Tuesday – And the World Turns yet another day!

I began designing mock logos this today. I’m at home all day today and don’t feel good at all. I have the flu or some really bad food poisoning. I’m not exactly sure. Yesterday I completed half of my sign up for college and next month I have to complete it. I’m going to get my programming degree so I can actually make some money. Writing is a lost cause. There is no money in it anymore like there use to be a few years ago. I use to be able to support myself with working as a freelance writer. Now days though no one wants to pay a writer anything but a few pennies. So going to college and working for QLF are my only choices at the moment. I want to work on some freelance web design if I can find someone who is willing to hire me (not even for the going rates for web designers) and let me get some experience and some one I can use as a reference. But many aren’t willing to take a chance. What ever happened to those who were willing to take a chance with someone and give them a chance to show what they can do for you. Now everyone is so selfish and will only let you work (with no experience) for free.

When I started working as a writer I had no experience. None what so ever. I failed English in College and barely made it thru in High School, but did anyone ask for a resume, did anyone ask how much experience and education do you have? No of course not. But today they do. And they’re asking for this info for what reason. Most of what they ask for is web content which only stays up for a month. No one actually reads articles online – they just skim it. Well I guess that is enough of me bitching about the writing world. From now on I am no longer a writer except for my blogs and websites. I will no longer be writing for anyone else unless (yes of course there’s an unless) they can pay a decent amount of money for what I write.

All Rights Reserved! ©2008 UpSideDownGrl

Today is GREAT!!! – Busy Busy Busy

I woke up this morning – a bit late because I just didn’t feel like getting out of bed cause my tooth hurt a bit, but once I did get out of the bed I checked my email and there was an email from someone who wants to purchase a few of my prints. I was so excited and a bit in shock. I couldn’t believe it. I mean I posted my photographs up for sale but never actually thought I would get any inquires for a purchase.

I think today I’m going to work on my website and try to print out some photographs and have them matted and framed and put them up for sale. I just got another contract – wee!!! I’m so happy and it’s pretty good money as well. I can’t wait! Finally the money is coming in – (hope I didn’t speak too soon)!

It’s time to start saving up for my next vehicle. All of mine have been sold or I have gotten rid of them. Now it’s time to start saving up!

I guess it’s time to get down to business! I’ll update more of this entry later.

All Rights Reserved! © 2008 December M. Raynes

Saturday & It’s Raining!

Well, it’s finally Saturday and it’s raining outside. Seems to be the overflow of Hurricane Hanna, but I don’t mind it. We need the rain. Today, there’s really not much planned, just the norm. I will search the internet high and low for an online writing gig – find a few, apply for them and then move onto my photography portfolio. Yesterday I stayed in my office all day. Today however I think I may sit in my Saturday workstation. I usually sit in the living room, but lately I’ve kinda tried to keep my living room for living and my office for working, not that much work really gets done in there anyway. So maybe out here in the living room today (yeah right) some stuff will get done.

Well, even if nothing gets done today, it’s the weekend. No harm done, right! Today, I may just search photography guidelines for magazines. Every magazine has photographs in it, although many magazines have their own personal photographers, I may be able to sneak in there somehow with a photograph or two.

Okay – Today’s plans:

1. Laundry
2. Update Photography Portfolio
3. Clean out the Fridge
4. Update Netflix
5. Search Craigslist for writing jobs
6. Twitter – enough said
7. Update Facebook

This entry will be continued!

All Rights Reserved! © 2008 December M. Raynes

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

Awesome News

I just received an answer to one of my queries for I Love Cats magazine for the profile piece I wanted to do on Freekibble.com – she said:

 “One of my editors does these types of stories for I Love Cats. If you feel strongly enough about this project, I’ll pass it along to her. If you want to try to pitch the idea elsewhere, let me know and I won’t send it to her and I’ll delete it.
Sincerely,
Lisa M. Allmendinger
Editor
I Love Cats”

I’m so excited, now to just be able complete it. Oh, I’m so excited. Woo! 🙂 Okay, I’m alright now.

© 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

It’s another day

Well, yesterday I got quite a bit done. The client I was discussing in a previous post paid and we have it all straightened out. No harm, no foul. Anyway, today I have been applying for various writing gigs online and also preparing my interview questions for my “control freak” article. There is so much more to get done and it seems there is just not enough time in the day to do everything.

I have a lot of new ideas floating around in my head for articles. Now I just need to get them out of my head an onto some paper so that I can get them organized and in order. I have a few parenting, animals, writing, relationships, and health. All great topics, now to get them in order.

The Diet Issue

My boyfriend and I both are on a diet now. Last night I made just enough food basically for one person, and we split it. This morning, he said he felt really good and wants to keep eating small amounts. He says he wants to lose a few pounds too. It is very true when you are happy and comfortable in a realtionship you tend to put on a few pounds. I know I definately have. But now the plan is to LOSE IT ALL!!!

Breakfast – Whoops missed it.

Lunch – Tuna on wheat and chips

And for dinner, I think we’re going to have Chili. Yum!

UPDATE:

This is an update on the kitten entry below. Two of the sweet little babies have found home. They went home with an old highschool buddy of mine. The one we were going to keep, well, he’s grown quite a bit. His name is Cooper.

 

     

© 2008 UpSideDownGrl