Where do I go?

I've been busy today!  I added the "Links" section to my blog, so you can see the places I visit when I'm surfing the web.  The thing is, while I have close to a hundred blogs that I check out on a regular basis, I rarely comment on any of them.  It's not that I don't like what I see - on the contrary!  I love what I see, and I keep going back for more.

Unfortunately, it seems like most bloggers post either during the day (while I'm at work), or at night (while I'm asleep).  There's nothing inherently wrong with these times (she says as she types tonight's blog at 11pm).  Because I work in a medical office, we've got a fairly tight internet policy.  While I can get away with reading one or two blogs for fun while I catch up on the latest medical news, I can't read all of the ones I want, and I certainly can't wander off and comment on them.  When I do get a chance to make comments (usually after work), a lot of what I wanted to say has already been said, and I hate to comment with something like, "Yeah, I agree with Mr. X!"

What does all of this mean?  Well, it means that the awesome people that I admire probably have no idea who I am.

Except for Lisa and Laura Roecker. They know who I am now.  *squee!*

Do you know who they are?  You should go check them out!  Now!  Go!  I'll wait here until you get back.

Welcome back!  Did you have fun over with LiLa?  I'll bet you recognize the book below (since you clearly followed my directions and went to visit their blog!).

I went out and bought this book just after it came out (on March 1st).  Turns out, I wasn't the only one. Another friend of mine, who is friends with Lisa and Laura on facebook, posted a photo of herself buying the book at our local bookstore, and I commented on the photo, saying that I had bought it, too.

Next thing I know, I wake up the next morning with a friend request!  How cool is that??

Really, though, I think it's more than a little awesome that someone (well, two someones) that I have been admiring for months thought it would be a good idea to contact me.  And it certainly doesn't hurt that they're uber-talented.

I'm planning to start (and finish) The Liar Society this weekend.  I would have started it the same day I bought it, except I had three other books in progress, and that's my upper limit for multiple-reads.

Oh, right, there was one more thing!  The new list of links is a work-in-progress, mostly because I follow so many blogs that I can't stare at the screen long enough to put them all up at once.  Because it's so long, I don't think that many people will just go to that tab and start looking at all of them, all at once.  So what I'm going to do is, every week or so, post a blog about these other blogs, and why I follow them.  That way, you can a) get an idea of what they're about and b) get a bit of an idea about what I like to read.

Until next time, blogglings, have a nice weekend!  And don't forget to visit Lisa and Laura Write!

Great Expectations

I know that I'm an over-achiever.  I'm also pretty hard on myself, and after yesterday, I think I may have to lower my expectations.

Here's the deal: on Sunday evening, I was lamenting the fact that I hadn't accomplished anything all weekend.  I thought about it for a minute, then realized that I did get some stuff done.  I wasn't sure if it was enough, though, so I sat down and made a list.

• baked and frosted a cake
• vacuumed (with some help!)
• washed one load of dishes
• washed, dried, and folded four loads of laundry
• hemmed curtains (which are, like, a mile long and curvy)
• made a sample scrub cap from two different patterns that I sort of merged into one
• wove in ends and finished eight dishcloths
• made french toast 
• went grocery shopping
• went to dance rehearsal (about 2 hours)
• went to theatre rehearsal (about 4 hours)
• ripped four cds to my computer and updated my music software
• took Mia to the dog park (more on that later!)
• changed my sheets
• changed my nailpolish
• took out the garbage

And all that is in addition to hanging out with my SO and going out to eat a couple of times.  When I sat down and looked at that list, I realized that I did a lot.  A LOT!  Especially considering that I had two rehearsals, plus an hour or so at the dog part, plus shopping.

So maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself.  I think the problem is that I keep looking at all of the things are still left to do, unfortunately.  But I'm going to work on it, because I'm tired of feeling like I'm not good enough.  Wish me luck!

Not feeling it

I sat down to work on tonight's fiction, and nothing happened.  I stared at the screen, and nothing flowed.  I think there are a few things at play here:

1. I've been mentally revising for the last few weeks.  I really do need to get it down on paper, but I'm working and reworking on both Partners and Happily Ever After.  
2. Meliora wants to play again, but I don't know what to do with her.  I condensed several short fiction pieces into a story called Fog Rolls In, but the character of Meliora is bigger than that - I think that she needs a full-length novel.  Unfortunately, I'm not sure of what sort of plot to use, so that's simmering, too.
3. I got a Shiny New Idea on Sunday while I was in the shower.  I really want to start playing with it, but I don't want to start a new project yet.  Why, you ask?
4. Mercury is in retrograde.  No, I'm not generally a big follower of astrology, but in general, when Mercury is in retrograde, you're supposed to be better off finishing outstanding projects than starting on new ones.  Which leads us to -
5. I've got a lot of other stuff on my mind that needs finishing.  Not only do I desperately need to edit Partners and Happily Ever After, I need to finish my mum's Christmas stocking (which will totally not get done for Christmas - I've been spending about three hours a night on it, and I'm only a third done), I need to finish my sister's Sekrit Surprise Present, I need to make a few more Christmas cards for people who have sent me cards (but I'm not complaining about that - please, send me more non-bill mail! I love it!), and a list of other craft projects about a mile long.  Oh, and cleaning up the apartment so my holiday guests don't have to sleep on a pile of dirty clothes.

So you don't get any fiction from me today.  :(  But feel free to go back in my archives and poke around!  Maybe check out the horrible-ness of the "Take Five" series.  I think that may get revisited soon, too.

Feelin' good!

I have had an awesome weekend.  Absolutely awesome.  Did I mention it was good?  Like, really good?

I sat down to write my usual craft update, and I feel like I don't have all that much to post... I mean, I finished one little project, and some cards, but aside from that, all of my work has been on projects that are big enough that I can't finish them in a short time frame.  Plus, I tend to get bored if I work on the same thing for too long...

First, the photos:

Illoria's dice bag!  Now all of the girls in Tanya's clan have special dice bags.  Whee!  I'm thinking that next time we game, I'll take a photo of all of the bags together.

The card for Grandpa and Karen (Yes, I make multiples of cards.  It's easier that way.)

Birthday cards for friends who shall remain nameless (because I haven't sent them yet, and I don't want to give it away).

Second, the list!  These are the projects that are currently in progress, in order of pressing need for completion:

• Spencer's baby blanket
• NaNo Hamsterbeans
• Hufflepuff scarf
• Rachel's baby blanket
• Karen's baby blanket
• Picnic blanket
• Pillowcase
• Dance sweater/legwarmers
• Yellow/white wave blanket
• Purple/pink/white wave blanket
• Pink/white granny square blanket

Five minute fiction

Five minutes to think, five minutes to write...

From the Imagination Prompt Generator:

Brainstorm 10 titles to your autobiography.
1. Crossing Borders
2. Falling Over
3. Tales from a Broken Girl
4. Confessions of a Yarn Whore
5. Walking Contradiction
6. Everything and Nothing: Who Am I, Really?
7. Danielle's Guide to Housebreaking (Dogs, Men, and more)
8. Black and White: My Life in Photographs
9. Dancing in Circles
10. What I Did For Love

Name five things in your freezer.
1. Toffee-flavoured ice cream bars
2. Two apple pies and a meat pie. Or two meat pies and an apple pie. Unlabeled.
3. Homemade chicken soup
4. Kroger brand chicken tenders
5. Ice


From chrisbrogan.com:

Ten Guilty Pleasures
1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
2. People magazine
3. Dove chocolate
4. US magazine
5. OK magazine
6. Tabloids in general
7. D&D (in some circles - with others, there is no guilt)
8. I really can't think of any more...
9.
10.