Was so wired last night from the sort’n'purge, I ended up taking an Ambien to avoid the insomnia I could feel happening.

Oh, blessed sleep! Woke up at 8:30, rarin’ to go. Knew the changes I needed to make on the opening scene, and have made most of them. I definitely have kicked it up a notch…or three. ::fans self:: I hadn’t originally thought about opening with a sex scene, but that seems to be the way this is going.

Took break and listed several things on Freecycle. Two folks coming by today to pick up bags of clothes and the bags of books.

Just listed my computer task chair (with the broken roller/caster thing). Ordered the replacement chair from Staples (it will be here Weds). Not a worry, since I write on my recliner using Nameless (the laptop). Also ordered a wireless Logitech trackball mouse, which I will use for Priscilla, and have moved the wired trackball mouse to Nameless. I found that I was getting wrist sprain/carpal tunnel symptoms if I spent too much time using the trackpad – love the 2 finger scrolling, but when you’re writing a novel, all that scrolling makes your fingers sensitive and makes the wrist ache too much.

I’m hoping that the listed grab bags o’tote bags gets taken by some freecycler. I have at *least* twenty nice canvas totes from various conventions and conferences. I totally do NOT need them. I saved back two that are more weekender types that I use travelling, and one tyvek type tote that is a Harry Dresden Wizard tote – and is also extremely large and will work as a bag of holding. ::g::

I’m really getting into this purging. Once this layer of stuff is gone, I’m tackling the side closet next. There are at least 4 boxes of books in there, plus another 75 or so stacked on the shelves. All hardcovers, most signed or inscribed. I’m hoping to get a nice tall narrow bookcase, which will fit next to said closet, so I can put out the pretty hardcovers.

The idea is to go into 2008 less encumbered by stuff and less stressed about the clutter.

I’ve never really been big about making New Year’s resolutions, but perhaps this year, I might just do some goal setting.

You know how you can fall in love with a character? (I mean in the meta way, not the I-want-to-have-your-babies way).

Today, while working on Blood Bargain, I had an epiphany. I’d been struggling with part of the book, trying to trim down the exposition and just make stuff happen, dammit – as my internal editor was beating the proverbial stick against my head. When all of a sudden, I’m in the middle of merging two scenes together, and the magic was happening and I realized why: one character.

Not my protagonist, Keira Kelly, whom I adore in so many ways, but dude, face it, she’s got issues. Not Adam Walker, hot vampire lover. Hot, but wow, his issues beat the crap out of Keira’s, hands down. And face it, without their issues and angst, there would be no story, because half the fun is giving them hell so then there can be a great payoff.

Not Bea, who is a fabulous friend, but due to circumstances in this book is much more peripheral.

Who does that leave – yeah, Tucker – Keira’s brother, friend and confidante. I’ve come to realize that Tucker is the Duck McDonald of Rio Seco (if Duck had an infectious grin and sarcastic sense of humor). Tucker’s angsty issues are long since resolved. He’s settled in himself and knows who he is and what he wants. Thus, a perfect sidekick/shoulder-to-lean-on for Keira. Plus, he’s also quite easy on the eyes, and for whatever reason, makes the writing go easier.

It’s really odd sometimes when creating a world, creating characters that some of them just seem to take on a life of their own – that is, become more prominent than intended. In the original drafts of Matters of the Blood, Tucker was kind of an afterthought. I wanted Keira to have a family member around that she honestly liked, not just tolerated. Somehow, his tiny role turned out to be a lot more substantial. So much so, that I knew he had to stay in Rio Seco and not go back to the clan.

Once again, Tucker is bailing me (and Keira) out of some tangly stuff. Good thing he’s around, eh?

On a side and rather amusing note: After I finished up my day’s writing yesterday (Sunday), I started up Witness, which I haven’t seen in years. I had a total fangrrl squee moment when it started – not over Harrison Ford, but dudes, Jan Rubes is in it as Eli, the old Amish farmer. I squeed aloud and yelled, “Mort!” at the screen. Six degrees of Benton Fraser, anyone?

In any case, I enjoyed watching the movie again.

I’ve treated myself to some new audiobooks for post-writing enjoyment today. I just bought Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time (read by the author) and Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere (also read by the author).

I’ve noticed that I seem to enjoy audiobooks more if it’s something I’ve already read and enjoyed. I’m looking forward to listening to both of these.

Hope you are ALL having a fabulous holiday. I’m definitely enjoying the time off from work and am happy with my writing progress, so yay, holiday!!

Brooklinegirl, the card arrived yesterday to much squee and hysterical giggling. It’s PRICELESS! (I fail at the card thing. I *have* them…I just can’t seem to, you know, address and mail them. Le sigh.

My plans for the 4-day weekend are simple: Write. Talk to no one. Write some more. Drink eggnog with Cuban rum (yes, really from Cuba). Write some more.

There will be sleep somewhere in there, but no day-job type work as although we’re open on Monday, I took the day off.

On a side note:

Dear freakish Lima brain, why, pray tell, do you spin weird and amazingly complete stories (with color visuals) during dreamtime? Why also, then are they usually suspenseful, thriller type tales rife with spies, and time travel and much with the Bourne-type guns and chases and whatnot? Because, really, you know I *don’t* write that genre, nor am I interested in doing so.

Signed,
The Weirded Out One

To my wonderful f’list: Wishing all of you and yours a blessed solstice and a fabulous holiday season!! May it be all that you desire.

Just got in.

Miami International Airport is one gigantic cluster fuck. We (my sis, BIL and I) had similar flights (theirs @ 7 a.m.; mine @ – so we get to the airport by about 5:45 a.m. – this is including having returned the rental van.

There were hundreds of people at American Airlines checking in – took us more than 1/2 hour to get our bags up there. My sis & BIL were shunted to another security checkpoint as the one for our concourse had a 40 minute wait time.

I’ve never seen anything like this. How can that many people be traveling before 7 a.m.?

In any case, they got to their flight (barely). I got to mine with a little time to spare and am finally home.

Cold, drizzly here but a welcome relief from the horrific humidity that was Miami.

A good time was had by all the Lima clan. Pictures later (since my sis and my stepdad took way many more than I did).

I’m off to nap a bit since I didn’t sleep well last night and have been up since 5:00.

In about an hour and a half, I’m heading to the airport and then due South – Miami-bound for my weekend o’relative fun.

Evidently, my cousin Gustavo is throwing us a bbq on Friday. Cool!

The plane seems to be completely full, which, arrgh. I hate traveling these days. It *used* to be fun. I’m not even taking Nameless with me, as I wanted to travel light. I have one gym bag (courtesy WFC 2007) and a small purse.

Weather at MIA is in the low 80s. Here, it’s COLD. Thank goodness for layers. I’ll be able to peel off the fleece in the airport and stuff it into the tote bag so I won’t be drenched with sweat as soon as I arrive.

Since I’ll have no Internet access while I’m gone (unless I can sneak out to an Internet cafe), I’ll be offline until sometime on Sunday. (Okay, yes, I have my iPhone, so *may* check email, but don’t count on it).

Be good, be safe and keep me posted if anything really cool happens while I’m gone!!

So, hey, Internets – I’m still here, believe it or not.

What I’ve been up to