Better Homes & Deadlines: The Saga Continues

As usual, this is a Fool-Free Zone*. For today, anyway. You may return to your usual foolishness tomorrow.

Despite the chaos of flooring and cabinetry and oops sorta forgetting to eat an actual meal until 5pm, I managed to haul another 1500 new words down on Pack of Lies, and am through to the penultimate chapter. As seems to be forever the case, the closer I get to the ending, the more I understand what I needed to do in the beginning, so before I write the final chapter I will be going back and starting the rewrite.

Yep, I rewrite without knowing exactly how the last chapter will go. I know most of it, of course. But the actual laying down of words? Doesn't get done in the first draft. Y'see, if I write that final chapter? The book's done. I'm ready to go on to the next project. If I don't tell myself how it all turns out for real-and-final, though? I can keep working at it.

Yeah, I know. My brain is weird. But you work with what you're assigned. And this particular weirdness works for me. That's the damned truth of this business: you have to go with what works for you, and toss everything else. There is no One Write Way.

Nick tossed me a glazed doughnut, and I caught it with one hand. Nifty held up six fingers, rating my catch. I gave him one in return.

Today, the cabinets are to be installed. The cats are already in hiding. If all goes well, tomorrow the crew will be off cutting and prepping the countertops, and I will be able to start putting some things away. Yay! (no working stove or sink for a while yet, but it will Look Like A Kitchen!)


( Meanwhile, an update to the Troll Situation discussed earlier: )

*I have nothing against April Fools' jokes, but there should also be a place where you can relax and not have to second-guess anything. Today, this LJ is such a place.**

** and no, this is not a multi-year lead in to a significant April Fool's. Believe me, I'm really not that ambitious. Or organized. Or ...am I?***
*** however, I did help perpetuate a prank indirectly... http://www.slowtravtours.com/index.htm You may recognize some of the photos...

feline supervision recommended

evilmeer: Pandora is staring at the workmen. She ventured into the kitchen to sniff around when they took a break, but ran when they came back. Who knew she'd be the brave one?
ArwenR: Heh. When we had Simba and Wuss together, it was funny...when we moved, each time, she came out within less than an hour of all the upheaval being over, made perimeter checks, and was fine. Simba wouldn't come out of hiding for days.
evilmeer: Boycats are scardeycats
ArwenR: yep!
evilmeer: she really is watching them Most Intently. from a safe distance, natch
evilmeer: I think she knows we're in the home stretch
ArwenR: She's supervising.
evilmeer: exactly.

Better Homes and Deadlines, Day Seventeen, more or less

eeee! I can haz cabinets! I can has Thing Looks Like Kitchen!

Went out this afternoon to keep friend from keeling over after Indelicate Medical Procedure, and stopped for dinner with folks (and puppy-time). Came home and ... boxes were out of living room! Fridge was out of living room! Rug was back on floor! Cabinets were all installed and fridge and dishwasher put into place!

Mind you, we're still missing a countertop, and the stove and microwave and sink have yet to be put into place, and there's no backsplash and.... But eeee! Is no longer empty echoing space!

The cats have already been All Over It.

Oh, and I haz rough draft of PACK OF LIES, too. For those who come here for the writing stuff [all six of you]. Very rough, and too short, but drafty, yes. Ending kick some serious ass, and winds up my heroine for book 3. All I have to do is whip through the second draft, add about 20,000 words, and polish it up in time for the May 1 delivery date. Nooooo problem! And am well into first chapter of MUSTANG, wherein Our Heroine has already been menaced by Sleazy Minions of Evil Guy.



Meanwhile, in the alleged Real World, things are still a mess. I'm forcing myself to follow the news, but I don't have the heart to report it here. *sighs* Oh well. There is good out there. There are places where people aren't killing each other, where they're working to solve problems, cure diseases, grow sustainable crops, and teach tolerance and moderation and acceptance. And there are kittens and puppies and chocolate. And good wine at reasonable prices. It's not all bad....