Whew! A lot has been happening lately. First and foremost, I’ve been getting more hours at work (hey, I asked for it). I’ve recently done my first closing shift. It was pretty fun (I have a knack for making things fun–the guys I closed with did contribute to the fun a bit too).

Strangely, I’ve had this high lately. A co-worker of mine finally asked me, "Why are you smiling all the time?" I simply replied that I’m a goofball–that’s what Imah says. Yeah, I can’t explain it. Maybe it has something to do with my working later in the day than usual (I’m a night person; according to Imah, I get a hyper-energy boost some time after 8pm.), but it’s getting embarrassing. My co-workers have gotten used to me being the quiet girl and yet I’ve been hyper and silly on my last two work days. (And, yeah, I splashed one of my co-workers with some water when we were sassing each other–and he squirted me back! What I’d like to know is: What is it with me and splashing people?! LOL!)

Sadly, my favorite co-worker left last week for a new job far away. Well, I’m not much for mourning, and it sounds like a great opportunity for him, so…Mazel Tov!  –And keep in touch!

Ah, yes, Imah got sick and has recovered. I think I may have given her a stomach bug. I think it’s going around. A co-worker of mine had it the other day–and when I heard him talk about it, I started feeling sick too! Really sick. (Must have been that stupid sugar I had the day before. Grr.) Imah has a…third? fourth?…job now. She’s really excited about it. Also, she’s applying for a manager position in a nearby city (where my evil twin lives!). If she gets the job, we’ll be moving there! Oh! The joy! The benefits that could come from this! It’s a bigger city–more job opportunities for me. (And, yes, I’d be closer to my friends and their little siblings who often get mistaken for my children. *rolls eyes*). *sigh* I’m getting too excited about this. Chances are slim. Ah well.

I’m really excited about my novel again. I had a bad case of writer’s block but that’s gone. I’m excited because I can see the end. I’ve never finished a novel before–only short stories. This will be my first.

Speaking of short stories: The two-part series REAL? has been edited/modified/updated/made acceptable for public reading. So, in addition to working on my novel, I’ll be getting the end of REAL? up on my stories’ site. Hopefully, I can get myself to do part II: DREAM. It hasn’t even been written yet! And I have so many other stories in my "to do" queue. Well, REAL? does work as a stand-alone.

I believe that’s all, folks! Now for…

Unconscious Mutterings: 

1. Running :: scared
2. Alternative :: music
3. Cope :: with life
4. Lots :: of fun
5. Sympathetic :: (Some one once pointed out to me that "pathetic" was part of sympathy. So, if slap that person, I need not feel remorse, correct?)
6. Barn :: I couldn’t hit the broad side of a…
7. Totally :: Right on, dude!
8. Baby :: I prefer the term "cookie". (Have a cookie, cookie.)
9. Undeniable :: my splendor.
10. Watermelon :: If you have never had a seed-spitting fight, you have never lived!

Chronicled by: Her Grace, Duchess of the Digital Quill

Ok, this having a separate blog for my writing is not going to work. Besides, writing is a major (I’m talking major) factor in my life. So, here’s what I was going to post at my writing blog… 

Yes! Let the heavenly choir sing! I am sooooo happy!

Chapter 15  is up!

No, you didn’t miss a chapter. I’ve just gone through my novel and re-adjusted some of the chapters. (For instance: Chapter 7: "Awakening" has become Chapters 7 & 8: "The Fascination of Ellie" & "Romance and Revelation".)

Back to the current chapter: Yes, of course Ellie is still alive *rolls eyes*–and, yes, of course, she has to go and risk her life again. If only she–and her companions–knew what the Adon had in store for her…

It’s a nightmare… literally. (No, I’m not talking horses.)

It was about a couple days between writing and typing up this chapter, and I rather shocked myself when I realized what I had done to end the chapter. All I’m going to say is, Man, am I glad I already know what’s going to happen next!

I’m so excited!!!!

So, yes, I will try to get the next chapter up faster in consideration of that horrible (horribly delightful) cliffhanger.

Enjoy!

Read.

 *yawn* Oh dear. I must get to bed. Farewell…and enjoy!

Chronicled by: Her Grace, Duchess of the Digital Quill

Thanks, Imah. You know how to put it like it is.

So, yes, I have a "condition". When I have sugar, sometimes it makes me hyper, sometimes it makes me crabby, sometimes it makes me cry over any little thing, sometimes it gives me a headache, and sometimes…it makes me really, really sick. 

On Friday, it was the latter. I woke shortly before nine–with a familiar pain. (Oh God! I knew I shouldn’t have eaten all those brownies! Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!)

I’ll skip over the hour I spent in the bathroom and just say that, despite how much my body wanted to, I did not throw up. When I came out and plopped myself on the floor just outside the door (I knew I’d be going back), I was drenched in sweat, utterly sick and sore all over. The nausea, sweating, and dizziness are pretty normal–it was the aching muscles I thought was strange. I think it’s because I had been pushing myself too hard in my exercises.

Well, sometime in the afternoon, Imah was able to get some soup down me (it took about two hours for me to finish the whole eight ounces–Imah reheated it for me). Then, it was aspirin-packin’ time. Pack on the pain-killers, if you know what I mean.

In fact, I need to take some more now–once my stomach settles. I took a chance and had some coffee today. Egh. We really need some anti-nausea pills (Imah only believes in saltine crackers and 7-Up).

And with that cheerful story (even more enjoyable if you were eating), I will end this post with today’s

Unconscious Mutterings: 

1. True love :: is worth waiting for.
2. Age :: before beauty (Imah and I are always sparring each other with these terms.)
3. Stern :: punishment (ha!)
4. Elastic :: strap (on a beginner ballet shoe)
5. Rustic :: A-frame lodge
6. Enhance :: virtual imagery
7. Jackson :: G.: creator of Signs of Life
8. Inherit :: genes
9. Devious :: Hey, that’s me! Dr. Devious!
10. Scapegoat :: me: Imah / Imah: me (LOL! Feel the love!)

 Thank you, sincerely, for wading through all that. I shall now go…and take my pills. (No, not the happy pills…)

Chronicled by: Her Grace, Duchess of the Digital Quill

Whew! Well, unfortunately, I haven’t done much to clean up the house today. I still have most of it to do. Sunday is my best day for online though (usually, I spend all day online). A friend invited me to Hoverspot, and I had promised myself that I join for her–today. The quick "just check your email and sign up with that site" stretched on as I had to find a pic to upload and had to design my page. Eh, I probably did spend too much time on it. But that isn’t what gobbled up my time.

I am switching to Firefox and would have totally but for one thing: this blog. For some reason, most of the items on my sidebar were not visible (to me at least). That really bugged me.  I sought out help from different sources but got nothing. When I when to blog earlier today, I couldn’t help myself. Sometimes, if you want something fixed you have to do it yourself.  I’ve always been self-reliant, prefering to figure out things myself and all. 

It struck me. When looking through a help site at others’ problems, I had seen how sometimes, if the person did some kind of a change, they needed to reload their template or something. Yes, it hit me like a wall–I went and got the original code for my template. Then, I had to go through and do the little changes.

I was adding the stuff on my sidebar (piece by piece), when, upon the placement of my site counter, all the rogue items I’d had trouble with disappeared again! I took off the counter and the items reappeared. *groan* All that work and it just my stupid counter!! Arrrrrgh!

Well, I make some nice changes–some real ones. My "currently" fields are no longer deep red. My post sign-off signature is new (and pretty–I like it, hehe)–the coffee pic is a characteristic touch.

So, I’m hoping the problems are over. Let me know about any bugs or anything. *rolls eyes* I’m sure I did something wrong–knowing in the back of my mind that I should have been house-cleaning.

Chronicled by: Her Grace, Duchess of the Digital Quill

Friday Fun 

1. What is your favorite thing about the fall season? I’m not sure; fall isn’t a favorite of mine. Those flaming fall colors are pretty though.
2. Do you have a favorite fall sport? Jumping into piles of leaves.
3. Are you mired in that back to school thing? I’m in between "not anymore" and "not yet".
4. Are you ready for fall? No. I want to sunbathe more! I want to swim more!

Friday’s Feast 109:

Appetizer: (LOL!) Misheard lyrics: I can’t think of any offhand, but I used to rebel against a certain song, singing it this way instead: "I will survive. As long as I know how to fight…"

Soup: Worst movie: Hmm…I’m rather picky–most of the time. I’d probably name one of the movies my brother made me watch back when I was a little squirt: Chucky, IT…but thankfully I don’t remember those movies anymore.

Salad: I choose number 8: Effervescently, Irene Gave Her Thanks.

Main Course: Most interesting news story: I heard something about a case of mistaken identity. The person in the hospitable turned out to be someone who’s family thought they had buried. Oo, sounds like something from CSI.

Dessert: Words to describe my wardrobe: eclectic–that seems the best word.

 I don’t have anything to say. I was feeling good this morning, but Imah got to me. I’m walking on an emotional tightrope right now. Yesterday, some of my co-workers asked me "Is anything wrong?" "Are you ok?" (When was the last time someone asked me that? I’m usually good at finding something to be cheerful about when I’m feeling down. But this time, my moodiness slipped through. That’s what I get for drinking coffee so late and thus getting hardly any sleep–the night before work! Argh.)

 All that to say, Imah knows how to get at me. I’ve got to learn how to control myself in regard to her pecking. I don’t think anyone else can make me lose my temper–some can annoy me (certain times of the month, that’s very easy to do), but otherwise I have gotten control over my temper. (I used to be a tantrum queen.) Now…heh heh…I loose my anger (and other negative emotions) in my stories (hence the vengeful, unscrupulous, dagger-wielding Evelyn, for example–LOL!).

 See, back in the hard times, I would use my writing as a type of therapy. I don’t (think I) do that now. My pre-planned goals get in the way. But I love my writing so much, it still helps.

 Ha! I love when I say I have nothing to say and then I ramble on. Maybe I’m using this post as therapy. It seems to be working…but I still feel the tightrope under my feet. If Imah nags at me again…(doom music). For now, I will rely on my inherent cheerfulness aided by the plentiful cups of coffee I had. *hums a cheerful tune and does a silly dance*

 Now, I must go. My day is just beginning. Another late night last night–decided against setting my alarm–got up shortly before noon. Shocking.

 Shabbat Shalom!

Chronicled by: Her Grace, Duchess of the Digital Quill