Friday Night

Hello everyone,
Tonight I am doing okay I watched Monk and the show after that. I baked some sugar cookies and I am getting ready to do some homework tonight.
I also am trying to do a little cleaning.
Hugs, Pamela

Wednesday evening

Hello everyone,
I am going to take a few minutes to take some deep breaths then blog. My week has become more hectic as its going along.
But I am gearing up for fall so it's okay.
I want to finish the sampler for Mishell for Christmas that has to be a priority as does PR for my book, then of course I am still writing the second book so that too must come into play along with my studies.
At the moment I sleep mornings, do studies and catch up on email as I do laundry in the afternoons (if chronic illiness allows for this), evenings I stitch, supper, dishes and try to spend some time with Frank. I check IM but not always on or even in the office or the sampler will not get done.
At night I write and I read. I do my column, my reviews, interviews (But sometimes interviews and reviews) can wait until the weekend.
Once a week Frank and I venture out to shop and he goes more often after that but right now I try to limit myself as I am saving for Kansas City and my friend Terri is coming to visit me when I go there in September so I am looking forward to that, plus there is a lot to do for book between now and then.
I am also learning to quilt and I don't have friends who do this that live nearby or can help so for me I am self teaching and taking it a little at a time.
Right now I am stitching on some little quilted coasters that I have to decided to make for family. If they turn out then I'll make for friends. These are Christmas ones that I am trying to stitch at the moment.
The leaves are falling here but they are dead and brown as the ground has been so dry and I'm afraid nothing much is looking very pretty in my neck of the woods.
On the upside books I'm reading are very good right now so that helps my stress levels go way down to be able to sit and read at night.
I like blogging because it helps me put my thoughts in order.
It's going to be really hot starting tomorrow so I am making the most of today........
Anyway now you're caught up with me.
Hugs, Pamela

Friday Noon

Dear Readers,
Okay my total page count is now up to thirty pages for the week. I am going to take tonight off writing because I usually take Friday's as one of my days off.
Tonight I am going to cross stitch and relax while watching Monk.
Okay here it is 87 and sunny it is supposed to be hotter I'm sure but I am enjoying a break from any real heat.
Hugs, Pamela

Thursday evening

Hello Readers,
Well my post on whiners received some passionate responses. But it's te way I feel. Writing is hard work and it like housework, taking care of our families and so many other things takes time to to do TIME YOU HAVE TO MAKE not time that magically opens up to us.
The bottom line for me is don't talk about it DO IT. I have lived up to that for a while now and yes, SOMETIMES life gets in the way of writing. I mean people die, get married have babies, and company does come. But deep down inside I know that no matter what I say that keeps me from SHORT OF BEING SICK WITH MY CHRONIC ILLINESS it's just an excuse.
Last night I wrote eleven pages no great shakes but this week so far I have written twenty-five still there are those who write twenty five pages a night and I used to write ten pages a day and sometimes twenty but for me I tell myself if I can write five pages a night then I can be okay. Lately I have written more but I don't keep track of how many hours I write a week I do it by page count.
I might say right here now why I chose to be an author:
I chose to be one because I can think of nothing better than to entertain people between the pages of a book.
I want to escape (so I write fiction although I have tons of non fiction that is equally entertaining) I also spent a great deal of times at libraries growing up and had it's influence on me as well. I developed a natural love of books and for me books are a part of my past, present and future.
Then one day I decided to try my hand at writing something longer than a poem or short story(but I started with a horse short story in late grade school) from there poetry.
Then later after my second marriage I thought that I should try to write a book much encouragement came from Monette Cummings and she called me everyday at first having me read to her over the phone (this was back when phone calls were NOT cheap) she taught me over the phone about Hooks, middle of the book blues, she wanted this worse for me than maybe I did since I had no idea what I was actually doing but then something magical did happen I DID LEARN and I did start to feel comfortable in my writing skin. I started to take my writing seriously more and more and now days I can state one thing that I don't think anyone can take exception to and that is IF YOU DON'T TAKE YOUR WRITING SERIOUSLY then no one else will either. It's that simple. Husbands don't change magically, phone doesn't stop ringing, the day job doesn't disappear (unless you make it), children continue to grow up inside the house or outside the house and friends still need attention. But it's like anything else if you want it you will make time not excuses and that is the bottom line.
Monette never had children but she sure had family that got under he skin from time to time and her friends were her extended family. I remember how somber she could be but let me tell you when I told her some of the motherhood things and wife things that I did she would laugh so hard that she would hang up and call back after she caught her breath. In the very last year of her life she was writing historical mysteries and one Ironside type mystery. She never stopped learning, teaching and dreaming.
I guess the main thing she taught me was "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today"
In the long run of things writing is not as important as relationships, family, friends, of course your higher authority God or whatever but the truth is if you want to write and make time to write you will write otherwise you can keep a list of excuses that after your dead someone else will publish. LOLOLOLOL...........
Hugs, Pamela

Whiners

LOLOLOL I knew that title would get your attention. BUT honestly don't you hate whiners. You know the ones I am talking about sniff sniff.............
I don't have time to write but I have time to live on email every day and stay there for hours.
I need a perfect week or moment to write. YEAH LIKE THAT IS EVER GOING TO HAPPEN FOR ANY OF US!!!!!!!!!
I can't write until I finish editing or rewriting what I have written but I haven't looked at the book in two months...DOES THIS MEAN I'M OFF SCHEDULE OR DON'T HAVE ONE?
No Comment ----
I have more than one idea so I don't know which one to pick. It's so complicated to write. Do I use a pen or a computer?
Gee if you think that's complicated I can't wait for what follows.
I am not picking on any one certain person here but I have had some people give me some doozy answers over the years.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE BEST ONES....
1. I have an idea maybe YOU could turn it into something. So okay what is wrong with THIS PERSON TURNING IT INTO SOMETHING?
2. I am too tired to write but walking or jogging everyday gives me the most energy I've ever had.
OH REALLY?
3. The t.v is too loud. SO MOVE TO A DIFFERENT ROOM!
4. But if I write something I will just have to rewrite it.
OH GROW UP......
5. I don't have time to write today instead I'm going shopping.
Okay we all have to shop sometime.............but I would think that after or before shopping there might be time ?
6. Here is the dandy and yes this one really happened to me. I FORGOT MY NOTEBOOK SO I WROTE THE PLOT I WANTED YOU TO LOOK AT ON A NAPKIN BUT I LOST ONE OF THE NAPKINS....blushing now she added IS THIS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM..... or can you read it like it is?

Monday evening August

Hello everyone,
Well today has been odd...Frank was in charge at work while the big boss was out of town so he took a really early lunch which means shusssshhhh I had an afternoon to myself and after a little nap, I decided to start reading MISS JULIA'S STANDS HER GROUND well I went out to the yardswing and started reading it along about 2:30 and the next thing I know it's 4:30 in the afternoon.LOLOLOLOL I was sooo into this book and because of that it's a Hamburger Helper night. Heehee
I am going to have to watch sitting down and reading this book as the week goes on or I won't be able to stick to my to-do list of writing, homework and stitching.
But I have to say being lost in a good book is what it's all about for me.
You have I figured something out my middle years of life. The children have left home and it's Frank & I the problem is everyone thinks I don't have a thing to do. That is not true.....
When Melissa lived at home she had chores. Who does those chores now? ME
I have more to do because Frank doesn't pitch in but occassionally because work has picked up for him at the odd hour day and night and this includes weekends.
He helps by cooking but lately I've done more of that again at least during the week.
Used to be three sometimes five of us looking after the house, cats and laundry. Not anymore...ME...I am not complainging about the added work no I am complaining that everyone assumes I have nothing to do which is not true. I mean sure I have the occassional boring day but I did then too my writing schedule alone would cramp some peoples style but it's the way I have always done it.
Plus I will say in my middle years it does take me longer to get same chores done. I am not sure why but I lose track of my day even with a to-do list and timers.

The thing that bothers me more than anything is that I like adult conversation about more than laundry such as books, writing, stitching and travel. Not to mention history and entertainment.
Frank likes to talk about HIS work and never asks about mine. He likes to watch t.v. but doesn't talk about and of course when the kids call it's about THEIR LIVES.....so back to what I have been thinking I want to be friends with people more of a like mind to me. Authors and writers who ACTUALLY WRITE AND DO SOMETHING, readers who ACTUALLY READ AND VARIETY OF GENRES who knows I might get interested in Series books that aren't cozy mystery (although this is my first love) STITCHERS WHO ACTUALLY STITCH AND QUILTERS WHO QUILT..... I am passed the stage to gossip in my life, or feel like I don't fit in heck I never did fit in with the In-crowd and I really don't care what I wear or what I look like if it's comfortable and I have a running computer or blank paper to write with I'm happy. I'm happy if I get a new book instead of a new diamond. I am happy if I have choices of patterns and fabric to stitch AND A GOOD LIGHT AS MY EYES ARE BAD....
So anyway MISS JULIA AND I HAVE STOOD OUR GROUND TODAY! LOLOLOL.....
Hugs, Pamela

Easy Sunday

It's Sunday and I have watched a lot of Hallmark Mysteries today. I cross stitched too and now I will eat supper and relax. Writing tonight....................Hugs, Pamela

Saturday

Hello everyone, today has been good. I slept in and finally got some rest and then we had roastbeef an cheddar sandwiches for lunch. Tonight he's making sweet and sour chicken.
I also wrote reviews, sent messages to a few of my groups, looked some things up on the internet and made a library trip Here is my library haul:

MISS JULIA STANDS HER GROUND
MURDER ON THE PROWL
LOOSE LIPS
SAKS & VIOLINS
So I am feeling great and the authors are Ann B. Ross, Rita Mae Brown (two of the books Loose Lips & Murder On The Prowl) and Mary Daheim.
Frank came home from working on someone's car and watched GOONIES he loves that movie.
Okay I am going to stitch then read.
Hugs, Pamela

Bubble Bubble

Okay I changed my blog look as this reminded me of bubbles. I hoep you like it. Hugs, Pamela

Friday Mystery

Hello, well tonight is 'Monk' so I will be watching that and today not too much has happened but Terri has been busy she added our photos to our webpage.
I am very tired this evening and having a few other health related issues.
The heat is back and isn't helping either as I feel like its stifling but it could also be hotflashes......
Either way I haven't turned on the dryer or the oven as I feel I am giving off enough heat.
hugs, Pamela

Almost Friday

Hello Readers, I hear some people have missed me posting to this blog lately so I am here to correct this matter ASAP. LOLOLOL
Honestly I simply don't know where the passed two days have gone, but here I am and let's see I'll start with the fact I have two daughters moving almost the same time this month.
This weekend is going to be full of peace and quiet of course around here that is another name for SURPRISE HERE I AM...from one child or another but we are under the impression it will be JUST US this weekend.LOLOLOL.............
Okay I am reading Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie and loving them plus have started Barbara Colley's DEATH TIDIES UP and this is not the one for our group read but I have wanted to read this one for a while and decided WHY NOT...I finished MOTIFF FOR MURDER the scrapbooking mystery set in New Orleans after Katrina this is very very good book and you can find a review of it on my website:
http://www.mayhemandmagic.com/
Scroll down on the interviews and reviews page and on there you'll find an interview with Elaine Viets............
Life isn't too bad right now and for anyone who cares I got new walking shoes and socks the other night at Wallyworld. We people who live in Parsons know how to whoop it up!!!
My writing of STITCHES & STONES is still coming along and this book is practically writing itself hmmmmmmm at least until the rewrites...
Tonight we did a bit of grocery shopping and I can tell you this author's menu for the next few days. Tonight we had taco salad and some nachos
Friday night homemade chicken soup and grilled turkey and cheese sandwiches.
Saturday Night we are having sweet and sour chicken
Sunday I am thinking about it being hot so probably a lighter supper that night of pasta salad or maybe salmon patties
There now you know what one author's evening meals are like.
I want to read some new cozies so I might have to see what I can do about that this weekend.
How about everyone else...what are your weekend plans?
I know I'll stitch and read, not sure what Frank will be doing but he's talking like he might help a guy with his car and try his hand at baking some cookies or something.
Of course by the time the weekend gets here who knows!!!
I know I'll be checking my website out!!!
Okay if any of you cozy authors have a book coming out and want me to review it. CONTACT ME so I can read and write a review of ithe book!
Hugs, Pamela