But I deleted it. Not that it wasn’t still a rant, but…it just was sort of pointless. The shortversion is that
a) my kids’ school called me and were kind of rude with me.
b) I now know why they were asking questions, but it doesn’t change the fact that they were rude.

And now I’m wondering if I don’t just allow the school to have more influence over my kids than I should. I’ve always thought of us as a team…I send my kids to school for six hours a day, where they teach the kids reading, science, and geography, which I’m not sure I’d do well explaining to them.
I get the kids back and teach them how to not behave like neanderthals, and see to their more basic human needs and skillsets.

However…Bookworm had a completely ineffective teacher a couple years back. That was my first wakeup call – I can’t just trust the system. Believe me, to someone as law-and-orderish as I tend to be…that one sucked.

Even more years back, I went to pick up the Bookworm at school. I asked the secretary if she could get “Booky” from class. Bookworm’s teacher happened to be in the office. “Oh, you mean BOOK Larke. We don’t call him Booky here.”

um.

*splutter*

I’ve been calling him “Booky” since he was about three minutes old. So…um…Teacher-with-stick-where-the-sun-don’t-shine? You can kiss my stick-free-ass.

And now…being called back after I called the school’s “safe arrival line” (technically: their answering machine) to tell them why my kids weren’t going to be there, only to get called back and RUDELY ‘asked’ for clarification?

I’m seriously considering re-negotiating my joint-custody agreement with the school system.

So, my five things today could be the days I’ve missed blogging, I think. I have a good excuse…one kid staged an “I don’t want to go to school anymore” rebellion, and two kids got sick. I think we’re all back on track now, though my dog is probably feeling ignored and unloved…

Down to just 3 weeks til release day for A Love Neverending. I’m waiting for the proofer to go through it, and then I should get author copies…which I guess I’m going to send to reviewers and have a contest to give away one or two others. I’m getting nervous!

I’m making some progress with That Damn Book(tm), and also on NewShiny. I think I’ve committed to Nano-ing NewShiny, with the caveat that I also work on That Damn Book(tm). This could be interesting, as that will commit me to 2300 words per day. Every day. And I have one weekend out of town. erm. Oops?

Still, I like the public accountability. I NEED a kick in the ass – maybe this will be it. My only concern is that I’m putting the pressure of “if you can’t do this you’re not a real writer” on myself. I have to avoid that. (um, yes, I AM hard on myself.)

THat might only be four things for today, but my coffee is done brewing, the Dog needs breakfast, and I think Bub’s diaper is full. Welcome to my glamorous life

I’m hoping that won’t set the theme for today, but it’s hard not to be discouraged.

Today is all about writing. Sorry for those of you who like to read about my kids, my dog, or my crazy house. (all of whom are doing fine, fyi. Dawg is even behaving himself after we left him with a dog-sitter for the weekend.)

1. I’m planning out promo stuff for the new release on November 17th. I have two guest-bloggity things ready, I’m just waiting on my excerpt from LI. (which will be another week or two, since my editor has taken a couple weeks off.)

2. I have to decide if I’m going to send the book out to a few reviewers myself, on top of the ones LI usually works with. VERY torn. I like to think I’m tough enough to handle it if people hate it, but…I REALLY don’t want people to hate this book!

3. I think I’m going to NaNo this year. Writing has been going badly for a while now, and I’m desperate to kickstart it. Only decision left is whether I will work on NewShiny or Captivated, a book I’ve outlined, but nothing written on.
3b) this means I need to do a major push on Mist, otherwise Patti might find a way to hurt me long-distance.

The fourth thing doesn’t quite belong on the list…don’t ask why, it just doesn’t, inside my head, seem to fit. However, I’m sort of on Internet Hiatus right now. That is, I’m on Twitter and I’m blogging, but…I’m avoiding a lot of the other places I usually haunt. I don’t even have my messenger on that much. I do this, from time to time, because otherwise I wind up with information overload. Since I’m already precariously close to burnout, I just need the down time. I often wonder if I’m the only one who feels that way.

5. I’m starting to look forward to Christmas. Don’t tell Scrooge–er, Mr. Larke–because it’s not even Halloween yet, and he has Opinions about that sort of thing, but yes, I think Christmas will be nice this year. A little leaner than other years, but still lovely. I might even watch White Christmas (Bing Crosby et. al.)

or maybe I’ll watch some Battlestar Galactica…

Current Mood:  cheerful

I bet you thought I forgot, huh? I was actually out of town for the weekend, but once while I was away, I did think of five things. I did not, however, write them down. I’m pretty sure I can think of five new ones.

1. Bub started walking while we were away. Freakiest. Thing. Ever. He’s insisted on walking on his knees, but while we were away, he got up on his feet as if he’s been doing it forever. Hysterical.

2. Worldbuilding for NewShiny is insistent, but still not giving me plot. I blame Patti O’Shea. She might’ve threatened bodily harm if I bail on Mist to start something else.

3. She might be right.

4. I bought books while I was away. Including Ken Follett’s Pillars of Earth, which I’ve been told is a wicked-good read, despite Oprah’s stamp on it.

5. Found a Buzz Lightyear costume for Monkeybutt – at the Goodwill Store, no less. I win Best!Mom!Ever!

Ha! Five things! I’ll try again tomorrow