News From Janet
August Is Nearly Over
August is nearly over and I have not accomplished much. I did spend a great deal of time celebrating my birthday. I went out three weekends in a row which was fun.
I did not writing, but I did finally get my prizes made and out for my contest. I went to the OCC/RWA meeting and had a book signing, which went well. I went to plot group and added my opinion, though I had nothing to plot. I went to lunch yesterday with Debra, my critique partner, and we discussed what we had done, which was little of nothing.
I did clean out from under the couch this weekend. I found three of Chewbaca's squeaky balls, two squeaky bones, and a train. I also found his tennis shoe which I am not sure how he got it under the couch because I could hardly get it back out. I found two cat bowls and a dozen pieces of silverware that Chewbaca had stashed. If I had something longer than a ruler, I would probably find more.
Teddi Cat has moved into the back bedroom. She has her water and her dry food bowl back there. She has a cat box that she doesn't use, but then she isn't using the one that she's always had. I have no idea what she is using. She is blind now and seems to get lost. Tom accidentally left his bedroom door open and she wandered in. Then she got stuck behind the door and could not find her way out. She gets really upset when this happens. He had to carry her back to the bedroom and calm her.
September I am going to get back to writing and start on my new story. Pax has been waiting for me to start telling his story.
My Birthday Again
I had a busy weekend. I took off Thursday since my birthday was Saturday and did nothing. It was nice to just sit around. Friday I got my nails done and did a few things, like the laundry. Yesterday I signed Freedom's Treasure at the OCC/RWA meeting, then went out to dinner with my girl friends. We went to Chevy's Mexican Restaurant and I got a sombrero for my birthday.
Today I finally chose the winners for my contest and finished making the booklets I am giving away. Next weekend the boys, my daughters-in-law and my sister are taking me to dinner. Last weekend my friend Phil took me to a movie and dinner, so I have been having a great time celebrating my birthday.
Life has been busy and I have been bad about keeping the news updated, but I am going to try and do better.
Congratulations to the contest winners.
Freedom's Treasure - Released today
Freedom's Treasure, a historical romance, was released today. The paperback will be out in a couple of weeks.
I have started sending out ads. I have to finish and I need to finish Jubilee's story because I will be starting a contest shortly. I am always busy when a book comes out.
Chewbaca has had a busy week. He never did like the bone he got for Christmas, but I had to sneak it into the trash. He gets upset when we throw anything away.
He was scratching something awful, so I got out the flea medicine. I couldn't really tell if he had fleas or not because his fur is so thick, but he kept trying to knock over the furniture while he scratched. I couldn't get the flea medicine open, so Tom had to help. Tom called him over and he went to him with his head hanging down and a look of terror on his face. You'd think we beat him or something. It took three tries to get him to hold still long enough to get the medicine on him. He kept slinking away from Tom to me on the couch. I finally had to get a treat and stand by Tom. I held onto his collar so Tom could put the rest of the medicine on him.
Then Chewbaca went into the rubbing routine. He nearly knocked over the recliner he rubbed so hard to get the medicine off. Then he tried the couch and knocked the pillows everywhere. He finally gave it up.
Last night there had to be something in the neighbor's backyard because Chewbaca kept running out his door and barking. He is not a quiet barker. I kept yelling at him to get in the house and be quiet. This continued every half hour and it was getting later and later. I'm beginning to worry the neighbors are going to complain. At 11 p.m., he started out the door and I yelled at him to get back inside and be quiet. He actually turned around and came over to sit next to me. I was shocked.
I am behind on Jubilee's short story because I was so busy the last two weeks. Memorial Day weekend I had my galley to read and 33 final projects to grade. That took all weekend. This weekend I had plot group, then my god-son's 30th birthday. I finished judging one of the three contests entries I have to do for the OCC/RWA contest. I think I am going to be busy next weekend finishing everything I haven't finished.
Look for a new contest shortly.
Busy, Busy Weeks
A house I saw in New Orleans.
I can't believe May is half over already. I seem to have too much to do. I have managed to finish one short story to go with Freedom's Treasure, which is due out the first part of June. I have finished the edits and am waiting for the galley to show up. I also have three contest entries I need to do for the Orange Rose Contest.
Catching cold slowed me down some. I didn't feel much like doing anything.
Last weekend we celebrated Mother's Day, my sister's birthday and Loki's birthday. We had a great time. We went to Olive Garden Saturday night. My other daughter-in-law, Jessi, couldn't join us because she had three group projects due on Monday for her classes. She had to meet with two of the groups that Saturday. Michael bought me two new throw pillows for my couch. I put them on my list for my last birthday and Christmas. I didn't think anyone was ever going to buy me a new set. I put one behind my back when I sit on the couch and then put it under my arm when I sleep at night. The pillow I had was in terrible shape. It wouldn't go back to a square shape; more like a football that was threadbare and leaking stuffing.
I have announced the winner for my contest. I will be starting a new one soon because of the release of Freedom's Treasure, a historical romance.
Traveling
This is a picture inside one of the standing slave quarters at the Laura Plantation outside of New Orleans. It was a Creole plantation. It was part of the tour that I went on and it was a long walk out there and back. I wasn't sure I was going to make it back.
Since I don't walk so well anymore, I was asked when we checked in at the airport if I wanted a wheelchair. I didn't get one for the first leg of the journey, but I figured I might need one when we got to Nashville. I was glad to have it. We had about 50 minutes to get from one plane to another because the first one landed early. Still, the second gate was way around the other side and I never would have been able to make it that far. In New Orleans, I got wheeled out to the curb and the attendant got us a taxi right away. We didn't have to wait in line.
The Sheraton where we stayed was right across from the French Quarter. It was great fun walking through it and seeing all the little shops. There are a great many small alleys with shops like you will find no where else. We walked so much, I almost couldn't get out of bed on Friday when the conference started.
I am working on short stories for Sam and Jubilee. Their story is due out in June.
Next week look for a new contest. I will be giving away a copy of The River's Treasure and some other cool stuff.
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