Quick Friday update...

Still busy, busy, busy here - I have most of my books on shelves at this point and am now trying to find room for all my research binders. Looks like I might have to purge some of them :-O

We intend to clean out the cabin tomorrow, then possibly go back into Vancouver on Sunday. Will have to see what we have time for.

Not much else new, though going through all my writing binders has inspired me. Maybe next week I'll just carve out some time.

Happy Weekend, everyone :)

Teresa

Blogged with Flock

Wishing time away....

This is the post I thought of, then forgot a few weeks ago! And it's even more à propos now, seeing as we're likely not going to be in the house till the first week of September.

Anyone who knows me well, knows I LOVE summer and that the last thing I normally do is wish the season away. But this year I'm doing just that. But part of me is rebelling, reminding me how precious each and every day is. That no matter how much I want our house to be done so we can move in, that there's more to life than that.

It's something we all do, starting as kids when the annual Christmas countdown begins some time in October. We wish away the school year, the winter etc. Forgetting, of course, that most of us are fortunate enough to be leading good lives, ones that should be enjoyed for what they are.

Is this making sense? I hope so. Am I the only one who regrets the days we lose by wishing them away too quickly? Who worries about these things? Who thinks that one day in the not so distant future they'll look back at the time they wanted to pass so quickly and want it back?

In other news

I've been doing some more character work for my ms. But am finding it really hard to concentrated. I did do some free writing which always seems to help and learned about my hero's childhood. But I'm also seriously starting to think of myself as a fraud with this whole writing thing. Others seem to be able to write no matter what is happening in their lives, a lot of it far worse than just waiting for a house to be finished. *sigh* OTOH, my characters keep bugging me to tell their story, so I know I'll start writing sooner or later.

Teresa

Currently Reading: The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
Also Currently Reading: Angels by Marian Keyes

Back soon - I promise...

Things here are nuts as I'm trying to catch up after a week with my sis and her family. We had loads of fun together, both in Vancouver and here on the Coast. The house is coming along well - drywall started yesterday, siding is at least 1/3 done (if not more) and we're hoping the long delayed doors will arrive over the next couple of days.

More soon!

Teresa

Currently Reading: Far From Over by Sheila O'Flanagan

Quick update...

Hi everyone :) Hope you're all having a good weekend. Ours has been rather soggy, though the rain seems to have stopped for now and the sun has even peeked through!

Sean's vacation started Friday and continues till next Sunday, so I'll likely be on line a lot less during that time. Especially as we'll be in Vancouver for a couple of days.

I did, however, find a really cool tidbit in The Times of London from January 1, 1794, something I'm going to use in my ms. Research can be so much fun. Of course, if any of you out there know anything about the Temple of Flora in London (near Westminster) during the late 18th Century, please let me know. I don't have access to any of my London books right now and can't find anything about it on the web. Lots about the Temple of Flora at Stourhead, Wiltshire, but not the one in London. *sigh*.

I'll be updating my house blog after I finish here, so if you're curious about the progress, hop on over there.

Have any of you seen The Matador? We watched it last night and thought it was pretty good. LOVED Pierce playing a completely different type of character.

Happy Sunday!

Teresa

Blogged with Flock

Monday on the Coast...

Things here are still busy, busy. We're meeting with the electrician this afternoon to go through the house and hope to find our windows/doors have been delivered. If they have, then we could be at the lock up stage by the end of the week. Yay! Move in is slated for late August (fingers and toes crossed) - much will depend on the drywallers (they come in after the electrical/plumbing is done), painters and then the flooring people. But, the roof is now done and the chimney is up:)

I've had to accept I won't get much writing done until things get more settled. There are lots of little things to do that all seem to take up a lot of time. But that's ok, my story is percolating :)

Though I admit to having spent a little too much time over at Facebook yesterday, time that could have been spent writing. However, I found a friend of mine from my CANEX days, someone I lost touch with in the early 2000s. She helped keep me sane in that job. And through her page, I found another of my former co-workers. They're both married with kids now, so it was cool to catch up with them.

It's going to be smoking hot here this week, hot even by my Ontario born and bred standards - up into the mid 30s. I just have to hope it cools off well at night. It certainly was cool enough on Saturday night when we went to a 7/7/7 party/bbq - but not so cool that it spoiled the fun *g*.

That's about it for now. My internet connection is still a little temperamental, but I'll keep trying to make the blog rounds :)

Right. Birth of Venus. It's good so far, reminds me a little of a YA book I reviewed a couple of years ago, The Vanishing Point by Louise Hawes (not the book of the same name by Mary Sharratt that's on my TBR list).

Teresa

Currently Reading: The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant

Another Thursday update...

Wow - the week just flew. We had a wonderful family weekend and our niece is still here, so we've been hanging with her. Went to see Ratatouille the other night - fun movie!

The house is coming along well now - the roof is more than half done. It's hot and sunny here, at long last, so the roofers are already hard at work this morning.







No writing this week, but I did manage some research reading.

This afternoon I'm off to my second training session at the library. Last Friday's went really well, so I'm looking forward to today as well :) It's fantastic doing that kind of work again, plus I'm finding out lots more about the various collections in the library, including those for kids/teens.

Wish I had something more exciting to report, but really - that's about it. In two weeks Sean starts the first of his vacation weeks (he has another two in August) and my sister will be visiting, which should be lots of fun as we haven't seen the family in over a year, since stopping to see them on our drive out here.

Oh, and our internet connection has been a bit wonky lately, so I'm slower than usual making the blog rounds.

Teresa

Currently Reading: The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant

So much going on...

it feels like I'm falling further and further behind here on my blog. Lots of detailed house decisions to make, research to do and general errands.

Last week I managed to start a flow chart for my latest ms, using the updated version of Freemind. Very cool. It got my creative juices going again, which is always good. Then I found some good info online and was able to order another couple of books through ILL - now I just have to wait for them to arrive :)

We spent much of Saturday on the property, working on various land related chores, clearing roots, trees etc. It was by turns, cloudy, rainy, sunny, hot, then cloudy again. By 7 in the evening, it was pouring rain. Fortunately we'd returned to our temp home by then so didn't get soaked.

I did start typing in my contemp story last week and sent a chapter off to my CPs for their comments. I'm also considering entering my TT opening in the upcoming Gateway to the Best contest. We'll have to see. I did edit it again last year after a good friend read and commented on it for me, so it's pretty much ready. I just still haven't decided about contests in general.

What do you think - do you still like entering contests? Feel it's a good thing?

Teresa

Currently Reading: Dark Angels by Karleen Koen (yes, I'm finally going to finish it)
Link of the Day: Discovering Dickens - A Tale of Two Cities

Weekly update...

I know, I know, my blogging is very random these days. So much to do, so little time.

FIrst, though - thanks to Melissa for her plotting method feedback (when I have a real office again, I may try that!) and to Kelly for assuring me I'm not the only one sucked in by methods, forms etc.

On the plotting front, I had trouble sleeping again Friday morning, so lay in bed an did a lot of plotting in my head. Fortunately when I went to enter all those ideas into the computer later in the day, I discovered I hadn't forgotten anything - well, as far as I know *g*. So I am getting a better grasp on this story.

This week has been busy, though, with house stuff. Yesterday I ran errands, then kept Sean company while he waited for the septic field inspector to come do his thing. Today, I returned books to the library and made an appointment for us to choose kitchen cabinets (yay!) Then Sean and I spent some time together, including going down to beautiful Davis Bay for dinner at the Beach Buoy. The sun was hot as we enjoyed our fish and chips, then took a stroll along the beach.

Tomorrow we go to look at cabinets and I have some cleaning to do, but I also hope to get some ms work in as well. Of course, the Sens play again tomorrow, though I might have to watch through my fingers!!

Work on the house is humming along - the framing is going up pretty quickly. You can see almost daily updates over on my Building Blog.We were able to walk through the outlines of the rooms on the main floor today :) Below is a pic Sean took of me yesterday, standing on the basement stairs:

I'll try to drop by various blogs to comment over the next few days.

See y'all again soon!

Teresa

Drive by post...

I'm off to the big city today to visit a friend for the night, then baby nephew tomorrow. Sean will be holding down the fort here.

I'm really hoping the percolator in my brain is working on my new story, because I haven't had much time to do anything but a little research recently. One book I've been reading (thanks to ILL) is Olivier Blanc's Les Espions de la Révolution et de l'Empire - lots of cool info in there to help me with my plotting. There's a copy for sale through ABE Books and I'm seriously considering shelling out the money for it.

More pics from the building site later this week - the septic system is going in and the slab should be poured over the next couple of days.

That's all for now :)

Teresa

Thanks everyone...

for the comments! It's been fun meeting so many new people. Imagine how surprised I was to learn my blog was featured on the Blogs of Note blog! Very cool :)

We're super busy right now. Our new nephew was born Wednesday evening - we're hoping to see him very soon.

The forms will be stripped from the foundation walls starting today! Yay!

Slowly working out details of my new story.

Must go, now. More later.

Teresa

Currently Reading: Night of the Huntress by Kathryn Smith
Also Currently Reading: Dark Angels by Karleen Koen
Link of the Day: Thesaurus of Old English

My Easter Weekend...

was a busy one. On Friday, Sean and I were over at the property till just after 4:30. Upon arriving home, we chatted with a visitor while Sean helped his dad with a construction project, then our neighbour came home with beer! As it was about 18º and sunny (sorry, Kelly), we all grabbed one and gabbed for a while before Sean, me and my in-laws headed out for dinner.

Saturday I spent five hours over at the property by myself while Sean did a spring clean and check of our camper. I had a fantastic time - put my MP3 player on and bopped along to the music while dragging branches etc over to the merrily blazing fire (I managed to start it that day without even matches!). Did grocery shopping on the way home, then settled in to watch the Habs/Leafs game. Spent much of the third time muttering about the ref. (pout, pout)

Sunday we went to a pysanky party! A friend of ours is Ukranian and hosts an egg painting party every Easter. Very cool, though I learned it's more like batique on eggs than painting. Lots of people, yummy food (potluck) and I actually managed a half-decent couple of efforts. Funny thing - if you break an egg by mistake you get to chuck it over the back fence (they live out in the country too). Both Sean and I had the satisfaction of watching our cracked eggs hit the trees (we each cracked one). I vaguely remember my Polish grandmother doing eggs as well, somewhere in the deep distant past. Am looking forward to next year. We were there for hours, socializing between sessions at the egg table - good fun.

Monday we cleaned the cabin and did other general chores, before consuming an early Easter dinner. My contribution was a citrus cranberry sauce. After Sean went to bed I started judging contest entries. Also pulled up my contemp story from NaNoWriMo and discovered it actually shows some promise! The first entry I read through has all the earmarks of a beginner writer - hope my comments prove useful.

The regional fire ban for backyard burns goes into effect this weekend, so next week I should be able to dive back into my ms. Until then, I'll be either at the building site or running errands. Cement for the foundation should be poured tomorrow!!!!!!! Yay!!!!!!!! If the weather's decent this weekend we may take the camper and spend our first night on the property.

Ok - on with the rest of my day. Have to meet Sean at the local building supply store in about an hour to choose a roof tile colour :)

Teresa

PS - Hope those of you with pets haven't been affected by the food recall. I almost fell out of bed this morning when I heard Royal Canin had recalled one of their tinned foods. Thank the Lord, the one we feed Chloe and Cleo wasn't the one - theirs has no gluten in it at all. Still, very scary, especially as I thought the recalls had finished.

Currently Reading: Dark Angels by Karleen Koen
Also Currently Reading: The Labyrinth by Kate Mosse

Today's post...

is over at Unusual Historicals.








Teresa

A day of errands...

+ a trip to the gym meant no real work accomplished, at least not on the ms *sigh*. But I have to accept these things happen. I'm lucky to get as much time as I do to work. Of course, if it weren't for wanting to watch Crossing Jordan tonight, I could maybe do something, but CJ is one of my fave shows and as currently our system to tape shows is quite complicated, I just watch them in real time. Only Sean knows the secret of recording a show right now. In the new house, things will be different.

Speaking of tv shows, one thing I've learned from watching Deadwood (we're 2/3 through Season 2 now) is how to create great secondary and supporting characters. None of the ones I've seen in the show are what you'd call "throw-aways". Sure, there are walk-on parts, but pretty much anyone who speaks more than a few lines gradually has their character fleshed out enough that you feel they're real. Something very important for a writer to keep in mind.

The CJ writers are good for this too. Take the new coroner, for instance. When she first arrived everyone hated her, yet gradually over the last few shows, the writers have added new details about her - ones that make us question our first impression. Yet it's all done realistically - it's not like she has suddenly transformed.

A way to justify the time I spend watching tv? Maybe *g*. But I stick by my original contention - sometimes writers can learn from paying close attention to the characterization on the shows we love to watch. That's my story and I'm sticking to it...*g*

As for Sean, well, one gone and one to go. Fingers crossed! Thanks for the sympathy and extra good thoughts!!

Teresa

Currently Reading: Dark Angels by Karleen Koen
Link of the Day: Elisabeth Fairchild on "incorporating historical elements into your story to make it true to the period"

Today's progress...

Well, I got everything pretty much typed in today, and while on the treadmill this morning I came up with a little plot element I was missing. That was a relief - especially when I still remembered it when I reached my computer afterwards!! But there are another couple of holes that need filling - this is the problem with this story being tied to my earlier ms. A couple of plot points need to mesh and make sense, or all is lost for both stories.

Of course, I didn't plan that when I wrote the first ms. Does this ever happen to you for those of you who write connected books (either by design, or by accident - as happened her)? Do you ever write yourself into situations you need to keep in mind for subsequent mss?

Thanks again for your continued thoughts for Sean. Alas, no joy yet.

Teresa (who is writing this post to the pathetic mewing of young Cleo - apparently I'm supposed to give all my attention to HER!)

Currently Reading: Dark Angels by Karleen Koen
Link of the Day: Karleen Bradford on Plotting the Story

Assorted things...

First, for my visitors from Canada, don't forget to watch THE Documentary at 8:30 EASTERN time this evening on Bravo! Canada.

Second - a couple of pictures:

Kitty Love



We have a hydro pole! A huge step forward - they'll string the actual hydro wire within the next week or so, we believe:



Sean with his chainsaw in front of the truck and hydro pole:



Elvira & Moonbeam - curious llamas - I stopped my car along the driveway when they ran up to see me and snapped this through the open window:




Third - I'm still behind on so many things. A variety of reasons, including a visit to the ER with Sean yesterday when kidney stones attacked him again. On Tuesday I FINALLY found someone who cut my hair the way I like it, yay - but that too ate into writing time. Oh well. Yesterday afternoon I did manage to listen to a couple of good sessions from Atlanta - I'd had only a couple of hours of sleep overnight Tuesday/Wednesday, so was fried after the ER visit then a run to Gibsons for a couple of things. OTOH, I've used my insomnia time lately to think about my story and have come up with some cool things, so that's ok.

One of the Atlanta sessions was Voice and Conflict: Blend Them and Make Ben and Jerry Proud! with Leah Vale - she helped me with a couple of things, including the idea of giving your hero and heroine each a motto representing their GMC which the other will disprove, preferably at the Black Moment. If you have access to the CD/tapes - listen to this workshop.

Fourth - another agent rejection last week.

That's about it.

Teresa

Currently Reading: Dark Angels by Karleen Koen
About to Start Reading: Labyrinth by Kate Mosse (no, not THAT Kate Moss - the one with the "e" at the end of her name)
Link of the Day: GAPC - Production Company for Who's Afraid of Happy Endings

Procrastination Meme...

courtesy of Kit :-)

Soundtrack of my Life

Directions: If your life was a movie, what would the soundtrack be?

1. Open your mp3 library
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press Play.
4. For every question, type the song that’s playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the Next button.
6. Don’t lie and try to pretend you’re cool.
7. Don’t skip songs.

My Movie:

1. Opening credits: Manic Monday - The Bangles
2. Waking up: Our Love, Don't Throw it all Away - Andy Gibb
3. First day of school: The Chain - Fleetwood Mac
4. Fight song: Drive - The Cars
5. Breaking up: Lovers in a Dangerous Time - Bruce Cockburn
6. Happiness: Lost in Your Eyes - Jeff Healey Band (HONEST - this came up all by itself!!! It's a fantastic love song - have to let it play in its entirety)
7. Life’s okay: Ebudae - Enya
8. Mental breakdown: Mizerna Cicha (Meek and Mild) - Mazowsze & Slask (a Polish Christmas Carol - hmm, interesting)
9. Driving: Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes
10. Flashback: Tell it to my Heart - Taylor Dayne
11. Getting back together: How Many - Luba
12. Wedding song: Black Horse and the Cherry Tree - K.T. Tunstall (very ironic, if you listen to the lyrics)
13. Birth of first child: The Wedding Gift - Rawlins Cross
14. Final battle scene: Lothlorien - Enya (a less battle like song I can hardly imagine!)
15. Death scene: Take me to the River - Talking Heads
16. Funeral song: Dance With Life (The Brilliant Light) - Bryan Ferry (Again, I'm not kidding, this came up all by itself)
17. End credits: Pieces - Dan Powell (from the soundtrack of A Knight's Tale)


Kit finished by saying - "If you’re reading this, I’m tagging you! Let’s see it!"

Ditto!

Teresa

Currently Reading: Dark Angels by Karleen Koen (an absorbing read)

Quick update...

Sorry for disappearing. I've hurt my upper back again - can't spend much time at the computer.

Read about this at RWA Online. We'll see the info in the RWR. I cannot believe people do stuff like this. Have they no shame?

Teresa

Currently Reading: Dark Angels by Karleen Koen

I also meant to say...

thanks for all your compliments on my Friday anniversary post :-) They're much appreciated!


Thanks also for the sympathy re my rejection. Also appreciated.

Teresa

10 Odd Facts About Me...

Kelly did this meme last week. I'm stumped for other things to blog about, so I'll give it a go now :-)

1) Like Kelly, I too have OCD tendencies - checking the stove, the door etc, even thought I KNOW they're done. This is especially bad here in the cabin, when we leave the outer sliding door open and have to hook the screen door closed, lest Cleo pull it open with her claws (she figured that out pretty quickly) - I ALWAYS have to walk back and check that I've hooked the screen. The thought of losing the girls out here is pretty scary.

2) I'm psychic - my grandmother was too, so it's no surprise, but it's still kinda freaky. Nothing I can really control, but there have been enough things I've known before they happen or have just happened, and I hadn't heard yet, that I know it's not an anomaly.

3) I talk to the cats in French - they don't seem to mind and it helps me practise *g*. I'll only get worried if they start answering back.

4) TV shows about motorcycle building fascinate me. Not just American Chopper, but Biker Build-off and any other shows like that we stumble across. People who knew me as a kid would never imagine that one day I'd know who Indian Larry was or what happens in Sturgis, South Dakota every summer.

5) I LOVE rainy days. Love, love, love them. And don't mind rainy weeks either. To me there's something so cozy and comforting about watching and listening to rain fall from inside a house.

6) Office supplies are like candy for me - and I'll spend money on them instead of candy. Notebooks, notepads, pens, pencils, post-its etc.. Going to a big office supply store and just wandering the aisles is so much fun! I don't necessarily have to buy - sometimes just looking at the notebooks and binders are enough.

7) When I put knives on a magnetic knife rack, I HAVE to put them on tallest to shortest - and it drives me nuts if they get out of order. I've no idea why. I'm not generally the most orderly person around, so why this particular thing bugs me unless it's done the way I like it is kinda baffling. But there we go :-)

8) I have to be able to visualize where the people I love (family and friends) are. Every time my sister moved, I'd feel weird talking to her on the phone without knowing what the room/house she was in looked like. Same as my friends - two of them have moved since we did and I don't know what their space is like now. Am hoping they email me pics soon!

9) As a child I had fainting spells whenever I was tired and hungry or hot and hungry. The first one happened early on a schoolday morning when my mum was combing my hair - I just dropped to the floor. It also happened when I was with friends at the Governor General's Kids' Party - it was a hot summer day and my friends said I walked ahead of them and started bumping into people. They thought I was fooling around until I fell over and didn't move for a minute or two. There were other times too, but by the time I was a teenager, I'd learned to control it to an extent - if I felt it starting to happen, I'd bite my tongue and move to somewhere I could sit and put my head down. My dad freaked out totally that first time, but my mum explained she was the same way when she was young.

10) I'm a news-junkie. Yeah, I guess it comes as no surprise, considering I'm married to a newscaster *g*, but I have this need to know what's going on in the world. World Report on CBC is a must-listen for me every morning once I've heard Sean's news on CK, as is The Current.

So, how 'bout you? Are there odd things about you you'd like to share?

I took the following photo just over a week ago - Sean with the girls:





Teresa

Currently Reading: The Adventurous Bride by Miranda Jarrett
Also Currently Reading: Dark Angels by Karleen Koen
Link of the Day: The Best French Swear Words

Busy, busy...

I started teaching my course this week, am finishing off my chapter newsletter (I volunteered for the job last month) and doing company related stuff too. Last week I did yet more character work, but am getting frustrated about not managing to make real progress. Grrr.

We're hoping to file the application for our building permit this week - yay!!

My current guilty pleasure - watching Grease, You're the One that I Want on Sunday nights. I'm a huge fan of the musical and think it's loads of fun watching the progress of those vying to be the new Danny and Sandy.

What's YOUR guilty pleasure?

Teresa

Currently Reading: Dark Angels by Karleen Koen
Also Currently Reading: The Adventurous Bride by Miranda Jarrett
Link of the Day: Research: Friend or Foe? by Stephanie Mittman