Change is Good

Yesterday I felt like crap all day long – that’s why there was no entry yesterday! Some of you who know me, know that I go by a pseudonym when writing and in everyday life. I’m currently looking into changing my name legally to the name I go by. I plan to change it right after my divorce is official. I’m not really sure when that will be, but I hope I will land the funds soon and it can be done.

The List of Things To Do Today

I have listed all the things I need to get done today.

1. Vacuum the Floors
2. Clean under the sink (toss out everything that we don’t use)
3. Organize Kitchen Cabinets
4. Laundry – (Did some of it)
5. Send out Query to Dog Fancy Magazine – (Did it!)
6. Mop all Floors
7. Clean both Bathrooms
8. Clean up the backyard (remove the fencing around the garden)
9. Paint my toenails (did my fingernails yesterday)
10. Try to fix the Desktop Computer – (Couldn’t fix it)

Getting Down To Business

I really need to get down to business. Not just the list above, but with writing and making some real money. I have so many things piling up that need to be paid and kept up and just not making it. I just seem to be losing momentum here somehow. The ideas are here, they get put into print, I ask for quotes, I try to get everything in focus and in order, but then the artilce just never takes form. I post and read articles in magazines, I know what I want to do, what I want to say, what I want it to look like, sound like, feel like, be like – well you get the point. I refuse to give up though – I just somehow need to get some motivation somewhere.

Last night while I was laying in bed about to fall asleep I had so many ideas and basically wrote an entire article (in my head). I was just too tired to get up and get the pen and paper to jot it all down. This morning I woke up remembering that I had an idea, but couldn’t remember anything else about it. Not even the idea. I do that alot, or I’ll be in the shower (all the ideas appear while you’re in the shower) and by the time I get out, all of the ideas have faded away and I can’t remember any of them.

No More MySpace – FaceBook All the Way!

I’m going to quit using myspace all the way! There are just too many viruses on there. I checked my voice mail this morning and there was a message from one of my best friends (she lives in NY) and she said that her myspace account was destroyed along with the computer at her job. She was on myspace and somehow got tangled up with a trojan from the site. I refuse to use myspace any longer. My account is still open and running out of fear of getting a trojan in my laptop. That is the last thing I need. Then I definately will be getting no work completed. Our desktop computer is acting very weird lately. It comes on and only stays on for about 20 minutes then will shut down. We’re not sure what is wrong with it. Maybe I’ll add that as my #10 thing to do today on my list above. I doubt that I can fix it, but hey its worth a try, right?

All Rights Reserved! © 2008 December M. Raynes

Tuesday – A Brand New Day!

Today is a rainy day – I’m so happy! Well, my plans for today are as follows. Post for some quotes and information on AbsoluteWrite.com and I have received a lot of great feedback. I want to thank the ones who have posted responses to my post. Thank You! 

I have a lot of great ideas and watching the news last night just added a few more to my list. They won’t be full feature articles or anything of that such, but they will be quick tips, list, and filler articles. The easy of the easy, and a great way for me to start.

My list of things to do today isn’t really all that long.
1. Update my Blog (doing it now)
2. Delete/Organize the hundreds of emails (Completed)
3. Post more requests on AW (Completed)
4. Answer Emails (Completed)
5. Finish 2 Parenting Fillers (Half Completed)
6. Clean the Fridge (Completed)
7. Enjoy the Rain (Yay, finally it’s raining!)
8. Work on getting all of the info for my “Is There a Control Freak in Your Marriage” article. (Almost Done)
9. Start up another Filler on Parenting (Started)
10. Finish my “Being a Freelance Writer” article
11. Get the “FreeKibble.com” Profile article questions created
12. Query another magazine with my idea (Completed)
13. Update my FaceBook Profile (Completed)
14. Email Les Parrott, PhD back (Completed)

See 14 things aren’t that bad. Now it’s just getting them all done. So far I’ve posted quite a bit on AW, so maybe I can relax on that issue. Answering emails and getting my profile article in order is probably the most important right now.

Well I posted on AW and oh wow, I couldn’t believe the responses I got and the amount. It was awesome.

Below is an email I got from a dear friend of mine… Read, enjoy, and laugh your arse off!

Today is International Disturbed People’s Day

Please send an encouraging message to a disturbed friend… just as I’ve done.

I don’t care if you lick windows,
take the special bus
or occasionally pee on yourself..
You hang in there sunshine, you’re friggin’ special.

Every sixty seconds you spend angry, upset or mad, is a full minute of happiness you’ll never get back.

Today’s Message of the Day is:

Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you smile.

Send to all the people you love and don’t want to lose in 2008, even me.
If you get 3 back, you are a great friend.
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we’re here we should dance.

© 2008 UpSideDownGrl

A Quiet Sunday Evening

Well today was a pretty good day. Nope I didn’t get any writing done today, but I did recieve two response to emails from interviewees. One was from Les Parrott, Ph.D – His newest book is out in your local book store or can be found online. Be sure to check it out. He so graciously answered a few questions I had for an article that I have been working on and sent out a few queries to potential markets in hopes (fingers crossed) that they will love my article idea and say “yes awesome, it’s all yours.” That is the email or phone call I’m waiting for.

I love how helpful everyone in the writing world as well as some of the experts in particular fields are. They are all willing to help out someone. It’s so great to see that.

My Diet

Well, so far so good. I still have kept the 2 pounds off, but I haven’t lost any more. It’s the weekend (I know I should really stick to my diet) but I have been eating a bit of junky type foods, but not in large amounts. Very small amounts – I don’t know, maybe that makes a difference. Tomorrow however, I’m back to rice, veggies, and fruits. I still tend to drink quite a bit of soda. I try not to, but sometimes that is all that really goes with certain foods.

Birds and Windows Do Not Mix

This little guy flew straight into our window this morning. He hit the ground and we thought he had a broken neck. He was twitching and on his back like he was about to die. I went out and cupped my hands around him and he jumped out of my hand. Then I picked him up again and he just sat there, stunned. We gave him some water and he just sat there drinking. Later on we put him on a low tree limb and he sat there. A few hours later he was gone. We’re not sure if he survived or not, but he was no where to be found. We have a lot of small birds fly into our windows and some don’t make it. We find their little bodies laying on the ground in front of the windows or on the sidewalk further away. I dont’ understand why they all keep flying into the window, but some say its because it shows the reflection of the sky and trees. I wish they wouldn’t fly into the windows though. I’m afraid that one day they’re going to break on of the windows. This doesn’t just happen in the summer time, but all year around. It’s kind of freaky when you think about it.

My day was pretty good over all. We went to my boyfriend’s Grandmothers 87th Birthday party, ate a great dinner, had some Yorkshire Puddings, cake, icecream, and played a game of Trivial Pursuit – I didn’t win. All around it was great. I had a lot of fun.

I didn’t get any writing done today, but at least I did get this blog entry completed so it counts as some writing along with posting on a few forums earlier this morning.

Yorkshire Pudding Recipe –
with Eggs, Plain Flour, Milk, Cold Water & Lard

Ingredients
2 Eggs
4 oz (125g) Plain Flour
1/4 Pint (150ml) Milk
1/4 Pint (150ml) Cold Water
Salt & Pepper
2 tbsp Lard or Dripping or Cooking Oil*

Directions
Pre-Heat the Oven to 425F (220C, Mark 7). Crack open the Eggs into a cup and mix well. Add the Milk and Water together in a jug. Sieve the Flour into a large bowl and season with a sprinkling of Salt & Pepper. Pour the Eggs into this and stir together well with a fork. Gradually pour in the Milk and Water and stir until you have a stiff batter. Beat or whisk well until you have no lumps **. Allow to rest for half an hour.

Slip the Lard or Dripping into a deep sided baking tin and place just this in the oven. Allow to heat up until visible smoking. Quickly, but carefully, take out and rest on the top of the oven. Pour in the Batter mixture. Place back into the oven and bake for around half an hour until the batter is puffed up, golden brown and crispy.

Serve immediately

Serves 4 as a side dish to a main meal.

Yorkshire Pudding – Notes

* Not the healthiest of ingredients, but Lard does have a higher smoking point than Vegetable Oil. This is important if you want a successful puffed up crispy Yorkshire Pudding. The hotter the fat is when the batter first hits it the better the end result. Once in a while won’t hurt, but alternatively use Vegetable, Groundnut or Sunflower Oil, but not Olive.

** If you have a hand blender place all of these ingredients in a jug and just wiz until thoroughly mixed. If you don’t then these instructions should help avoid lumpiness.

(This recipe comes from TheBrittishShoppe.com.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

© 2008 UpSideDownGrl