You know summer's on the way when...

mood: tired
music: Devils and Angels - Toby Lightman
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...things get so busy you don't have time to turn around. I hope things calm down a little once school ends or I'm going to go insane. I don't know what it is, but the last few weeks I seem to be just flying from one thing to the next every day, and I don't have much left for writing or blogging or even reading by the time the kids are abed.

I still have only the first part of the novel outlined in scenes, but I did go through and make a lot of changes to the first chapter one night, so it's ready to be printed and [gasp] read by someone else. However, the August deadline is looking less and less likely all the time, so I don't feel very good about that.

I also have to do a lot of catching up on the copyright course, since I just got the final quiz in my inbox and I'm about six lessons behind. And the garden suddenly needs attention, after all those cold days when I couldn't force myself outside. Everything needs to be done NOW! Well, maybe on the weekend...

Is anyone else sick of the election coverage? 'Cause I sure am. I'm pretty convinced that the Conservative leader is an android of some sort, which you'd think would make it more interesting. Sadly, that's not the case.

One thing I learned today: Scientists have transferred physical characteristics between atoms by using a phenomenon so bizarre that even Albert Einstein called it spooky.

Cassini-Huygens closing in

mood: great
music: Devils & Angels -- Toby Lightman
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The Cassini-Huygens probe is nearing Saturn; it's due to approach the tiny, mysterious moon Phoebe tomorrow. You can read all about it at
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm. You can also see one of my favorite Don Dixon works, "Cassini's Division" in the gallery at Sci-fi Arizona.

One thing I learned today: Currently, Saturn has 31 known moons. But this count could change during Cassini's four-year mission.

Happy Birthday to Me

mood: good
music: Just Came Back -- Colin James
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So, today was my birthday! A pretty normal day, really, since we (my sister shares my birthday, although we're not twins) did most of our celebrating on the weekend; bowling on Friday night and then a big bonfire party Saturday night. Terry and the kids and I went out to supper tonight so that was nice--no cooking and no dishes! And Krista's home from Ottawa for the summer, which was a nice birthday present all in itself.

The rewrite continues, although slowly right now. Once I finished the read-through I started making a detailed scene list--I need to be able to lay it all out and at a glance see how the plotlines run and where I need to add things/switch things around. I'm at the end of part one with that task, which is about a third of the way through the book. Could be going faster but it's very intensive work and difficult to do when I'm tired, and the only times I seem to have to work at it are late at night. That has to change. I got a great stroke done the first day, when I spent one of my "writing time coupons" from Mother's Day and Terry took the kids to a movie, but it's slow since then. But I'll just keep plugging away...

Tomorrow night is the reading we're sponsoring at the library, so I'll have a few things to do tomorrow to get ready for that. Hopefully it will all go well.

Oh, and it was beautiful here today, finally! I worked in the yard all afternoon and it felt great. I may have a new pic to post soon as there's one garden spot looking particularly good.

One thing I learned today: Dandelions are so sneaky about where they grow that it's spooky...almost like they plan it that way...

Dreadful Rewrite Syndrome

mood: panicky
music: none
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I finished the read-through last night and felt pretty good about it. Started some serious mulling-over of what I thought the strong and weak points were and what I could do to make improvements. I have lots of notes and ideas jotted down to help me make my way through this.

Tonight, however, I feel panicky about the whole thing. Is it really any good? Can it be improved enough? What should I change and how best to do it? Can it possibly be done by the deadline I've set for myself? I need deadlines, I know that, but have I set an unreasonable one? How do I even start? I'd love to have someone else read it, but it's just not at the point where I could do that yet.

It could be that I'm just tired--goodness knows this cold has me pulled as thin as hot taffy. But I feel a little like I do during NaNoWriMo, that I can't let myself get behind or I will have no hope of finishing. Maybe that's a good thing.

Gotta go figure out how to start. Maybe it will flow from there.

Oh, go see Shrek 2. It's hilarious.

One thing I learned today: Wool is clever. Researchers in New Zealand have developed a "smart wool" that will, with the help of a battery, keep toes toasty through the winter. They should be on the market in the UK by next year. (BBC News)

Warning

mood: tired
music: none
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Okay, DON'T go to MSN games and start playing Zuma. It just sucked half an hour away before I even looked at the clock!

Today I washed down the old chair I rescued from Grandad's barn. I think it's going to clean up beautifully, and he was such a one for fixing things up instead of throwing them out, I think he'd be pleased.

One thing I learned today: Japanese elevators go so fast and so quietly they have speedometers in them so the passengers know they're actually moving.