Almost Better

What day is it? I have a hard enough time keeping track as it is; throwing a long weekend in with a migraine (when time stands still) has really screwed me up. *checks calendar is corner of screen* Saturday. Got it.

It sounds like everyone had a fun Thanksgiving. I went to dinner with a friend, had spinach canneloni, and Ibis was able to join us for the last hour. Other than that, I've been laying down since Wednesday afternoon. These headaches tend to last about four days and since we've agreed it's Saturday, it's almost gone. I've already done a bit of cleaning this morning and since that only happesn when I'm feeling better, I know the end is near.

Another thing that hasn't happened since Wednesday? Writing. I squeaked out 200 words yesterday morning, then gave up and crashed on the couch. One of the American channels was having a Mel Gibson marathon and I caught Forever Young and Lethal Weapon 4. Add in a couple magazines and that's what I've been doing for the past couple days.

Last night Ibis and I talked to my mom and gramma via webcam (we use Skype) and my gramma was marveling over the technology. She does have email and she reads my blog (hi gramma!) but free online video conversations were a new one for her. She hadn't seen Ibis in over a year!

I plan to get more writing done today but I don't think I'm going to reach my 60k goal for November. I'm fine with that, especially since that wasn't going to be the end of the book anyway. Have a great rest of the weekend!

Migraine Day

I don't know how many people will be online today, but I hate to skip a day. My head has exploded again so I don't have much to share. My dinner last night was nice - if a little long - and I didn't get any writing done. I feel lazy since I wasn't as busy as I'm sure all of you were, but I was getting into the spirit of the holiday. ;) Hopefully I'll get to it today.

Happy Black Friday, lol.

My Friend Arrives in Three Hours!

Yay! My best friend is on her way here. I think right at this second she's at the Houston airport, but she lands here at 2pm and I am so excited!

I probably won't post much while she's here but Sunday IS the one-year anniversary from when I started this blog, so I might break my new "Silent Sundays" and post something. Maybe a haiku, lol.

I'm feeling a little loopy from the humidity and a headache, so I'll spare you the mental meanderings today. :)

Anyone Have 20K Words to Spare?

I did it! I forced myself to actually TURN OFF the internet and I finished my wip. I wrote about 2000 words yesterday, which didn't add nearly as many as I need, but it's all there. The loose ends are tied up, a couple people die, and I still feel really good about it.

I have two friends lined up to read/critique it for me so I hope to get through it a couple more times between now and the end of this month. During that time I'd also like to get working on an outline for my new idea so I've got plenty to keep me busy. Thanks again for all the suggestions the other day - you've really got my mind churning (in a good way).

I'm not feeling too well today so I'm going to keep this short, but I have to share one final thing. This morning while I was on the path near the ocean I saw a sting ray! A really big one (3-4 feet across) with spots. I know a man who snorkels in that area and he sees them all the time, but that was a first for me. As I watched it flip around in the shallow water I looked up and saw a cruise ship turning into the bay. Not a bad way to start the morning. :)

Migraine Day

Can someone please remove the steel spike that's going through my jaw, up into my eye, and out my forehead?

Thanks.

More on the Antagonist

My bad guy just pulled into the parking lot. He and my main character (MC) are about to meet and I'm all atingle just thinking about it.

Wouldn't you know it, but Writer Unboxed has another post about the antagonist, but this time Therese Walsh talks about the contagonist. This character is similar to the antagonist, where they try to prevent the protagonist from accomplishing their goal, but different in that they only want to delay the inevitable. They don't want to stop him. I know it sounds a little confusing; please read the link for a better explanation.

*****

Yesterday Ibis and I went to my friend's house for a pool day/BBQ. The party was almost a bust when the sky opened up for a two-hour rainstorm - almost. The host and her boyfriend ran to the pool and madness ensued. All eight of us became kids again - diving, flipping, and canonballing into the pool. Two of the dogs even joined the fun.

It's always in the 90s here so the rain wasn't cold and the pool felt like a sauna. It was pouring so hard that I had to shield my eyes just to see ten feet in front of me. We only had one injury - rain + slippery tiles tend to do that - but after a little ice, she was fine.

I planned to elaborate a little more but today is turning into a migraine day. And I didn't even drink, grr. I'm going to lay low the rest of the day and hopefully get some writing done. I can't wait to meet my bad guy.

Migraine Day

Yes, it's been awhile but apparently my body felt we were overdue for another celebration. This one struck around midnight Friday as I was whipping through a chicklet book. (Maybe that was a sign.) I haven't read one in ages but there's a free book exchange at Ibis' hotel so I thought I'd give it a try.

Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella, the same author who wrote the Shopaholic series, is about a woman, Emma, who spills her secrets to a man seated next to her on a plane they think is crashing. Turns out he's the owner of the international company where she works, zaniness ensues, and they end up together, of course. Kinsella has a knack for creating characters that I can relate to - they mean well but keep putting their foot in their mouth.

I almost wet myself over one particular line, despite my headache. Emma recently broke off a long-term relationship (who also works at the same company) to pursue the big-wig, and the ex just found out:

Connor's face is slowly turning different colors. "NO," he gulps. He looks as though he's seen a ghost. And not just any old ghost. A really big ghost with clanky chains, going "Whooo!"

Maybe it was my delirium but, good lord, I thought I'd wake up the neighborhood. I couldn't stop laughing!

One other thing: I've been playing around with some settings on my blog - shuffling the links and adding a keywords option - but I'd also like to add a section with important posts to read. I've recently had some new readers and I don't expect them to dig through almost 200(!) posts to find out why I'm here. As readers, is there something in particular you think I should include? I know my first post should be highlighted, but other that that, I'm not sure.

I'd love your input.

One final thing: yesterday I joined an online writing group (THANKS Spyscribbler!) so I might make some progress yet!

It's About Time

I believe in karma, or at least my idea of it. The theory that whatever good or bad things you do in life will eventually work their way back to you. If someone wrongs me I'm able to put aside my urge for revenge with the belief that they will eventually get what's coming to them. I've had personal experiences that back that up, but mostly it involved things happening to other people.

If you believe in my version of karma it would seem likely that at some point, something should be working its way back to me. I've often joked that with all the crap I've had to deal with in the past fifteen months I've got some serious good karma coming my way. I realize if I'm counting on it nothing good will likely happen so I try not to dwell on it, it's just something in the back of my mind.

I haven't gone into a lot of detail here but I've had various health problems that started three days before I moved to Mexico. Well, they didn't start that day but that's when the lab results came in. So on top of all the immigration BS we've had on our minds I've had monthly doctor's visits with a non-English speaking MD. Every time we thought I was fine, something new would turn up.

Well, I finally have been given the green light to move forward with my life (read that how you will). All my problems seem to be under control. The best part - I didn't have to make an appointment before I left. Every single time I've been in there I've had to schedule my next visit but not today! I do have to return at the end of August but that feels like an eternity away.

And best of all she gave me a prescription for some real migraine medicine! Thanks, mom, for suggesting the research ahead of time.

Migraine Day

It's been awhile, I know. I didn't get a migraine last month but this one is certainly making up for it. My one friend has already left and the other leaves later this afternoon - he's doing his best to crispify what little white skin he has left before he has to go home.

We've had a fun visit, hit a lot of beaches and had several good meals. My migraine struck Sunday night after two solid days of intense sunbathing. I've tried to lay low but that's hard when you also want to show people the town. Mexico didn't listen when I put in a request for a cloudy day.

Ibis leaves tomorrow for Ciudad Juarez so I plan to enjoy the peace and quiet after so many busy days.

100th Post

I had good intentions yesterday when I promised something good for today. Great intentions. Problem is I haven't been able to think of anything 100th post worthy. Typically my ideas come from something that's happened during the day or something just pops into my head.

I'm still very excited about the car and even drove it for the first time today, but that's not very exciting to you anymore. My migraine is gone but they usually do go away, so nothing to write home about, lol.

While catching up on my mending I tried to find a correlation between the steady, forward motion of the thread and life in general. How we may stray off course now and then but in the grand scheme of things we'll still end up where we're destined to be. You patch up the hole and keep weaving.

That didn't really jump out at me either, so I've decided to take this moment to look back at where I am with my writing.

I finished my first draft, conclusion and everything, and sent it out to a couple friends. Last I checked they're at about the same point so I'm trying to contain myself until they get further. Their thoughts mean a lot to me and I can't wait to incorporate their suggestions. When I sent it out I told myself I wouldn't touch it until it's returned to me. It's been tough, and some better ideas have floated around, but I'm finally reaching that point where I feel detached from my work. This is important if I ever want to look at it with my own critical eye.

I started my next project the week before my parents arrived but haven't gone back to it yet. I'm getting hung up on technicalities and it's starting to piss me off. I have a new journal I'd decided to use for this project but when the ideas first came I wrote them in my everyday journal. My plan is to copy those couple pages into the new book and really get started.

Sounds fun, right? That's why I haven't done it yet. I've caught up with some other mundane things around the house so I'm almost out of excuses. Plus, by rewriting what I already have it should spark some more ideas. It's a different format for me so this is all new territory.

Here's to hoping the next 100 posts will find me with that MS out with friends.

Migraine Day

It seems like just yesterday that I had a migraine. Well, it was yesterday but the full effects didn't hit till later in the day. Then I woke up every hour overnight, yay.

Once again I've got a drill bit stuck inside my right ear. The neighbors are keeping up their end of the deal by blasting music and operating heavy machinery. I've managed to get a few things done around the house but sitting at the computer for any length of time just isn't going to happen.

This is post #99 so I'll try to think of something good for tomorrow. Enjoy your Sunday!

Sunshine Day

I was really hoping inspiration would strike and I'd think of something interesting to write about today. I feel guilty that my past two posts were a tad lackluster and I wanted to make up for it.

But.... I have a migraine.

It's been lingering since yesterday but I was well enough to go running this morning so I don't feel like the day's been a total waste. One benefit to suffering from migraines for years is you learn to cope with life. You can't always crawl under the covers for three days and ignore the world around you. Now with my life as it is, I probably could bury myself in bed for half a week with no ill effect other than a pile of dirt on the floor, but I'm a worrier and I'd guilt myself into the living room by mid-afternoon.

As usual the sun is shining, as it's apt to do in Mexico. It feels a little warmer than normal, but that could just be me. I was fortunate that I did run this morning because that meant my shower happened this morning, before the well dried up. I'm not certain it's actually dry - a small trickle has found its way into my faucet after a couple hours - but there's not enough for a shower.

I've spent the past couple hours working edits from my betas into my book but I'm still struggling with some of my direction. The same questions that nagged me three months ago are back at it and I can't decide which direction to go. I'll probably end up hacking the thing to pieces and see what's left in the end. For now, I'm off to the couch to read a book in the dark.

:)

Oh, and yes, my toes continue to improve. Enough to run without toppling over anyway.

A New Tradition

Not new for me, just in terms of my blog. I get migraines about once a month and this month is no different. What's made this one extra-special is it started on the way to the airport at 3am yesterday and is still going strong. Surprisingly the air pressure didn't make it worse and I was able to sleep a bit. A magical fairy even refilled my water while I slept. :)

I wasn't sure what to expect when I landed. Ibis & I had worked out three plans for my arrival: 1) he'd duck out of work long enough to pick me up, 2) he'd leave the car in the parking lot before work & I'd drive myself home, or 3) I'd take a cab.

Now, the cab option is not as cut & dried as it may seem. The cabbies that hang out at the arrivals gate charge 250 pesos (very expensive) but if you can catch one at the exit - one who dropped someone off & didn't stick around for a new fare - they'll charge under 100 pesos. If I didn't see Ibis or the car, I was supposed to drag my bags through the parking lot & try to barter for a cab there. Right... and did I mention I managed to fit all my books in my bags? That's 100 pounds I'm supposed to haul through the blazing sun WITH a migraine, no food & very little sleep? He did say I could take a more expensive cab and just not tell him what I spent, so that's sweet.

Lucky for him ('cause, man, would he have heard about it later) I saw Ibis waving as soon as I got through Customs. He brought me home, carried all my bags upstairs, then went back to work. I slept for six hours, had dinner, then slept another nine hours. Hopefully I'll feel better by tomorrow.

PS: For those of you who know how bright our condo is during the day & were wondering how I slept so long... you know those two-inch wide stretchy headbands you use to work out or wash your face at night? A black one works wonders as an eye mask!

Spirits in the Kitchen

Tequila, wine... oh wait, not THOSE spirits.

Spirits. Ghosts. In the Kitchen. Lucky for us they're not in our kitchen. Yesterday Ibis' sister called and said a basket of eggs had fallen on the floor, breaking all the eggs. But the basket had not moved - it was exactly where she left it. No one in the house claimed responsibility so she decided it was ... the spirits.

Right.

Now, she's not a particularly religious or superstitious person, so we were both surprised she said that. I think someone knocked it over, put the basket back on the counter, and now won't fessing up. Or it was the spirits.

Oy.

***

Two other minor things: we're officially in Day 2 of Migraine Watch (and an electric saw just started outside as soon as I wrote that) AND I found a video that any and all Dirty Dancing fans must watch. A couple recreated the final dance for their wedding and they nailed it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYhlm9GTAQ0&eurl

I haven't figured out how to make that an actual link so please copy & past into a new window. Enjoy!

It's Migraine Day!

In honor of Migraine Day, I'll refrain from shouting and will whisper instead.

Lucky for me, the entire world got the memo about Migraine Day. It's very bright outside. Our neighbor's music has been blasting all day. The dogs in the street keep barking. I had to do real work so I can make some money. And my book keeps telling me I should be editing instead of chatting online.

I did manage to go for a run this morning but I've spent the rest of the day inside. Here's to hoping it's not a two-day celebration!