ROBUST discussion

I'm sitting in the car in the driveway before someone else's house, waiting for my daughter and her friend to kiss their boyfriends goodnight. It's bloody freezing, so that 11.30pm curfew will be STRICTLY enforced.

Amusingly, the parents of the boys are pretending to be asleep upstairs, but when I arrived a curtain opened a sliver and a torch waved sympathy at me.

I used to think my mother a terrible fusspot when I started dating...

So. What are you doing right now?

I'm about to go eat my midnight snack. It's only 3.31am. For me that is almost on time! After that I'll be on my treadmill for an hour or so, probably reading a good book on my iPad. To be realistic, it had better be a book I'm editing, because I'm a bit behind. Such an exciting life.

I have a bottle of Loupiac open, an excellent Sauternes, and in the fridge, so I might treat myself to a glass of that as a lubricant on the treadmill. That's my excuse anyway.

Well I was killing time here (mid-morning) until the big tennis year-end final in London comes on the telly, but it appears one of the finalists (Roger Federer, perhaps the best ever) had to pull out! Andy Murray, a good Brit even though he did go public in favour of the Scots going independent, is playing an exhibition match in his stead agains the other finalist.

Looks as if I now have no excuse for not pulling on my parka and mittens (a bit of hyperbole), and heading out for a walk in the glorious sunshine we are experiencing today...

I am avoiding writing on my novel by visiting goodreads and live tweeting on Twitter.

What am I doing right now?

Wow.

Several things at once.

I am healing. The damage I suffer is a combination of diabetes, one-eye depth perception, toe-stubbage on silent-swinging office doors in my home office, and the fact that running to the toilet in the dark is a nasty lesson on where the closet door is, and that it's not nearly as deeply constructed as the actual bathroom.

I am pondering. I love life. Life sometimes doesn't share the same sentiment.

I am tasting. Roasted Asparagus, 25 minutes at 400 degrees with a splattering of sea salt, olive oil and a touch of parm cheese.

I am smelling. My deodorant stopped working three hours ago. My nose senses it each time I lift my arms. Most people find it fascinating to know that your own stink doesn't bother you nearly as badly if it was somebody else's stink.

I am typing on my keyboard. The qwerty based traitor is trying to force me to typo too often.

Finally, I am responding to an interesting post on Goodreads, on the Robust forums. That's the best part. Writing something here. It takes me away from the rest of the mess that I call daily living.

^_^

Sitting in my study, just wondering where to put the scalpel into an overly long novel. Have you noticed how much easier it is for an editor to say, "You need to cut this back a bit," than actually to do it?

On the laptop, snuggling with the dogs. They're so warm! It's no wonder we bred them this small before there was central heating.

Was lucky to be leaving the flea market tonight and spotted a roadside stand with a trailer load of chickens. Came home with a beautiful rooster and 5 hens.

I won't be eating 6 month old Walmart eggs in the near future!

Happy New Year!

About to settle into making a book promotion video. Have written the music for the full length song, reduced it to 30s for the ringtone, now must find the images, create a few novel transitions, which will take longer than creating the music...

My time is currently 4:10am in Oklahoma City on December 28, 2014.

Two years and seven days ago, the Mayan Apocalypse came true. I can prove it. Do you see any Mayans running around? ^_^

As of right this moment, the past is pondering my future while playing gob-smackers with my present day.

When the three ghosts came to visit me a few days ago, the ghost of Christmas Past murdered the Ghost of Christmas Future, leaving the Ghost of Christmas Present to take the blame. Marley laughed his undead arse off at the entire event. The truly sad part, if that ever gets turned into a real episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, I won't see a penny of royalties.

It is now 4:15am and I am beyond my bed time. It's not insomnia. I wish it was, but it is not.

I am writing a novel. This post is a mere reflection of that novel, not in content, but in conviction. In spite of the word processor that loves and hates me at the same time.

I say, all weepy to my keyboard..."Can't we all just type along with each other?"

I wish you all a Merry Christmas, though it's a touch late. I wish you all a beautiful New Year, though it's not too late for that.

I wish you all to be happy. To be pain free. To be loved. To be held. To laugh in an enjoyable manner. Not the evil overlord manner, no no, we can't have that anymore, now can we?

It is now 4:20am in Oklahoma City. It snowed today. It's cold. My heart is warm, because all of you exist here on Robust. Now magnify that good feeling by one trillion to infinity plus five, divided by none.

Then you'll know how happy I want everyone to be. Yes, you too Andre! And everyone else who lurks in the peanut galley, reading these posts without participating. I know who you are! Yes you! *Points*

Goodnight. Fare well in your endeavors. Don't take it wrong if I never speak to you all again until next year. ^_^

Thanks, Daniel, I wish you all that back at you and double.

:-)

Daniel wrote: "Two years and seven days ago, the Mayan Apocalypse came true. I can prove it. Do you see any Mayans running around?"

Ah zo!

Mundane by comparison to Daniel's masterpiece.

Just finished uploading Impressive Bravado - horse mystery, freshly edited, new blurb, with a bonus: Prologue and first chapter of 'The Emissary.' The goal is to make it free on Amazon for a few weeks, or months with pricematching. (Crossing fingers, toes, eyes and brain cells.)

Been kicked back 3 times by Smashwords, which is odd for an epub, but the problem was metadata. Easy fix!

I love Scrivener! So much control, so easy to update e-books. No muss, no fuss, just results...if only marketing was as easy as publishing.

Am working on a 'system' of tweets...tried storing them in Notepad, results mixed so I fell back to Excel. Another multi-function program that I adore.

Been messing around with Facebook, trying to get better 'reach' as in 10k or more, for Icy Road Publishing. Results - none today, check back next week.

Wishing you all a prosperous New Year!

I am listening to one of my favorite books Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce. I am also preparing to write better blog posts. I have to make lists of things to do to improve my writing and my environment.
Here's to keeping to my goals.
Happy New Year everyone!!!

I think there are Mayans in Mexico still. They just don't have a separate culture and their own cities.

What am I doing now? Watching a DVR'D Christmas special that kind of sucks.

Well I was trying to quote Kat's comment to Daniel but the only device I took with me is my iPhone, and it seems too complicated to sort out after I just returned from a walk to the village in 38C (that's over 100 deg F to you Yanks) so I am now sitting in the shade drinking iced tea and reading 'Golf in the Kingdom', watching the family have a swim. No worries though, a 'cool change' is coming and I will no doubt be wrapped in a blankie soon enough...
But Daniel, what Kat said! And ditto to all Robusters...

I'm just finishing up a session of writing now 10:48 PM -- unusual for me to be working so late at night, but I was literarily constipated earlier in the day. Only dawn will tell me if it's any good...

I got up EARLY because I had to work. Tinkered with Facebook by "Liking" a couple of pages. I'm concentrating on book stores and Libraries to see if I can get Icy Road Publishing off the ground in sales.

Some blessed soul is reading short stories on Nook and I bless them every time they buy an ebook. My annual fall dead spot always messes with my head. My books sell best in summer.

The re-launch of Impressive Bravado will commence when it hits Apple.

Now I'm off to the Day Job. LOL