Has it really been a week?

[alanajoli]

My phone has been ringing and not getting answered. My e-mail is building up. I'm falling behind on my facebook games. I haven't blogged in a week.

I'd like to say I've figured out how this happens, but it seems to sneak up on me all at once!

I was out of town last weekend (Saturday through Monday) visiting family in Michigan, and it was really wonderful to see everyone. The cause was sad (my grandmother passed away after a long illness), but the memorial service was really beautiful, reminding me what an amazing woman my grandmother was. I'd forgotten that she used to call her granddaughters in the morning sometimes to let us know if the prisms she had hanging from her windows were making rainbows, or if we'd have to create some rainbows for ourselves that day. I'm thinking about getting a prism for myself to hang in my kitchen and think of her.

The trip sadly meant that we missed most of the Halloween festivities, but I do have a quick photo of me in my airplane-friendly costume to share.


(I'm posing with Anton Strout's books, as part of his Halloween costume contest. That's a bun in the oven on my shirt, in case you can't make it out.)

While on the trip, I read three review books and Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler, which is not only an awesome debut, it's an awesome mythie novel. (You can get a sneak peek here at Nicole's site.) In between catching up on work assignments (two down since I've been home!), I'm trying to get my library pile down a bit, as well as tackling my TBR pile. And also, there's writing to be done. It is November, after all, and I did say I'd write 30,000 words (and while I wrote four essays this week for a freelance assignment, I'm not really counting those toward the full goal).

Anyone read anything good lately that I should have on my TBR pile? Anyone make a writing goal so far this week? Inquiring minds (seen below) want to know!

Comments

[tezmilleroz.livejournal.com]

Aw, are the kitties letting you work, or are they a nuisance in the office? ;-)

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

They're good company. :) They're a little bit of a distraction, but I like them that way!

[emilymorgan.livejournal.com]

Kitties! I met your kitties! :)

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

And they reported that you took excellent care of them. They tell me they've invited you to come stay with us any time. ;)

[breathingbooks.livejournal.com]

I'm reading/rereading the Betsy-Tacy books and whittling my TBR pile down mainly by not liking anything enough to finish it. As for writing, I'm hiding from NaNo and its reproachful eyes.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

*helps bring over some cover from the red eye of NaNo...*

I hate those stretches of books I don't like. They do happen from time to time.

Did you ever decide on your vacation? (Like blogging, I'm about a week behind on *reading* blogs.)

[breathingbooks.livejournal.com]

A combination of credit card bill, a bought of medicinal tea-sipping, and love of Christmas decorations suggests that I might go in early December. But might tends to be the operative word with my vacations. ;)

[holmes-iv.livejournal.com]

I have declared this to be National Write Some G**d****** Cover Letters Week. So far, I have a very small number of words. Fortunately, 30,000 is a lot more than Google or DESR really wants from their applicants. ;-) (Unfortunately, 30 is a lot fewer than they want. Perhaps somewhere in between?)

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Say, 300? ;)

[ex-kaz-maho.livejournal.com]

I am envious! I want to read Nicole's book... I think I might have to buy it. *grumble* ;) I am so broke, though!

Love that pic of you.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

It is definitely worth purchasing. It's one of those that will merit rereading! I think her contest *just* ended, sadly -- but you may still have a couple of hours to turn in a wild selkie photograph (http://www.nicolepeeler.com/2009/10/contest-alert-don-yer-wellies-its-a-selkie-hunt/)!

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

I feel much the same as you felt about your grandmother, and have imagined mine having quite the "homecoming." :) I think I definitely will get a prism.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

A prism in the kitchen window sounds like a great idea--we had one when I was a kid; we loved chasing the rainbows.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

I remember loving chasing them, too! I started "hunting" rainbows and taking pictures of them after reading Before You Leap (by Kermit the Frog), which is a fabulously fun project. I'd be delighted to catch them at home, too.

[inspirethoughts.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear about your grand mother. *Hugs*

Kitties look cute and so do you!

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Thank you on both counts!

[norroway.livejournal.com]

Great low-maintenance costume. :) Love the kitties, too. They have that no-nonsense look about them that every editorial assistant develops.

[holmes-iv.livejournal.com]

I'm suddenly moved to look at the full-sized version of the picture to see if I can see the count-down timer. :-D

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

It reads BABY. :) Stay tuned for facebook Halloween photos!

[violetwhisper.livejournal.com]

You are too cute! I love your costume, it's absolutely adorable. Can't wait to meet that little bun!

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Me too! :) She's kicking more and more...