Hey, I Remembered to Blog!

Summary of my day:

Kids sucked.

Heroes sucked.

Castle is a relief, but it probably won't last long because I like it and it's a smart show. Smart shows just don't seem to make it these days. What a shame. I miss Pushing Daisies.

Went to library this afternoon and wrote 1,687 words on the Sidney sequel. Yay!

Good Gravy

Has it seriously been so long since I've posted?

It figures.

I fizzled out on this just like everything else. This blog is like a fresh soda that's been opened and promptly forgotten. Sigh.

So, I guess I could sit here and try to list all of the things that have been going on since August 2008, but that would be painfully boring and frankly, I'd rather not dredge it all up. Let it suffice to say that I've been wrapped up in all things pre-school, dealing with 16 little rugrats who can get the most spectacular blank look in their eyes when you ask them to do anything at all. 

There's no telling what's going on in those miniature brains of theirs when their eyes glass over that way, but I have to say, wherever they slip off to looks like a much better place than I end up when I get to the end of the school day and realize I've said "Be Quiet" more times than any human ever should have to say it in a stretch of 5 hours.  It should be added into the rules of the Geneva Convention as a method of torture, similar to water-boarding.

While the school year has been truly maddening and exhausting, I have actually made some progress on my writing. The whole plot is out there on notecards and I've gotten to my familiar speed bump of: Now that I know what happens, I'm bored and want to move on to something else. Only, the story hasn't been written out yet.  So, now that I'm aware of this, and I know that it's a problem, perhaps I can do something about it.  That something would be to actually write the whole thing. Yeah. 

I can't even keep up with a blog. How the hell am I supposed to finish an entire novel? Good gravy...

Frazzled

The past two weeks have been hectic to say the least. I am getting to
know my new co-teacher VERY well. We are having a blast--probably too
much fun, actually... Everything is ready for the kids and Open House
went about as well as could be expected. There were a few criers, but
they will make it through. I think sometimes it's harder on the
parents than the kids. Most of the time you can tell the clingy
parents lead to crying kids.

I haven't had much chance for writing at all, but I got an outline
started and a good solid chapter one finished, so that's a start on
draft 1.5 (I'm calling it that because I haven't exactly finished the
first draft all the way through yet). I also started the re-write of
chapter two. Didn't get far, but I started--that's the key.

I think focusing on other things this week was probably a good thing
as I was really close to Sidney burn-out. Now I am rested and wanting
to write, and that is a good feeling.

Tomorrow is Mamma Mia! again with the teachers. I'm excited. This time
I know all the songs--I'm no longer a Mamma Mia! virgin--and I'll be
able to sing along at least until I get smacked or kicked out...

Worn Out

I am so tired. 

I have been to school every day this week for meetings and shopping, and everything else. Okay, so today is only Tuesday, but that's how out of it I am. It feels like it should be Friday or something. Yesterday (Monday?) I met up with my new co-teacher and the head teacher for the 3's. We ate at Applebee's and went back to school to make lists of what all we needed to get and to have done before orientation. We are doing a doggy theme and our class mascot is named Brownie. He has one brown ear and a brown tail. I adore him.  Java is going nutters trying to get at him, but I put him way up on the top shelf over the tv so he won't be destroyed. 

My co-teacher and I had a blast going to Build-A-Bear  to pick him out. I think we were worse than the kids in there, gushing over the cute clothes. The amount of clothes and accessories in that place is insane. We probably would have spent loads of money if we hadn't stopped when we did. As it is, Brownie got a new pair of Batman pajamas, a Falcons sweatshirt, a pair of cool black sunglasses, and a dog carrier to ride in when the kids take him home. The idea is that Brownie will go home with a different child every day, as long as that particular child behaves properly in class. If they don't, then they lose the turn until next time. Brownie will also keep a journal of his adventures sleeping over at each child's house throughout the year. 

No writing today. What a bummer. I have really been in the mood these past few days. It's like an itch I can't scratch....

Busy Bee

It's been a busy week of not writing for me. I've officially started on Draft 2 even though I never actually, officially finished Draft 1. I know, I know, but there were just too many changes to have to go back and make if I didn't start from the beginning. Maybe we'll call this Draft 1.5, I don't know. Either way, the story is figured out. I know what's going on. I know the motivations. It's great. Now I just have to get it done.

I saw Mamma Mia! over the weekend with a gal pal, then we went back to her house and made s'mores with nutella and marshmallow fluff. It was great to have girly fun. We were both Mamma Mia! virgins, and now I can't get the soundtrack out of my head. I've lost count of how many times I've listened to "Dancing Queen" and "Gimmie! Gimmie! Gimmie!" since Sunday. Good grief.   The movie was great but I didn't like that they were dancing around on the edge of a mountain through half of it. My fear of falling from high places got to me. I kept feeling like any minute Meryl Streep was going to go careening off the side of the mountain onto the rugged rocks below. Ah, me and my neuroses. Needless to say, Mamma Mia! is one reason I haven't gotten much writing done. It somehow just does not inspire vicious werewolf fights. Don't ask me why...

Another reason for not much writing this week has been a combination of cleaning the house and official money-making business. I babysat for two of the most adorable two-year olds on the planet Monday and Tuesday, then had meetings at school yesterday and today. So, all of my mornings this week have been consumed with that. I'm also a little intimidated by taking on a lead position at school this year. I think it will be fun, but today I got a glimpse of just how much work I have ahead of me. I hope I can be organized enough, and I know I'll have a super assistant to help me out. I can do it. I will be great. I must keep reminding myself of this.

Family is coming to visit today. I get to see my precious nephew who will be starting Kindergarten this year. I want to cry every time I think about it. I don't want him to grow up. I want him to stay small and cute forever. C'est la vie!

There Will Be Blood

Whether it stays in the book or not, I'm feeling like a fight scene today. There needs to be blood. I'm just in that kind of mood. Don't ask.

No pages yesterday. I'm ready for this to be finished so I can go back to the beginning and get into the nitty gritty. I hate plotting.

Rusty

I only took a few days off from writing, three to be exact, and I can already tell I'm getting rusty. Yesterday was a struggle, but I got 2 pages of chapter twenty done. Today has been even more of a struggle because I read over yesterday's pages and realized how much telling there is. I keep trying to remind myself that's perfectly all right. No big deal. But, seeing as how I want to be great all the time, it's really hard to convince my stupid brain that that's why there are such things as re-writes and editing.  I didn't realize how hard it would be to let go and keep plowing forward, but as the end draws near, I keep looking forward to draft two and it's messing me up.

Focus. Focus. Focus.

Moby is on. Perhaps he will prove inspiring....