In the past couple of days writing has taken a back seat to family needs. Sometimes life is like that.

Getting ready 2 accompany father-in-law 2 nursing home where he'll b for 5 days of respite care. Why'd I think I'd get work done b4 then?

Woot! "Casablanca" is on Netflix instant viewing!

One of Don's uncles is paying a surprise visit. He'll have to take the house as it is at the moment.

My column is online - gym class memories to ponder...http://ping.fm/je1T5

Almost 2k words done today. Nano project at nearly 13k - not that I'm behind or anything like that...

Worried about the world ending in 2012? This website might make you feel better (Thanks J. Steven York for pointing me to this): http://ping.fm/7QyDf

Maybe it's the dreary weather but I want to curl up next to a fire with a good book and a mocha latte.

FINALLY got column written. Now, bed or goofing around?

I hate it when I sit down to write something and my brain freezes up.

Thank you to the men and women in uniform who served and/or continue to serve their country. We owe you.

If you're doing Nanowrimo this year, so am I! My handle is bookwormlady and I'm already behind in my words!

Getting hair done first time in AGES. Feels good.

Hey everyone - remember to set your clocks back 1 hour before going to bed tonight!

Just read on Twitter that "Mythbusters" is reairing their "Balloon child" myth on Wednesday at 10 pm. That didn't take long...

Playing Scrabble on Facebook with James...after outpatient procedure this morning, hoping brain still works...

Got hold of Left 4 Dead 2 demo. Going home to check it out. Why are y'all looking at me funny?

Doing a bad imitation of an awake person at the moment...

*Looks at large number of unfinished short stories on laptop with dismay* Bad writer! No cookie!

Ugh. Migraine. Column done, time for soothing bath and bed.

Working on getting manuscripts out. Also have a column to write...

Going out for a late dinner with Don.

Running errands and the like. When I get home, fiction writing & planning Ladies Bible Class lesson waiting.

My column is online! Read it here: http://ping.fm/OIStT

Arrgh...nap is calling me...must...resist...

Adventures in printers almost over. Last task: set up Don's computer.

Advantage of stupid annoying things happening in my life: sometimes, they're great column fodder!

Sigh. Apparently I DO need the sleeping meds the doc perscribed. Rats.

Tip of the day: if you skip lunch on Sunday afternoon you will get woozy during evening church and your husband will force-feed you nuts.

My column is online! Sorry if it makes you mad...http://ping.fm/ooKll

I wonder if the new printer's installation CD is TRYING to make me crazier or is that a happy accident?

testing Ping

Tired & cranky. Not sure why. Maybe reading in bed will help.

Dropped April & kids at airport. On the way home I'm introducing Bubba to Steak 'n Shake.

My column is online - one time I can't see both sides of an issue: http://ping.fm/mYyjd

Sigh. Had to take major sleeping meds per doctor's orders and now still shaking it off.

"No compulsion in the world is stronger than the urge to edit someone else's document." -H. G. Wells

Yay! We can turn water back on in 20 minutes!

Guys who came to plant stuff outside broke hot water pipe. Joy.

Okay God, trying 2 take it easy. I guess You figured You'd force me to do so with a virus...

Okay head. I thought we got along. Why are you letting a migraine in?

My column for this week - what would you do for fame? http://ping.fm/MfHwD

New blog post: Death of a streak. When taking a break may be badly needed: http://ping.fm/i1uuz

The death of a streak

Well, my streak of writing 500 words a day died after 147 days.

What happened?

Short answer is, life happened.

Longer answer is more complex.

I came off an intensely busy summer - a son who graduated from college, underwent dental surgery, and got married in a matter of weeks; three wonderful but intense back to back workshops; a vacation with Don.

I finished a 90,000 word novel at the end of August. It was intense and somewhat draining.

I've been helping to care for my inlaws and dealing with other issues on the homefront.

The upshot? I think I drained all my reserves - physically, mentally, and most importantly for this post, creatively.

So right now I'm taking some time to recharge. Don, bless his heart, sent me to a local hotel for a couple of days. From now until Monday afternoon, I'm responsible only for myself.

Hopefully, that will get the creative brain up and running again. Yeah, I fell down. But I'll get up and start another streak soon. I did it once - I can do it again.

In a local hotel for a couple days mental and physical health break. Hubby rocks for suggesting this.

Don and I are in Lakeland goofing off for the day. Tough job, but someone has to do it...

My column is online - I vent. Would've posted yesterday but life has been a stressfest: http://ping.fm/HSYSG

Stressed out dealing with health care re: my inlaws...we really want this for the whole country?

Thinking about 9/11....one of those days everyone remembers where they were & what they were doing when they 1st heard the news.

Tech who drew blood said something that cracked me up. Left outpatient lab smiling & giggling. Got strange looks from waiting room.

Just took a pulmonary function test...got to wheeze and cough a lot. Looks like I still have mild asthma. More meds in my future. Sigh.

This week's column is online - don't read if you don't like to hear about silly lawsuits: http://ping.fm/MT8NE

Finished with adventures in babysitting. Now sitting in car waiting for monsoon to let up so I can get to front door without drowning.

Finishing up at eyedoc. Eyes dialated. Dark room in my near future.

Column for the week is online! http://ping.fm/UjxBQ

The yarn wrapper says, "soft navy." In normal light it looks like navy. So why do two people say it looks purple?

Waiting & waiting in doctor's office. Yes, another doc appointment - but a different doc. Welcome to my life.

Woke up feeling less cranky over email garbage and more weary ok-it-might-be-funny. Getting some writing in before doctor appt.

Taking my cranky self to bed.

ISP from Asia is the guilty party. Hope they get caught. Gonna take headache out on Final Fantasy 12.

Someone hacked into my email account online and sent a fake email 2 peeps using old address book there. About 2 have severe chat with ISP.

Don & I were going to attend local town hall mtg at 7:30 but cop said place is full - 15 min before it starts. Lots of cars in line after us.

Ladies & gentlemen, we have a 1st draft! After writting 6,337 words today, wip Redemption is finished at 90,871 words! Now to celebrate!

Got so caught up planning last two chapters I locked keys in car! Finally home after errands and ready to finish this novel!

1,589 words in 72 minutes. End is VERY close...but need to stretch legs real fast before big finish

868 words in 41 minutes. Screaming towards finish. Taking a break to refill coffee and stretch legs.

Okay - gonna start Operation Try To Finish Novel today. Getting some words in before meeting someone for coffee...

Church this AM, got some stuff ready for mail, stopped by a couple's 50th wedding ann. party & then YMCA. Putting feet up for a bit.

My column is online - a lighter look at crime: http://ping.fm/styso

Just came back from seeing "The Time Traveler's Wife." Good movie. Bring tissues.

Balanced business & personal checkbooks. Head exploded. Now going to movie with Don.

James just left to go back to college. This is good and right. I feel like crying anyways.

I hate neck spasms. :(

College kid goes back to school on Saturday. He's taking our PS2, which means I have little time to finish Final Fantasy 12...

A different definition of democracy: three wolves and sheep deciding what's for lunch.

Whoops, left out a word in definition, let's try that again: democracy: three wolves and one sheep deciding what's for lunch.

My column is online at http://ping.fm/qgsIl

So Floridians like me are minding our own business and then learn of storms Ana, Bill, and Claudette. Thought we'd just skip storm season..

Home after worship services. Ate lunch and gonna grab a quick nap before starting in on stuff...

Got words written and 2 short stories cleaned up. Will do some more work later

Quiet day so far. James and Don having father/son time and inlaws still asleep. Working and playing in my office...

Arrgh...ever have one of those days when you feel you aren't accomplishing anything and never will? That's me today. Ugh.

Yes, critical voice, this might be a plot hole. Just go have a hot fudge sundae and we'll look at it when the first draft's done, okay?

Ran errands. Ran out of energy. Stupid virus. Time for a nap.

I'm awake and dressed. Not sure about anything else at the moment...

My column is online - just a funny little piece about how several things I own tried to quit at the same time: http://ping.fm/X9QKH

Okay, stupid virus, you may be turning my mind into oatmeal but I'm gonna write some words before you do!

Ugh. Fever, chills, woozy. Back to bed for me.

On the way to Orlando to see Harry Potter in IMAX. Don & I need to escape reality for a bit.

Got to coffeeshop early thanks to James. Trying to wake up brain so I can get to work!

Just finished day 100 of writing at least 500 words a day. Yay me!

My column for Sunday is online - sorry for the delay mentioning it, I've been crazier than usual - http://ping.fm/CWKei

Okay, link would help. Esquire fiction contest details are here: http://ping.fm/4X0NW

Got story finished and submitted to Esquire for fiction contest. Deadline is tonight at midnight Eastern time. Interested? Check here: http://ping.fm/Ubguy

Warned family not to bother me except for fire, spurting blood, or they're calling 911. Going off Internet and getting some work done!

Internet has returned. And the people rejoiced!

Internet down in good part of town, including house. Homefront suffering withdrawal.

Column finished! Word got cranky about emailing it so rebooting computer.

Back at coffee shop for 1st time since trip. Yay!

My weekly column is online - touching on my trip to Yellowstone: http://ping.fm/Xwq0P