Vacation is here

I'm on vacation--well, sort of. I finished editing, rewriting the third manuscript in the Kelly O'Connell series tonight. I'd procrastinated about this, thinking I couldn't bear to read it one more time. But when I finally made myself do it, I enjoyed the process, enjoyed plugging the holes where something didn't work, fleshing out a scene that I'd cut too short, correcting the inevitable typos--I'm sure there are more. That's always beta reader Fred's criticism to me: stop rushing through the story. Fred is reading it--I gave it to him last week--and I will of course wait for his comments and go through it one more time. I think those times of procrastination or staying away from it are good--they give new perspective. When I went back to this one it seemed better to me; in fact, I was quite pleased with it. Oops, pride goeth before a fall. Tentative title is Wild Things in Kelly's Neighborhood. I would surely appreciate comments on that title. But having done what I've done in the last few days, I feel like I'm on Christmas vacation. I plan to read a lot of mysteries. And maybe cook a lot.
Today started out cold and rainy. The rain stopped, but the cold has intensified, and we're due a hard freeze tonight. My cactus plants are inside, and everything outside will either die to be discarded and replaced next year or survive--some of my herbs survive bitter weather and strong heat. Amazing  plants. It was a split pea soup kind of day, but when Jeannie and I got to Carshon's we decided to share a reuben sandwich. It was also a hot cocoa day, and I fixed that for Jacob after school--he was delighted. We did his homework and he fell asleep in front of the TV. Dry weather tomorrow, but very cold.

Computers, puppies, manuscripts and food--a mixed-up day

There's not much worse in a writer's day than to turn on your computer in the morning and it doesn't start. This morning mine had a blue-and-white screen that said something about security open. It had options, but when I hit the tab key, it simply went from the date to something incomprehensible and back again. I tried ctrl/alt/delete, I turned it off, I unplugged it--nothing worked. I was stuck, so I did what all great thinkers do: I went to the bathroom. And there of course it hit me that I should stop trying to fix it with my remote keyboard and use the keyboard on the laptop. Worked like a charm, and pretty soon I had exited whatever that was (probably crucial to the life of my computer but I surely hope not) and had the screen with the picture of my happy family and all my icons. I was back in business and most grateful. Not only do I start my day with email and Facebook, but this was the day I'd targeted to start reading the work in progress, writing out that one plot thread, and evaluating others. What looked to be a day with alternative plans was now back on track.
In the late morning, Sophie and I went to our training class. A big part of training Sophie is to train me. Last night, after she'd just been out, she kept jumping on me, and I repeated "Off!" so many times I got tired of it. Suddenly, she was quiet, and I figured out why--she'd left a puddle. It was like she said to me, "Mom, I tried to tell you!" She did--but it was late, I'd just gotten home, I wanted to clear up the day, and she'd just been out. Tonight I'm paying better attention to her signals.
Today's lesson was about walking on a loose lead. Sophie and I flunked, at least in my mind. She wants to pull and go off in a thousand directions. I realize I haven't taken her out in the world enough, so she is eager for every new person, every new experience. But I'm afraid she'll pull me down. I vow we'll practice hard this week.
Jay and Susan are painting the back side of Jay's office (really their guest house) which means they're in my yard all day. Jay went to the deli and brought sandwiches--lox and cream cheese for me. I should have learned never to order it to go--they didn't toast the rye bread (I don't like bagels) and the lox for some unknown reason was cut up into tiny pieces. Go figure. Still tasted good, and I was grateful. We sat on the porch--perfect porch day.
My main project today is indeed re-reading my first draft, with Fred's suggesitons in mind. I've pretty much kept at it and am working on it tonight. Once into Kelly's neigborhood, the world of the Kelly O'Connnell mysteries, I get sort of wrapped up in it and going through the pages is fun. Trouble is that I know so well what I've written, I'm sure I miss things I want to correct. But I feel no sense of needing to hurry, so it's a nice leisurely day.
Cooking hint for the day: not many people like creamed tuna, but they might like mine. Since I rarely have milk on hand, I make a white sauce with white wine and add a dollop of low-fat mayonnaise for creaminess. A little salt, pepper, garlic powder and thyme and a healthy addition of green peas--it's delicious.
Life is good.

Rewriting

My cheerleading team as I began tonight to rewrite my work-in-progress. Granted, I was only 10,000 words into it, but I knew it was all wrong. Reading a series of cozy mysteries that I really liked made me realize my characters were dull, so I've gone back to the beginning and started over again, completely transforming them into what, I hope, are more interesting--and bizarre people. I have felt uncertain, even guilty, about this aborted start for some time, and I've been good at filling my time with other things--lunches, errands, bits of work for TCU Press, whatever. But I guess lesson learned is that things simmer on the back burner in your brain and finally force you back to them. Besides which, I finished the books in the series I was reading and couldn't excuse myself by saying I just had to get back to the book I was reading. The one I'm on now is not nearly as compelling, though I'm not far into it. But I find getting involved in a good book can really distract me--but also inspire. How does one write without reading what others have written?

A friend sent me a message tonight about a new adopt-a-pet center that is having a grand opening soon, a cooperative effort between PetSmart and, I think, the local humane society. I replied that I refuse to go--I'd come home with a new dog or cat, neither of which I need. My current animals are very happy with their situation and they are enough for me to take care of. Susan, in the TCU Press office, took in a foster dog and soon decided she was a one-dog person. I think that's me too!

A lazy day

Well, okay, lethargic. My stomach, which has been bothering me all week, is better today, but I am sort of without energy. Had to make myself get out and go to the grocery this morning, came home to hibernate for the rest of the day, foregoing a holiday part I had looked forward to. But I'm comfortably cozy, or at least relatively so--this morning it was 26 degrees at 7:30, which may account in part for my lethargy. Who wants to go out in the cold? Tomorrow it won't be so cold in the morning, but it won't be very warm during the day either. Still I vow to have a brighter day tomorrow--going to "dry brine" a chicken and then roast it over vegetables. Jordan and Christian will come to help with the finishing touches of my decorations; Jacob will hinder more than help, and Jay will observe, though he says he'll help. Jacob and Jordan are coming for lunch, and then she's going somewhere while--I hope--Jacob and I nap. Which somehow reminds me I have to snap some green beans tonight. Not much snow, but for Houston it's early and quite a bit.
Snow in HOuston, and my Ceiva, which plays rotating pictures from all my family, already has pictures of Morgan and Kegan playing in it.
But there is a huge bright spot to me day. I consider just reading all day but then I thought if I can read, I can read my own mystery. So now, just after supper I am 60+ pages into editing the second mystery, tentative titled "No Neighborhood for Old Women." Okay, yes, it's a play on Cormac McCarthy--couldn't resist and should it ever get published, an editor will no doubt change it. But I figured I have to get this one in some shape and then I can move on to the next.
The book I started to read is the bestselling The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I had ordered it with a gift certificate I had but then Melanie said she really wants to read it and would I bring it at Christmas so she could. I thought I'd read it first and give it to her, but I may not get that done. The book is set in Jackson, Mississippi, Mel's hometown, albeit a few years before Melanie appeared in Jackson. It's not a mystery, and everyone knows if I'm not reading for work, I'm reading mysteries--but this one has been highly recommended by several people.
Meantime, it feels good to feel the wheels turning in my brain, as I rewrite sentences, change focus, try to beef up that first draft.

Food planning, satisfying work, and a good day

It's been cool lately in North Texas--not cool by fall standards, but it suddenly went from the 90s to the 70s and is damp if not outright rainy. I was cold all afternoon, so I spent the evening planning menus. I will have houseguests Sat. night, and I had planned to serve them seafood (menu planning for guests is one of the delights of my life) but now I have changed to the menu to a hearty peasant dish and dessert (I can't tell it here, because it's a secret from them, but they are friends who often come for my cooking--another joy!). They'll stay for brunch on Sunday, and I have planned Welsh rarebit, a dish my mom used to make but that I haven't made in years. Of course, I found a gussied up version of it.
Next week I'm hosting 14 women--contributors to Grace & Gumption: The Cookbook--for a pot-luck happy hour (and photo session for the back cover of the book), so I had to plan what to serve then. And later in the week, I think three friends are coming for wine on the porch--assuming it's warm enough to sit on the porch. So I sketched out appetizers for them. Looks like a busy but good week.
Today was also a satisfying work week--went to the office where we brainstormed about a book's title and cover art (with some success, we think), and I did a lot of acquisitions work, came home and went to lunch with Fred. We had planned to go to the Community Art Center where there is a new cafe, but it was so gloomy and damp I suggested Carshon's for split pea soup and that's what we had. Comfort food! When I got home I was beseiged by emails, details, trivia that kept me busy, but I did send off the chapter for the history of the osteopathic college. One project off my desk. And the editor who has been interested in a cooking column gave me an okay on the first column, so now I have to think of a second one for January--but I have it in mind: a column on the concept of the French soup pot.
I'm still doing my three pages of free writing first thing in the morning whenever I can. Tonight I'm about to start reading The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron--from the table of contents, it's about recovering your creativity. Susan, the artist next door, brought it to me last Sunday when they came for dinner because, as she said, "You need to read it." The three-page exercise comes from the book. So I'm anxious to delve into it.
I am impressed by an author--an email, sisters-in-crime colleague with whom I've had some correspondence. She sent me a manuscript, and I read it with interest but some doubts, wrote her that I could send it to a reader but I knew it would come back with strong revision suggestions. She said that's what she wanted--her regular publisher would have published it as is, but she wanted to make it the best book she could. Then last night she wrote to ask if it was too late to withdraw it. She herself saw the need for rewrite and wanted to do that before I take it to a reader. So many writers are just anxious for publication in any form that they jump at the first offer (I'm afraid of falling into that trap), so I really like her determination to make her book the best it can be.