Getting something done

I dropped my daughters off at my mom and dad's about 9. I came home and decided I couldn't write with the house being such a mess so I set my timer for 25 minutes and hustled around cleaning. It actually looks pretty good. So if you are one to lament over housework even 30 minutes can make a big difference.
I finished just in time to make the chat at Long Ridge Writer's Group. It was a really good forum today on description. You have to write the way you interact with the world. Drop the words 'noticed' and 'thought' from your work. You have to write what you are aware of in certain situations. Like if your POV were being chased by a killer you wouldn't write about them noticing the color of the wall or photos. You would be focused on finding an escape route or a weapon. The description of a scene has to match your POV's emotional state or level of concentration. You have to blend description and action.
I took a break for lunch and watched Ellen Degeneres and then rode the exercise bike while watching Steven and Chris. After a shower I hit (figuratively) the computer and wrote for a good two hours (I've gotten 2/3 of chapter 6 done) until the hubby surprised me by coming home early. But I'm pleased with the amount of work I did get done. I guess it was good he came home because I had some technical questions for him (towing). He's always really good about answering all my questions without making me feel stupid or silly.
I went and picked up my girls at 5:30. Nothing makes you feel better. They smile and are just so glad to see you. They just make everything better. But admittedly there are days when they make me want to pull my hair out. Especially now that the youngest is getting around and getting into everything. The oldest takes everything away claiming it's hers. I guess it's tough to go from having it all to having to share. A book I read likened it to if your hubby brought home a new wife and expected you to share everything. That makes it a little easier to understand.

Writing

Since the hubby has been away working I've actually been sitting down for an hour or more (once the girls are in bed) and writing. It feels good. I started chapter 6 last night. Whoo hoo! With any luck I can have this book written by my birthday in July. I mean that is over 4 months away so it should be a workable goal. I've been feeling that old demon on my shoulder saying why should I bother even trying. What's the point? But my point is that I need to have something like this in my life, even if I never make any real serious money or anything. I know that it's years down the road but when my girls leave home in 15 or so years I'm going to need something to fall back on or I'll most likely go mad. And truthfully I really like writing. I like sitting down and getting the words out and getting to know my characters. So here's to writing.

A scare

I got a call from my mom this morning. She has to go back to Red Deer . My hubby and I took her up on Monday in that sh*tty weather. She had a mammogram and this morning they told her to come back up. They'd found something. They originally made the appointment for Friday but she called back and changed it to today. If you know my mother she would have made herself absolutely sick by the time Friday rolled around. She can't handle things like that. She needs to know what's going on. She has to have a biopsy. But the odds are good (85%) that this is nothing other than some calcification (?). Anyways, it's still scary. I want both my parent's to be around for a while. I want my children to know all their grandparents. I lost my paternal grandfather a year before I was even born, my maternal grandfather when I was about 6, and my paternal grandmother when I was 9. My last grandmother is still alive but man can she be a boot sometimes.
I took the girls to their Rhyme Time this morning and then we played at the Parent Link until about 2:30. My eldest is really coming out of her shell. She has always been afflicted by separation anxiety and nervousness around people. Similar to me. People make me nervous. So I'm really glad to see her making progress in this area. It is really debilitating to be scared to walk into a room of people if there isn't someone you know inside. I like familiar.
I'm going to try and get a wee bit of writing done tonight if possible. My hubby is watching TV in the bedroom and can't seem to keep the volume down. I'm trying not to be too bitchy because he is going away tomorrow and won't be back til Sunday. He is going sledding. Even though we are on the verge of being broke. He absolutely loves doing this and he didn't get to go out at all last year thanks to his ankle surgery and working all the time. I can't be the wife who bitches at him for going. He's a hard worker who deserves a break. We'll manage we always do.

Surprise

Surprise! My hubby surprised me when I got home from picking up the girls last night. He drove 5 hours to come home from Medicine Hat. He'll be home all day today and then will probably head back to Vauxhall tomorrow. My eldest was so excited. She's a real daddy's girl. We were supposed to go to Rhyme Time today. But the hubby phoned from town and said we should really not bother. The roads are like a skating rink and he already came across one accident. He was probably thankful because 3 years ago he would have been the one out there in the cold and snow cleaning it up. Well I think I'm going to go find a baking project to do with the 3 year old.

Quiet

Well, I'm having a bit of break today. While I did have to go to town to do a few errands I now have the afternoon to relax. My mom phoned this morning and said she'd take my girls since her physio appt had been moved to Thurs. It always feels odd to be here at home without the boisterous energy of my 3 year old and the babbling of the 10 month old. It does feel good to be having a few moments of peace. Without the worry of waking someone or wondering how many more minutes I have to write or just sit. I actually feel as though I could sleep but it feels like such a waste because it's only a couple hours of me time. I think any mother out there can sympathize. It's definitely not that you don't love your babies it's just that in the process of having babies and taking care of them (because God knows that no one can take care of them like you) you sort of lose yourself. You don't take the time to do things that replenish your spirit and resources. It seems to be important judging by how bitchy I was yesterday. I hate that feeling. I hate snapping at my children but when you're on edge already you can only handle the question "why?" so many times.
I'm on my one hour left count down to picking up the girls so I'm going to get some writing done. I don't want to feel completely guilty.

Alone

Well, the hubby left for Medicine Hat this morning. He'll be gone for at least 2 weeks-I think. I'm not used to having him gone. Last year about this time he was working up at Calahoo near Edmonton and I never knew when he was coming home. Even when we had our 2nd daughter he was only home for a couple weeks. It was bad because I had my c-section to deal with so my mom was over a lot. But it is necessary that he go away to work because that is where the work is. It's supposed to be a very slow spring in the oil field so get work while the getting is good.
The girls are feeling better, mostly. The noses are still running but have slowed to a drip.
I'm trying to work on some writing while hubby is away. When he left at 6:30 I got up and wrote for an half an hour or so. Maybe I need to make this a habit so I can get my book finished.

When Will It End

My girls are sick...again or still. The runny noses are back and the coughs and the fevers. Arghh! Now I woke up this morning with another sore throat. My luck I'll be sick for Valentine's Day this weekend after going to all the work of finding a sitter. Oh well, I guess things could be a lot worse.
I watched some more Moonlighting last night. I'm on season 3 and the one I watched last night was hillarious. Even my hubby was laughing. I love old TV shows, Magnum PI, Remington Steel, A-Team etc.
My new "diet" is going good. I don't know if I've lost anything yet because we aren't supposed to step on the scale for 2 weeks and I'm only on day 5. I'm curious. And truthfully I'll be a little choked. If you only knew how much money I've spent over the years on diet books. But it'll be turning a new page and I'll get rid of the other books for good and concentrate on eating when I'm hungry, stopping when I'm full and eating consciously. It sounds so simple and it has been. Again it might have something to do with the cd I listen to every night. If this works I'm going to buy this book for my dad. He has lost weight recently but he always has to fight to keep it off. I've gone to my parent's house and there is my dad eating straight out of the fridge with the door wide open. He also can't seem to leave food on his plate. I'd love to see him free once and for all. so hopefully...