So this summer I’ve been traveling a ton for the day job as I complete my certification in becoming a Level II Air Force Lean chickie.

Spent two weeks at the University of Tennessee in August, then a week down in Oklahoma City at Tinker AFB doing an improvement event, and now I’m off to Dayton, TN to work with the folks at La-Z-Boy. Not exactly sure what that’ll entail, but I’ll recap (kinda like I did when I went to Hyundai last year) when I get back, or even as I go…depends on internet access!

So, obviously I haven’t been around in a long-assed time. Part of that was due to the fact that when I quit smoking, it was as if my writing ju-ju got completely shut down. 

Until about two weeks ago, I hadn’t written squat, but I think my behavioral change really drove that.  I was so used to sitting down, powering up the laptop and lighting a cigar, and without that ritual, putting fingers to keyboard just wasn’t happening. The day job has been reasonably hectic as well, so the combo was pretty much a death knell for my writing. 

Happily, it seems like I’m coming out of it…wrote 1100 words on a little story I’ve been mulling over.  I’d like to finish it within the next month or so, and then dive back into Live & Let Die.

Anyway, that’s it in a nutshell.  While I won’t be blogging with the frequency I used to, I will check in at least once a week to talk about progress and what’s going on with me…hopefully I’ll have good writing news!!

It’s been a month since the hubster and I decided on a total lifestyle change and quit worshipping the almighty tobacco.  He’s got a few weeks on me *g*, but all in all, we’ve suffered through the withdrawal symptoms together and come out stronger because of it.  Since we broke a MASSIVE habit, I decided to cut myself a little slack for awhile, but now it’s time to get back in the saddle and continue the good things I’m doing for my health.  Weighing in isn’t going to be so much of a priority for me, but rather getting myself back on the exercise horse, in addition to making sure I’m eating right.  Calorie counting and obsessive weight-watching can come later…say in May *g*.

These are goals I’m going to try and stick to through the month of March, then I’ll reassess and ramp up each goal a smidge and see if I want to add anything else.

On that note, I’m going to use Fridays as kind of a yardstick on how I’m doing to that end…  Soooo, first up is:

Walk at least three days a week—I figure by starting out lower, I’m more likely to actually do it, and maybe more

            Crunches four days a week—these are soooo easy to do when I get up in the morning, but it’s amazing how often I talk myself out of it

            60 ounces of water a day—this one should be reasonably easy to keep, since I drink a lot of water already, but I’m more interested in making sure I do it consistently

I actually started this whole gig this last week (2 March), so here’s my progress:

Monday:  crunches, 30 minutes walking (1.5% incline x 3.5 mph), 64 oz water

Tuesday:  crunches, 30 minutes walking (2% incline x 3.5 mph), 74 oz water

Wednesday: crunches, no workout, 70 oz water, afternoon minor surgery (nothing big, but will preclude workouts until next week)

Thursday:  80 oz water

As you can see, I hit a bit of a snag on Wednesday afternoon by having a minor surgery procedure that precludes me sweating a ton.  Nothing major, just enough to keep me off the treadmill/street, at least until Monday.

1. Gale Force, Rachel Caine
2. Shades of Dark, Linnea Sinclair
3. King of Sword and Sky, CL Wilson
4. The Face of Death, Cody McFadyen
5. At Grave’s End, Jeaniene Frost
6. Aussie Rules, Jill Shalvis
7. Eye of the Beholder, Shari Shattuck
8. To Taste Temptation, Elizabeth Hoyt
9. Bloodfever, Karen Marie Moning
10. Demon Night, MelJean Brook
11. Heated Rush, Leslie Kelly
12. Flashpoint, Jill Shalvis
13. A Little Bit Wicked, Victoria Alexander

Only two things can compel journalist Jenna McMillan back to Buenos Aires after terrorists held her captive there just months before: a rare interview with a shadowy billionaire and the memory of the dark and dangerous man who saved her…  Bad guys, bombs, and bullets are Gabriel Jones’s way of life. But he’ll never forget the brash redhead he rescued not so long ago…or the passionate kiss they shared before he sent her packing… Now, forced together by a bombing at the National Congress, Jenna and Gabe confront the urgent longings that simmer between them. But this surprise meeting is no coincidence. A ruthless enemy stalks them with deadly precision. The question is…if they make it out alive, will Gabe turn his back on Jenna…again?

A VERY nice beginning to a new romantic suspense series that’ll have you reading long past your bedtime.  Jenna is a gutsy heroine, willing to do what it takes to win back her self-respect and the man she loves.  I found her to be a really compelling heroine, and a nice change of pace.  Gabe is darkly brooding, tortured and absolutely yummy.  I loved the chemistry between them, as well as the twists and turns the book took me through as I plowed through it in one sitting.  Pick this one up and enjoy!

So I’ve obviously been hiding out a bit the last few weeks.  Mostly it was because I haven’t been spending a bunch of time on the laptop or main computer because I equate both with smoking.  Hit three weeks last Thursday, and I’m no longer shaking and rocking back and forth *G*, so I’m over the hump!

We’ve been doing a ton of home improvement, to include completely repainting and redecorating our master bedroom.  It looks great, and definitely has that “we’ve put a ton of love into this” feeling. 

Last week the Inspector General was at work, so everyone on base were jumping around like cats in a roomful of rockers…LOL!

Anyway, that’s about it for right now, I’ll have a book review tomorrow and slowly get back into the blogosphere, to include my new Friday post regarding goals (not just writing goals).  More on that then!

Hope y’all have a faboooo week!

I just finished reading my RITA books, but here’s the latest and greatest update to my reading pile.  What really sucks is that I was too sick to read over the last two days (waaaah!)

1. Night Life, Caitlin Kittredge
2. Gale Force, Rachel Caine
3. The Darkest Pleasure, Gena Showalter
4. Cry Wolf, Patricia Briggs
5. Shades of Dark, Linnea Sinclair
6. King of Sword and Sky, CL Wilson
7. The Face of Death, Cody McFadyen
8. At Grave’s End, Jeaniene Frost
9. Aussie Rules, Jill Shalvis
10. Eye of the Beholder, Shari Shattuck
11. To Taste Temptation, Elizabeth Hoyt
12. Bloodfever, Karen Marie Moning
13. Demon Night, MelJean Brook

Not a whole lot of writing going on with me right now, tho I’ve hit almost two weeks being smoke free!  So while I may not have been doing a bunch of writing, we have been doing the home improvement thing.  Our master bedroom is now finished, with the exception of some truly wonderful pictures we’re going to be picking up one pay period at a time.  Next is landscaping, when it warms up a smidge.

Right now, tho, I’m struggling with the crud that’s been going around the clinic, so have been home for the last day and a half, which is a total anomaly for me.  Next week is our big base inspection, so I figured if I was gonna get sick, then yesterday and today were the best possible alternatives.

In happy news, I HAVE been toying with an idea I’d like to work on a bit over the next few weeks.  I’d love to have a few chapters written prior to my crit partners/soul sister’s arrival in late March.  Right now I’m noodling with the concept a bit more, then I’ll attack and see what happens.  So why the “new” idea, you may ask…  Well, because I decided to start something completely new and different, and at least get the partial, if nothing else, done prior to RWA Nationals in July.  It just seems like I’ve put so much energy into trying to sell View that I’m starting to despise it a little, and that’s no way to be.  I’m going to give myself some time and space, so I can love it again, and be its strongest advocate, if that makes any sense at all.

Sooo, I’ve begun work on a new romantic suspense book, and will also tinker with an idea for a novella for Liquid Silver or Samhain as I go. 

Anyway, as you can tell, I went with the “doing 120 things” option rather than “curling up into a fetal ball”, which is always a good thing!

Citizen Kane (1941)… So the hubster and I decided to watch this because of the buzz and its status as the #1 movie of all time on more than one list. For us, not so much. We made it through about an hour before throwing in the flag. Actually, hubby fell asleep again *g*, and our DVD player is possessed (it turns on and off by itself) and winked off right at an hour, and I couldn’t be bothered to get up and turn it back on. Which shows you exactly how enthusiastic I was *g*. As a whole, it just didn’t work for me, from the acting to the way it was laid out. Maybe I’ll try again at some point, but not in the near future. I’m just kind of bummed that the last three movies have been duds. I’m hoping for more with The Bourne Identity!

The hubster and I threw ourselves into painting this weekend as a way to NOT think about smokes, in addition to actually getting something done rather than stare at the boob tube.  The results?  I’m sore as hell, but the room looks about a thousand percent better.  Also, I only thought about smoking approxmiately 65 times over the whole weekend, which is down from the 100 or so of last Thursday alone .

So obviously, no movie or music review today, and honestly, I may just check in here and there, rather than do my usual schpeal.

Hope everyone’s weekends were faboooo!