Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!, originally uploaded by mdesive.

We started the day off right - with green food! (It seems to be becoming a trend in our house) Then we tried to go to lunch at the Brazen Head, a local Irish pub, but that turned out to be standing-room only and you couldn't hear the band anyway. We went a few doors down to Old Chicago, who were all decorated for St. Patrick's Day but not nearly as crowded. Still, I missed out on the music I'd been counting on all week. Guess I'll just have to put on a CD tonight and get my fix that way.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!, originally uploaded by mdesive.

Mmmmm! Green Eggs and Ham! I do like them, Sam I Am! (and they taste MUCH better than they look. The eggs were a little psychedelic-looking (the food coloring came out of the bottle much faster than I expected) and the green made the ham look rather, well, BLEH. But it all still tasted normal.

Not going anywhere today!

The worst is, it's still coming down! Can't find my car and haven't seen a snowplow yet. Our neighbor did our sidewalk with his snow blower about half an hour ago, but you can't tell now. Good day to stay in and write. Hmmm, where's the hot cocoa?

Finished: Circle of Stones

Circle of Stones: Woman's Journey to Herself is a short book, but I kept it lying around as the one to pick up when I had just a few moments to read, so it's taken me a couple months. It was very interesting. I'll probably pull the second one off the shelf soon to read in the same manner. First, though, I have only a week to read Now, Discover Your Strengths. It's assigned reading for a workshop I'll be attending, so I have to drop all my "fun" reading until that's done.

My dog can talk...but is he saying anything?

Apparently, I was fairly bored this week, between getting snowed in and then being home with a sick kid. So, I started filming the dogs...



Missy usually falls asleep on her side, curled up like a "normal" doggie. But as soon as she's really asleep, she rolls over on her back with all four legs in the air. Then she starts to twitch...

Starting over

D'oh! Apparently all the Valentine's chocolate went to my head.

One of the goals of my local RWA group, Heartland Writers Group, is for each of us to write (at least) 100 words a day for 100 days. If you miss a day, you have to start over at day one. And I was doing so well, but I completely forgot to write my 100 words yesterday. I was 43 days in! And now I have to start over at Day ONE. Gah! Maybe it's some subconscious thing about being at the 9000-word mark. I don't know. But here I go, starting over. You can watch my progress here.

At least there's humor in Scotland...

You are very, very naughty!, originally uploaded by juliebee.

...unless you misbehave near the hot water.

The theme for today

That's one way to deal, originally uploaded by waiting line.

I hate Thursdays.

More Darkfever

I was poking around to see when Bloodfever comes out (nothing says yet, and that's frustrating because it probably means "Not for a while yet"), but I found this from KMM about the Fever series.

Darkfever

I'm going to try keeping better track of what I've read this year, and share on my blog.

I just finished Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning. It takes place in the same "world" (this world, but peppered with the Fae, Sidhe-seers, possible vampires and some things as-yet unidentified) as her romances, but this isn't a romance. I love her romances, but I thought this book was the strongest of hers I've read. And I'm itching for the next book!!!!!

More 'Fun with skeletons'

Doc, originally uploaded by X-travalueMeal#2.

Apparently dressing up skeletons in more widespread than I thought. :)

So Nebraskan

A Fitting End
Originally uploaded by Chris in NE.

I found this on Flickr tonight when I should have been doing something productive.

Why dogs bite people (adding to that e-mail that's going around)

nacho libre and esqueleto
Originally uploaded by fetching.

This is hilarous! The look on the one dog's face says it all!

Happy Halloween!

collage1
Originally uploaded by mdesive.

Yay! It's Halloween! Hope everyone has a happy and safe one!

Prepare to die! ;)

I think it wouldn't be surprising if those were my last words. (Highlight the area below the globe if you can't read the words there.)

	Quiz Galaxy Predicts that Mary DeSive's Last Words Will Be...
"My name is Inigo Montoya you killed my father... prepare to die!"
'What will your last words be?' at QuizGalaxy.com

A little hungry

hungry
Originally uploaded by marielle takes a pic a day....

So, you're on a trip...say, to Paris, and you start to feel a little peckish...hmmm, what could you snack on? Hey, I know! The Eiffel Tower! Hope it was yummy, Marielle!

Yes, I'm wasting time at Flickr when I should be doing other things!

Chadron is a verb! ;)

After beating Colorado, Montana State lost to Chadron last week. Now, the University of New Hampshire beat Northwestern and is hoping not to start a trend with Stony Brook. I like the author's term for what that loss would be.

Union Leader - UNH Notebook: 'Cats don't dwell on big win - Monday, Sep. 11, 2006: "The last thing UNH needs, after all, is to be 'Chadroned' on Saturday at Cowell Stadium in its home opener against Stony Brook. "

My new mantra

I'm still reading Cheryl's blog (I should be doing other things, like writing). I think I've found my new mantra: "When I am old, I will read all those books, but I won't wear purple."

Dreaded rejections

‚“This doesn‚’t fit our present needs, and if it ever does, we‚’ll shoot ourselves.”

I had to laugh when I read this post by Cheryl St. John. She's one of the local authors who encouraged me to join the local RWA chapter. I did, and it's been the best thing I've ever done for my writing.

Right now, I'm just working toward the point where I can GET a rejection. I received my entry back from a contest today. Obviously, I didn't final. I did get some good comments, though. I keep learning, and just plugging away.

Our new houseguest

Missy
Originally uploaded by mdesive.

This is Missy, who is staying indefnitely. She's also known as Quinn's new toy. I just hope he doesn't pull all her stuffing out...but then, none of the other toys could fight back, and she sure does!

Reading a smorgasbord

In response to Tess Gerritson's blog entry, Rebecca Brandewyne says:

Romancing the Blog | Romance Authors and Readers Who Blog: "So, serve me a banquet, a buffet, a feast, a smorgasbord — not just Brussels sprouts and ice cream, but everything else in between, too, because some days, I want Brussels sprouts, and others, I want ice cream, and still others, I want something else entirely."



I say "Yes, Yes, and Yes again!"

Life lesson: Read what you want and don't apologize

This is so true. I read what I want to, but it's still hard for me to tell people what I'm reading sometimes. And when they ask what I'm writing and I say "It's a romance," I still wince when I get that look. The wince is a lot smaller, though, since I joined my local Romance Writers of America group. "I'm not the only one!" my soul cries out.

(The boldface is mine in the excerpt below)

Tess Gerritsen’s Blog» Legume Literature: "This is the greatest cruelty of all. It's one committed every day, by every parent who frowns at the child who’s got his nose deep in a Dean Koontz novel. By every bookseller who laughs at the pasty-faced men who linger near the science fiction shelves. By every highbrow twit who says to a friend, “I’d never read that trash.” Every single one of them is killing the soul of a reader.

So here's a new and revolutionary proposal: let people read what they want to read. Let them eat ice cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if they want to. Some of them will eat the occasional Brussels sprout and like it. But don'’t make them think they'’re any less virtuous for shunning it.

And for all those who read, my advice is this: never apologize for your books. They are your friends. And like friends, some of them are complex and demanding, while others are easy to spend time with. Listen to the critics if you choose to, but remember that critics tend to praise the books that make them look intelligent."

Yep, it's been hot here!

It's hot!
Originally uploaded by mdesive.

I took this yesterday while we were out running errands. Afew seconds later it popped up to 105. Bleh!

Fireworks and the Dog

IMG_0031
Originally uploaded by mdesive.

Poor Quinn! He spent half the evening under the bed yesterday.

The Nest by Bart Vargas, UNO Library

The Nest by Bart Vargas, UNO Library
Originally uploaded by mdesive.

I love how sometimes you get a wild hair and end up where you wouldn't normally be and something amazing greets you.

I came across the title of a book at work today & found the UNO library had it. I really felt I needed to go get this book TODAY, and it's on my way home, so I went. When I walked in, this mound of wires, cables, keyboards -- you-name-it -- sat just inside the library. It's apparently a student art project by Bart Vargas called The Nest. It was a little freaky. I think I have a miniature one growing in my garage...

Click on the photo for the larger version and a link to another photo (not mine) with better lighting. I still haven't figured out why my cameraphone made it blue...

Is it in color, or not?

You have to check out this illusion! It's kind of freaky.

Thanks to Katie MacAlister and her "Field Trip Friday" for the link.

Guess who's 18 today!

Josh & Jon
Originally uploaded by mdesive.

Great American or Sexy Novel?

I was a bit distressed last week when I saw the list of the Best Work of American Fiction in the Last 25 Years by the New York Times Book Review and realized I haven't read a single one. Worse, I haven't even heard of most of the judges and have only read one of them. I was an English major! Gah!

I've done only slightly better on the 25 Sexiest Novels Ever Written as chosen by Playboy (I don't see where they said who decided. Their staff, I suppose). I own two of these books (#6 & #13) and have read one (#6). I've often thought I should have read Forever by Judy Blume (#23), but I usually feel like I missed the window on that one (After all, doesn't one read that one in high school?). Maybe I'll have to add it to my summer reading list. I think the only author to make both lists was Philip Roth.

I have no intention of filling in my reading with any of the New York Times' list. They really don't interest me. I'm reminded of what Alice Duncan says on her website: "...I realized that, not only do I not want to WRITE the Great American Novel, I don't even want to READ it." However, some of the "Sexiest" books have been on my TBR list for a long time. I really need to get to those. ;o)

P.S. Susie Bright interviewed the author of the piece & there he explains how he chose the books. They also mention some others that didn't make the list, but which have also been on my TBR list.

Celebrate Fairy Day June 24

The DaVinci WHAT?

Diet
Originally uploaded by mdesive.

This was in the checkout aisle at the grocery store today. All I can do is shake my head and laugh. I was much more interested in the book before all the hype came around. I've still never read it and I'm not sure I'll bother seeing the movie in the theatre (though I'll probably break down & watch when it's on DVD). I guess I'm now seeing the other side of my Titanic mania.

Too much time on your hands at work?

Maybe you should try this:

The Beatles do Shakespeare!

This is hilarious! And Paul ends up with Pyramus' line "Now am I dead." Does anybody else see the irony in this? I think this was before the whole Paul-is-dead thing, though. Thanks to Such Shakespeare Stuff for the link.

Yikes!

Still wasting time...but this is just too true: "You know you're in trouble when Lexus is part of your identity."

Skigersta, Isle of Lewis

Skigersta, Isle of Lewis
Originally uploaded by ßlϋeωãvε.

Wasting time at Flickr, again... at least I can say I'm trying to do research -- looking for pictures from the Outer Hebrides for my WIP.

And apparently there are still dragons in Scotland...look closely! :o)

Mostly, this is just a cool shot.

Another cool shot

Originally uploaded by deborah lattimore.

Yes, I spend too much time at Flickr. I think this is just such an unusual shot, though. The fireworks are just a wash of light in "reality" but you can see them just fine in the reflection. I'm sure there's something profound there...just give me time to think on that and I'll get back to you. :)

That's it, then...

That's it, then...
Originally uploaded by mdesive.

I guess I'll just have to stay home in bed. :o)

I saw this in the stacks this morning. Note the title of the white book inthe center - I think it says it all.

Recently Seen

I've managed to watch a few movies lately (these three were in the span of the past month...how pathetic)

Mrs. Henderson Presents - Judi Dench was in it, so of course it was great.

Whisky Galore! - Got this one from Netflix as "research" - my WIP is based in the Outer Hebrides, and this film is based in the Outer Hebrides. But it was rather full of stereotypes about Scottish people. And being in black and white, I didn't really get a good sense of how the islands look. The film had some cute moments, but it might have been more fun if it had been less full of cliches.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) - I laughed my a** off! I've got to see if the script is out there and buy it, because I couldn't keep up with all the crazy quotes I wanted to write down. For instance, "Juliet's" line "A nose by any other name would still smell." I didn't get to go when the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival did this a few years ago, so I was excited to find the DVD featuring the original cast.

Let's try this again...

Half-Moon
Originally uploaded by la_febbra.

Have to hit the right button...This is the photo I wanted you to see in the last post. And it only took me how many days to figure this out??? Gah!

Anyway, it's pretty cool, huh? Wish I'd taken it.

What a cool shot!

I've gotta train my eyes to see shots like this:

Half-Moon on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Happy Easter!

Easter Dog1
Originally uploaded by mdesive.

It's the Easter Bunny, er, Doggie...those ears, that pose...it's confusing!

As if I needed another reason to watch P&P

FrankenGirl: Film: Pride & Prejudice 2005 (I’m not proud. I’m just misunderstood.): "Watch it for sexy MacFadyen’s portrayal of Mr. Rochester – ooops! I mean, Mr. Darcy!"

:o) I said from the first preview this looked like a Bronte-fied version of Jane Austen...my jury's still out on whether that's a bad thing.

Yes, I'm caught in the blogosphere tonight when I should be doing other things...

Sad, but probably true...

I hate to say it, but I have to agree with this. I would probably still have read "Harriet Potter," assuming I found a copy, but it would have been one of those little books you read & enjoy, but nobody else you know has ever read. I've had a few of those on my shelf.

FrankenGirl: Harriet Potter vs. Harry Potter: "If she had chosen “Harriet” instead of “Harry,” would the series have changed dramatically? If she had called herself “Joanne” instead of J.K., would she be the richest woman in England? Or would she be working part-time in a bookstore to support her artistic aspirations?"

READ

READ
Originally uploaded by mdesive.

It's National Library Week! The library where I work did READ posters for everyone who wanted to. Here's mine. Of course, I had to take Jane (not to mention Colin Firth!) for my book.

Funny headline of the day...

Hooters Air Goes Bust

Guess what this is...

Guess what this is...
Originally uploaded by Cynewulf.

If you think you've got it, click on the picture to see other guesses (and the correct answer)

Once you find out what it is, the answer to your question is "No, I didn't take this." But it IS clever... ;o)

I'll never look at a Werther's Original quite the same way again. <>

The new addition to our family

Quinn
Originally uploaded by mdesive.

This is Quinn, our new puppy. He's half Rat Terrier, half Dachshund. We got him on St. Patrick's "eve" so we had to give him a good Irish name. He's was thisclose to being called Seamus. Thankfully, sense prevailed and we went with a simple, one-syllable name - easy for him to remember. ;o)

To see more pics of Quinn, click on the picture to go to my Flickr page

What the world needs now...

...is more Mr. Darcy!

I think I've said it before, but I love Whitney Gaskell's blog. I was reading it tonight (when I should have been doing my own writing *ahem*) and found this post.

In it, she says, "As far as I'm concerned, all movies would benefit from having more Mr. Darcy scenes. Just think of how much better March of the Penguins would have been, if right in the middle of all that marching and death, it suddenly cut over to Mr. Darcy asking Lizzy to dance."

I wholeheartedly agree, and I haven't even seen March of the Pengiuns yet. :)

Let's go eat at....

cloudy and crabby
Originally uploaded by It's not about the camera....

Um, I think I'll pass, thanks. :o)

Groundhog Day

My internal editor saw her shadow today, so I can finally get back to my story. I ended the month at only 25,180 words, so I've extended the deadline to Valentine's Day. After a productive brainstorming session with my critique group last night I'm pretty sure I can get there!

Book endings

Gah! I saw the heading for a blog entry that made me think I'd found someone who would tell me how to finish my book, because at this point, I only have the vaguest of ideas and I really should know within the week! But at least this blog entry at Squawk Radio made me laugh, especially this part:

"So I guess the only advice I can give you for ending your book quickly and efficiently is to avoid eBay, Amazon, on-line quizzes and Sudoku while you’re trying to do it. And to end your book in a way that will satisfy your editor, your readers and yourself, you should avoid killing or maiming your characters, and you should keep them mentally sound. And also you should avoid killing or maiming yourself, and you should keep yourself mentally sound. And, okay, maybe you should hide any cutlery in the house, just to be on the safe side."

I thinkElizabeth Bevarly has been peeking over my shoulder. And maybe she should add avoid blogging, too...Nah!

Woohoo!

Tonight, hubby and I went to see Underworld: Evolution. Yes, I know it doesn't open until tomorrow! :o) Earlier this week, I won tickets for an advance screening from a local TV station (sometimes it pays to still be up watching TV at midnight).

The movie was pretty cool! Scott Speedman is now my hunk du jour! Well, probably longer than that, but we've just exhausted my French vocabulary. I could have done with quite a bit less blood & gore - I know it's a vampire movie, but this was pushing the limits for me. It's a lot more violent and bloody than the first movie. Definitely not for little kids. I know a lot of the guys will be thrilled that they go in expecting to see Kate Beckinsale half naked, and what they get is a view of half of Kate Beckinsale totally naked (with Scott Speedman equally so, so I really won't complain). Okay, that's enough drool on the keyboard (that goes for you as well as me)! I've got more to say, but I'm afraid it would all be spoilers, so I'll leave them out for now.

And just to illustrate how this movie had me glued to my seat - I didn't get up to go to the restroom even once! (Those who know me know how amazing that is.) :o)

And now for a little fun

Today's cleverest headline: Debt ode by Burns to City's ladies

HeeHee! I know...you're all rolling your eyes...or maybe wondering what the joke is. I hope not, but just in case, here's a clue: It's an ode one, but a good one. :)

WriMo update

Tonight I get a star in my calendar because I made my nightly goal (plus a little)!

Totals:
Tonight: 2,203 words
This week: 3,383 words
This month: 24,447 words

And from the figuring I did tonight, I'm right on track, but I don't have any slacking days left, so it could get sticky from here on out.

Busy busy...not writing

Okay, I need a slap on my wrist for the last two days. Friday and Saturday night were "freebies" - I had worked them into my totals for WriMo since I knew ahead of time I wouldn't get anything done those two nights.

My writers' group had our annual retreat Friday night and Saturday, so it was definitely writing-related "slack" time, and there really wasn't much slacking going on at all. Over the two days (more like 24 hours, counting sleep) we did 4 90-minute plotting sessions, where we took turns helping each other plot our books. I was very into this Friday night and Saturday morning, but after lunch on Saturday I was brain-dead. Afternoon is my least-perky time. If I had a choice, I'd sleep every afternoon away and stay up more of the night. I did my book in the last plotting session, and just couldn't get my brain to work. I'll know to try to go early if we do this again (though this was really by the luck of the draw, so "trying" to go early wouldn't have helped anyway). I got out my handy calculator (math whiz I am NOT) and figured out we spent 6 hours plotting. Whew! We also spent an hour on a collage and freewrite. I'll have to take a picture of the collage and post it (I'll leave that for later in the week). It was all very fun, and I learned a lot. Even without that it still would have been worth it because I got to know the people in my group much better (I'm a newbie). Still, Saturday night I went home and crashed.

Sunday was sucked up by this that and the other family thing, not that that's a bad thing, and I could have written Sunday night, but I didn't (no excuses, even). Monday I had the day off, and had fully intended to write, but realized just how bad my house has gotten since I've been doing this WriMo (that's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it. No, it's NOT just my usual bad housekeeping skills!). So, I spent all day doing dishes and laundry, and FINALLY took down the Christmas decorations (although at this moment, all the boxes are still sitting in the middle of the living room)

Tonight, my brain creaked and groaned, but I got some words down, and lo and behold, I hit page 100! Yay! Now I'm off to bed.

Words today: 1,180
Words this week: 1,180 (for shame!)
Words this month: 22,244

Wizards in Winter

You may have seen this house on a beer commercial (for the life of me, I can't remember what brand - marketing apparently works on me really well) where this guy has put his Christmas lights to music. You can now watch it on Google Video. If you search for Christmas Lights on Google Video, most of this hits are videos of this house (but all the ones I tried were THIS song, so maybe that's the only one they played? I don't know).

Tonight's totals

Finally found out why my villain does what he does!

Totals:
Tonight: 2,070 words
This week: 4,373 words
This month: 20,430 words

WriMo Update

Exciting stuff tonight, though a bit disjointed. It all flowed out much faster than the last few nights. I'm discovering big things about my characters! Yay!

Totals:
Tonight: 2,323 words
This week: 2,323 words
This month: 18,360 words

WriMo and P&P

Well, I was supposed to do 4,000 words today, to finish playing catch-up. The plan was 2,000 words, go see Pride and Prejudice (finally!) at the theatre, then come home and do 2,000 more words. Yeah...uh, that didn't happen. It started off well, I did 2,014 words before the movie. Then I went to the movie. It was pretty darn good as long as you don't compare it with the 1995 version (nothing beats Colin Firth in a wet shirt) and then my friend and I went to Old Chicago to start our World Beer Tour we've been talking about doing for a year. One (very large) beer, mozzarella sticks and lots of chatting later, I got home and really really really had to squeeze the brain to get the drek I got - 1,208 words. Well, drek is better than a blank page (I need to post that on the wall above my computer...next to the P&P poster). But it means catch-up continues tomorrow.

So, on to the totals:
Today: 3,222
This week: 16,037
This month: 16,037

Friday & Saturday WriMo update

I was a big slacker last night and didn't write a thing. Sat down & watched Valiant with the family instead (I was a bit disappointed in it, really. Guess I expected more.)

Tonight, I wrote 2,875 words. I've got serious catch up to do tomorrow. I should have done more of it today, but it was finally warm enough out to clean the garage. After living in this house for almost two months, we actually have a vehicle in the garage! Yay! And then there was the obvious blog-reading earlier, along with e-mail checking, etc. Bad girl!

Totals:
Tonight: 2,875
Total for Jan: 12,815

Life with a toddler...or a five-year-old

I recently discovered Whitney Gaskell's blog, and it's a hoot! (I need to fix my vocabulary..."hoot" just is not a flattering word on me) I haven't read any of her books yet (shame on me!) but I'm certainly going to keep my eye out for them, especially Pushing 30. Anyway, this post made me laugh, and roll my eyes, because my daughter STILL tries to do this to me (though, thankfully, not in public).

Getting back on track

2,216 words tonight. 9,940 total.

Wednesday's WriMo Update

Only 1,225 words tonight. That puts me 775 behind (I'll have to work that into my total for the rest of the week to make it up). My total is now 7,724 for January.

Tuesday's WriMo Update

Exactly 2,000 words tonight, and boy, were they tough. My total so far is 6,499 words for January.

WriMo Update

I've written 2,226 words today. My total so far is 4,499.

My WriMo update

Yesterday, I wrote 2,273 words. Time to get to work on Day Two...

I'd never thought of this...

...but it'd be really cool. Cheeser at the Harry Potter Automatic News Aggregator (HPANA) site says Book 7 "simply can't not be released on 07/07/07. It's too perfect." See the entire posting at News: Commentary: Harry Potter Book 7 on July 7, 2007

Of course, I'm still trying to get through Book 5. I really need to just make time to sit down and read it. Maybe if I really work at it, I'll have 5 & 6 done by the time 7 (might) come out. :o)

Happy New Year & Mary's WriMo

Gee, it's 2006 already! 2005 felt like a big waiting game & there were lots of big changes. 2006 is an action year! So, I'm starting it off with a goal of writing 50,000 words by the end of January. I couldn't do NaNoWriMo for 2005, and I don't want to wait until November comes again to try it, so I'm doing my own "WriMo" now. We're moved in to our house (finally!), the holidays are done (finally!); now it's time to write, write, write! Watch this space for daily updates! Nothing like accountability to keep you going, right?

Today is Pappy's 200th birthday!

James Pappy Woods
Originally uploaded by mdesive.

Today is my great-great-great grandfather's birthday. He was born Dec 15, 1805 in Ireland (if I recall correctly).

See what else was going on in the world in 1805.

Everything you ever (never?) wanted to know about Haggis

This is a fanciful "Haggisclopedia" about these little animals that live in Scotland. :o)

What I've been reading

I just finished Hatching Magic by Ann Downer. I'd never heard of it when I found it at a Scholastic Book Fair at work (exactly where I should NOT have been with money in my pocket). It sounded interesting, so I bought it and read it pretty quickly for me - about two weeks (that darn ol' real life won't let me just sit and read abook straight through ) . It'd be a good book for someone looking for a Harry Potter fix while they're waiting for the last book to come out (of course I'm only about a third into Book 5). As soon as we finish The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, I'm going to read this one to Ashley (that should tickle her little dragon-loving self!)

What else have I been reading (or listening to, as the case may be)?
Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper (on tape)
Heart of the Sea by Nora Roberts (on tape) - I've FINALLY finished this trilogy!

Still reading:
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
Miss Fortune by Julia London

Oh Christmas tree...well, sort of

PB301004
Originally uploaded by mdesive.

After a drive home through the snow which took twice as long as usual, we pulled into the drive and Ashley yells "We have a tree!" My first thought was, "Duh, we put it up last week!" Then I looked in the yard. I have no idea what KIND of tree it is...guess we'll find out later when it's not dark...and snowing...and leaf-less.

So I spend waaaay to much time at Flickr now

DSCN0948
Originally uploaded by stepinrazor.

I found some pictures of a subway car done up like a Deadwood saloon. If you scroll through the photos, you'll see even the seats are made to look as if they're upholstered, even though they're still the hard plastic seats. Pretty cool.

My Little Pig Sty

My Little Pig Sty
Originally uploaded by Tosawyer.

Okay, it's not MY pig sty. I wish I even had my desk in the house! (hint, hint hubby!) This is somebody else's photo on Flickr.com. Flickr has this thing where you can draw little squares around things and label them, and, well, this person went kinda gung ho! It just tickled me, so I had to post it! Click on the photo to see what I mean. (And I'll go lie down after using so many exclamation points...)

We have sod!

I stayed home today to recover from all the moving and the unpacking and the unpacking and the unpacking....I took a nice long nap for the morning and when I woke up this afternoon, there was a truckload of sod sitting outside! We now have a lawn! It was too dark by the time they finished laying the sod, though, so I'll have to take pictures before I leave for work -- if I can see it. It's supposed to snow tomorrow...sigh. Oh well, it means Mother Nature will do my work for me and I won't have to water it that whole first day. :o)

Check out my pictures at Flickr

The house is DONE!

P1010946
Originally uploaded by mdesive.

It's ours! We moved some boxes & small stuff in today! I had to decorate the windows right away, of course. To see more pictures of the finished house, click on the picture. You'll have to sign in to see the rest.

Light in the front hall

Light in the front hall
Originally uploaded by mdesive.

I just love this light fixture, which is lucky, since we didn't get to pick these. But I really like it! And with the brushed nickel door handles, etc. (also not a choice, but cool) and the stainless steel appliances (a choice), I think it will help pull things together throughout the house.

To see more pictures of the house, got to www.flickr.com/photos/mdesive/. They're public for now, but soon I'll make them available only to "Friends and Family" so you'll have to sign in (if you already have a Yahoo! I.D., you should be able to get to them...if you still can't get to them, e-mail me so I can add you to the list.)

What day is this???

At first I thought I was just delirious from loss of blood (Mary the High-Maintenance Blood Donor strikes again), but apparently they ARE playing Christmas songs on a local station.

House update

We finally have a driveway! We also have drywall, a front door, and a garage door! We close October 26!

A Night Out

Friday night we went to Maggie McCall's to see Larry Garner (center) play. He's a Blues player from Baton Rouge, LA. He played some great music, told some stories and his guitarist (left)wasn't bad to look at. ;o)

House update

We now have front steps, shingles, some electrical wiring, and the fireplace has been installed! 

We have a back patio! 

House update

The front of the house (a bit washed out, sorry). But we have siding, the driveway and steps are ready to be poured, and there are shingles on the roof, though not actually attached yet ;o)

Pipes and ductwork are going in. 

The back of the house.