I'm ba-a-a-a-ck!

Yes, that's right, after almost two weeks away, I have returned!

So what was I doing to keep myself so busy I couldn't blog?  Well, I'll tell you!  I was at the theatre.  A lot.  Like, every night.  I just finished stage managing a show, and it kept me out until after 11 every night.  Back in the day, when I was all young and stuff, that wouldn't have been a problem.  Now, though... my usual bedtime is 10, so being out till after 11 is problematic, to say the least.  By the time I'd get home, take care of Mia, get my stuff together for the next day, and do my night-time tooth-cleaning-face-washing-wind-down routine, I was hitting the hay after midnight.

But the show is now finished, and it was a fabulous success!

Today, being Memorial Day, was a day off from work, so not only did I not have to go back to the theatre, I didn't have to go to work, either!  It was glorious!  Of course, I woke up at my usual time.  The light in the summer makes Mia wake up much earlier than I'd like, and she won't let me sleep.  Since I was up, I decided to have a productive day.  I did 7 loads of laundry, knit 14 rows of Baby Bear's blanket, packed two more boxes, watched Julie & Julia, The Pursuit of Happyness, Mona Lisa Smile, and Fame, and the first four episodes of Season 1 of Dexter.  Wow.  I also made lunch and dinner, walked the dog several times, and vacuumed my living room.

Oh, and I've been working on a new story.  It's not on paper (or screen) yet, but I'm ironing out some details in my mind, and I should have something tangible very soon.  It's nice, doing some more writing.  I've been on a reading kick lately, and it was a nice break from writing, but I'm ready to dive back in.

What about you, blogglings?  What have you been up to for the last few weeks?

Dear Blogglings,

I'm sorry that I dropped off the face of the internet for the last week.  Life suddenly got crazy busy, and it really just slipped my mind.  Of course, it doesn't help that I've had no concept of what day of the week it has been, either.  Yeesh.  I was so tired that on three different days, I woke up in the exact same position I fell asleep in.  How do I know I didn't move?  Well, the blankets were undisturbed, and my arm was asleep from laying on it!

This week isn't quite so crazy, but it's still a bit overwhelming.  Today was definitely a Monday, and the computers at work seemed to know that.  Given that things are still a bit crazy, I'm going to stay on hiatus for the remainder of the week.  It's not fair to you lovely blogglings for me to do half-assed posts.  You deserve a full ass.  Hmm.  That didn't sound right.

I shall return next Monday, full of tales of my crazy two weeks.  Or perhaps I'll just make stuff up.  We'll see which turns out to be most interesting!

Until next week!

1-2-3-4

One arm bruise.

Two scrapes.

Three cuts (not scrapes, because they bled a teensy bit).

Four mosquito bites.

The result:

Check out the new grill!  It took a couple of hours, but my dad and I managed to assemble it ourselves!  And we even tried it out - it was perfect!  I'm pretty excited about trying it on my own sometime... to make pancakes.  Yes, pancakes.  My grill has a griddle.  It's made of awesome.

I like shiny things

A couple weeks ago, I had a Pampered Chef party.  It was a lot of fun - I'm such a sucker for those sorts of things!  I've had Partylite candle parties, Stampin' Up parties, Tupperware parties... I was even a Tupperware lady for a while.  There's just something fun about group shopping like that.

Maybe it's the fact that I'm not alone in my shopping in that sort of setting.  There's less guilt about buying stuff when everyone else around you is doing it, too.  Peer pressure, I suppose, can affect a thirty-something just as much as it can affect a teenager.

Of course, the yummy food and wine at Pampered Chef parties help!

I'm pretty happy with what I got, though.  I am now the proud owner of an actual double-boiler, not just a mixing bowl that doesn't quite fit over my pot!  I also now have an actual spice rack, rather than just a Tupperware box that sits on the shelf.  (But don't worry, I have a use for that Tupperware!)

Can you tell that shopping is a weakness for me?  Funny enough, I don't write many characters who have that weakness, and I don't really like reading about characters like that.  Hmm... if I were a psychologist, I'd probably have lots to say about that...

One more letter

Dear Carmen Electra,

I don't know whether to love you or to hate you.  I have had your 'Striptease Aerobics' series for years, but I've only ever done the first video, because it was fun, and I didn't feel very adventurous.  In an effort to shake up my workouts, I tried the second video on Monday.  Seriously, WTF????  My butt hurts so much, I can barely walk!  But it was awesome at the same time.

So thank you.  Or I hate you.  One of the two.  Maybe both.

Undecidedly,
Danielle

Someone watching over me

There is someone, somewhere, watching out for me. Or for Ruby (my car).

A couple of days ago, there was a weird clicking sound coming from the driver's side front tire. When I looked at it, I didn't see anything. A few days later, Ruby got wobbly. My dad was riding with me, and he got worried and insisted that we take the car in to the dealership. We did (well, he did, I went to work), and it turns out that the tire had split, the other front tire was close to splitting, and both rear tires were getting thin. I'm lucky I didn't die.

I'm also the girl who drove to the dealership with her engine held on by only two bolts. On the same side.

And just a few weeks ago, I barely missed getting hit by an idiot running a red light. I don't know how I managed to get so lucky. I'm grateful for it, though.

And I've learned my lesson - if my car starts doing weird things, I'll take her in right away!

May the Fourth be with you

So today is National Star Wars Day, and I don't know how to celebrate...

I feel like I should do something.

I think I'll put on Episode IV and fall asleep to the sound of Darth Vader.  Sounds relaxing, doesn't it?  Of course, the sound effects will probably meld with the Mexican food I had for dinner and result in absolutely insane dreams.  Actually, that sounds fun!

Happy Star Wars Day!

Just a few notes

Dear Target,

You know who has size 5 feet?  Short people.  You know who can't see the top shelf?  Short people.  Please make sure that the dude who sets up your shoe area is aware of this fact.  If I have to jump up to see what's in the box of shoes, chances are, I'm not going to bother.  You're pretty much guaranteeing business for Payless.

Vertically challengedly yours,
Danielle

*****

Dear Sunbeam,

While I appreciate that you manufacture one of the only hot-air poppers I've been able to find, if my options are a) eat no popcorn or b) pick up burning hot kernels from all around my kitchen before my dog can find them, I'm going to just go without popcorn.  More kernels ended up randomly flying around the room than ended up popping and landing in the bowl.  Please talk to your design team and suggest that they fix this issue.

With flying popcorn,
Danielle

*****

Dear subconscious,

Please please please please stop playing the same scene in my mind every time I close my eyes.  I didn't like seeing it the first time, and I don't like replaying it.  It's not pretty.  And it makes me a little bit nauseated.

Sickeningly yours,
Danielle

*****

Dear HEA,

I swear, I haven't forgotten you!  I promise!  I've got a brand new notebook all ready for my next draft, and I promise that I've been thinking of you.  It's just, with this new house, and a show, and work, and a very loving puppy, and a baby blanket to finish, and about a million other little things, well, I've been busy.  But I will make time for you soon.  I promise.

With love and procrastination,
Danielle

*****

Dear Lindt,

You make the best chocolate ever.  I love you.

Melting for you,
Danielle