Tag: Writing

Where is My Crazy Brain?

by eileentroemel, posted in Life, Writing

In my family, there’s a story my maternal grandmother was a descendant from a Native American.  I’ve heard this story my entire life.  It was interesting to get my DNA testing done and discover where my DNA comes from.  One of which was a slight indicator (1%) of Native American.

But of course, I have two parents.  My father is passed so we couldn’t test him.  However, my mom did get tested and we recently got her results.  There was a lot of similarity in our DNA – as you would expect – but interestingly no Native American, not a trace of it.  This means if there was any (which with such a small percentage it’s debatable) Native American in my lineage, it came through my father’s family.

One of my sisters also got her DNA done and it was fascinating to see the differences between her and I even though we have the same parents.  We were able to see three areas which were not in my mother’s DNA so they are good indicators of our father’s DNA.

I find genetics a fascinating topic and if I were science minded (which I fail at completely) I would go into genetics.  Now it would be interesting to see how the other siblings compare.  I would also love to have my husband and all my daughters tested.  I just have to convince the people and find the money to do it.

We had our rummage sale over the weekend.  We got rid of several of the big items and some of the other stuff.  When it was done, Ken and Vicki filled up her Equinox and took a load to Goodwill.  During the sale, we only sold two big items which was disappointing.  Vicki suggested we post the other items on Facebook.  So I did.  We sold three more items through Facebook.  I have a number of them still posted and we will see what happens.

We still have items in my garage which will need to be loaded into her car and donated.  I’m hoping that will be on the agenda for this weekend.  There were a few other things which were higher dollar items I want to post to Facebook.  Additionally, I have a bunch of crocheting I want to do.  Preventing me is the need to work on my stories.  They’ve been taking over!  I love it but it can also be exhausting.

The next thing for me to prep for is to determine if I’m going to make the attempt do the vendor sale in November.  If I am, I need to make a lot more crocheted items – including a lot more variety.  The thing is I feel if I’m going to do the vendor’s sale, I should be able to take credit cards.  This I’d have to figure out.  It’s a lot of research and I’m not sure I want to hassle with it.  This is why I waffle.

If I do the vendor’s sale, I could take my books and crocheting.  I might be able to put out my books and sell some with more profit going into my pocket.  It’s definitely something to consider.

Right now on my couch, I have a dozen projects but have been so buy writing, I don’t have time to crochet.  I may have to take a Saturday or Sunday to binge watch something and work on finishing projects.  I’ve been getting ideas and ideas and ideas on projects I want to work on so I know I’ll be switching from writing to crocheting in the near future.

A Nap or ???

by eileentroemel, posted in Writing

Busy weekend means a lot got done but also a lot of aching people in my house.  Ken and Vicki worked on a whole bunch of things while I took care of a bunch of computer stuff.

Ken replaced the small step off our deck with a wider and longer step.  It looks lovely and will be easier once he gets a railing up.  Vicki liked it a lot.

Vicki got part of her living room painted and with Ken got shelves assembled.  Of course she loaded them up with books.

I worked on Wayfarer 16.  This morning when I had time alone in the house it took me four hours to finish it.  I like how this book turned out.  I’m not sure on the ending – but I never am.

I’m showered and dressed – odd for a vacation day but I am.  Next I’m going to go take a nap.  Or maybe I’ll read Wild Magic since I think I want to work on Wild Magic 2 next.  Or maybe I’ll take a break from it all and watch a movie while I crochet.  So many options.  Nap is sounding good especially since I had a weird night sleep.

Tomorrow I have someone coming to help me with the organization I want to do.  Hopefully we get a lot done but we will see.  I’m looking forward to seeing her.

The rest of this week will go to editing Wayfarer 12 and getting it published.  I’m really excited to get this out there.  I’ve been working on covers and I need to work on back material.  It’s exciting!

Pre-Vacation Cranky

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

Prevacation cranky has come over me.  Next week I’m off my day job and will be able to work on anything I want to.  If you’ve read my blog – you know I have a to do list.  Counting the weekends, I’m going to have nine days off!  I cannot wait.

I have writing and publishing goals.  I have household goals.  I have crochet goals.  Are there more goals than I can accomplish in nine days?  Probably, most definitely.

Writing has been stampeding me.  I’ve written four novels with a fifth nearly done.  I’ve submitted a bunch of my novels for contests.  I’ve submitted a story for a book.  I had a pattern accepted in a magazine, sent it off for photographing and got it back.  I sold it to a friend who liked it.  I’ve been editing where I can.  It’s been crazy busy.

During my lunch hour and when I watch training at work, I pick up my crocheting.  I’ve made pot holders and coasters.  I tried a new pattern which I’m going to have to tweak because it was poorly written.  However I like the idea so I’ll tweak it.  I’ve fulfilled one crochet order and gotten paid.

My house is a mess.  I can’t seem to keep up on it.  I’ll pick up as I’m able (which isn’t much) but I have piles of laundry in my bathroom and lots of stuff sitting around in my living room.  It’s starting to bug me so more effort…. unless I get too involved in writing my novel.

We painted boards for Vicki so Ken and her can build her bookshelves and a desk.  The shutters we wanted to replace the plastic ones on our house went on sale with a rebate.  We picked them up.  Next step is to paint them and put them up.  Hopefully sooner rather than later.

If things go well, I’ll have help a couple times this next week to work on more organizing, discarding, and cleaning of my house.  If schedules don’t mesh, I’ll work on other things.  I know my days off are going to fly by but I can’t wait to have the time to work on what I want and get stuff done and off that never ending to do list.

For next week, I’ve got specific days which I’m working with other people.  Other than that I’m hoping for quiet days at home so I can do what I want, when I want, and without a lot of fussing.  A lot of peace and quiet to help recharge my batteries.

Are We Caught Up?

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

We’ve been so busy.  A few projects have gotten done around the house.  Ken and Vicki painted the garage door and our front door.  They are now a lovely purple.  I LOVE how they turned out.  We still have to do the back door but of course we ran out of time.

We also got our new appliances delivered.  Yes, we know stainless is in but we prefer the black and I think they look great in our kitchen with the yellow walls.  The dishwasher still needs to be installed but that will be next month!  I cannot wait!!!

I’m still recovering from my surgery.  I still get tired too easily but it’s getting better.  I didn’t have a lot of pain but every now and again, I’ll touch my nose and it will twinge.  It’s not really a hurt but more a sensitivity to being touched.

This last weekend we accomplished nothing other than to go to the ALA (library) conference with Vicki.  She got to talk to a lot of vendors, librarians.  We got a massive number of books for her job.  Ken and I got a large number as well.  On top of the lovely books, I spoke to some amazing people.  One was a children’s book publisher who expressed an interest in my children’s book (once I get it completed).  I have her card and hopefully I can make a connection.  I also spoke to and gave a card to a reviewer.  Interestingly, I stopped to speak to a vendor and we got to chatting.  He asked what I do – i.e. why I am at this conference.  I had on my tag I was an author.  He asked about what I write and took my card.  Now we will see if he purchases.  I realized I need to get more general cards – something which promotes my writing, editing, and publishing.

I have two days off now.  I’m in need of them.  The conference was fun but exhausting.  I’ve been spending my nights working on crochet things – currently I’m crocheting around all the fleece I have to make it into different things.  I have several I’m making up for the rummage sale.  I also got another set of potholders done.

I’m working on reading a book for review.  I’m not sure how I feel about it yet.  I’ve decided I’m going to take a book to work and read during my lunch hours.  My to read list has gotten excessive and I miss reading.

I got my purse sent off to the publisher.  I’m excited to see it in the magazine.  I hope they like it.  I know I do.  It will be wonderful to get another publishing credit under my belt.  This weekend I’m hoping we can get through some of our to do lists.  All three of us have this long long list of things to get done.  We’re making progress but our weekends are so busy.

I’ve been experiencing some serious crankiness over not physically being able to get things done.  I know what needs to get done, but I can’t physically do it myself and the other people in my house are working on other things.  It’s making anxious because there are aspects of the tasks I can do – i.e. sit and sort through things but when I physically try to shift things, or work on it, I can’t.  My legs hurt, my joints hurt. It is frustrating me I can’t get more done.  I was getting cranky at those in my house – even though it isn’t their fault – but now I’m recognizing what I’m doing, I’m attempting to do what I can.  I’ve started a list and I’m getting someone in to help me do the things which are top of my priority list.  The other people in my house all have their own lists which are as important as my list.  I keep reminding myself in the end we’ll have a more organized space.

Today I’m working on some computer stuff where I need to be at my computer but then I’m going to go write.  I’ve already updated my budget, sales for the last two months and other reports I do to keep track of my writing stuff.

I need to write my pagan blog and work on my web page.  Once I’m done with these tasks (and hopefully in the process I don’t find more tasks) I am hoping to go write.  I need to be off my legs and give them a chance to rest.  I’m either going to write or I’ll watch some tv and crochet – with the dozens of projects I have going it won’t be hard to pick one or ten to work on.

The plan for the today and tomorrow – rest and recover from the last three days.  My legs are swollen and painful which is what happens when I spend too much time doing and not resting.  It will pass and in the meantime I’ll be busy doing things I’m able to do.  The more I accomplish the less stressed I am about the things I can’t accomplish.

I would think things would slow down a bit but they aren’t.  Our a/c was giving us grief so we had the HVAC people come look at it.  In the process they discovered our furnace was broken to the point where it is dangerous to turn it on.  Anyone who knows me knows I can run my a/c or furnace any time depending on my temperature.  Our furnace had been red tagged – meaning we cannot use it at all.  The HVAC guy turned off the gas so it doesn’t even turn on accidently.  In all this drama, I’m starting to have a panic attack about the costs of the work.  To fix the a/c it cost us nearly $200.  When he told us about the furnace, it’s only seven years old, I started to freak out.  However, it’s under warrantee so no cost to us (thankfully).  But it still needs to get fixed.  They are coming in on July 5 to fix it.  Since I had to take off, I asked someone to come over on that day to help me with a few projects.  The guy who is installing our dishwasher is coming on July 8.  We have a ton of stuff to get done between now and then.

I’m hoping for a cooler weekend so I can get out in the garage and sort through some things which we have to decide if we want to keep or get rid of.  I think Vicki has stuff she needs to sort out there as well so hopefully we can get it done in a couple of hours.  Then I’ll move on to other projects.  There are so many right now, the problem will be more in deciding which one than to find a project.

It is the Fourth of July weekend so I think Vicki has plans but I doubt Ken and I will do much more than hang out at home.  If I can get the sorting done in the garage, I will likely need to sit with my feet up.  This means crochet or writing time depending on who is around and what’s going on in the house.  Either way at least I’ll be productive.

Surgery and Other Updates

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

Last Wednesday I had sinus surgery.  It was a day surgery where they cleaned out my sinuses, straightened a deviated septum, narrowed some bone in my nose to alleviate some of the allergic reactions I have, and removed a bone spur.

Each hospital personnel who entered my room for the first time commented on my list of things I’m allergic to.  It doesn’t build confidence when the anesthesiologist asks what does work for me.  Shouldn’t he know options?

Fortunately, everything went smoothly.  The surgery was successful and I was home and tucked into my recliner before too long.  Thursday and Friday were uncomfortable but Vicki was around to bug me and make me drink but let me sleep.  I accomplished almost nothing for those three days.

Monday I had the stents taken out.  I was told by someone it was extremely painful so I was a little apprehensive.  I was pleasantly surprised when it was nothing more than slightly (very slightly) uncomfortable.

I left the doctor’s office being able to breath which was very nice.  I came home and wrote.  My afternoon was spent at my computer working on the next Wayfarer novel.  Tuesday I was supposed to meet up with my niece but she couldn’t meet so I slept late, got up and dressed and sat down to the computer again.  I spent four hours working on the Wayfarer novel. I’m two or three scenes from being done, drawing the final plot lines together, making them solidify into a really good (I hope) conclusion for this group of plot lines.

Wednesday I came back to work.  I expected to be over tired and grumpy by the end of the day.  I certainly didn’t want to fall back into the work day routine but it was nice to see my faculty and student worker.  It was good to get out of the house and my head.

I’ve been working on my basket patterns.  I wrote them more than a year ago and never got around to publishing them.  I was less than happy with the pictures I had.  While I was off, I went through the patterns, edited them (thankfully) and I’m down to half a one left.  Once I get the last one done tonight, I’ll work on pictures – hopefully better than the last one.  I’ll do a few group pictures and individual ones.  I think the baskets will be a pamphlet, though I do have a couple places I may want to submit them to in an attempt to get them published.

Once the baskets are done, I have a bunch of fleece I want to get made up.  A few pieces I’ll be keeping but most I’ll be setting aside for the sale we’re having next month.  Once I’m through those pieces, I’m going to look at the themes for the crochet magazines and see if there’s anything which inspires me.  

Comedy of Errors

by eileentroemel, posted in Life, Writing

Last night I decided I was going to write.  Several people have been bugging me for the next installment in the Wayfarer series and I’ve been working on the novel but it isn’t flowing easily.  This  happens sometimes.  My normal response is to wait it out because when it isn’t flowing, I need to go with the flow.

I opened my laptop which I use in the living room.  It’s a lightweight both in programming and in physical being.  It took forever.  I figured it might as I hadn’t turned it on recently.  I played on my phone and did other things while I waited for it to grind through all the things it needed to do.  Updates, loading, opening, and all of that took at least half an hour.

My sister started a class and had a paper due yesterday.  She wanted me to edit it for her.  I told her to call me because I was writing.  If you don’t know a writer, let me explain.  When I’m writing, I don’t pay attention to anything.  I will forget to shower, eat, dress, answer my phone.  About the only thing which gets through to me (in a good writing session) is my phone ringing because it isn’t just a noise.  Fortunately, my sister gets this.

When she got her paper done, she called me.  I said no prob, I’ll switch over.  I did.  I opened my email and tried to download her paper.  My computer would not do it.  I’ve done a number of editing tasks on this computer including downloading papers from my email before.  Yet this time, I could not get the paper to open.

After a frustrating fifteen minutes, I shut everything down on that laptop and moved to my office.  Now I don’t like to sit at my desk at night because my legs hurt when I sit at the computer too long.  However, she needed this paper edited.

Fortunately, I was able to download and edit the paper for her and send it back.  I went back to my recliner and tried my computer again.  As long as I was only working in Word and Excel it seemed to be fine.

I kept scrolling through this section trying to figure out how to make the chapter shorter.  I couldn’t.  It frustrates me because I don’t like such long chapters.  After a frustrating time skimming through, I decided I’d work on writing.  I got a small amount of writing done but suddenly I was so tired, I couldn’t keep my eyes open.  Opting to be responsible, I shut down (I’m hoping the computer will be better tonight when I open it) and prep for bed.

By the time I got ready for bed, I was awake.  This happens to me a lot.  I try to do a lot of my prep stuff early so when I get tired, I can just go to bed.  Not last night.  I ended up playing on my phone for an hour before I got sleepy again.  It wasn’t a bad night but it wasn’t stellar either.

Mini Vacation

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

Ken has flown the coop to visit our daughters in Georgia.  This means I get the house to myself (mostly).  Our middle daughter has moved home so she’s there when she’s not working.  However, I have the next five days off.  I’ve got plans, so many plans – too many to get done in a matter of five days.  This means I’ll pick and choose which of them I want to get done the most.

I’ve got household, publishing, crochet, and writing projects all on my list and all screaming at me.  My house is chaos.  I’m going to attempt to get one room done this weekend.  I’ve gotten through a large part of the sorting but need some help.  My niece is coming out to help so fingers crossed by the end of the weekend my office will be organized and clean.

If we actually manage to finish the office, the next step for me is the dining room.  My dining room table is heaped with stuff.  I’m hoping we can clear it off and maybe get the table out of the room.  It’s an old table and too big for the space.  I’ll have to see how things go but I’m hoping to get it out of there.

With any luck, I’ll get a little bit done in each category.  I also have to pay bills, prep for grocery shopping, and do all the usual pay week errands and chores.  I need more energy and less pain in order to get everything done I want to.

Tonight will be crocheting.  I’m working on finishing projects and making things to put out when we have the rummage sale.  While I veg out in front of the tv tonight, I’m going to work on either a shawl or some dishcloths.

Last night when I couldn’t sleep, I watched a show on the Spencer family in the UK (Princess Diana’s family) and made 1 1/2 dish cloths.  It will be more of the same tonight.

Vicki’s usually up around 5:00 and gets me up around 6:00 so I intend to stay awake and work on several projects.  While I’m alone in the house tomorrow, I want to get as much as I can crammed into the day.  It will be bill paying, organizing the office, and if my legs can manage it maybe some publishing of crochet patterns.  This is my plan.  Now the next question is – how well will this plan go?  I guess I’ll see tomorrow.

Friday, my niece comes out.  Since I’ll be doing some heavy duty cleaning with her, I might take it a bit easy in the morning before she gets there.  Vicki will have me up at 6:00 though so I could get more work in whether that’s crocheting or editing in my recliner or publishing crochet patterns, I don’t know yet.

At some point, I’ll have to make a grocery list, set up a menu for the next month, and clip coupons.  I’ve got a lot to fit in over the next few days.  I might end up needing a vacation from my vacation.

Projects – Done and To Do

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

This week I’ve finished the scarves and the afghan for my student workers’ graduation gifts.  I’ve given one gift which is why I’m posting the two pictures.  For the afghan, I need to take pictures.  I plan to publish four of the scarf patterns and the afghan pattern.  This adds to my list of crochet patterns to publish.  I have a bandanna, log cabin afghan, and set of headbands to publish.  

The collar or cowl scarf shown on the left turned out gorgeous.  I’m really proud of it because it was outside my normal and preferred type of project.  The smaller yarn and projects like this are hard on my hands but it was worth it to do and redo some of the stitching.  The other scarves turned out excellent and I’m excited to publish the four new ones.  The necklace type scarf I love making.  It uses up small bits of yarn but is stunning and versatile.  
Tonight I’ll be working on dish towels and dish cloths to make for someone who is helping me out this weekend.  After I get those done, I’ll be back on my other projects.  Currently I have bibs for a former co-worker of Vicki’s, a skirt, a couple of afghans, and a few smaller projects which aren’t designated for anyone yet.  
This weekend Ken goes off to Atlanta for twelve days.  I know he’s excited to visit the girls down there.  It will give him a nice break from work and our messy house.  
Vicki and I plan to play a bit on Saturday.  Sunday we will have help with getting things organized and settled.  Next weekend will be busy with working on the house as well.  
However, I’m taking off work on the 11th and hoping to get some writing stuff done – like publishing patterns.  I’ll have two days with no one in the house so I plan to get up and work on anything I have for writing – publishing, writing, marketing, editing.  I have a number of projects in the works so I want to make progress on them.  
Ken may be gone for twelve days but it will be a busy time for Vicki and I.  Hopefully by the time he comes home, the house is better organized.  I’m hoping this will lower everyone’s stress levels.

Winter Projects

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Writing

Marketing is a necessary part of writing.  I’m realizing that I need to have marketing tools in place before I normally do.  I’ve been posting to social media in an attempt to get my work noticed.  I’ve been getting published in other places to draw in people outside my social media.  I’ve been trying to get reviews (though I could work harder at this.)

Has any of it done any good?  Some has and some hasn’t.  The thing is – with marketing what works today may or may not work tomorrow.  It’s something I have to constantly think about.

I’ve got a weekend without anyone home besides Ken and I so I’m hoping to get some work done in the writing arena.  I have marketing, publishing, and writing to do.

Having said that – I’m definitely in a crochet mode.  I’m working on the projects I had going before I set them aside to do holiday stuff.  I want to get certain things done while I’m still in the mood.  I’m on the down side (or nearing the finish) of one project which means all I really want to do is work on it and have been every night.  Behind this big project, I have one more in progress and at least four more in the wings pushing at me to work on them.

I don’t know if it’s the cold weather or the pile of containers in my craft room but I feel the need to get things done – crochet wise.  I’ve got ideas in my head for projects and patterns I want to try out.  I’ve got ideas for articles on crochet.  I need to get focused and get things done.

Next

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

With Ken gone, I had a couple days to myself at home.  I enjoyed the time on my own.  At one point I realized nothing had been said.  I was playing a game and cursed the game out loud.  It startled me which also made me laugh.

I’ve finished the projects for my sister and now I’m turning my attention to my own projects.  I have the student worker gifts done and now am prepping to make for the faculty.  This weekend I hope to gather the items and do any shopping I need to so I can settle into getting the items made.

At the same time, I need to finish an article and get it submitted.  I also have a crochet pattern which is going to be published which I need to make up again.  Once it’s made up, I’ll send it off to the publisher for pictures.  These are the three most urgent things on my radar.

I think the gifts will take me through most of November and then I’ll be going back to writing and crocheting in more balance I think.

I’m looking forward and thinking – it isn’t that long until we are in the holiday craziness.  My middle daughter is already talking about where we are going on Black Friday – i.e. which JoAnn’s store we will go to.

My day job will get busy – crazy busy – in November.  I’m hoping with the changes we’ve made it won’t be horrible.  Registration always is stressful with a heavy influx of emails.  I’m hoping for a lighter year as we’ve been steadily making improvements.

From now until the end of the year, I’m going to be busy both at my day job and at home working on projects.  I still have my two bigger projects I’ve been working on and I’m hoping to have those done before the end of the year as well.