the slow cooker, chicken is poaching and rice for the Shrimp and Crab Casserole is cooking.

I had to look up directions on how to poach chicken. Unless I can cook the meat the night before (remembers the night before opening day and cackles) I don't think this is a dish I can demo cooking at site. I want to be a little more ambitious than soups or stews. Everybody does soups or stews because they're easy. My character is the head cook and part owner of the Tabbard Inn, and hello the King is in town. Now's the time to strut your stuff.

Plus I want to do more with it than just have people watch me cook and ask what's for dinner. I want a demo where the kids are touching ingrediants, churning butter, seeing food items that aren't wrapped in plastic and cardboard. I think I'm also going to need some method for washing hands too. The resource guide is going to have more receipes for you to try at home, and I'm looking for easily cookable but more exotic than a turkey legs. Though Acadiana Medieval Faire's turkey legs have gained quite a reputation.

I have one paragraph done on a flash fiction peice for this contest. I don't usually try my hand at flash fiction, but what the heck, I like the prizes offered.

However cooking and writing do not mix well. I have been washing the dishes as I go though! No, really, it's an accomplishment.

5:00pm The Shrimp and Crab Casserole is now done. It ended up being way meatier than anticipated and flowed over into a second pan. I probably should have tweaked the other ingredients to match the packaging of meat that I had to buy, but I didn't.

I ended up with yet another dish, do to an over abundance of stock once I poached the chicken. I threw in all the leftover vegetables with some of the chicken and mixed vegetables I had in the freezer and pantry. And I'm probably still have too much stock in the pot. I'll strain it and freeze it for the start of chicken noodle soup.

So I'm probably not going to cook the Chicken tortellini with alfredo sauce until later this week when I'm sick of the casseroles. At this point I'm getting wore out.

5:19pm Done with cooking! Still need to break the dishes into meal-sized portions and pack away in the fridge and finish washing all the dishes, but right this second I'm giving my back and feet a rest.

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The BookWorm

Backing Up Blogs Finished

10:00am Someone in discussing the Absolute Write messed made a good point of why don't people back-up stuff they write online in response to many people upset over losing what they had written in the databases. Made a whole bunch of people realize their blogs needed backing up, including me.

Now there is a hack in order to do it as one file in Blogger, but that had too many variable for me to want to mess with. I liked this solution much better.

1. Make sure the archive of your blog is set for monthly.


2. Click on the monthly archive link. The entire month is posted on one page.


3. Use the web browser's "Save Page As" function.


4. Burn the files to CD or save to thumb drive.


5. Once the backlog is done, you need only save the last archived month at the beginning of the next.

True, you do get the separate folders for each page. But in those separate folders are all the pics and if you only have snippets (like I do for Discipline Under Fire) the full file that "read more!" links to.

I've finished that with all four blogs.

Now time to start house cleaning that I have to finish. I don't think I'm going to be home another weekend in June after this one. Starting with the kitchen. Most of it is making sure things are where they should be, washing dishes, cleaning out fridge, and making shopping list. I need to cook tomorrow.

12:15pm Lunch break. The Subway opening was the best thing to happen in Springfield. The closest other fast food joints are in Hammond and Ponchatoula about thirty minutes away.

Kitchen is about halfway done. Cleaned out fridge, figured out the grocery list and halfway through with washing dishes. Still have a few things like tools to put away, but hopefully their home won't be the kitchen for very much longer. The rest of the rooms have a few minor, nitpickery items to do and then I'm left with the filing mess of the office. Granted most of that is hidden in the trunk so I won't feel too terrible if I don't get to it this weekend. I need to get the books done though and with the books figure out binder shelving. I have too many for the shelves they fit on and which ones should go where?

1:30pm Finished the kitchen! Now when I cook tomorrow I HAVE to wash up while cooking. Empty sink is the goal.

I managed to stick a splinter up under my thumbnail. I think it hurt worse pulling it out than getting it stuck. So with my thumb in a general state of soreness, I don't really want to do anything right now. But I have to. *Whimper* Shelving is what I'm going to work on now; the rest of the house can stay how is if need be.

5:00pm Everything that is a book is now logged into BookCAT and shelved on a shelf. I haven't needed to go into the kitchen yet. The problem is where I put the shelves in the kitchen is nearly impossible to access. If the 400s end up in there, I'd never be able to get a dictionary. I suppose I could use it for supplies and free up a shelf or two in the office for books, but that doesn't seem right either.

Funnies to watch: Night of the Living Doo, Nothing's Impossible, Scooby Doo, and the Dragon is watching you illusion.

I'm going to veg-out with a new ghost documentary on DVD for a while.

8:30pm Well, the DVD took a little longer than anticipated to finish, since I had to go and rescue my stranded mother. Hopefully, the truck had run out of gas and it's not something more serious.

It was some investigations that ISPR had done in England. One of the group I knew from Sightings, Peter James. I miss that show; it was always interesting.

Nobody has replied to my posts at Drupal yet. *Sigh* And right now I really don't want to work on that either. I think it was all the heavy lifting I did. More supper and maybe another movie.

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The BookWorm

Something was different up

And I took it down. So on to more newsy stuff.

Funniest statement made on the hurricane season: Making Light Hurrican Season

Jenna's asking for help. My copy of Street Smart Writer just came in, and I'll donate something once I get paid next week. JC Hosting's behavior still doesn't make any sense.

Writing news: I've been bad. *Sigh* Though the beginning of hurricane season has me itching to work on a fanfic. I've filled in all sort of plot holes. Vampire have coded messages saying when Weathermeister is to arrive. JetStream sets firework factory on fire try to get revenge on the bros. Split up to search the city leads to Rimfire and Bay's capture. Carbine negotiates for a plane with a shipping contract. Need a list of hurricanes for the proper year, and need to know what year I'm setting that one in. Fire = Bay going catonic.

Agh! Well, I feel better having that down. I need to get started on the real projects instead of playing the new game I just bought when I get home. But I'm usually so spent going home, I don't want to think. And I've been tinkering with version 2.0 at work, which I should also tone down on lest I get in more trouble for internet use. :P

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The BookWorm