Archive for December, 2008

Happy New Year!

Wednesday, December 31st, 2008


I could look back at 2008 and talk about what has happened, because certainly good stuff has. But enough other stuff that happened is no place I want to dwell, so I think I’ll take a page out of my middle son’s book and say, “Time to move on.”

And having done so, and thinking positive, I will toss out a few resolutions as well.

1. Get the revisions done. This is a no-brainer. They need to be in next week. They will be. Christo has finally got his act together. It’s just a matter of me getting it on the page now. Or, the rest of it on the page.

2. Enjoy winter. Sometimes easier said than done because often hereabouts winter is a pain. But as my stepdad would have said, “It’s better than the alternative.” By this he meant, not summer, but being dead. My stepdad dealt in basics. And winter is definitely preferable.

3. Finish two books (Christo’s doesn’t count; it is finished, it’s just being tinkered with).

4. Go visit the grandkids. Pretty sure I’ll be able to keep that one!

5. Use the ‘bird by bird’ approach to getting my office cleaned — one box at a time.

I’m going to stop at five because I don’t want to overload the circuits. And I do want to have a reasonable chance of keeping them.

What about you? What resolutions are you making? Or do you make any at all?

Temptations

Monday, December 29th, 2008


It’s blog time for me again over at the Pink Heart Society where I get to talk about temptations. At the moment, neck-deep in revisions, my biggest temptation is to be anywhere but at my desk.

And the greatest temptation drawing me away from my desk are several boxed sets of DVDs that I — or lucky family members — found under the Christmas tree.

For years we didn’t have a television at all. We never had one before we got married and after the kids were born we deliberately didn’t get one because it seemed like more trouble than it was worth. Certainly I know it saved a lot of arguments over the years about who wanted to watch what and how much time could they spend watching it.

I was always a low-maintenance kind of mother — if confrontations could be avoided, I was all for that — as long as they toed the line when it mattered. They did. And the tv wasn’t around to be a temptation at all.

It wasn’t until the youngest headed off to Wyoming at age 18 for school that we (no, I) succumbed. I bought a television. But I tend to forget to watch it. It doesn’t tempt me because I have to rearrange my schedule to fit its schedule (we don’t have Tivo).

But I love boxed sets. I can watch them when I want, however many I want, and I don’t miss anything that way. For years I’ve been hoping that they would put Laramie, my favorite western from when I was a kid, on DVD and in a boxed set. For years no one did.

And now, my dear friend Jessica Douglass tells me, they are doing season 3. Season 3 happened about 1961, which was about the time I stopped watching because I got a life. So chances are I never saw any of those episodes. Umpteen hours of Robert Fuller just waiting for me . . . talk about temptation.

I don’t know when they are expected to come out yet. Jessica didn’t say. But I’ve put my name down to be notified. And I’m going to go get busy on revisions so I can watch the Foyle’s War DVDs I already have so my TBV (to-be-viewed) pile is empty for when Laramie arrives.

Do you like boxed sets? Which ones? Has anyone seen Burn Notice?

I bought it for Kate Walker for Christmas on the basis of reviews. It’s on my Netflix list, but I need to get the revisions done first. What do you think?

Yes, I know I should have asked before I bought it, but I couldn’t because she reads this blog. Her cat Sidney reads this blog. There is no privacy in blogworld. That said however, if you have other recommendations for future gifts (like birthdays) send them along. I’d be grateful.

Housekeeping

Sunday, December 28th, 2008


I know I should have done all the housekeeping stuff before the holidays. But when you’re going to be spending it with several little and not-so-little-anymore boys — and their dog — there really isn’t much point.

It was lovely. We had a very good time. Now I am cleaning up.

And while I’m doing that, I am cleaning up loose ends on my desk as well. Some of them have to do with winners of books which will be sent out, weather permitting, tomorrow. Avi and Gina, your books will be on their way first thing. And Mallory, who won 3 Antonides books at the eharlequin open house, yours will be out the door, too.

My apologies for not getting them sent earlier, but the ice, snow and lines at the post office didn’t cooperate. The lines are gone now. And, barring major ice, I’ll be at the p.o. tomorrow.

Speaking of winning books, it’s almost time for the 3rd annual Here Come The Grooms contest which I’ve been doing with Kate Walker and Liz Fielding. We’re getting ready to do it again. So check back for details.

PJ has already agreed to come and blog, which is a very good thing, as I’ll be deep in Demetrios’s story by then.

Stay tuned.