Quick Update:

My device is busted, and I don't know what we're going to do about it. Sometimes it connects, but it cuts out a lot. If you don't see me on here for a long time, that's why. I hope to solve this problem soon, but we'll see.

I'm only on here tonight because I'm at Sweet Bay using their Wi-fi. I'll likely be on tomorrow, at some point, too. The kids are going out, and I'll be going with them.

I hope you're all alive and well when I return! ;)

Needless to say, I won't be able to catch up if it's a long time (i.e. more than three days), but I'll catch up on the most recent entries when I can.

Miss you already!

Lois

Writing Progress:

Previous Word Count: 5,128
Word Count After Minor Edits: 5,242 (114 words added during edits)
New Words Added Today (After Minor Edits): 136
New Total Word Count: 5,378

I haven't added a lot today, but I've made a good start to the next scene. The next scene should be a good one, but I've got to do some brainstorming before I go any further.

That said, here's a little excerpt. Karan is talking to his mother, who moved in with her brother after her husband died. Karan has been trying for months to talk her into moving in with him, with no luck. Will she agree this time, or will she refuse him for the last time?

“Karan, please...”

“No, Mom, I've been silent for too long. How many times has he hit you? How many times has he cursed you? Do you know when the killing blow will come? Do you?”

He watched as his mother folded her hands in her lap and lowered her eyes.

“He's already got you trained to be the good little submissive woman. It doesn't matter to him that you're his sister, and not his wife. He treats you however he wants, and you just take it,” he spat.

“You don't understand...”

“You know what? I don't. I don't understand why you put up with him. He has done nothing but hurt you. You don't have to take it anymore, Mom. You never had to take it. Please...” he said, sitting beside her and taking her hands in his. “Please, let me get you to safety. Come live with me. If you do this, you will never again know the back of a man's hand. You will never be spoken to with disrespect. You will be treated with all the honor and dignity you deserve.”

Screenwriting Progress:

Previous Page Count: 102
New Page Count: 111

I've written a lot in my screenplay today, and I'm not quite finished with the scene. Abu told Tira about some things in his past: a fight he and Kadhi (the hero and hero's ally) had with the school bully and four of his friends, and a conversation he had with Brittany Sheridan's (his love interest at the time...very important to the story) father. It doesn't seem like much, but it's very important to the overall story...and explains why Abu is the way he is.

Anyway, it was good to work on this again. I look forward to working on it more!

Lois

Seven Years Together, and We've Gained A New Towel Set

Yesterday was a very good day! I didn't do any writing. None at all. And I felt good anyway, since it was our anniversary. I decided to spend the day catching up online (though I never caught up with Twitter...and I may discontinue that, since it seems I can't keep up with it. I'm still in the "considering it" stage).

Jeff and I went to Olive Garden last night. First, as per my suggestion, we got the Portobello Fritta (scroll down to read the description), plus I got sweet tea and he got soda. For the main course, I got the Seafood Brodetto (scroll down to read the description), and Jeff got the Tour of Italy. Then I got some Zeppoli for dessert (which I'm about to finish off), and we both got Caffè la Toscana Coffee. It was a great time! :D

After we left Olive Garden, we went to Walmart so Jeff could get me a card and we could shop for something for our anniversary gift. We decided on towels, and got these (not as a set). We got three bath towels and two hand towels. We also got a contour rug, a rectangular rug, and a toilet seat cover to go with them (again, not as a set).

All in all, it was a good evening, and we both had a nice time. :)

Today, I'm going to write the next scene in my screenplay, which will involve flashbacks of my main character's past. This will have several parts, and I need to get them all down before the end of the day. If I have time after that, I want to make some edits to my storm story, since I didn't do them yesterday), then add some more to it.

By the way, can anyone tell me if report covers are good or bad for a resume? Especially a one-page resume. Jeff said they're usually frowned upon. What do you all think? Eric wants one for his resume, but I'm not sure it's a good idea.

Have a great day!

Lois

Anniversary!

Today is Jeff's and my seventh wedding anniversary. Yay! :D This morning, before he left, he said he wants to go out to eat, so I looked up some menus online so we can choose after he gets home. :)

We also need to do some shopping...and he'll be getting a card for me. I already got one for him last time I went shopping. I don't know if we're getting gifts, since we're eating out. I guess I'll find out later.

Yesterday was good...once I calmed down after the leash disaster. Niki chewed a good part of the new leash, including the safety collar, but Eric fixed it...temporarily, at least. Last night, when Jeff and I walked her, we used it. It worked alright, but I forgot I wasnt' supposed to touch the cord and I got burned on three of my fingers. Only one of them still has a burn, but it doesn't hurt anymore. The reason I grabbed the cord was because there's this cat that always comes around at night, meowing and yowling up a storm. Niki always tries to go after it, and last night was no exception. I picked her up first, while Jeff tried to run the cat off, but she dug her claws into my arm and I had to set her down. She took off running as far as the leash would let her. When I tried to pull her back, I got the burns. :(

So, we'll be using a regular leash most of the time from now on.

Eric and Chelsey just left. Eric's going to apply for a job at AT&T. There's a good chance he could get this job, but prayers and well wishes are always welcome. :)

Well, I've got to go put Niki out on the chain, then take a shower.

Have an awesome day!

Lois

Saturday

Yesterday was good. We had a little rain in the morning, but then it began to clear up and the sun came out. It's really cloudy again right now, but it's supposed to start clearing again, at some point.

I did some writing, as you know if you read my posts from yesterday. I plan to work on that some more today, too. This time, I'm planning on writing that next scene in my screenplay. I just didn't feel like it yesterday, so I didn't. ;)

Eric, Chelsey and I took some pictures of Josiah. I just posted them a few minutes ago.

Jeff and I went down to pick up the cake from Gina. She did a really great job with it, and it was moist and yummy! :D She showed it to us before putting it in the trunk. The crack in it in the photos happened sometime during transit. Of course, it didn't make it taste any less yummy. ;)

On the way back, Jeff and I bought a new collar and leash. The leash is retractable. However, Niki somehow managed to get it off the table and she chewed the cord, so now we can't use it. :/ It's a good thing we still have the old leash. She's already chewed into that one a little. That was why I wanted to get another one. What a waste of $11! >:[

Eric gave her a bath last night. Chelsey sent me a picture on my phone. :)

Anyway, we needed a new collar because she broke the plastic clip on the other one. This time, we bought one with a metal clasp. I hope it lasts a long, long time. I'm tired of spending money on this stuff!

And writing about it isn't helping. It's frustrating me all over again, so I think I'll end here.

Have a great day!

Lois

Photos!

We decided to take some photos of Josiah yesterday, and here are some of them:
























And I took some pictures of our anniversary cake (the crack down the middle happened in transit, and Eric and Chelsey added the strawberries...cute, huh? :D):