Sunday. I have to go back to work tomorrow. Sigh.
I ought to be working on that Halloween story right now, but I’ve got this skunk sprawled out on my lap, and he looks so comfy, I hate to move him. I am, once again, pinned by a five pound animal.
We rented and watched Shadow of the Vampire last night. Our first official Halloween movie of the season, hurray!
Argh. That’s it. I’m procrastinating and I need to stop. I’m going to brew up a big ole pot of tea and write . . .
Currently, Hobkin is curled up in my lap, snoozing. But his head is right on the edge of my thigh, and I have to keep a hand on the back of his neck or his little head slides off and he ends up with his head lolling backwards. He doesn’t seem to mind, but I don’t see how that could possibly be comfortable. So, I’m trying to type with one hand.
We decided that it was worth it, so we broke down and actually bought the Nero Burning Rom 5.5 software yesterday. Internet price comparison good. We found a place that’s having a sale at $14.95, w/free S&H. This is software that retails for $69.95. Good deal.
Matthew and I watched Sugar and Spice last night, which was surprisingly good. Nothing deep, nothing meaningful, but silly and fun. I laughed right out loud.
Despite the fact that it’s not quite October, we’ve started the Halloween festivities. We bought these “break and bake” sugar cookies that have these little candy pumpkins, ghosts, and bat candy pieces sprinkled over them, and baked up a batch last night. Mmmm. Halloween sugar cookies. And we’re getting out the Halloween decorations this weekend. I love Halloween! This year’ll be an interesting trick. We’ll need to figure out a way to display all the decorations, while at the same time keeping them out of reach of an intrepid skunkling.
1200 words unto my Halloween story. Huzzah. Happy dancing. I’m writing again!
And we’re going to swing by the Science Fiction and Mystery Bookshop later this afternoon.
Major headache, popped some Extra Strength Excedrin and slamming mugs of Empress of China tea, so if the analgesics don’t get it, the caffeine will.
Got a note from one of the people in my writer’s group. It’s unsubstantiated rumor currently, but the source is dependable. He knows Warren Lapine (well, so do I, but I think he knows him better).
From his email:
“DNA Publications. Rumor has it they’ve been sending around flyers saying that they’re having financial trouble, and if they don’t get enough new subscribers, they’re going to have to cut two of their magazines.
“This, as far as I’m concerned, would be *disastrous* to the semi-pro publishing field. DNA has done spectacular things, and I’m betting that if they cut two magazines, it’d be Mythic Delirium–the only SF poetry magazine in existence these days–and Fantastic Stories”
AGH! DNA publications is the bastion of solid up-and-coming genre publishing. For people who don’t know them, their stable of magazines includes:
Weird Tales, Dreams of Decadence, Absolute Magnitude, Fantastic Stories, Science Fiction Chronicle, and Mythic Delirium. They also recently purchased Whole Cat, a non-genre, holistic cat fancier publication.
Buy magazines, people! Support genre publishing. Ack.
The state of the publishing industry = depressing.
So, last night during my DC2K writers group chat, we decided on a new challenge: Write a Halloween story by 10/17. This challenge has caught my imagination (Halloween is my second favorite holiday of the year–and before I met Matthew, it was my very favoritest), so I’ve already started on it. I’m about 500 words in, and now I’m pondering where I want it to go. I’m pleased to be creating something new again. Nice musey musey musey.
Hobkin’s a fuzzy lump on my lap. Need to get the camera up and going again. Prime cute moments have missed their opportunity to be captured unto perpetuity. Fortunately, he keeps raising the cuteness bar, so I think we’re good.
And hey, I just discovered that the LJ community LJdrama appears to have been suspended. Okay, it was a guilty, evil pleasure. But why was it suspended? Bummer.
Matthew and I watched Monsters, Inc. last night. The Blockbuster (hiss) around the corner runs these “Rent 10 movies for $25 and get a free DVD.” If you do the math, you’ll see that it’s a pretty sweet deal. Last time we did it, the free movie was Shrek. This time, it’s Monsters, Inc.. Go, Pixar! The next one will be Spiderman, but, quite frankly, I don’t think we’ll go for that one. Neither of us were big enough fans of Spiderman to feel impelled to own it, plus by that time, I think we’ll be scraping the barrel for movies we want to rent.
I’m feeling much better now (said in that spooky voice from the little girl in Sixth Sense). Ready to take on the world. Or, lounge around and watch movies with Matthew and Hobkin.
Had a nice relaxing day yesterday, napping and lying about. Matthew went out and rented Serendipity (at my instigation) and then we camped out on the couch, with popcorn and warm drinks, and watched it while Hobkin lounged on top of us.
Twas a flawed movie. Fun, but I’m glad we didn’t pay money to see it in the theater. Very predictable, with more than its share of sap, but a good “Eugie’s sick” sort of film.
I’m on the mend. I decided to take another day off from work. Just going to take it easy and cruise into the weekend.
Hoping that I’ll be well enough by Saturday to make a trip into town to the Science Fiction and Mystery Bookshop.
Also got a note back from Jane Jewell at the SFWA. She’s expediting my membership application. Looks like I squeaked enough to get some oil.
And got a note from Planet Relish. They’re looking for a fiction editor and I sent a note to them saying I’d be interested in their consideration. It’s a volunteer position (“for now,” they said) and a semi-pro webzine, but it looks like it’d be good experience. Not to mention fun. They sent a questionnaire to all their applicants and from the answers I sent back, I’m short-listed on their “to call” list. It’s nice, for a change, not to feel stressed about an interview. I’d like this opportunity, but it is unpaid and would take up a huge amount of my time, so if I don’t get it, there’s plenty of argument for “it’s for the best.”
Me sick. Staying home. 
But I liked Buffy last night. Except, um, is the redness of Willow’s hair like a litmus strip measuring how “earth-mother magic” she is versus how evil she is? It was pretty, but veering into the anime color scheme . . .
*cross posted to
Just got this letter in the mail today. For all you Atlanta locals, try to swing by the book store and give it a little business. It’s the best SF genre book store in the city. It would be a real shame if it had to shut down!
Well, this day has sucked. Nothing major, nothing dire. Just a bunch of little things, all work related. From system problems, waiting for an essential project person to call me who never did, to being asked to do something really tedious while I wait for him to get back to me, everything’s just piled up and left me feeling crappy.
Grr.
And now I really don’t feel like going to dance class. More than anything in the world, I just want to go home and squeeze husband and skunk. I know that once I got to my class, I’d probably enjoy it. And I know I need the exercise. But I’m going to give in to my inner crapitude and skip out on it in liu of hubby and Hobkin huggins.
Again.
Sigh. It’s the season premiere of Buffy:tVS tonight. Hurray?
Having a bit of a block these days. Hesitate to even call it “writer’s block” ’cause it’s more like a lull than a block. But I can’t seem to get motivated to produce any new stuff. I’m re-working old things that I thought had potential but didn’t quite pan out the way I wanted them to, but I’m not actually putting down new plots and story ideas. Glurg.
I’ve noticed that I do tend to write in fits and starts. I hammer out a bunch of stories in a short time frame, spend the next chunk of time re-writing, revising, and assembling submission packets for them, and then I have a lull where I don’t create much.
Argh. So much for a steady level of productivity. It’s annoying is what it is.
And now for something completely different:
Starting a new belly dance session today. Taken just about the whole summer off from it. I suspect I shall be quite sore tomorrow.
I’ve been dwelling on this for a while, but I’m going to quit the troupe. This hiatus has pretty much kept me out of recent troupe events, but I realized that I just don’t have the time for it. When all’s said and done, dancing is a lovely hobby for me, but nothing more. After husband, Hobkin, and writing, priority-wise, it takes bottom rung. So, while I’ll continue taking classes for now, I’m going to bow out of the troupe.
Excellent weekend, overall:
I’ve begun work on re-writing another story I tabled last year. My previous attempt at that seems to have worked out well, so hey. Although I’m a little stymied on this one. I think the prose is strong, as is the theme. But the plot is a little sketchy. Urg. Can a story carry itself based upon strong prose and strong theme? I dunno. And the ending needs work.
Tangent: As I commented to Matthew, I recently realized that I never feel “creative.” This observation is no doubt spurred by the little “current mood” option thingum on LJ. I see other LJers who, after a bout of writing, graphics toying, and/or web development, indicate that they feel “creative.” But even after (or during) a marathon writing session, all I feel is “productive” or “accomplished.” Weird. No pangs of angst here, as productive and accomplished are good enough to keep me going, but I just find it interesting.
Also, I sent out several query emails to various markets to check the status of pieces that appear to have been sucked down a black hole. I hate querying ’cause I don’t like irritating editors who may be waffling on whether or not to buy something, but some places have had a story of mine for six or more months without even a “we’re holding it for consideration” e-blurb! Getting excessive there. Plus, in my experience, most of the time when I query, I really needed to have, as in “we didn’t get it” or “we sent you a reply four months ago.”
Also did some networking on the Speculations Rumor Mill as I haven’t heard squat about my SFWA membership since . . . May. Apparently, I’m not alone. The SFWA is plagued by membership delays and complications. But I got the name of two people and sent them email requests to expedite the thing, so I’m thinking I’m finally getting somewhere. I want my Bulletin dammit!
Saturday we went to see “Taming of the Shrew” at the Shakespeare Tavern. A very strong production, as they do tend to be there. And came home to have a pleasant after hours with yakdog,
Yesterday was a lazy Sunday, my favorite kind. Spent it lounging around the house and squeezing Hobkin (as he was a bit miffed with us for locking him away for most of Saturday PM). We watched Ocean’s Eleven, the George Clooney remake one. It was . . . okay. Glad we rented it rather than paying to see it at the theater.
And now, back to the grind. Blah. Thank goodness it’s my short week.
