~~ "She has so many aliases, you'd think she was a spy!" ~~

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Thingie-things

You know the world is strange when you get an e-mail with this subject line—“Slave Cylinder Weep Hole Kit”—and it’s not spam. (Ken is selling old motorcycle parts. I…don’t ask.)

<>-<>-<>


Had an utterly fabby time with the local RWA-ers, and high tea was again exquisite, and everybody wants to do this monthly! Given how hard it is to get us all in the same place at the same time (we managed 5 out of 6 of us this time), we may not make it monthly, but we can always try.

Proving that I am still muzzy-headed from this cold, I managed to send out Ken’s birthday party invitation without actually mentioning the date. Sheez.

Four stories in the mail today. Go me!

And over 1K on High Spirits, which isn’t the best daily wordcount overall, but is the best I’ve done since I’ve been back home and stricken with this cursed cold. Last night’s brainstorming is serving me well, and I’m looking forward to getting back to things tomorrow.

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Currently Reading: Ill Wind, Rachel Caine
Lately Listened To: gods, I really haven’t been listening to anything much
Recently Watched: Medium (finished last season!), The Graham Norton Show

Friday, September 14, 2007

Storms in the brain

Okay, I lied. Or maybe my body lied to me. Or maybe I overestimated my body. In any case, I’m not better. I’m still coughing and stuffed up and have digestive issues. For the latter, I’m self-medicating with pasta and cheese and pizza. For the other two…I’d hoped to skip the Nyquil tonight, but we’ll see.

It’s bad enough that I not only cancelled our dinner with Morgana and Brian tonight (new Lebanese place in town! I have no idea what Lebanese food is like, but it sounds interesting!), and I e-mailed the woman in charge of Monday night’s reading to warn her that I might cancel out. I haven’t even been able to practice reading my story, because of all the coughing.

I’m pretty determined to go for high tea tomorrow with my fellow local RWA-ers, because it’s just a couple blocks away (in the historic Woolworth’s building) and tea is always good. The LARA meeting Sunday is questionable, though.

<>-<>-<>


Sat down tonight and just brainstormed on High Spirits. Reminded myself what the external and internal conflicts were, then just spewed out ideas for scenes. Eventually things coalesced a little, and I figured out the next three or four probable scenes. (Since I’m an organic writer, that’s subject to change. But usually I know what the next few scenes are going to be.)

So that’s good, at least.

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Currently Reading: Ill Wind, Rachel Caine
Lately Listened To: my own coughing and sniffling
Recently Watched: Medium, Cities of the Underworld

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Pondering tresses

I had every expectation of getting a lot done yesterday. The cold is on its downward slide; still annoying, but not quite so energy-draining. I had a chiro appt in the morning and plans for the quarterly birthday dinner with local friends (with 26 expected to show up), and that was it. We’d run errands, I’d cross things off my To Do list…

After my chiro appt we went grocery shopping, and my fabulous gay hairdresser called to say he had a cancellation today and was trying to consolidate tomorrow’s appts into today, and could I come in? Sure, says I, so once we’d unpacked the groceries, I was off.

Now. I’ve been itching for a change, not sure if it was just the lingering cold and a general grumpiness about everything or whether it really was time. So I sat down and said, “So, given the state of my hair (thinning, although it’s bounced back a bit, although it’s somewhat hereditary so I’m never going to have thick, lush tresses again) and my face shape (rather more oval now that I’ve lost weight) and my hair care routine (as little as possible; I’ll use a blowdryer for a few minutes if I must), what would you do with my hair, FGH?”

And FGH practically fell over in shock and delight.

We talked, and I perused many hair magazines while my vibrant color was cooking under the dryer, and I decided that (a) I was just picking shorter versions of my own hairstyle and/or (b) I didn’t know if my hair would do the things in the hairstyles I liked, and (c) I should stop looking at the super-short cuts with the spikey tops because I would regret that. So back at the chair, I asked him to show me pictures of what he thought, but they didn’t help because he’d say “Well, like this, only not with this part,” which meant it wasn’t like the picture at all and how was I supposed to visualize it.

So I said “Fine. Do what you think is best. I trust you.”

I now have five inches less hair and a different shape, and the jury’s still out. I got a lot of compliments last night, but two people called me cute, which made me want to weep and go back and get the spikey cut (with purple highlights or something). (One person did backpedal upon my wail and suggest the alternate “sexy and adorable,” which mollified me somewhat.)

I’ll decide after I have a chance to play with it, because my lack of serious hair-care routine will make it look different than FGH’s mad coiffing.

Anyway. After that I picked Ken up at the bike dealer where he’d dropped off the GT for servicing, and then we went to Costco and Jo-Anns, and then we unpacked everything, and an hour later it was time to leave for dinner. Ken, Thomasina, and I all ordered different sushi so we could mix and match, and we were deliciously stuffed by the end of it. Mmmm, suuuushi. Sushisushisushi. Food of the gods. How did I live half my life not knowing about this delicacy? Now I can’t live without it.

We staggered home, watched Eureka, did some computer work, and then Ken went to bed and I got a little writing done (610 words—although I haven’t gotten close to my needed daily count since I got sick, I have managed 500+ words every day, and I’m very happy about that) and then I chugged my blessed Nyquil and slept the Nyquil-Drugged Sleep of the Damned.

Today, though. Today I will get some things crossed off my To Do list. Before my massage therapist comes to work on both of us.

Honest.

<>-<>-<>


Update: Today I discovered that I can pull my hair into two low pigtails. It’s okay to call me cute when I wear my hair like this, because I’m being deliberately cute. My massage therapist wanted me to dress in a Daisy Duke outfit and Ken wanted me to dress in a Mary Anne outfit. I’d say this is positive progress.

Less than 500 words today; I hit the end of a scene last night and realized today that I don’t know what happens next. It’s often suggested that at a moment like that, you have men with guns burst in. I considered that option, but they really don’t fit in this type of book. I thought of someone else coming to the door, who might throw another obstacle into my heroine’s life, but I don’t know why they’re there. Someone would have to have suggested a problem (which doesn’t exist), and I’m not sure who. Yet. I’ll sleep on it.

<>-<>-<>


Phaedra is looking for black bunny slippers, to no avail. Anyone know of a source?

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Currently Reading: Kiss and Tell, Linda Howard
Lately Listened To: my own coughing and sniffling
Recently Watched: Eureka, CSI: NY

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Ooh! Shiny!

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Monday, September 10, 2007

The four-star review

I have in my hot little hands the issue of Romantic Times with our four-star review in it, and I'm assuming it's okay to trumpet the review text to the world:

"Dale's story is a strong romance with a bit of angst and some well-executed character development. The characters engage in sexual antics, including consensual bondage and sex toys, and secondary characters help the plot develop."

(I admit I had to giggle a little at "engage in sexual antics"—I mean, it is an erotic romance, so what do you expect!—but I'm thrilled overall. The summary of the book nails the characters and conflict, too.)

This issue (October 2007) also has our New Author Spotlight ad in it! Check it out if you get the chance!

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Press Release: Best Lesbian Bondage Erotica

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