Summer Time, Summer Time
Today is the full eclipse of the sun, which happened sometime around 6:20 am this morning, I believe. I'm usually clued into eclipses and such not because I am an amateur astronomer (though I did love astronomy as a teen and wanted to be a physicist before I confronted higher math), but because they usually figure into astrological forecasts and such.
I like to read my astrology forecasts, and I'm often surprised when they hit something accurately, but mostly I think all of those things, astrology and tarot, are just good little reflections on how to be more aware of how you are in every day life. I mean, if your astrology forecast says "be nice, or you'll get into a big fight today" then I think you can't go wrong by being nice, even if you never would have been in a big fight, right? If it tells you to slow down and take care of yourself or to wait before making a big purchasing decision, I think these are both good pieces of general advice.
Supposedly my forecast shows a lot happening career wise in the near future -- we'll see. I have several things into Harlequin, and my agent has given me a thumbs up on my mystery proposal, so it will be fun to see what happens, and if it all sells, I will soon have very busy times ahead.
For now, I am just meandering, since I have gotten ahead on all of my writing, and I'm looking forward to an easy weekend. It will be fun to see what happens with the Ritas, and I'm happy for whoever wins, even if it's not me. :) All in all I have had a lovely week, and the summer has been good, too. It took me a while to adjust to no travel, to just being home, but the advantages have been many. Getting writing done, spending time with family and friends, not being stressed by house or yard projects -- it's all done. Then there is the money saved by being home, which is nice, too. Vacations are good, but expensive.
This weekend, we'll spend tonight with family, we're helping my Dad with some small remodeling, and then go out to dinner. Tomorrow, either kayaking or hanging out, then a party at a friend's house in the evening. Sunday, we're driving up to a windmill farm about 30 miles north of here -- they have a spot with hundreds of windmills and we want to see it, it's apparently very impressive, and then back to spend some time at the local Bavarian Fest (German food, dancing, and hyjinx). Summer here is festival season -- every week there are uncounted numbers of ethnic festivals. In a few weeks, the State Fair will start, and that's always exciting for me. I am a huge fan of the Great New York State Fair. Family will visit, and all in all, summer has been very nice.
So, those are my plans for the moment.
As for the Rita, Karen Foley has the questionable honor of calling me at 1am if I win, and you can also check out her BLOG
where she's posting pictures and keeping us updated on her adventures in San Francisco. :) I'll post something here Sunday morning to let you all know one way or another, and in the meanwhile, what are all of your weekend plans? Share, and Sunday I'll pick two people to receive a signed copy of my Summer Blaze, What I Did On My Summer Vacation.
Sam
This Weekend
Well I already have a copy (and have read and really, really enjoyed) "What I Did On My Summer Vacation". As for what I am doing on the weekend. First I am going to try to get to the aquarium (we have a good one here), take a walk along the bayfront and take pictures, and probably buy groceries (not fun but a necessity). I'll be looking for pictures to take as that is a hobby of mine. And it goes without saying I'll be reading books.
Ellen Too
Hey Ellen
That sounds lovely. I'm reading Patricia Briggs Cry Wolf and hope to finish that this weekend. Maybe I have another book somewhere in my author stash I could give you instead, so I'll still count you in. ;)
Sam
Sleep?
I keep dreaming of some weekend in the future when the kids will be a little older and we can actually sleep in some morning--hah! (Yep, I'm sure the time will fly soon enough and then there'll be some OTHER reason I won't be sleeping!)
Seriously, I don't think we've got many plans this weekend--I need to do a big clothing switcheroo where I clear out the kids' outgrown stuff and see if I've got stuff the right size for them to wear... That doesn't really sound like fun... And we just got a two-wheeler for our son, so we need to acquire a helmet and pump up the tires.
How fun that you'll be with family this weekend, Sam! Keeping my fingers crossed :)
this weekend will be having
this weekend will be having coffee with my friend Karen, going to the Flea Market to see if there is anything new that I might be interested in purchasing and BBQing with friends coming over.
Have a great weekend everyone.
I thought about garage sales
Tomorrow morning. Mike might go kayaking with a pal, and if he does, I may take the truck to some sales. Otherwise, I'll go yakking with him. :) I'm getting a nice tan this year, too...
Enjoy!
Sam
Thanks Fedora
Sleep counts as much as anything. ;) Sometimes that kind of reorganizing can be fun - but if not, maybe put it off and go do something more tempting? Can we corrupt you and make you irresponsible like the rest of us? ;)
Sam
I'm gonna clean my room!
Sad, that I find that deeply exciting, no? LOL! I tried to check out my horoscope, but yup...can't get in there, either. Sigh. I've just got through working on a book that wouldn't quit and I'm breaking out the sprinkles!
Can you believe I'm looking forward to scrubbing my shower?? WHEEEEE!
Oh, I know that feeling
Yes, nothing like finishing and submitting a book and then cleaning house! Congrats! Have fun! Disinfect like no one is watching! LOL
Right now, it's almost weird how all the writing, housework, etc is done... kinda nice, though. In reality, our yard work is never really done, b/c what we need is about 10K worth of landscaping to really fix up the backyard jungle (really Desperate Landscapes should come help us), but we have cleared and fixed the parts we use, and it's nice enough to sit out there with a campfire and read and visit.
Really, while I know technology is glitchy, it amazes me that commercial sites like Astrology Zone, which have such large followings and KNOW they will be inundated at various points, don't prepare for that and avoid these slowdowns...
Sam
WHEN not IF
Sam,
Don't say IF your mystery sells, say WHEN! We all have faith in you!
Weekends are always the time to catch up on chores, errands, and cleaning.
There are a couple of store in our mall that are having sales this weekend so we're hauling The Child down to see if we can start the Back to School process (school here starts on 9.3).
Tomorrow night, we're meeting friends for a kid-less dinner out. Since their son is best friends with The Child, most of our get-togethers involve kids. It'll be fun to do this by ourselves.
Sunday is still up in the air. If we accomplish enough tomorrow, it'll be a lazy day that involves a lot of reading. Since the bookstore is one of my stops tomorrow (and Mt TBR is starting to look like the leaning tower of Pisa), that will be a good thing!
ani
Thanks ani :)
I hope the mystery sells -- it's a series, so a huge commitment, but we'll see... The market is so hard these days...
Have a great weekend!
Sam
Weekend
I need to do the laundry and clean house. Also need to mow the lawn if it drys up enough. We had a lot of rain yesterday but we needed it so I will not complain. That is about it for my weekend plans.
Sam...my weekend plans
Sam...my weekend plans include taking the kiddies to the pool and doing a few maintenance things around the house...not the most exciting, but with my days of freedom rapidly dwindling, I have to make the most of what time I have left!
August 1st means the school year is RIGHT around the corner and that SUCKS!! I've just gotten the boys to sleep past 7:30am and now I've got to start thinking about practicing to get up early for when I go back to work...man, that bites!
Yeah, there's also laundry, annd housework, but that al may not get done...BIG surprise!
I'd like to go yakking or flea marketing...sounds good!
Ronda
Had a bunionectomy on
Had a bunionectomy on Tuesday, so my weekend , and several more days, will be spent on the couch reading.
Poor thing!!
Estella,
That sounds so painful! I hope you are up and around soon!
Get better,
ani
Summer fun...
This weekend, I'll be celebrating my first ever contest win (in Virginia Romance Writers Fool for Love Contest for my Blaze-to-be, hopefully, Virgin Territory) by getting some serious writing done on my new Blaze WIP. I also intend to watch the GH/Rita Awards live on RWA's website. Tried to do that last year when I still had dial-up and...yeah, not going there. ;)
I'm really looking forward to the NYS Fair, which means fall is just around the corner. Can't wait!
BTW, Sam, I picked up a copy of Friction at Stop 'n Swap Books in Westvale a couple weeks back. I wasn't into Blazes when it was released and can't wait to read it. (Now I just need the other 2 HotWires...)
Have a great weekend...wishing you much success tomorrow night! One question, though - where is this windmill spot you mentioned? I love them and had a dream about one just the other night, as a matter of fact.
Cari
WOO! CONGRATS!
I think I sense a new Blaze author soon to be in our midst -- congrats on your contest win! And you do the best titles. :)
I hope you enjoy Friction -- let me know :)
The windmill farm is in Loweville, though my BIL saw the info on it, so I'm not sure specifically, but I bet you can find it on the web...
I love the Fair... hate that it's the end of summer. Wah.
Thanks for the wishes... I don't think I'll be watching, but I'll be looking forward to the results, of course. :)
Sam
Tomorrow
Tomorrow I'll be going to my niece's 5th birthday party and, I'm sure, going into Hannah Montana overload. She wants all Hannah Montana things for presents. My S-I-L is making a guitar-shaped cake and decorating it like Hannah's. She's an excellent cake decorator. Last year it was a castle cake fit for a princess.
I think I'll be recuperating Sunday. :)