Renovating a house, as Cindy knows, is a big TIME-SUCK, even if you’re not the one wielding the hammer.

Yesterday, for example, I had to go lay down some serious cash for bathroom tile. Plus the whole decision-making thing. Today we went to a paint store, only open Sundays 9:30-12:30 (closed Saturdays; run by Orthodox Jews) to choose paint. Spent a long time there, and no real decisions were made.

But this week I am determined to finish editing the first three chapters of Road To Passion, and send it to the three most enthusiastic agents from last time around.

And I really have to get better at being a friend; I’ve let calls and emails go unreturned, which isn’t cool unless you are ill or insanely depressed. I am neither.

The Eight Year-Old is back (reluctantly) to school, the Spouse is about as reluctantly back to work, and I am back to whatever passes for normal in my life.

Which means:

1. Stop eating. Just, like, stop already.

2. More exercise.

3. More writing.

4. Less hand-wringing.

5. Fewer neurotic “episodes” (as in, ‘why isn’t he/she getting back in touch? I know, he/she hates me!’)

6. More makeup. Stop looking like a Mom.

7. Less time-wasting. I’m talking to you, Bloglines!

8. More vegetables. I love veggies, but the pesky fridge keeps being too hot or too cold! Luckily, I have me a new fridge come March. Le bliss.

9. Just as much devout attention paid to Clive Owen (the hero for Road to Passion).

10. And an equal amount to Sean Bean (the hero of the next book)

Thanks for all the suggestions–I think I’ll go with one of the two, above. The funny part is that The One That Got Away is named Elijah, and I saw him recently, so I don’t want him to think I have eeeevil thoughts about him, if he even notices I gave the villain his name.

But I think it’s a fabulous name for the character.

Hope everyone’s holiday was good, mine was. Of course, now I am attempting to do my freelance work at a foreign computer (i.e. a relative’s, not in Canada or something), which is aggravating. Who puts their keyboard up so high? And why?

Returning to Brooklyn soon.

Megan

Nobody seems to like the name “Elisha” for the eeeeevil half-brother of my heroine. Suggestions? He’s a vicar’s son, so something kinda Biblical would be good.

I just wrote “THE END” on Road To Passion. Lots more to do, but at least the story is complete.

Megan
*For now.

I opened Road To Passion (thanks, cheerleaders!), and wrote a little under 500 words. Which isn’t at all impressive until you know that the Taking After His Dad In The Sleep Department Son didn’t go to sleep until after 10:30. And I curled up in bed with Kresley Cole’s latest around 11:45. So yay me.

The Partner-in-Crime, KJ, FINISHED her darn book, and I have to catch up. Bee-yotch.

So last week I was all miffed that Ike Turner had lived to be 76, and my dad had only gotten to 65. Why did THAT bastard get 11 more years? But then I read Ike’s obit, and he was a dad, too, and I realized I couldn’t be that much of a solipsistic bitch. Not THAT much.

So I know Ike’s kids are wishing they had 20 more years like I am, and I am glad Ike stopped his self-destructive ways back in ‘93 (my dad stopped in 1988, I think, 19 years ago), and I still have this big ache in my chest, but tonight I am opening Road To Passion and am going to try to finish it, only a few weeks later than originally planned. ‘Cause Dad would be really pissed if I allowed something to come between me and my goals.

1. My Marie Claire essay got approved, so is going to run in March, I think.

2. I wrote yesterday, am in the middle of the second of last three (plus epilogue) scenes. I WILL be done by Friday, or heads (namely, mine) will roll. Not that I have two heads, but ‘head will roll’ sounds weird.

3. Almost all of the Christmas discs have been uploaded into the Mac. If played continuously, all the music we’ve got on the computer would play for 143.8 days (thanks for giving me the scoop on that info, Goedi. I didn’t realize that data meant that). I wonder how much you would actually like?

4. I wore a dress on Saturday. No-one mocked my knees.

5. I have a new friend. No nickname yet, though.

6. I am seeing the faux critique group this week. ANOTHER IN-PERSON EVENT, and I am looking forward to it.

7. Steak is for dinner tonight!

8. The Super-Smart Lawyer is coming over this weekend to see a bad movie and drink red wine.

9. The Son is getting what he most wants for Christmas.

10. I got a refrigerator. Yay!

11. And this book:

Only about 5,000 more to go.

Okay, so this is a totally selfish, totally for me post.

I wrote a scene yesterday where my hero sorta accidentally kills a guy. Yeah, I said it. And I need to keep Mr. Momentum going, so I am trying to fire up my imagination with images like this one.

I cannot wait for Sin City 2, btw.