Oh dear...

Has it really been a month since I posted? I think we can consider that resolution a failure. Pin it up next to the ones about losing weight and finding a new job. Actually, now that the weather is finally starting to turn, I may be able to get out and start walking again.

I've been doing a lot of writing lately, but not here (obviously!). My local NaNo writing group has been meeting and we're doing critiques of each others works. We've got a romantic suspense, a slightly futuristic story involving the circus, a ghost thriller and a somewhat dark story with an infant as the main character. Oh, and mine...which, unfortunately, I'm putting aside for a while. As I told the others in the group, the main idea of this story was born out of the clinical depression I suffered a few years ago and because I'm no longer "there," the story has lost its importance to me. I kept trying--heaven knows--and even though I still like the story, I just can't make it work anymore. Part of the problem is I keep changing the plot and if it wants to be written, it can't keep changing. So I'm putting it aside and working on something new.

Because........

Steve Berry, author of The Amber Room, The Romanov Prophesy, The Third Secret, The Templar Legacy, The Alexandria Link, The Venetian Betrayal, and The Charlemagne Pursuit (let's see, one, two, skip-a-few, seven...yep, that's all of them) will be the Keynote Speaker at this year's SCWW conference! I've started reading his books--finished Amber and half-way through Romanov--and he is a pretty awesome author, I must admit. Just the kind of intrigue I like. Now, just because he's going to be there doesn't mean he and I will meet and have a nice long discussion about the authoring process. Yeah, there's a chance we could meet but I'm not pinning my hopes on it. You see, last year, it didn't occur to me to read anything that any of the seminar instructors (all authors or editors, and in one or two cases, agents) had written up until about a month or so before going. I had just enough time to read one book by the woman who did my critique and one chapter of one book by one of the instructors. This year, I'll read as much as I can before the conference starts.

And the something new I'm working on? I want to submit that for an editor's critique this year. I have to wait until more info is posted on the SCWW site so I'll know what I have to submit for an editor's critique. My plan is to have three chapters and a synopsis by June 1, which is when registration opens. I don't have to send it in that soon, but I want to know I'm ready by that date, save for some polishing.

So now you know why I haven't been posting. I've been writing! I swear! Just not here. Though I will try to post here more often...I promise.

I didn't think this would work

Pretty awesome!




I just hope they didn't drive home...

'Nother update

I'm doing just fine, thanks everyone for asking! Y'all are so sweet!

The test results came back and I did better on the stress test than they thought I could. Not would, could. Apparently they didn't think a woman my size could do the whole seven minutes. Anyway, the test shows that there's nothing at all wrong with my heart. It's in very good shape, and it was a relief to hear that.

So my problem really is just acid reflux. My doctor gave me another acid medicine and I take the Axid in the morning and the other in the evening. Knock on wood, it's been almost two weeks since I've had a symptom flare-up. I have a follow-up with the doc in three weeks and it should be a good appointment. He wants to keep me on this medicine for about three months to give my esophagus time to heal.


Hmmm...what else is going on...Oh yeah, found this at Ambulance Driver who got it here. I want one of these!

Quick update

Things have progressed a bit health-wise, but not necessarily for the better. I thought the Axid would take care of my problem (well, make that "hoped" it would take care of my problems), but the flush-thing came back last Wednesday. Not quite bad enough to go to the hospital again, but it had me worried. I spent the night sleeping in the recliner because I was afraid to lie flat on the bed. I felt fine by morning, and the next couple days were symptom free. But because the symptoms did come back, my doctor scheduled me for a Cardiolite stress test.

Have you ever had a stress test? Not fun. Not horrible, but not fun. Toward the end of the treadmill portion of the test (which had my calves screaming...I began to wonder if I should have warmed up first, but they didn't make me, so I guess not), they injected me with the Cardiolite, which is a radioactive material...that night, I was my own nightlight! Seriously, though, they then took pictures of my chest. I went back on Monday for the second portion, which was Cardiolite only (no treadmill). They'll look at the pictures and, fingers crossed, they'll be able to tell me what's wrong with me. I'll keep you all posted.

I had another flare-up today and I'm pretty exhausted. I was fighting the pain all day and now I just need to sleep. G'nite all.