October 31, 2007

Happy Halloween!

I started this spooky day with a 3-mile walk, and I did it in 40 mins. It was 42 degrees, so it was very brisk.

My job is crazy busy again, and it's killing me. I have to work again tonight...I may have to find something else if I have to do this on a regular basis. I'll be burnt out soon.

At around 6 p.m. tonight the little trick or treaters will be knocking on my door (ringing the doorbell). Their costumes can be so cute. The cats go crazy with the doorbell being rung so frequently. Poor things.

Going to make Philly cheesesteaks for dinner. Gordon is on tonight...

October 30, 2007

Well I was right about last night being a long one. I worked until about 9:45. That's not cool. I will discuss some new ideas with my co-workers on how to fix that.

I didn't walk this morning because it was literally freezing, and I didn't get much sleep last night. I sat in my office chair way too long yesterday and my back/hip paid for it.

Today is better - work wise. I'm getting ready to quit for the nite and make dinner. I made pumpkin bread earlier. The pumpkin came from the local produce stand and I baked it in the oven and then mashed it up. I love doing stuff like that.

I know of at least one person who is reading this blog, so I will keep doing it. Thanks, TSJG.

I got ten more books to read for the WWA Spur Awards. I also volunteered to read and write a book review for Western Writers of America. When will I learn to say no?

October 29, 2007

The St. Petersburg Philharmonic Symphony concert was very nice. All the music was from Romeo and Juliet, with a slight Russian flair. It made me a little sad to think of two people in love who would rather die than live apart.

There is a funny story to go with that though...I went my mom and her neighbor (she's 14) who wants to be a cellist and Larry was on his way home from a business trip. I sat in a middle seat and a guy in his very early twenties (maybe 21) sat next to me. He introduced himself to me with a handshake and said he was a student. He gave me some story about driving there last minute, the person in front of him got the last ticket and he was bummed. Then, as if by some miracle, a nice old Russian man gave him a free ticket. Okay, why did he need to drive there if he's a student? When we left, he called someone on his cell, and said, "okay, pick me up out front." What happened to his car? Too funny!

Anyway, we went to the Wine Festival in downtown Raleigh. The wines were average, but we had fun anyway. The Big Easy restaurant was nice, but I was really ill later that night.

Sunday was all about football, but my team embarrased themselves and all their fans.

Today I started with a 2-mile walk since it was only 39 degrees. Tons of work today, so maybe pizza for dinner. It may be a late one...

October 26, 2007

Today is the 126th anniversary of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone. However, we historians like to call it the 30-second gunfight behind the O.K. Corral, because that's where it actually happened. LOL

I got an email from a Women Writing the West member who is writing a brief story for our newsletter about my presentation during the conference in Colorado Springs last week. Pretty cool!

I never got near the pioneer women's book...soon.

Work is still busy. Tonight I am going to the Carolina Performing Arts with some guests to see the St. Petersburg Symphony (from Russia). It should be very interesting.

Tomorrow we are set to go to a wine festival in downtown Raleigh and then out to dinner with friends at the Big Easy. Sunday is a full out football day - back to back games, Steelers, then Redskins.

My thought of the day...Who in the heck is reading this?

October 25, 2007

I made great progress with all my projects for Interamark yesterday. It poured rain off and on all day, plus some nasty thunderstorms. Luckily, the power only dipped once and I didn't lose anything I was working on.

Forgot to mention that I have been inundated with all things British ever since filming the Lost Worlds show with the London crew. It's really weird; I discovered Gordon Ramsay, I've run into hotel staff, neighbors, and countless others I can't remember just know...I meet more and more people from England no matter where I am. Is there an invasion? Even on my plane ride home this week...my seat mate was from England! I wonder if this is a sign for something?? It happens so frequently that I laughed out loud when I heard the guy on the plane talking - he no doubt thought I was touched. I later explained my outburst. We had a good chat about all the words that Tom, Peter & Oli taught me! ;)

It's raining again today, which is good because we are in such a drought. I walked/jogged today for three miles - part of it in the rain at 66 degrees.

I may try to tackle that blasted pioneer women's book tonight...

October 24, 2007

I am getting back into my routine of work and daily life. As I suspected, I had a lot of work to do yesterday. My kitties missed me so I got lots of attention from them while I worked. My husband left for a business trip this morning...seems like we keep passing each other over the last couple of weeks. We barely have enough time to empty out the suitcases from each other's trips.

I didn't have as many personal emails as I expected when I got back, which is good and bad. As an author, waiting to hear from publishers and other industry related people, I hope to find a surprise email whenever I log into my account. Things like, they loved your book submission and want to publish it, they want you to be interviewed, or like when I got the call from the production company in London about the Lost Worlds show. Funny how we authors are...

I have three conference calls today and some additional work. I also have to squeeze in some time to work on my writing and get back to the gym.

October 23, 2007

It's been a crazy few days which is why I haven't posted until now. I worked late on Thursday night and then packed for my trip. I left early Friday morning and arrived in Denver around 3 p.m. Rented a car, they suggested I get an SUV with 4-wheel drive because of a possible snowstorm. I did even though it was 70 degrees. I got in the car and there was a snow brush on the seat. I chuckled!

I got to my friend's house (Mary) around 5:30. It was nice to see her again. We had some great wine, as usual, and caught up on things. Saturday morning I woke very early and drove to Colorado Springs (they call it the "Springs"). I arrived at 8:15 a.m. and met some fellow writers I haven't seen in a long time. It was real nice. I gave my presentation after lunch. I was supposed to talk for 1 1/2 hours - I made it for an hour, and we covered a lot. It seemed to go well. The group in the other room asked if we had a good time because they heard a ton of laughter coming from our room! I met that publisher who wants my pioneer women's book - it wasn't weird at all. In fact, he really wants me to send it back to him. I will, once I have a chance to tackle it.

I drove back to Mary's house and we headed out for our girl's night on the town. She hired a driver to pick us up and chauffeur us around. We dined at a trendy little Denver place called, Sparrows. We sat at the chef's table and he chose our food for us. We had a great bottle of wine with dinner, and Irish whiskey with dessert. The chef was British and we chatted about Gordon Ramsay.

On Sunday we awoke to a wicked snowstorm - it was beautiful! I was supposed to drive back to the Springs for a business meeting, but it was snowing so bad I couldn't see the houses across the street. We thought it best I didn't drive down. We sat around the house in our "comfy" clothes all day. We watched football, drank some hot cocoa with Baileys Irish cream, and then wine later. She has a 5 year-old son so we went out and played in the snow. Thank goodness she's the same size I am. I posted two photos here. One is her son Jack, hitting me with a snowball.

Monday morning I drove to the Denver airport, which has the worst system for airport security. I waited an hour to get through. We left Denver late because our incoming plane was delayed. I got stuck in Atlanta for a little while because of weather, and got home about 8:30 last night.

I have tons of work and calls today, so back to work now.

October 17, 2007

Where to begin...we did not go to see 3:10 To Yuma. It just didn't work out. I worked on the TOT edits on Sunday and watched my team get their sorry butts whooped!

Monday was deadline day all around. I finished the TOT edits, wrote up six entries (I thought I had four) for True West magazine's Best of the West, and managed to do my day job all at the same time. I was exhausted Monday night.

I finally got to the gym yesterday - at 4:30. I had to run an errand this morning, and have to help mom with her foster kitties this morning. I will also hit the gym while I'm out. Larry comes back tonight from his business trip.

I'm also gathering things for my trip to Colorado Springs and the Women Writing the West conference. I give my marketing presentation on Saturday. I'm staying with my friend north of Colorado Springs, so I will be driving back and forth. I still need to prepare my topics and presentation for Saturday. Hey, that's what airplanes are for!

The publisher who wants major rewrites for my pioneer women's book will be there. That might be weird.

I read a really nice book review in the Roundup magazine (Western Writers of America) for Tombstone's Treasures.

October 12, 2007

Well, I finally did it - I started every day this week with a 3-mile power walk. This morning it was 45 degrees. It was brisk to say the least. Next week I will attempt to get back to the gym.

Tomorrow night we are going to see 3:10 To Yuma, so I can discuss it with my colleagues in Colorado Springs next week.

My blog on Monday better say that I have finished my edits to Taste of Tombstone or I am in big trouble. I also have four entries for True West Magazine's Best of the West that are due on Monday as well. Ah, the life of a writer...

Happy TSJG? :)

October 11, 2007

I walked three miles again today, but what a difference a day makes. Yesterday it was 90 degrees, today it was 70. It was only 57 when we walked.

Not much to write about today exept that I am still busy with my job. No time to work on the edits for Taste of Tombstone.

Caught Kitchen Nigthmares last night - it was okay. Gordon is supposed to be criss-crossing America, yet he's been in NYC for the last four shows.

October 10, 2007

I started the day walking 3 miles with a neighbor and then started work. It's been busy again, so I am just posting this.

I got my edited Taste of Tombstone manuscript (MS) from the publisher two days ago and they want all the edits by the 15th. I guess I will be working this weekend on that. It's hard to believe there are that many edits since the book was already published 10 years ago. However, this is a university press and they are a little more particular about things.

Small plans and ideas are in motion for me to do more TV, but there is nothing firm, just scratch the surface kind of stuff for now.

Well, I have been at this computer long enough today and I am sore. Goodnight.

October 9, 2007

I missed yesterday because I was so crazy busy with work. We enjoyed an awesome game on Sunday in D.C. It's always nice when your team kicks the other team's butt! :)

Walked with the neighbor yesterday, did some volunteer work for a local organization called, Center for Volunteer Caregivers. I took and elderly lady to her doctor's appointment. Came home and did more work, then took Trixie to the vet for her annual visit. She's healthy and happy, but this morning she is feeling a little down - probably from her shots. I hope she feels better later today. Even my other cat, Bailey, took pity on her and laid about a foot away from her. That's pretty good, since Bailey despises her.

Waiting for the cleaning lady to get here, and then I am heading out for a walk. Lots of work today, and an appointment in downtown Raleigh.

October 5, 2007

I went for a 3-mile walk this morning, missed the gym, but made my appointment. Worked on the last project for this week.

I also got some orders for books and faro layouts from Tombstone store keepers who are getting their inventory ready for Helldorado in three weeks.

Tomorrow we head to D.C. to see the Redskins game on Sunday. We play Detroit, so who knows if we can win or not.

Mom is home, so she is cat sitting for me this time.

It's rainy here today, which is really welcome. Tonight we are going to meet up with friends and shoot some pool. I haven't done that in a while...

Oh, my Lost Worlds: Sin City of the West show is re-airing on October 13 at 3:00 p.m. E.T. if you missed the first airing. This time it's in HD!

October 3 & 4, 2007

Yesterday was a total bust as far as doing anything non-work related. I had to skip my walk because I had a tight deadline, canceled an appointment, and still scrambled to get it right, and done. Last night was the same, another project with a tight deadline and I worked until 7:00 p.m. E.T. Had some wine last night to unwind, and watched Gordon Ramsay in his Kitchen Nightmares. The show is getting better, and they even went back 2 months later to see what happened.

I walked today. Have to do some finishing touches for the project. Tomorrow I plan to walk, and hit the gym.

I got an email from a teacher who saw me on the Lost Worlds, Deadwood show, asking me how he could get his students interested in History. Now there's a question. I'll have to work on something for him. I wonder where his school is?

Back to the job...

October 2, 2007

I almost missed today. I have been so busy with my writing job, that I have barely had time for anything else. I did walk this morning with a neighbor. I am cat sitting for my mom, so that takes time when you go visit, and love, and feed, and play with them.

I got to see the new cover for Taste of Tombstone yesterday. It's really nice, but it screams Cookbook. If any of you know me, I fought that category for a few years because I wanted to be taken seriously as a historical writer. After a while, I learned to embrace the fact that it sells well, because it IS a cookbook. What the heck, I have other books that show I can write, so I'm of the opinion - whatever the heck sells!

All for now, back to the job...it's 7:21 p.m. E.T. and I still need to eat dinner.

October 1, 2007

Where does the time go? It's October already! Next thing you know it will be Christmas.

I really should blog on the weekend so Monday's aren't so long, but I try to stay away from the computer. I spend enough time on it during the week.

Saturday was beautiful here, low 80s, no humidity. We had lunch and a nice restaurant and sat outside. Did a little shopping and some wine tasting. Yesterday we stayed home, had Sunday brunch with champagne on the back deck, and later I did some stuff around the house, and made enchiladas for dinner.

I started today with a morning walk and have been working on a project deadline. Today will be crazy.

I read another nice review of Tombstone's Treasure from an Arizona paper.