March 2010: Show and Tell

[Vicki Pettersson]

Hi Guys,

Well, I miss you. That's all. I'm trying to keep up with my regulars on the various sites - Twitter and FB (the latter is my preferred mode of doing so, though depending on someone else's platform is always risky; are their improvements crap or what?) - but since deleting my sub-board/blog here, I can't really check up with YOU guys specifically.
Yanno.
My peeps.
So maybe we can do a more informal thread here each month - you show my yours and I'll show you mine sort of thing. What do you think?

I'll start.

Writing: I need 40K+ on Book6 to stay on track for deadline this month, so that's my work goal. It sounds fairly straightforward, but man, I keep having to reTHINK things. Between that and the paperwork, writing is a b*tch!

Personal: Yesterday was a work fail because it was a mommy win, but guess which one I'll take any time of the day? Did I tell ya'll yet that my monster is 4? 4! I love four. They speak:
"Mamma, I want to tell you one little thing."
Pause.
"The deal is?"
Pause.
"I love ya."

Also personal: I spend about half the month living in Dallas these days, which sounds glam, but just means I need to subtract the price of plane tickets from my food budget. (Cause I ain't cutting out the books, fools!) I haven't gotten to canvass the area and make it my own yet, but I'm settling into a new normal, and 'settled' and 'normal' are about as big as I wanna go this year, get my drift?

Other: Romantic Times book Festival is coming up at the end of next month! Yay! It's the only con I'm attending this year, and it's a biggie. I haven't been since '07 so I'm excited -- mostly that so many of our Peeps are going to be there. We'll have VPeep coffee clatches, okay? I just gotta finish this first draft before then.

True Blood chats this year? Been thinking on that ... I'd really like to attend more this season.

Okay, now this is just a brain dump. Feel free to jump and dump as well. Tell me what you're up to. I can't read every message in every section, but I hit the ones directed specifically at the series and me, as well as newbie announcements.
And I miss ya'll!

[elle]

sounds like you've been a busy busy author and mommy. but that's how life usually goes.

as for me, writing has been sporadic due to still working 2 jobs and hitting 5-6 days a week between the two and a severe deserve to stab my eyes out with something dull anytime I walk into the one job, which is the one I'm working at more often. it is eating my soul and keeping me pretty well drained.

between that and a personal .... problem that I'm working on fixing, I'm completely drained right now.

[miki]

Vick! So good to see you here~I've missed ya! As everyone else has...

Your son~adorable! I love it!!

And OMG~RT! I CANNOT WAIT TO MEET MY VPEEPS!! Pictures, pictures!! Columbus may never be the same.... lollol

Got over my bad day yesterday chatting with my girlfriends online till late in the night~Mark gets butt hurt sometimes but girl talk is therapy, I tell ya!!

I'm waiting on reader perspective on the second draft of Cleaner which I'm going to pitch at RT. (hint, hint to those who have my story....)

I have started the second MS, well, the first chapter but my mind is so scattered that I'm not going to attempt any real writing goals besides trying to type up my pitch. It's a scary concept to me since I've never done it. But I think the story is unique so I'll be working it.

Yes, can't wait for TB chat to start again....we had so much fun with it last year!

I need to catch up with my reading...my bookstore is so lame...they don't have half the books I want so I have to order from amazon.com. I was able to get Kim's BMS but that's about it.

TV took a shit....so we're going to look for a new one today...It's abfab outside today....

Love you all!!! Muah!!

[nat]

Sounds like you're a very, very busy woman, Vic! Are you planning on moving to Dallas?

Well my days are pretty much flying by. Between work and school, I barely have time for anything! Books (when I get a chance to read) are honestly the only things that keep me semi-sane. This is supposed to be my last semester, I say supposed to because if I fail any of my classes, I'm so screwed, lol. That's honestly really stressing me out, but on ther other hand, I'm so fed up of school that I'm kind of slacking more than I should. Which is pretty bad. I just need to stop whinning and get my self in gear.
Went to my cousin's wedding last week in NYC. It was an absolutely grogeous wedding ( I posted some pics in sanctuary). Aside from the wedding though, we got caught in a nasty snow storm, had tons of flight delays, and I spent all my spare time (it was during my spring break) studying because I had a midterm the day after I came back. Stupid teacher obviously didn't want to give us much of a break.

I'm soo ready for spring. These random snow storms and temp drops are a pain in the butt!

[patchymama]

We miss you too Vic! Why in the heck would you want to be in Dallas, especially when Vegas is so pretty in the spring?!?! Those mommy moments are the best, and they just get better as they get older. WEll that is until they get older and sarcastic. Mine are 8 and 5 now .... every day is an adventure to say the least LOL

I like the idea of this thread I am having a hard time keeping up everywhere right now and I miss all of you and miss knowing what is going on and I worry i am missing important stuff in other threads! (woah run on sentence LOL this is why I am not a writer).

I am still in school full time, really more than full time right now -15 credits. I am still leaning towards teaching high school but I admit the thought of teaching here in Vegas is one I am not sure about. So I have been doing some thinking lately. Hubby seems to think I have found my calling with book reviews/blogging/etc and thinks I should go with what I love. I agree but its not like that is going to get me a real career as far as I know. But my blogging/books is keeping me from losing it, tho I have been slacking lately. Homework is kicking my ass and things are chaotic to say the least.

The beautiful weather lately has kept my spirits up.... I need to start planting my backyard veggies before it gets to the be the end of march and the time has passed me by!

[Raven]

Vicki, that age is so fun! CHERISH IT! (Srsly.)

I'm stressed and busy. Still.
I fear I will never be able to read as much as I was formerly able to and that sucks.

The "home" I missed so much isn't the home I've moved back to.
Rude awakening. Sad. Every lifeline I'm thrown is laced with poisonous thorns. So I feel alone and frustrated.

I was rear-ended last week and I'm still suffering from back and neck pains and the occasional headache at the end of a work day. Fun shit.

I love my kittens. They are fun and playful and cuddly. Yay!

I can't wait for RT for so many fucking reasons. I don't need to go there. Y'all get it.

Some hopes have been restored and cobwebs have been cleared. Yeah, Snotface. That's right! ;D

[slayercat]

Hey Vicki! Glad to hear from you!

I am doing fabulously. In case you hadn't heard, the job I got after being out of work for 5 months last year is history. The company I was working for got bought out and they closed the office on February 5th. However, a friend of mine told me about a job at her company, I applied, and accepted their offer on the same day as my last day at the old job. So, I lost a job and gained a job on the same day. Plus, the new job is way better than the old one in so many ways. The people are super nice, I have my own office, and it truly feels like some higher powers were working overtime to get me into a really good place. The best thing about the new job is there is no problem with taking time off so I will be able to come for half of RT!!!!! With the old job there was no chance of this at all and I was seriously bummed. But I am registered and everything for Friday thru Sunday! YAY!

Loved the kidlet moment. My grand-kidlet will be five in June and she is a treasure! Good luck with the Vegas-Dallas commute. Perhaps we need to visit the Zodiac troop in Texas for the next series??

Kisses and Hugs!!!

[ailishsmom]

Hey Vic! So Glad to see you here and there on the Interwebz!
Kids! That's so sweet!
I love seeing Ailish develop into this really awesome adult (she just turned 20!! Ack!), but I really miss being the center of her universe like I was when she was that age.
Still doing the typical 50 hour work week, but managed to finish clothes shopping for RT! I've been talking about it for so long all my employees thought I went to it months ago! LOL!
Funny you mentioned TB chats, I've been thinking about those too and how fun they were. Let's do it again soon! We don't have to wait for TB.
We miss ya too!! Mwah!

[vampyre]

Showgirl! You live! You sound so busy. I think you should just go ahead and move to Texas. It would save you a lot of traveling and cash. On the other hand, you are a true Vegas native and you'd be leaving a lot behind. Tough choice.

You need to do a book tour and get to Atlanta so I can come see you. Funny how my two favorite authors are redheads.

You all already know my drama. I have about 20 threads going on about it all. no need to rehash it here. I am really looking forward to the return of TB and our chatting. So much fun but it made me have to watch each show twice.

Coming up soon, more pictures of Big Boy, Little Girl, Millie, TYPO and Fuzzy the wonder cat.

[deathlynx]

lol, my little Hunter is following along well and showing himself to be a nice Shadow agent! He's smack in the middle of the terrible twos...too bad his second birthday is in little more than a week!

Been writing up a storm, but am too afraid to try to send out the stuff I've finished...hell, I have an entire series already written!!!

Aside from that, we really need to finish packing and cleaning the old house so we can get it on the market in a month or two...Only, it's difficult to find the time with the little man to watch...

[Vicki Pettersson]

Elle – I’m sorry you’re feeling so drained. These things come in waves, though, so hopefully you’ll hit the crest soon and cruise on through. My fingers are crossed for you. Been there.

Mik-ster – I spent seventy bucks at the bookstore yesterday. All impulse buys. OMG, it felt good! Glad you’re in a better mood – and good luck with the new WIP. Just try to touch it in one way or another every day, okay? I’m back in goals/the Sanctuary a bit too.

Hi Nat – My time will be split between the two places for now. Kinda cool because just when I get sick of one city, I pop on a flight and hit the other for a few weeks. So far it’s okay. Keep on w/school. I know it seems neverending, but it will, and then you’ll look back w/fondness. Course, what do I know? It was so long ago now for me!

Tiff – hasn’t the rain been wonderful? I think we’ll get one more cold spell before it snaps into a (windy) spring. I thought about teaching for a bit. Then I realized I didn’t much care for other people’s kids. And I really didn’t care for other kids’ parents! ;-)

Ravie/Snotface – Aw, hugs. I got your message, btw, but was running like crazy all weekend. All family, no work – it was great. ☺ But I’m sorry to hear about your disappointments back home … and I was really worried about that rear-ending. The side effects from those kinds of accidents pop up after the fact and can be brutal. I hope you can heal quickly … all around. Sounds like we all need RT (and R&R)!

Slayerkitty – Yay on the new job! Wow, is that kismet, or what? And yay esp. for RT (wow, that wasn’t selfish. LOL)! Sounds like a par-tay is in order. (Note to self: Must. Find. Cupcakes.)

T – holy crap, you’ve shopped for clothes? Yikes. I gotta get on it. I know I need some new jeans but have no idea what the spring fashions are. Great. Now you’ve just inspired a whole new worry. And I haven’t even gotten my taxes out of the way! Don’t talk to me about 20 years old…I’m loving four!

Vampy – so good to see you! Thought we lost you there for a little bit. Was going to send an alert out on the Kindle boards. ;-) Nah, I wouldn’t want to live in Dallas f/t. Vegas has a more relaxed vibe in a lot of ways, and like you said, it’s home. Nice to dip my toes into both, though. Thank God this keyboard will travel!

DL – Moving with a toddler. Don’t get me started. Oy. What can I say, man? Fingers crossed.

My latest: I took the whole weekend off from work and feel amazingly refreshed. Kim Harrison has been advising this forever, but I never listened. I may have to re-evaluate my work habits …
Now gotta get 2K a day minimum, hit the gym, and do my taxes. The little things fill in the rest of the cracks. Oh! And I should be receiving some e-ARCs soon. I want to get those out and try to post a first chapter up from CHEAT on the site asap. May is moving up fast.

Off to it – have a good one, Peeps!

[Raven]

Yes. Breaks. Vegas more relaxed? Never woulda guessed that!
Is it not the City That Never Sleeps? Or is that NYC?
Either way I think it will soon be Columbus! ;D

[debim]

How the hell did I miss this thread?

Glad to hear you are alive and kicking ass, Vic.

I am in the midst of finishing my work on the Sookie companion and getting ready for RT.
Charlatan party has been planned, costumes being worked on, and merriment will ensue once we all get there.

Today, however, I have a sinus infection and it is kicking my butt. Fever, chills, facial pain, and I have gone through a whole box of Kleenex since yesterday. My nose is bleeding from blowing out snot. TMI, I know...but I feel miserable.

[miki]

Aww, Debs, sorry you feel so rotten! {big hugs to you}

I always thought NYC was referred to as the city that never sleeps but I'm sure it goes for Vegas too.

And I'm LMFAO @ Vicki's reply to Tiff about teaching.

[patchymama]

Yeah vegas doesnt sleep. lol you can find something to do no matter what time it is here It is surprisingly laid back!

*perk* did I hear e-arcs? I drool. really. lol.

other people's kids definitely dont interest me under say 10 LOL... but i am hoping i enjoy teenagers more. who knows tho!