Weekly Goals & Reading List

Last week was sort of “meh” for me. Getting up too early, trying to get to bed earlier, rearranging my routines, and watching hubby try to adjust to a completely different working environment - which I’d like to think doesn’t affect me much, but really, it does. I want him to be happy. When he’s struggling, it affects my state of mind too.

Still, I managed to get two “chapters” of the new blog serial posted, a short story written and posted with one good edit, and the blog layout completely updated. Not a bad week, except I got nothing done on my novel WIP.

Goals for the Week

Writing: I need to do two more chapters for “Tempest”, a mystery flash piece on “Office Life”, and a minimum of 500 words per day on “My Private Chef”. Rainy Sunday is stalled, and I think I know why. I’m putting that on the back-burner for now, until I decide what to do about it. The novel draft is more important to me anyways.

Personal: I still need to do a little tweaking on my evening/weekend routines. And I’d really, really like to start working out again this week. So the goals this week are to solidify my new routines, and fit in a nightly workout time slot. I’d also really love to get the dining room table cleaned off…which should be doable, since Friday is a holiday from work.

Reading List

I am *still* working on Nothing to Lose by Lee Child. Can you believe it? I never take this long to read books – ever! I just haven’t been able to spend much time with it, what with all the other stuff going on right now. Ugh!

I did finish Inherited: One Child by Day LeClaire – one of my Harlequin ebooks. It was great, up until the twist that I didn’t really think needed to be there (it was okay, but the story was working just fine for me without it). Still an enjoyable read though.

I am going to finish the Child book this week – no matter what.

So what’s on your plate this week? Any goals to share (feel free to link to your blog if they’re already posted somewhere)? What are you reading?

Variety News 6/28/09

You may be noticing a few...changes...here on The Variety Pages this week. Take a few minutes, look around, check out the new layout. Let me know what you think. I'm going for a more professional, classic look - hopefully a little less cluttered with links and information split between two columns instead of packed onto one. I'm also designing a new banner that should be up sometime this week, and I've matched my twitter page to the blog. Exciting, yes?

To the right, I've added links to the "free reads" on this site. You can check there for new chapters if you miss one when it's posted, as well as the monthly flash fiction offerings. All blog and social links are now on the left - do check them out if you have some free time. At the top, you'll find a subscription link, the weekly photo contest link, and links to my other blogs.

Regarding the daily topics, those have switched around a little as well. I've taken a reader's suggestion, and decided to post two installments of the serial novel in *addition* to a flash fiction (1000 words or less) piece once per week. I have a hard time staying "in" stories only posted once weekly, so I do really feel that twice weekly is better. With the flash fiction, I'm not only exploring many different styles & genres, but also honing my editing skills. The flash fiction will be more polished than the serial novel draft installments, working up to publication-caliber works, if all goes well. Flash stories will be a different genre every week, with a different theme every month. July's theme is "Office Life".

Thursday posts will now be a "wildcard" topic. I'll rotate through "Wonders & Blunders", "Gettin' Organized", "Party Plans", or whatever else comes to mind. WIP reports and the Weekly Reading List will move to Mondays.

So, all that said, here's the lineup for this week:

Monday: Reading list and WIP reports
Tuesday & Friday: Chapters 2 & 3 of Tempest on the Mountain. There are several storms brewing this week...
Wednesday: The winner for the June "What Is It?" contest will be announced.
Thursday: ???
Saturday: Flash Fiction - Office Life/Mystery

Elsewhere on the Variety Network:

Nail Art Tuesday features an Independence Day manicure.

Scaryview Cemetery Scrapbook looks at our July prop order, and save the date cards.

Tea on Tap explores new formatting ideas.

Have a great week, everyone! Thanks for reading...

Flash Fiction: The Healing Place

The Healing Place

Angela stood at the edge of a cliff, surveying the fertile valley below. A lazy river cut a wide, winding swath, sparkling blue-green in the afternoon sun. Deciduous trees lined the banks, a soft blanket of emerald foliage beckoning to her. Drifts of colorful wildflowers waved in the gentle mountain breeze. A deer drank from a still pool, ears alert for potential predators.

At her back, the forest was a cacophony of sound. She closed her eyes, allowing it to inundate her senses. Birds called, tree limbs creaked, and the underbrush rustled with the incessant dance of nature. It was the perfect primal setting for the healing her client so desperately needed.

She opened her eyes. A dead tree in the gravel beside the river caught her eye. How could a tree die so close to plentiful water? Perhaps a lightening strike had been its demise. Even here, in this beautiful place, the complete cycle of life prevailed. Chris would appreciate that.

She looked down at the small wooden box cradled protectively in the crook of her arm. Stroking a finger over the smooth finish, she smiled wistfully. She’d been searching for months, trying to find the perfect place. Now it seemed that her search might be at an end, and the feeling was bittersweet.

Carefully she set the box on the ground, settling down next to it on the sharp edge of the cliff. Her legs dangled freely over the edge. She peered at the huge rocks below, jagged pieces of the mountain that had long ago succumbed to gravity. Would it be high enough? Her brow furrowed as she mentally calculated the distance. Maybe. She picked up a larger pebble, dropped it into the void and watched it fall. It bounced violently off a boulder before disappearing into a crevice. She squinted, leaning farther forward to examine something that seemed wedged in the same space. Could it be?

A clean, white skull stared up at her.

Angela grinned. Yes, this would do nicely. She got to her feet, moving the box a few more inches away from the edge, just to be safe. She turned and retraced her steps down a narrow trail. It wasn’t far to the road, and her car was soon visible through the brush. Chris was leaning against the trunk, his arms crossed over his chest.

“I found it,” she said when she reached him, rubbing a gentle hand over his arm. “Come with me, it’s not far.” She took his hand, tugging gently. He followed silently, as she knew he would. She led him through the trees to the clearing, and spread her arms wide.

“Isn’t it just perfect?” She grabbed both of his hands and pulled him nearer to the edge. “Look at the valley, so wild and alive. Doesn’t it just speak to your soul?”

Chris nodded, a weak smile playing at his lips. “So this is the place of healing then? You really think it will work?”

Angela picked up the wooden box, and lifted the lid. “Yes I do,” she replied, removing the top from one of the glass jars nestled inside. “Are you ready to begin?”

“Yes.” Chris let out a long breath, gaze locking with hers. She opened the second jar.

“Close your eyes.” Her voice was solemn. “Raise your arms out to the side.” She watched him slowly raise his arms, struggling to hold them steady. She dipped a finger into the first jar, and gently drew a line of oil across his forehead.

“Deep, slow breaths.” She kept her voice low and steady as she removed the other jar from the box. “That’s it,” she soothed, setting the box aside. “Soon, the healing will be complete. Just smell the fresh earth around you, let the sounds of life embrace you as they welcome you into your new life.” Chris swayed slightly, lifting his face as if offering himself to the wind. Angela nodded, satisfied that he'd allowed himself to be seduced by the natural power in this place.

“Be healed,” she said softly. She held the second jar carefully up to her lips, and blew a cloud of white powder into Chris's upturned face.

His eyes opened wide in shock as his body instinctively moved to avoid the unknown substance, pulling him backwards over the edge of the cliff.

Angela watched as he fell, waving happily as his body crashed violently onto the jagged landscape below. She blew one last kiss to him before she turned away, gathering up her tools and sending a quick prayer of gratitude to the earth for healing her client. He was at peace now, no longer a slave to the confines of his diseased body. She looked toward the valley once more before walking the trail to her car. She checked the clock on the dashboard, then turned the key, pulling north onto the highway.

If she hurried, she'd have time to screen one more potential site for a client before it got dark.

I'm just starting to explore the world of very short fiction. I only had time for one edit of this, but will hopefully improve as time goes on. I hope you enjoy! Thanks for reading.

Wonders & Blunders: Umbrellas

Wonder: The Golf Umbrella

I park about a block and a half from the door to my office every day. It seems that in recent years it's rained more here, usually in blocks of a week or two at one time. Odd for a semi-arid climate, and a little depressing as well. I'm not a huge fan of rain, even though it brings much needed water. A single afternoon shower is fine - several days worth, not so much.

Last year I finally splurged for a huge golf umbrella with ultra-sturdy construction. It was a little more than my normal $6 - $10 umbrella budget ($15), and it's not a convenient diminutive size. But it does the job better than any umbrella I've ever owned - and unlike every other umbrella I've owned, it doesn't even think about flipping inside out in a strong wind!

Most travel/purse sized umbrellas don't open large enough to keep all of me (including my handbag) dry in a good storm. My golf umbrella is big enough to shelter me, my purse, and another person if need be. We actually used it at the bar last Saturday night when we were stuck in a downpour on the patio!

The larger size and slightly larger price is completely worth it for me. No more messing around with those cheap little things - I'm officially a golf umbrella convert! Now if I could just find one with a proper hooked handle to hang off my arm as I'm headed in to work...

Blunder: Travel or "Purse-Sized" Umbrellas

When I was in college, I had the opportunity to go to Paris, France for 14 days. It was the trip of a lifetime, and one of the "must haves" when you visit Paris is an umbrella. Naturally I took one of the collapsible "travel" umbrellas, and as Murphy's Law would have it, never used it once while I was there.

Sadly, I have gone through numerous collapsible umbrellas in my life, most giving in to the extreme winds we often get with our storms. I can't even count the number of times those umbrellas have flipped inside out on me, and not only is it frustrating, they never seem to work well again after that happens, even if you flip them back.

They're poorly shaped - flatter so they cover the most area with the least amount of fabric, but I find that it results in drips on shoulders and handbags, while providing little coverage to one side of the body or the other (depending on which hand you hold the umbrella in). Yes, less fabric makes them more convenient to carry, but it certainly makes them less useful as well. And despite the fact that they're small, they also tend to be too heavy to carry constantly in a purse, so they still end up being carried around by hand much of the time.

No more travel sized umbrella's for me. I can't believe I wasted so much time on them (and how much more stylish would I have looked carrying a distinguished hook-handled umbrella in Paris?

What Is It?

Excuse the mess around here - I'm trying to find a 3-column layout that will display well on my netbook. Thanks for your patience!

I feel like I should apologize - there were no correct guesses last week! And I've lost the original photo file (it's around here somewhere...), so I can't show you the answer. You'll have to take my word for it - it was actually a lamp shade!

So here's our last June mystery photo - this month's winner will be drawn next Tuesday night from all the correct guessers this month, and the name announced next Wednesday.

What is It?

Good Luck!

To enter: Simply post a comment with your best guess as to what the subject of the photo is. Each correct answer = 1 drawing entry. Drawings held at the end of each month. Prizes include a book and a tin of tea.

Gettin’ Organized: The Calendar & Scheduling

I was going to do the dining room this week…but when I realized that I wasn’t even organized enough to get this post scheduled early, my calendar should probably take priority. A Sunday holiday for me means moving many pieces of my normal weekend schedule around, or else falling way behind and finishing up far later on Sunday night than I usually do. I bet you can guess which format won this weekend…

But first, the mail center report from last week. I procrastinated, cleaning off and reorganizing the entire counter that the mail center shares with the kitchen rather than doing the drawers as I had planned. Now you know how scare I am of those drawers. They will go back on the list next week, since payday is the last day of the month, and I’ll be more motivated to have them organized before I need to pay bills. Bill paying will be going back on a “schedule” as well, so that ties in nicely with this week’s organizing theme.

The photo above is of the Pimlical calendar software I use to sync with my PDA. It uses the built-in Palm databases, so it needs the Palm desktop to run, but it’s much richer in terms of what it can do. I use Datebk6 calendar software on my PDA, which is made by the same company. These two pieces of software literally run my life far better than any paper planner ever did (and in far less space). I rarely use our wall calendar there, which is mostly for decoration, though occasionally a doctor’s appt. or community event we might attend gets written there. Even hubby knows that if he wants to remember something, the best way to do that is with an appointment in my PDA, with a reminder alarm. I sync my PDA with my netbook every evening before bed, after I check the schedule for the next day.

Those are the tools I use, but the process of carving out a daily schedule is all about experimentation. It’s all trial and error – I’ll schedule a chore or event, wait a few days and see if I’m getting it done or having problems, and reschedule to try again if need be. It’s not an exact science, and sometimes it takes awhile to find the best time to get something done.
I also have routines – one for morning, and one for evening. Many of my evening routines are scheduled into my PDA with alarms to remind me to get off my butt and do something. My morning routine is much simpler, so I only “schedule” things that I forget often (like setting up my cup and kettle for tea before I hit the shower).This week everything changes though. My husband starts a new job (at my workplace, actually), which requires us to be at work half an hour earlier than we were before. Since neither of us are “morning people”, getting up earlier means that some things I was able to do in the morning need to be moved to the evening routine, and the morning routine “maximized” for efficiency.

Why go to all this trouble? It’s because my husband is not a planner. He’s a spontaneous person who often will decide to do something at the drop of a hat, and his family is the same way. Having a well laid out schedule allows me the freedom to be spontaneous when need be, because I know exactly what my priorities are, and what can be moved from day to day, and where to reschedule them to. It allows me peace of mind knowing that everything will eventually get taken care of, even if we decide to drop everything for a day and run off to play.

So that’s my organizing assignment for this week. Redo my morning/evening routines, and I also need to get my writing schedule set (it’s mostly done, but needs some tweaking).

How do you organize your daily schedule (or do you)?

Variety News & WIP Reports 6/21/09

This week on the Variety news, just one simple format change. Last week I posted a poll to help me choose the new storytime format and genre. Only two people voted - thank you to both of you! Both voted for breaking my "story" days into one for the blog serial, and one for short, complete fiction (which should probably be flash fiction for a blog post, or it would be too long).

So a new serial novel will start on Tuesday, with weekly installments posted. And Friday will be the first weekly "flash fiction" post. I'm planning on doing monthly themes with a different genre each week, but the first one won't be constrained with parameters.

Coming this week:

Monday: Gettin' Organized in the Dining Room
Tuesday: First chapter of a new romantic suspense novel (to be named)
Wednesday: The last mystery photo for this month
Thursday: Wonders & Blunders examines umbrellas
Friday: Flash Fiction
Saturday: A more productive Weekly Reading List

Elsewhere on the network:

Nail Art Tuesday features another unique manicure (ie, not sure what I'm doing yet!)

Scaryview Cemetery explores potential hospital prop material.

Tea on Tap is open for outside tea reviews. Want to review your favorite tea? Email me with your review...see blog for guidelines.

WIP Reports

Serial Draft: Loving Lana is finished...the first draft, anyways. It's too simplistic as it stands, but not a bad effort for a first try at writing serial installments. I learned a lot, and I'm actually kind of glad that it is simple, so it will be easier to see the actual structure when I go back to start editing and revising it. My plan is to edit, polish, and then release it for free as an ebook, probably this fall. It will sit for a week or so before I start editing. Obviously it needs a new title...any suggestions?

Short story: Rainy Sunday didn't get the time it deserved this week - I admit, I spent the time allotted to finish it plotting the next serial novel. This week...I will finish the draft this week! I think part of my problem is that the story has become a little intense for me to write - which hopefully will make it intense to read, but I need to get it written first.

Novel Draft: My Private Chef got a few thousand more words this week, and it's still a great story that I'm excited to work on. I didn't quite get 500 words per day...I'll keep that as my goal for this week. I'd also like to run it through some of Holly Lisle's Create-A-Plot instructions to get a better idea of where I'm headed with it, so I definitely want to do that this week.

Blog Serial: This, my friends, is going to be cool. I used Holly Lisle's free plotting mini-course (.pdf file plus weekly emails) to create the plot, and it's far better and richer than anything I've ever plotted myself. It's going to have a romance running through it, but there will also be a lot of dangerous adventure and thrilling scenes that should make it a wild ride (providing my writing is up to the task). It will be posted in draft form like the last one, so it won't be perfect, but hopefully it will be entertaining and fun to read. With any luck, I'll have a working title by Tuesday.

Flash Fiction: No idea yet. :-)

That's it for me - anyone else care to share your goals for the week?

Weekly Reading List 6/14 - 6/20/09

I had planned to finish the Lincoln Child book this week, but alas, I still haven't. Hopefully I'll have better news next week on that front. It doesn't normally take me so long to read one book, but I've been having to get to bed earlier, so I can get up earlier...major bummer.

As a matter of fact, between writing and sleeping more, I only managed to finish one book this week, an ebook from Harlequin.

Make Me Yours by Betina Kahn (Harlequin Blaze Historicals ebook & paperback)
Set in England, 1887, this is a wonderful peek into what could easily have been the story of a real-life paramour of Prince Albert Edward. It's fiction, of course, but Mariah is a witty, strong, savvy heroine who makes the best of several unsavory situations. It's easy to both identify with her, and cheer her on as she figures out what she wants, and then grabs it with both hands. Excellent writing and an unsettling but ultimately satisfying plot made this a very enjoyable read for me!

Will there be more next week? Certainly - I'm working on another ebook now. But no promises of what I'll actually finish this time...

Storytime: Loving Lana, Chapter 23 (Final)

Previous Chapter

Loving Lana, Chapter 23

The side door opened slowly, and Lana kept her face down, sensing that Brad had followed her. He didn't need to see her like this, red-faced and puffy-eyed. She swiped at her tears, willing them to stop as he sat down beside her. One arm eased behind her shoulders and gently pulled her to his chest, the other wrapping around as he enveloped her with his warmth.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly, leaning over to place a gentle kiss on her head. Lana let herself melt against him, wanting to feel like she belonged to him for just a little while. His fingers traced over her arm slowly, soothing the pain he'd caused just minutes before. Lana stared at the stripes on his tie, willing her voice to be strong.

"You know I can't have children. Ever," she said, fighting back a fresh wave of tears. "We can't start a family, Brad. It's just you and me if we stay together."

Brad shushed her, rocked her gently back and forth, his voice low and hypnotic in the summer sun.

"I should have talked to you before, in private. I was thinking maybe you'd want to adopt, but it's okay if --"

Lana abruptly pulled out of his embrace, staring deep into his eyes. She looked closely for any sign of deceit or condescension, but only sincerity and deep affection met her scrutiny. Brad Anderson was completely serious, and at that moment, Lana's heart overflowed with joy.

A smile bloomed on her face, and she threw herself at him, landing in his lap, arms locked around his neck. "I would be so happy to adopt children with you," she said, sliding her palm over the side of his face. "I thought you'd be happy I couldn't have kids, since you never wanted them before. I never considered that you might--"

Brad lowered his head then, his lips settling over hers in a kiss so passionate it stole her breath. She opened for him, inviting him to taste all that she had, and he gladly accepted, his tongue dancing rhythmically with hers as they devoured each other. His hand slid down to cup her breast, his thumb sliding lazily over a hard nipple through her shirt. Lana arched up into him, begging for more. It had been too long.

The door opened again with a creak, and Lana jumped, suddenly remembering where they were. Brad let his hand drop lazily to her waist, and kissed her once more before they both looked up at the doorway.

"So, I guess you two made up?" Sandra grinned down at them, clearly amused. Lana nodded, looking back at her husband.

"For good this time," she said, caressing the side of his face once more. "We...ah...we'll be right in, okay?"

Sandra nodded, closing the door as she ducked back inside. Lana stood, straightening her clothes as Brad got to his feet beside her. He leaned down for another kiss, and she pushed against his chest with a playful smirk.

"I think we should sign those papers so we can get out of here," she said, winking as she reached for the door, brushing one hand lightly against the front of his pants. She felt like a ton of pressure had been lifted, and for the first time in a long while, she had hope that everything would work out. Brad took her hand as they walked back through the office towards the conference room.

Sandra was standing outside the window, and put a finger to her lips as they approached. She motioned them over with a big smile, pointing to the glass as she stepped back. Lana peeked through the half-closed blinds, and shook her head. Apparently she and Brad weren't the only ones making up.

"I guess we could sign the papers tomorrow," she whispered, holding back a giggle. She waved to Sandra as Brad tugged her toward the door, and followed him out into the bright afternoon sunshine.

The End

Thanks for reading along as I drafted Lana & Brad's story. I plan to make the polished and edited version available as an ebook by the end of the summer, for anyone interested. Join me right here next Tuesday for the start of a new serial blog draft, and next Friday for a new, complete short story. Happy Reading!

Wonders & Blunders: Food Processor vs. Magic Bullet

Wonder: Food Processor

Last December when I decided to start making my own dog food, I needed a machine tough enough to chop cuts of meat. Not wanting to shell out $400 for a meat grinder, I decided to spring for a food processor. I did some research, and chose this Cuisinart model that we found at Costco. It's the first processor I've ever had, and I really had no idea that I'd get so much use out of it. I used to hate those cooking shows that made recipes that apparently required a food processor...now I watch eagerly since I can "play along".

Every Sunday, this workhorse gets just over an hour's worth of steady grinding as I make dog food for the week. But that's not all I use it for. It came with slicing and grating attachments, and those are probably what I use most during the week - the grater for cheese, and the slicer for all sorts of things from veggies to meats for stir frying. It's really an amazing machine, and worth every penny I spent for it (around $150, I think).

It's very safe - even when it's plugged in, three elements have to be lined up perfectly before it will work. It's easy to clean - everything except the base goes in the dishwasher, and the stainless steel base wipes clean easily. It's very heavy, so even when I'm grinding tough organ meats it stays put on the counter. Definitely one of my very favorite kitchen appliances!

Blunders: The Magic Bullet

This was a gift from my well-meaning Mother-in-Law one Christmas. She had ordered one for herself, and decided we should have one as well. I was skeptical, but willing to give it a try. And when it didn't work as easily as I thought it should, I went online, found forums, got advice from people who really liked it, and tried again.

Needless to say, I never could develop the right "touch" to chop but not pulverize most foods. So when I tried to make salsa or chop things, they'd end up a liquid mess most of the time. I tried to whip cream, but it never whipped it evenly. About the only thing it really excels at is making smoothies and shakes - and that's because you *want* everything pulverized and liquid for those! It also works for grinding eggshells into powder (calcium for the dog food).

So at the moment, it lives in a cupboard underneath my counters, occasionally used for eggshells or shakes (though I have a big blender I prefer for things like that). I suppose it could eventually be useful on a drink bar for "make it yourself" margaritas, but a pitcher works just as well. I'm glad I didn't actually purchase this machine - it was a disappointment for me.

What Is It?

To all those who guessed bubble wrap, congrats, you're correct! It is indeed bubble wrap from my greenhouse (used for insulation):
And now for something not completely different (but mostly), here's this week's photo:

What is it?

Good Luck!

To enter: Simply post a comment with your best guess as to what the subject of the photo is. Each correct answer = 1 drawing entry. Drawings held at the end of each month. Prizes include a book and a tin of tea.

Storytime: Loving Lana, Chapter 22

Previous Chapter

Loving Lana, Chapter 22

"Tell us what?"

Lana cringed at the icy tone of Sara's voice. It was too cold for business, and she looked at Eric Hansen, then back at Sara. The tension between them was almost tangible. Then the rest of Eric's question sunk in, and she turned to scowl at Brad.

"Cuz?" she asked, lifting one eyebrow. "You two are cousins?"

Brad nodded. "It's not exactly top secret information," he quipped. "Shall we go sit down, and discuss the future of our business?" He walked towards the conference room, followed by Eric. The three women watched the men go in and sit down.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Sandra said quietly as she pushed away from the desk she'd been leaning against. "Guess it's time to see what we're up against."

"I'm so sorry," Lana said as they all moved to join the men. "I wasn't thinking..."

"It's not your fault," Sara said as they reached the doorway. She gazed at Eric, something resembling regret in her eyes, and Lana wondered again what had happened between them. "Let's get this over with."

Lana took a seat across from Brad, her mind still reeling from all that had happened in just a short amount of time. Eric had usurped Sara's normal chair at the head of the table, and Sara had taken the open chair at the other end, with Sandra beside her. Eric had laid a stack of papers to the side, and sat with his elbows propped up on the table, dangling an expensive pen from his fingers.

"So," he said, his tone all business. "As you know, I am now a major shareholder for The Weekly Report, and Brad here just became one by virtue of his recent marriage." Lana frowned at her new husband, who winked back. "As major shareholders, we both have some concerns about the nature of this paper, as well as a possible solution to propose." He passed the documents around the table, pausing until everyone had received a copy.

"What you're looking at is a proposal to fold The Weekly Report into one of our most prominent newspapers, as a weekly feature. Sara and Sandra, you can switch off writing the same type of reports that you do now, only the article will be under my leadership, and subject to my editorial policies. I'll provide you with an investigative--"

"What about me," Lana interrupted, her voice tight. "Wouldn't I be writing articles too?"

Eric exchanged a knowing look with Brad, inciting Lana's temper even more.

"I thought you might like a little time off for a honeymoon, and to get settled into my place," Brad said, his expression indulgent. "You can still work on the reports afterward if you'd like, but maybe in editing or research? Something that will leave you plenty of time for other things..." he paused, a tender look softening his gaze. "Like maybe starting a family of our own?"

Lana couldn't stifle a loud gasp, her mouth hanging open in shock out at the cruel question. Her mind was trying desperately to grasp all the implications. Apparently she was to be shuffled off as Brad's trophy wife, as long as she left the paper - make that the article - to Sara and Sandra. She stared across the table at the man she loved, or thought she did. How could he be so heartless, when he knew she couldn't have children? She was confused to find her own pain and frustration mirrored in his gaze, without the malice she'd expected. Had he really forgotten her barren state?

Suddenly unable to breathe through the pain, she shoved her chair back from the table, practically running to the door and slipping out into the empty main office. Desperately dodging desks and boxes, she didn't stop until she had gone through a side door into the parking lot. She leaned against the cold concrete wall of the building, sliding down to the asphalt as years of pent-up frustration consumed her. Hot tears rolled down her face as she acknowledged her feelings of complete inadequacy, and mourned the happiness that always seemed to be just out of reach.

This is the first draft of a novel/novella I'm working on. Comments always welcome. Thanks for reading!

Gettin' Organized: The Mail Center & Routines

Welcome to the first "Gettin' Organized" Monday! Whenever things get crazy, I react in a couple of ways. First, I tend to focus on whatever is causing the chaos, and second, I start reorganizing everything I "let go" to deal with the original problem. This spring has been stressful, with hubby's job in limbo, and his eventual decision to take a much lower paying one for the stability and better environment. Now that everything has been decided, I'm jumping into my "reorganizing project".

This weekend, I decided to start with our mail center, so I could easily keep up with the bills as we adjust to our new budget. As you can see from the photo, it had gotten a bit out of hand. This is what happens when I get lazy about sorting the mail on a daily basis.

Let me take a moment to assure you - there's no food or anything gross/dirty under there. I'm cluttery, but I don't let things get anywhere near health-threatening status. I'm saying that now, because this is probably not the worst picture you'll see as I go through the house.

Anyways, the photo above is of a corner of the kitchen counter that runs the from the door to the living room to the back door in the kitchen. It's in a direct line from my front door as well, and one of the last places we pass in the morning, and one of the first places we pass when we get home after work. So it's a natural place for a mail center, and normally works very well.

After work, hubby normally brings in the mail, taking whatever is his and leaving the rest on the counter for me to sort. I let the dogs out, then feed them, and while they're eating, I go through the mail. Bills and anything that requires a response goes into the letter sorter you see pictured, and anything that needs to be filed goes into a box in that larger bottom drawer. Unfortunately, as you can see below that box is full, which is part of my recent problem. Anything else (envelopes, junk mail) goes into the recycling bin (located just outside the living room door under my "launch pad".The top drawer there holds stamps, address labels, and checks for bill-paying. It's a mess, but I forgot to get a picture. You'll have to take my word for it.

So this week, my goals are to clean and reorganize the mail center, so that things that need to be filed are filed, and bills are easy to find. My list includes:

- Clean off counter, clean out mail sorter
- Declutter and reorganize top drawer for mailing supplies (including envelopes, which are currently in the office)
- Declutter and reorganize "to be filed" drawer...either file items and start a new box, or figure out how to move files closer for easier filing when mail sorting.
- Schedule one day per month for "bill day" on or around payday
- Schedule filing if I can't figure out how to do it at mail center

Sunday I cleaned off the mail center area of the counter, as you can see. Much better! I plan to spend 15 minutes every evening working on the lower drawers, and hope to have them completed by next Sunday.

Anyone else out there have things they need to organize or reorganize? Feel free to join me, or share your own project for the week!

Variety News & WIP Reports 6/14/09

Lots going on around here this week. First, if you glance to the right, you'll see that I've posted a poll. It feels like "Loving Lana" is wrapping up...I hadn't planned it that way, it's just happening. So now I'm trying to decide what to do next for Storytime on Tuesday and Fridays, and this is your chance to voice an opinion. I was thinking about possibly posting a draft on Tuesdays, with the edited version on Friday too, if that might be something interesting to anyone. Feel free to comment if you'd like to expound on your choices, or suggest something different.

Also, I've decided to add a specialty post topic for Mondays, for the near future. I just can't help myself. For the past few weeks, I've been reading quite a few posts on how disorganized people are feeling these days. Personally, with lots of changes going on in my own life, I feel the need to get "reorganized" as well, both physically around the house, and mentally with regards to scheduling and routines. Thinking that perhaps that might be of interest to others, I've decided to chronicle my weekly steps to "Organizing Chaos" in my life.

This week's lineup includes:

Monday: Routines & the Mail Center
Tues/Friday: Final chapters of Loving Lana
Wednesday: New mystery photo
Thursday: Wonders & Blunders explores food processing
Saturday: "Nothing to Lose", by Lee Child, and possibly some romance ebooks

Elsewhere on The Variety Network:

Nail Art Tuesday features a new "Moodies" color changing polish.

Tea on Tap is exploring the possibilities of a new format. Have an opinion? Leave a comment!

WIP Reports

Lots of thinking about writing this week, and some decent progress too. I made the decision to put "Perfect Companions" aside rather than attempting to rewrite it for now, because I think I've progressed enough in my writing that my next draft will be much easier to edit up for possibly querying later. PC was a NaNo draft, and while I'll definitely rewrite it later (love the story), it would just be another new WIP at the moment. So I'll come back to that later.

Loving Lana is reaching it's natural end. I had planned to stretch it out to a novel-length story, but it just feels like any more trouble for this couple and they won't make it. Can't have that for a romance! I think this week's chapters will be the last, and if that's indeed the case, I'll set it aside for a couple of weeks, and then start editing. It will be a far better draft to "practice" editing on than the not-so-Perfect Companions, and I'm anxious to read the whole thing through at once to see the big picture.

My Private Chef: I've made fairly good progress this week with a few thousand more words, and quite a bit more planning/outlining. I didn't reach my goals, but I think they may have been a bit over-inflated for the time I have available. I'm really excited about this story though, and how it's coming together. This could be "the one" - the one that might finally be good enough to send out after it's edited. We'll see. Next week, I'm setting a more manageable goal of 500 words per day for this novel.

Rainy Sunday: I made a lot of progress on this short story last week too - but I didn't finish the draft. My main character ended up being much more complex than I first expected, and I ended up revising a lot of the first portion to add in richer detail and emotional background. I like it though, and it may end up being erotica rather than romance, but that's okay. I should definitely be able to finish the draft this week.

Also in the works this week, I need to create a plan for my "Storytime" posts after Lana is done, and put together five character profiles for our Halloween mystery story.

Anyone else have goals you'd like to share this week (writing or other)?

Weekly Reading List 6/7 - 6/13/09

This week, writing took precedence once again, and my reading pendulum swung all the way over to virtually nothing. That equals exactly one book read this week, and a little more progress on "Nothing to Lose." Hopefully I'll finish that next week.

The Toast Bitches by Sandra Cormier (ebook, Ravenous Romance)
This book is hard for me to describe. I enjoyed it, though it took be awhile to remember the details for all four women featured. It was a bit jarring to start with Hanna, and then jump around to 4 different perspectives throughout, but by the middle, I was used to it. That's probably more a fault of mine than the writing, since I tend to read ebooks in smaller snippets than a normal novel (a little at lunch, snatches while waiting places, etc). I actually was wishing that all of these women had their own stories, because they all seemed *so* rich & vibrant that I wanted to know more about each of them and their personal histories.

I guess that's how I'd describe it, then. It felt like four short stories held together by a common thread - but more like a "teaser" for each story that sort of left me wanting more.

I did enjoy it, and the writing quality is excellent...I think it would be a great movie - a better "Sex in the City".

Visit Sandra's blog for more information and links to her other books.

I'm hoping to finish Nothing to Lose this week, and at least one of my Harlequin novels. What's on your list this week?

Storytime: Loving Lana, Chapter 21

Previous Chapter

Loving Lana, Chapter 20

"I...uh..." Lana blinked, trying to maintain her composure as she looked into Brad's sincere gaze. How could she say yes to this man who drove her crazy? Who couldn't decide if he wanted her from one day to the next? But how could she say no to the man she'd always wanted to be with?

"The contract is void, Lana. I'm asking you to marry me - right here, right now. Be my wife, for real."

Tears slid down her cheeks, and Brad reached up, gently wiping them off. He stood, tugging her out of the chair, and Lana wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling as he embraced her tightly. Standing there in his arms, her heart beating wildly next to his, she knew what her answer had to be, no matter the cost.

"Yes," she whispered in his ear, ignoring the niggling doubt hovering in her mind. He tightened his grip briefly, then stepped back slowly, winking at her before he turned to the judge.

"Your honor?"

The judge stepped forward, placing two documents on Sara's desk. He cleared his throat, turning to Lana first.

"Lana Marie Anderson, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, 'til death do you part?" He paused, and Lana suddenly realized that Brad had been serious about right here, right now! She took a deep breath, her eyes fixed on Brad's calm face.

"I--I do," she said quietly. A sudden calm flooded over her, and she listened to the judge asking the same words of Brad, as if she were in a dream.

"I do." His voice was strong, confident, and she felt him slip something heavy on her left ring finger. Looking down, she couldn't hold back a gasp at the amazing diamond flashing in the sunlight from the window. It was gorgeous, bigger than she would have chosen, but not too big for her hand. Set in a platinum band with tiny emeralds on either side, Lana was sure she had never seen a piece of jewelry so beautiful. She stared, mesmerized until Brad placed one finger under her chin, lifting her lips for a kiss.

"I pronounce you husband and wife," the judge said, amusement in his voice. Lana closed her eyes, reveling in the feel of Brad's lips nuzzling tenderly at her own. One, two more brief kisses before he pulled back.

"Congratulations!" Sara cried out, breaking the tense silence that had engulfed the small office. She and Sandra both hugged Lana, shaking hands politely with Brad. Lana signed the wedding certificate, then watched as Brad signed, and the judge left, promising to file everything in the morning. Lana looked around, suddenly exhausted from the emotional stress of the day, and a little anxious wondering what would happen next. She didn't have long to wait.

"Ladies, we have one other thing to attend to this afternoon, if you don't mind." Lana frowned at her new husband, suddenly afraid she'd made a terrible mistake. "If you wouldn't mind sitting down with me in the conference room, Eric Hanson should be joining us soon."

"What's going on?" Sara's voice was low and angry. "Why is Eric...Mr. Hanson coming here?" She stood with her hands on her hips, making no move towards the conference room. Lana looked at Sandra, who was chewing her lower lip to pieces with a white-knuckle grip on the desk behind her.

"Brad--" She tried to formulate a question, but wasn't sure exactly what to ask. Clearly he'd planned this whole situation, and she resented being used in whatever game he was playing.

The front door opened, and Eric walked in, carrying a briefcase and smiling widely. He nodded to each of the ladies, hesitating just a little too long in front of Sara before he turned to Brad, offering his hand.

"Hi cuz - did you tell them yet?"

This is the first draft of a novella I'm working on. Comments always welcome. Thanks for reading!

Wonders & Blunders: Alarming Clocks

Wonder: The Super-Annoying Bell Alarm
I love traditional (non-digital) clocks. Gothic & ornate, grandfather, or ultra-simple, I find them all aesthetically pleasing. But I really, really despise getting up in the morning, and the need for an alarm hidden behind a graceful facade.

I've always had trouble getting up in the mornings, and when I worked very odd hours in college, I needed something extremely loud and annoying to wake me up no matter what time of day I happened to be sleeping. The nifty radio/beeping digital alarm clock with snooze button just never reliably did the job.

So I bought the most annoying alarm I could, in the body of an old-fashioned alarm clock with the bells on top. It was a wind up clock, and I wound it every night before bed. It's because of that clock that I actually made it through college - and my various nightmarish work hours that paid for my education. It finally died sometime after I bought my first house, and I actually mourned it's passing!

I had already learned that my alarm clocks work best when very loud and annoying, and when placed in the bathroom, rather than the bedroom. When the insanely annoying alarm clock is in the bathroom, one *must* get out of bed to stop the horrible racket. Once I'm in the bathroom, I may as well stay up and start getting ready for the day.

Annoying fire-alarm clocks that live in the bathroom: masochistic brilliance at it's finest.

Blunder: Digital Alarm Clocks in the Bedroom
What is the first thing most people are inclined to do when a digital alarm goes off in the bedroom (the buzzing or beeping kind)? Hit the snooze button. And since it's conveniently located right by the bed, and the "alarm target" is mostly asleep, the chances of actually following through on that instinct are nearly 100%. If the radio comes on to act as an "alarm", the first inclination is not to jump out of bed, but rather to lay there and listen, maybe even drifting back to sleep depending on what's playing. Neither of these has ever worked for me, and I'm always amazed that people actually are able to make it to work on time while using them! Lots of "morning people", I guess.

That said, as you can see I do indeed have a digital alarm clock beside my bed. During the week, I have it set to turn the radio on about 15 minutes before I go in to get my husband out of bed in the mornings. It helps him start waking up before I get in there to finish the job. The radio stays on for an hour, and I listen to talk radio while I'm doing my makeup and getting dressed. On the weekends, it's a gentle nudge to think about waking up, though only used when we have to be somewhere before...say...ten in the morning. So it does have a purpose, but there's no way we could rely on it to actually get either of us night-owls out of bed for work!

What Is It?

Only one correct guess last week - who knew a colander could pose as a telephone? Great job, Elana!

Here's this week's photo - something that might be a little easier:

Good luck!

To enter: Simply post a comment with your best guess as to what the subject of the photo is. Each correct answer = 1 drawing entry. Drawings held at the end of each month. Prizes include a book and a tin of tea.

Storytime: Loving Lana, Chapter 20

Previous Chapter

Loving Lana, Chapter 20

After Susan left, Brad sat back in his chair, staring at the damning article on his desk. He'd noticed the by-line before, but it hadn't really sunk in until that very moment - Lana had published the article under her own name. Frowning, he flipped through the pages, checking every story. All three of them had identified themselves, it seemed, effectively removing any trace of protective anonymity. On the back page near the bottom, one line of text explained the sudden shift, and lifted Brad's somber mood in ten simple words.

"The Weekly Report is brought to you by Hansen Media."

Grinning, Brad got up and put his coat on, tucking the report into his pocket. He stopped briefly at Susan's desk on his way out of the office. She had just put down the phone.

"I'll be out for the rest of the day," he said, amused at the confusion on her face. "If Eric calls, tell him I'm on the way over."

"I just transferred him to your office. Hang on a second." She picked up the phone, punching a button. "Mr. Hansen? Sorry about that. He's right here - he said to tell you he's on his way over. Did you want to speak with him now?" She paused, then shook her head. "I'll do that - have a good day." She put the receiver down. "He said he'll just talk to you when you get there. What's going on?"

Brad just smiled. "I'll fill you in later," he said. Susan frowned at him as he turned to go.

"Don't do anything you'll regret later," she warned as he walked away. He waved a hand dismissively over his shoulder. He might regret it later, but today he was going to marry Lana, and get her away from that paper for good.

***

"How could you do this?" Lana slapped a copy of The Weekly Report down on Sara's desk, stabbing her index finger at the front page headline. "I told you I couldn't write this - why did you put my name on it?"

Sara sat back in her chair, motioning for Lana to take a seat. "I did it for you," Sara said, removing her reading glasses, and laying them on the desk. She held up a hand, stopping Lana from interrupting. "You and Brad...you two are the most stubborn people on the planet. I know I screwed up the wedding, and I'm sorry. I got too caught up in making money, getting the story, and I can't tell you how much I regret that." She looked down at her desk. "And I might have been jealous too," she said softly. "But I want you to be happy, Lana, and the only time I've ever seen you truely happy is with Brad. I thought maybe if he kept calling, you'd eventually work things out, but you're not answering, and he's not stepping up his efforts."

"And you thought maligning both his business and our personal life in print would help?" Lana shook her head, holding back tears. "Sara, I don't see how--"

"He loves you, Lana." Sara swiped at a stray tear of her own. "Hopefully this will make him see that, and do what's right for both of you."

"But what is that?" Lana sniffed, looking out the window. "I don't know if anything is right for us anymore."

"Marry me."

Both women jumped at the deep, masculine voice coming from the office doorway. Lana turned, her heart beating fast as her eyes locked with Brad's. Her mouth dropped open, and she found herself speechless, watching as he walked to stand in front of her.

Sara stood and walked towards the door.

"Stay please," Brad said, motioning for someone outside the door to come in. Sandra came in, followed by the same judge who had been ready to marry them at the cabin. Brad knelt down in front of Lana, taking her hand in his.

"Lana Anderson, I made the biggest mistake of my life when I refused to marry you. Forgive me. Marry me, right here, right now. I love you."

This is the first draft of a novel I'm working on. Comments always welcome. Thanks for reading!

Variety News & WIP Reports 6/8/09

Fun stuff happening around here this week:

- Two new chapters of "Loving Lana". I'm looking forward to writing these, though I'm not sure where exactly Lana & Brad are headed from here.
- A new mystery photo on Wednesday.
- Wonders & Blunders explores alarm clocks, & the art of alarm clock placement.
- The Toast Bitches and Nothing to Lose on the weekly reading list.

Elsewhere on the network:

- Nail Art Tuesday features an extra Thursday pedicure post, and a simple green manicure.

WIP Report

It's painful to admit this, but I did very little writing last week. I did my blog novel installments and a few hundred words on my short story, but nothing else. There's been a lot of upheaval and stress around here lately with my husband preparing to change jobs. Needless to say, my focus was elsewhere - though not anywhere important. When life stresses me out, I escape not into writing books, but reading them. I devoured a ton of ebooks last week when I could easily have used half that time to make good writing progress (and I would have felt better about that at the end of the week).

But one can only move forward, so that's what I'm doing. My goals for this week are:

Rainy Sunday (short story): Finish complete draft around 5000 words.

Loving Lana (blog serial): Two more installments, as usual.

My Private Chef: 3 more chapters drafted.

Perfect Companions: First two chapters rewritten.

Anyone else care to share your goals this week?

Weekly Reading List 5/31 - 6/6/09

Mostly ebook reading this week - I got behind on my Harlequin subscriptions last month, and had to catch up before I can start on June's books!

Branded by Tori Carrington (Harlequin Blaze)
I just adore the heroine in this book (written by a husband/wife team, which I think is very cool). Jo is rough with a marshmallow center, and she literally is branded (I won't say where - read it!). She struggles with something I think a lot of people struggle with, but it's not "PC" to really talk about outside of an immediate family. The issue is handled very well here I think, and it provides the perfect backdrop for growth in her life even as she's exploring new passions with the super-studly hero (who has issues of his own to deal with). This book has tons of tension and passion - a truely excellent and spicy read, in my opinion.

When the Sun Goes Down... by Crystal Green (Harlequin Silhouette Desire)
The author calls this a "love letter to Japan"...but it's so much more. The age-old story of Romeo & Juliet comes to life again, but after putting aside their attraction for their families while too young to fight a feud, they find each other again in magical Japan, finally allowing themselves to explore the passions of their youth. It's sweet, poignant, and so very emotional - and ultimately a tale of courage and risking everything for love. *sigh* Wonderful.

Twin Temptation by Cara Summers (Harlequin Blaze)
Another "love at first sight" novel...only with a twist. Maddie's life turns upside down when she finds out she has a twin sister, and that she has to switch places with her for 3 weeks to fulfill the terms of a will. She ends up in bed with her sister's all-male roommate by accident, and everything heats up from there. Mystery, intrigue, and unshakable attraction make this a real page-turner, and I can't wait to read Maddie's sister's story next!

The Prodigal Prince's Seduction by Olivia Gates (Harlequin Silhouette Desire)
Prince Durante is the one guy who can help save Gabrielle's publishing company, and she's willing to pay dearly for an hour of his time. Only once they set eyes on each other, it's obvious that an hour isn't going to be enough, and talking will be optional. This story is a whirlwind of sexual tension and misunderstandings - some of them intentional, all of them leading up to an explosive conclusion. It wasn't always completely believable for me, but still a good "escape" from the real world (who wouldn't want a man who completely adores them as the Prince does Gabby?).

I've also been reading some erotica - a guilty pleasure, if you will. While I'm not comfortable reviewing them in detail here, I'll just say I enjoyed them all very much (because I did, and all are well-written, in my opinion), and you can follow the links and decide for yourself. In warning, please know that these are very explicit in nature. If you're over 18, click at your own risk (or pleasure):

Angel & the Duke of Sex by Sherill Quinn (Sherill's blog is great!)
Tied Between Two Lovers by Larissa Lyons & Alyssa Brooks
Taking Tara by Alyssa Brooks

Currently I'm reading Nothing to Lose by Lee Child, and The Toast Bitches by Sandra Cormier. Both are great so far - more comments on those next week.

What's on your reading list for the week?

Storytime: Loving Lana, Chapter 19

Previous Chapter

Loving Lana, Chapter 19

"Come on," Brad murmered into his cell phone, hoping Lana would take his call this time as he walked into his office. He'd been trying to reach her for the past week, wanting a chance to explain - to make her see that they could be together if she'd just give up that paper. He flipped the phone shut when his call went to her voicemail. Again.

"Wesley Law Breaks Contract, Puts Martin Interiors Out of Business."

The headline held his gaze as Brad sat down at his desk. Apparently Susan had gotten a copy of The Weekly Report, and placed it where he couldn't miss it. He sat back in his chair, reading the whole article before tossing it back on his desk. He'd have expected something like this from Sara, but Lana? He buzzed Susan, asked her to come into his office. She let herself in, taking a seat in front of his desk.

"I take it you saw this," he said, holding the paper up. She merely nodded, her face blank as she waited for him to continue. "I assume you have an opinion on what we should do about it, since you left it here for me..."

"Perhaps you should consider honoring your contract." Susan's voice was calm, moderated, but Brad noted disapproval lurking in the background as well. "I already went back through the contract - their facts are correct," she added. A small clicking noise caught his attention, and he noticed a pen in her hand, her thumb surrupticiously clicking the end rhythmically in and out.

"And what about their responsibility - to disclose all assets before the...shall we call it a merger, instead of a marriage, since that's essentially what it is?" The clicking stopped abruptly.

Susan leaned forward, her body tense. "Shame on you," she said, clearly disgusted. "Yes, Ms. Anderson made a mistake not telling you about the paper earlier. But she loves you, and I'm fairly certain you love her too. If you were a smart man, you'd be running back to her this minute, helping her save the business she loves whether you agree with it or not--"

"--and putting my business, and your job on the line?" Brad leaned back in his chair, shaking his head. "You do realize that if I back her little whistleblower endeavor, I'm putting every case I ever worked on under scrutiny. Especially in cases where that 'report' started the proceedings in the first place." He stood, pacing over to the window, pausing to look out at the surrounding buildings. "We could end up having to refile all of those cases, and it wouldn't just be our office that has to pay." He returned to his chair, meeting Susan's hard gaze straight on. "Those women would be dragged through the mud over some of those cases," he said pointedly. "They'd be accused of working for our firm, of gaining insider knowledge and passing it through Lana to help me, and then publishing it to sway public opinion. We'd all go down, Susan, and it wouldn't be pretty." He ran a hand through his hair with a sigh. "They really have no idea just how powerful the information they hold is."

"You're scared." Susan's calm voice broke into Brad's reasoning, bringing his focus back to her. He frowned, started to defend himself, but she held up a hand to stop him. "You never really believed that Lana wanted anything more than your money, did you? So you took the first excuse she gave you to break the contract, walking away and leaving her just like you did before." She stood, a look of sadness crossing her face. "Yes, all of your worst fears could come true. Then again, you might be able to help protect both businesses, and find true happiness in the process. The question is, can you get over your fear long enough to risk being happy with the woman you've loved for years?" She walked to the door, letting herself out and quietly shutting the door in her wake.

This is the first draft of a novel I'm working on. Comments always welcome. Thanks for reading!

Wonders & Blunders: Kitchen Mats & Laminate Flooring

Wonder: Foam Kitchen Mat


Last weekend, Hubby and I were at Costco for one of our bi-weekly shopping trips. Back in the cleaning supplies, we happened upon these really cool kitchen mats (that don't really match my kitchen at all, but the red coffee-themed one was worse). I have rugs all over my kitchen floor (see "Blunder" below), but they're all just regular runners & bath mats. These mats are *thick* and made of something that reminds me of memory foam. So I got one, thinking that maybe it would help with my 2 hour dog-food making sessions on Sundays.

It's wider that the average kitchen mat - you can sort of see in the photo above that it almost spans two full cupboards under my sinks. I can't tell you just how much I love this mat - it's like standing on a super-thick but stable cushion, and my feet actually leave impressions in it for a few seconds after I step off. It's great support for the ankles, knees and back. I didn't get around to making dog food until after I'd put in a full-day's worth of yard work last Sunday, and moving this mat around the kitchen so I could stand on it for the different phases made all the difference. It was the first long session in the kitchen that didn't give me a serious backache in a long time, and the first time my feet weren't completely sore too.

Needless to say, I need at least one more (for in front of the stove). It wasn't even expensive - $12, I think? A bargain for the comfort and decreased wear & tear on my body.

Blunder: Laminate Flooring
Yes, I know - for some reason, people adore laminate floors. And maybe there are some out there that I could live with, but the stuff that came with our kitchen just sucks.

My main issue with it is that it's too darn slippery. It's like walking on a dance floor - not good for the dogs, and not good for me in the dress shoes I wear to work! Needless to say, I keep 90% of it covered with throw rugs and runners, so both the dogs and I can safely traverse it.

I'm not a "carpet-in-the-kitchen" fan (though I prefer it nearly everywhere else), but I would gladly trade my stupid laminate for some good old fashioned textured linoleum. Until I can afford to change out the flooring though, I'm stuck with rugs for the duration...

What Is It?

Here I thought guessing a roll of toilet paper would be hard. But no - we've got all pro's around here!Five names in the drawing for May (nine entries total) - and the winner is:

C R Ward!

Congratulations! You get to choose from Fast Women, by Jennifer Crusie, Angels & Demons by Dan Brown, or Marley & Me by John Grogan (all slightly used). You also get to choose either a black or oolong tea. If you'd be so kind as to email me your preferences and address (email link to the right), I'll get these mailed out to you soon.

For everyone else, here's the Mystery Photo for this week:

Good Luck!

To enter: Simply post a comment with your best guess as to what the subject of the photo is. Each correct answer = 1 drawing entry. Drawings held at the end of each month. Prizes include a book and a tin of tea.

Storytime: Loving Lana, Chapter 18

Previous Chapter

Loving Lana, Chapter 18

"We have to close Martin Interiors," Sara said a week later at the monthly stockholder meeting. Lana nodded, glancing at Sandra who seemed resigned as well. "It's either that, or shut down the paper. We just don't have enough money to run both anymore."

"How are we going to fund the paper, if we can't keep MI going? I mean, that's how we started the paper, not the other way around." Sandra asked. Lana slid a piece of paper across the table to her.

"I think we should go public," she said, trying to keep the apprehension out of her voice. "We've all put a lot into giving consumers a sort-of watchdog resource for local businesses, and we think it might be possible to convince some businesses to support it through advertising." She took a sip of her coffee, letting the idea sink in. "Besides Brad knows who we are now - and I got the feeling that Darren does too. It's only a matter of time before they either reveal our secret, or try to blackmail us with it. We might as well take that particular temptation off the table."

Sandra nodded, studying the proposal. "Who would want to do business with us though? Haven't we alienated most of the larger firms who could afford to support a controversial paper like this?" She sighed, nervously picking at the edge of their worn table. "DA Tech and Wesley Law are definately out," she said, glancing at Lana.

"I have our first major backer lined up," Sara said briskly, her eyes focused on her notepad. "We can apply for some government grants, but Eric Hansen has agreed to put up the funding for one year."

"The Eric Hanson? The one who owns the Hanson Media empire? Richer-than-God Eric Hanson?" Sandra stared wide-eyed at Sara, and Lana knew her own expression mirrored disbelief. Sara stared back, giving a curt nod of affirmation.

"How did you manage that?" Lana asked.

"It seems he has a thing for brunettes," Sara answered with a cynical smile. "In any case, we're fully funded for one year. So are we all agreed to close Martin Interiors, and go public with the paper?"

"Yes," Sandra said quickly, clearly more upbeat at this turn of events.

Lana took a few seconds. "I guess so," she said, watching Sara carefully. Something was going on, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to know what it was. The others were putting papers in their bags, getting ready to leave.

"I'll announce it at the staff --" Sara broke off as Lana's cell phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID, feeling a flush rise in her cheeks as she pushed the button to ignore the call. "Was that Brad?" Sara speared Lana with her eyes, and Lana could only nod. The wound was too fresh to really talk about with anyone.

Sara and Sandra exchanged a quick glance, and Sandra handed a piece of paper to Lana on her way out the door. "Sara and I think this should be your first assignment using your public identity," she said with a sympathetic look. "It will be therapeutic, help you get past all this." She patted Lana on the shoulder and walked out with Sara, leaving Lana alone at the table.

Lana read the headline chosen to be the first written under her own byline, and felt tears gathering behind her eyes. No way. There was no way she could write this story, or live with the potential ramifications it could bring. She crumpled the paper and tossed it into the nearest garbage can, but the words still burned fresh in her mind as she walked out into the all-too-sunshiny day.

This is the first draft of a novel I'm working on. Comments always welcome. Thanks for reading!