To query or not to query? And a name by any other rose . . .

I managed to get in some writing time today. I wrote a query letter . . . nay, I lie, for I wrote three versions. You know, one version simply isn't good enough these days. Truly great autors second guess themselves and it isn't above them to write several versions. They care not about the wasted time and effort put into the never-to-be-sent-out versions. Nay, truly great authors rejoice in the writing of said queries, knowing if the version they submit gets rejected, they have backups.

GARH!!

Today is NOT a good day. It's a day when I say to myself, "Self, why are you doing this? Self, you are delusional to believe your work is good enough for publication!"

Are queries really necessary? Maybe I should just play the lottery . . . my odds of winning are better, right?

*sigh*

When I'm finished wallowing in self-pity, I'll remember I love writing (though not writing queries) and go back to my thousand versions (okay it was only three) and pick one or combine them all into a brilliant fourth version to stun editors and make them all beg for my novel (hey, it's my fantasy).

There are times when I read something and wonder why it made it into print (not mentioning any books specifically) and feel I may have a chance. And other times I read something amazing (again, not mentioning any specifics) and think I'm the worst writer ever.

I'm in a love/hate relationship with my fantasy novel at the moment. Couldn't tell, could ya? Today I thought about deleting the entire thing from my hard drive and starting from scratch. But said, "Self, there are some good things in there. Don't you dare hit that button!"

I really want to overhaul the-beast-that-is-my-novel, but haven't the stomach for it . . . at least not today.

And with the query giving me so much trouble, I wonder what the synopsis will do to me?! *EEEKKK*

And it doesn't help that I've decided my working title is lame and I need to get a shiny new one. Great, right? But I've called it by it's current title for so long that my mind is completely frozen to other possibilities. *WAAAAAAH*

And thus goes the 15th day of August, 2008. A day in the life of a stressed out writer. I'm off to get my kids from school now. Maybe I'll pick up 1 or 10 bags of chocolate on the way home. *grin*

Later.

Um . . . yeah

Other than this blog entry and a couple of emails, I didn't get any writing done. I did put lots of bread on the shelves. Bread, Entenmann's, Thomas Bagels and muffins, even some Tia Rosa tortillas.

While I stocked shelves, I dreamed of being home writing . . . well, maybe not so much dreaming of writing, but dreaming of being home for sure. I worked as quickly as I could and was able to finish in time to get the kids from school.

Now, it sounds like I spent all day stocking shelves. But I didn't. The first part of the morning I walked Calypso with my friend C and her dog Chancho. Then I visited with her for a while before coming home to put Calypso back with the other dogs, feeding them, and putting a load of towels in the washing machine. In all truthfullness, I began stocking shelves at about a quarter to twelve. The kids get out at 2:30 so I really only worked for about two hours (minus time driving from one store to the other). I only did Wal-Mart and Safeway so it was about an hour per store. Not bad time, considering.

Anyway, after picking up the kids, I came home and had a little nap. I was TIRED. What do you want from me? My supermom powers are on vacation so I need more rest than usual . . . either that or the cold/allergy I've been fighting is the culprit. So I had about a twenty minute nap before going back to the stores to re-stock the shelves. Why, you ask? Well, people have this habit of buying things off the shelves and if we want to make money, we have to have things on the shelves for them to buy. Crazy, isn't it?

I had hoped to get some writing done tonight after the kids went to bed (about 15 minutes ago) but I'm tired, and after this update I intend to go to sleep.

But I'll think about it tomorrow. "After all, tomorrow is another day" (one of my favorite lines . . . love the movie, too, though the book was better).

My plan is to work on my submission materials tomorrow. We'll see how it goes (and it better go the way I plan . . . darn it)!

And I'm off to get some sleep . . . after I make one more stop to wish my baby sister a Happy Birthday!

Later.

What a day!

I planned on spending time on my query, summary, etc. today. However, it didn't happen. My hubby wasn't feeling well and asked if I'd help him with his job (he delivers Oroweat bread and Entenmann's to the stores in the area). I, being the good wife I am, felt sorry for him and agreed to help.

While we were stocking the bread in one of the grocery stores, hubby's back went out. He was in a tremendous ammount of pain. We were driving different vehicles so I suggested he go see the chiropractor while I finish stocking the shelves in the stores. He agreed. After he finished at the chiropractor, he came back to help finish the stores. He was in a back brace and informed me he had injured his back pretty good. *sigh* He tried to help stock the shelves, but realized he had lost his cell phone. PANIC! I told him I would finish the store while he went to re-trace his steps and hopefully find his phone. If he couldn't find it he would go to the cellular store and de-activate it.

Well, he didn't find it. However, when I finished working, I called his cell phone in the hopes someone had found it and would answer. They did! It was the receptionist from the chiropractor's office (he had already been there in his search and they found it after he left). I went to get it and spent the next hour driving around town trying to find him to let him know I had it.

I gave up and went home. Eventually he came home to call Altell because they couldn't deactivate his phone in the local store. I told him I had his phone and they were happily re-united.

I could have spent the remainder of the afternoon working on my writing as planned, but hubby wanted to lie in bed and sleep (the pain meds helped). I guess I type too loud and it was bothering him so I graciously stopped.

I had hoped to get back to it tomorrow, but hubby has asked if I will help him again tomorrow since he is still in so much pain. So I am going to spend tomorrow stocking shelves and wishing I were home writing. But I'm nice and can't say no when he so obviously needs me.

In other news (though not writing) the kids are enjoying school. Even my youngest! I wasn't sure how he would take to all day kindergarten since he barely turned five July 14th, but he is doing well, considering. We did have a moment last week when he had some tears and didn't want to go to school, but he appears to be over it now and likes it well enough. Hopefully this will be a great school year for all involved . . . especially for my 15 year old sophmore in high school!

My 15 year old is looking forward to getting his lerner's permit (for driving) in January. I'm not looking forward to that so much. *wink*

Anyway, I'm off to bed. Gotta rest up for tomorrow.

Later.

The day's half over and I'm just beginning . . .

The kids are off to school the animals have been fed, I've got a box of Cheddar Jack Cheez-It and a glass of ice water. I'm ready to get to work . . . but thought I'd post first.

What's the plan for today? Revision? Rewriting? On to a new project?

No, my friends.

Today is National Researching Publishers Day (NRPD)!

What? You've never heard of NRPD (pronounced nerped)? Why it's the day when writers unite in setting aside their beloved manuscripts and researching publishers. It's on the calendar!

Well, okay, it's on MY calendar . . . but it SHOULD be on yours, too.

Researching publishers is rather like being Santa Claus. You make a list and check it twice (at least) to find out who's naughty or nice. Nice publishers get a query. Naughty publishers get crossed off the list.

How do I differentiate between the naughty and nice?

Nice publishers:
Open to submissions
Accept new authors
Accept unagent-ed submissions
publish books in my genre
recently published books I enjoyed reading
offer reasonable contract terms
heard good things about from others

Naughty publishers:
Not open to submissions
Accept only agent-ed submissions
Don't publish books (or very few) in my genre
Didn't care much for their recently published books
Unreasonable contract terms
On the predators list

So I'm off to pour over market listings, guidelines, catalogs, and websites. Once I've narrowed it down, I'll make lists of books to read from the "nice" publishers.

NRPD, here I come!

Well, it's about time!

I'm horrible about updating this blog! Gee, since I last updated, I've acquired several more dogs (Toy Fox Terriers) and have been breeding/raising/showing them. You can see pictures on my website at www.treasuretoyfoxterriers.com if you so desire.

I've been writing, living, working, playing, and generally enjoying life. My children started school on July 30th this year and for the first time, ALL four of them are in school. My youngest is in all day Kindergarten. So, what am I going to do with all my free time?

Write and work. I have a part time job as an archivist and am working on archiving the documents of a sculptress and her mother (a silent film star). It's been fun, fun, fun and I've learned a lot. However, I'm looking forward to the project coming to a close and devoting all my free time to my writing.

I submitted a story to the Cheerio's contest and am waiting to hear the results. I'm sure many entered and only three can win (one grand prize, two first prizes). I'm hoping, but trying not to hope too hard.

The work on my YA fantasy has continued and I believe I am close to being ready to start submitting it. We'll see how that goes.

That's a QUICK update on all that has happened in the last two years.

What do you mean, I'm it?

Yep, it's true. I've been tagged. I didn't even know I was playing the "meme" game, but sure enough, my good friend Janelle caught up with me and the next thing I know, "Tag, you're it!" She thinks it a good way to get me to write in this blog. Sheesh, like I wasn't writing in it already. WHAT? You say it's been over a month since my last entry? What, over two months? Closer to three? Are you sure?

Okay, okay, I'm bad! Bad me, bad. No treats!

Anyway, where was I before I was so rudely reminded of what a slacker I am . . . Oh yes, I remember now . . . I was tagged. Now it wouldn't be so bad if I only had to tag one other person like in a normal game of tag. But this, my friends is the age of technology, the age of the world wide web. So we no longer tag only one. Nay, my friends, why tag one when you can tag EIGHT? Yes, eight unsuspecting people. People who are out there in cyberspace, blogging quietly (or making noise, whatever works for them), unaware that they are being stalked. But soon they will know it. Oh, yes, they will know it. They will get a big "Tag, you're it" just like I did. And that's where the trouble begins.

That's right we've got trouble! Trouble, my friends, with a capital "T" and that rhymes with "E" and that stands for EEEK.

(Can anyone tell me the original, unadulterated form of the above lines and where they come from? If you can and are the first to get it right, there may be a critique in your future . . . from ME, people, from ME, not whatever agent you were thinking when you read that . . .)

What's the trouble? I DON'T have eight other friends with blogs. What to do, what to do? Honestly it's a conundrum.

So, here are the meme rules:

Once you're "tagged" you must
1. Post the rules of the game.
2. List eight (8) facts/habits about yourself.
3. "Tag" eight (8) people and post their names.
4. Go to said eight (8) people's blogs and leave them a comment to let them know they have been tagged and are to come to your blog to get the instructions.

Now I've done number one, so I'll do number two (get your mind out of the sewer, you know what I meant).

Facts/habits about myself:

1. I don't think I have eight friends to tag. Okay, I DO have more than eight friends, but most of them don't blog so I can't tag them.

2. I am right handed, but can print passibly well with my left when I need to (though it takes longer).

3. I now have eight dogs (too bad they don't have blogs . . . there's a great Country song there, I know it! Sing with me, now, "My dog's don't have blogs . . " Well, it's a work in progress)

4. I have chickens that lay eggs, but I don't really like to eat eggs.

5. I once ate fried worms after reading "How To Eat Fried Worms", and no, they did NOT taste like chicken . . . they tasted like dirt. Well, dirt and ketchup since we used ketchup thinking it would help make them more appetizing. It didn't, by the way.

6. I have entered two of my dogs (Toy Fox Terriers) to an AKC dog show on the 15th of September. We'll see how they do.

7. I have one husband (believe me, that's enough), four children (that is ALSO enough), five brothers, five sisters, five brothers-in-law, seven sisters-in-law, twelve nephews, and five neices (and there is another neice/nephew on the way). And in case you didn't figure it out, the brothers/sisters-in-law and neices/nephews count was using both my side and my husband's side of the family. Come on, my brothers aren't into polygamy, bigamy, or any of the "amy"s.

8. I have a really bad habit of eating candy/chocolate while I'm writing or reading books (though I'm always careful not to share the delightful confections with my laptop or the books I'm reading).

And now I've accomplished the second rule. Um, yeah, now what?

Let's see, I'll tag the following friends(at least they WERE my friends. Not sure how they'll feel about me after I tag them):

Wendy Haber

Okay, I said "friends" but I don't have any other blogging friends that haven't already been tagged by someone else! If I can round up anymore, I'll tag them, too. So what's my punishment for breaking the rules? Go ahead, I can take it. Maybe.

And in the beginning . . .

Well, I've been doing some writing. I'm currently in the process of trying something new. I'm rewriting my novel. Notice I didn't say revising. Nay, my friends, I am REWRITING it! I'm starting from scratch (with a blank page and everything)! I'm sure that many of the things I've already written will come back into the story, though perhaps in a different way.

"Why?" you ask. "Why is she doing this? Does she need her medication adjusted? Has she held a seance and channeled the spirit of some long dead author?"

"No," I tell you (no matter what you may have heard to the contrary).

This current mania is due to the character sketches I did for each of my characters. They were VERY detailed and I learned things about my characters that I hadn't known before.

So, why don't I just revise and stick in the new things? I suppose I could, but that wouldn't be nearly time consuming, and as you know, I'm all about wasting time. LOL In all seriousness, I'm trying it, but I'm not sure how long I'll stick with it. Don't be surprised if I come back here saying that I've given up and decided to revise instead (perhaps even later tonight).

Still, I'm currently all for it and am enjoying each moment . . . of course I only got a few paragraphs done today, but, eh.

So, I'm off to write some more before I dive in to bed for what I hope will be a good night's sleep . . . so I can get up in the morning and continue.

Creativity . . . all is not lost

Well, I haven't been doing much writing, but before you blame it on the dogs, I must tell you that it is NOT their fault . . . well not ALL their fault anyway. I do plan on doing some writing at some point in the week.

But if I don't, this blog will have to count because I am busy being creative in other ways. I am currently working on a project for my friend Amy. I've had the privilege of drawing a logo and designing a business card for her. It has been a blast! I know it seems ridiculous that I'm all kinds of excited about it, but it really got me to tap into my creative side. The creativity lay dormant for far too long and now that it is released, there is no stopping it (insert evil laughter).

It's like I've been wandering in a barren desert and I've finally found an oasis. I am saved! I think the heat from the desert must have gotten to me though because until I found the oasis, I didn't even realize I was thirsty. LOL

Anyway, thanks to Amy and Janelle, my writing and drawing will be back on track! Thanks a billion guys!!

Is anyone home?

Mkay . . . so it's been QUITE a while since I posted. I won't give any lame excuses (I could, but I wont) for not finding five minutes or so to log in and blog. Shame on me!

Anyhow, I'm writing now. I've acquired two new distractions in the form of Toy Fox Terriers. I am now the proud owner of eight-month-old Westgate Littlebitabling (call name Jewel) and three-year-old Westgate Smokin Jett (call name Mikey). They are from champion lines, are AKC and UKC registered, and Mikey is an AKC champion! I am extremely blessed to own them! Their breeder, Darielle Price, allowed me to have them with unlimited registration (which means that I can register any puppies they may sire/dam). This is an honor since she normally sells her dogs with limited registration. I plan to breed Mikey an Jewel when Jewel is old enough (must wait for her second heat).

Here are some pictures of my beautiful TFTs:
Jewel




Mikey





Aren't they beautiful? *sigh*

So other than being a distraction, what have TFTs got to do with writing? Well, for one thing, they are inspiring! I've been reading and learning all I can about the breed and plan to use my knowledge in my writing. I'm thinking of having the main character in my novel have a TFT for a pet. I am also planning on writing an article about this breed of dog in the future . . . as soon as I figure out a new angle.

And now, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my friend Janelle Bitikofer for inviting me to read her blog. After reading hers, I was inspired to return to posting on mine. I will try not to allow my numerous distractions to keep me from posting.

Distraction

As if I didn't already have enough to distract me from my writing (5 dwarf hamsters, 21 adult bettas, betta fry, swordtail fry, adult swordtails, tetras, rosy barbs, silver dollars, children, etc.), I had to go and get one more thing. I just couldn't resist. This is the newest addition to our family:




She is an AKC registered Chihuahua and her name is Lil Miss Winky The House Elf. We call her Winky. She is completely adorable and isn't expected to get over about 5 lbs. She was the runt of the litter.

So, what's one more distraction right? And what was I thinking getting her just before NaNo? *sigh* I just couldn't resist her cuteness! I must never look at puppies again! LOL!

Working . . .

Well, my revision continues. I am trying to get things all squared away so that I can feel free and ready for NaNoWriMo. In order to do this, I must get the revisions. So why am I wasting time posting here? Well, because I'm having a break, that's why. You know, we all need a break now and then. :D Besides, I have to get my breaks out of the way cause when NaNo gets going, I won't be having any time for such nonsense! ;)

In other news, we plan to go see Open Season in the theater tonight. My hubby thinks this will be a fun time with the kids and I hope he's right, but it usually ends up with one or both of us having to take kids to the restroom in the middle of the movie. *sigh* Kids and their little bladders. ;) So I won't be getting much work done this evening either.

I guess my break better be over now. Until next time! :D

Long time, no post!

Okay, so I'm really bad in keeping up with this blog. I guess there hasn't been much to report. I could tell you all about how my family caught strep throat, but it's not that interesting. :D

National Novel Writing Month is coming up (November in case you didn't know). It was a total blast last year and I plan to participate again this year. If you don't know what it is, check it out at .

I'm still writing, still revising, and still living. :D That's about it.

Okay, update time!

It's only been about a month since I last updated this blog. What's up with that? Well, I've not had much to say. Still writing, still caring for my family, still caring for my pets (and getting more fish), and I'm still revising my novel. I love the feedback I've been getting from my crit group. :D No matter how many times I look at my work, I can't see the mistakes that they point out to me (and I've tried to make sure the work was error free before sending it)!

I've put off sending queries for a while, but will be getting back into that soon. This business of writing is a long process with many ups and downs. Just when you think things are the best they can be, you discover they can be better. :D I'm back to loving my novel and being excited about its possibilities.

Hamster life

Sometimes I think it would be nice to be a hamster. My Dwarf Hamster (I took Harvey back and traded him for a nicer model which I named Luna) sleeps off and on through the day and plays mostly at night. She doesn't have to worry about children, or bills, or anything except where her food and water is and whether to run in the wheel or climb up the toobs (yes, that's how it's spelled). Well, she has to worry about me sticking my hands in the cage to hold her, but that seems to be it. Of course, life is always greener and all that . . . were I actually a hamster, I may realize that it isn't the wonderful life I imagine it to be.

Alas, I am (and will continue to be) a human. So I have bills that I need to pay, children that need cared for, a house that needs cleaned, and sleep that has been lost (never to be found). Though I sometimes wish this wasn't my life, it is, and I will make the best of it. Besides, if I were a hamster, I wouldn't have the pleasure of typing. :-)

In truth, my life is good. I have a house to live in (even if it isn't always clean), I have a husband and children who love me (even if they also annoy me now and then), I have food to eat (even if I have to prepare it), and I have fingers to type with (even if they fumble once in a hwile). So my life is more desirable than that of a hamster (though a hamster gets more sleep). :-)

As for writing, I've not done much. I've enjoyed critiquing the work of others and have plans to do some revisions based upon critiques others have done on my work. But the plans have yet to be carried out. I've sent a couple of queries to agents, but haven't heard back. I'm not sure if this signifies a lack of interest, or a contemplation of an offer. I suppose if I don't hear back, it's a "no."

I am researching a couple more agents and will query them soon.

You write, right?

Yes, it's true, I've done some writing! I know, I know, amazing isn't it? I guess you all need a moment to compose yourselves after that little shock. Go ahead, take a moment. Better now?

So, what writing did I do? I composed a short story that will probably go nowhere, but it was fun and fulfilling to get back into the groove. Now, I know I should focus on my novel, but I'm taking some time to look at the novels of others and giving my opinion . . . otherwise known as a critique. I am also sending some of my work for critique by others. I love this process as it gives me the opportunity to learn what other people think of my work, and hopefully help those I critique.

Besides, after spending so much time with my novel, I have to admit, I'm at the hating-it-and-wanting-to-chuck-it-out-a-window stage. Having critiques helps me get the spark of love for my work back. Then I can revise and improve and hopefully all will be well with the world . . . well maybe the world is a bit too much, but at least everything may be well with my book and thus my little corner of the world. :-)

Yes, Virginia, there is a blogger!

Well, it may be hard to believe, but there IS still a blogger here. I know I've been lax in posting to my blog. Shame on me! I think I'll have to punish myself . . . let's see, perhaps I should ground myself to my room! Yeah, I like that idea, no phone calls, no children, no housework. *sigh* If only . . . :)

I'd like to say I've been busy writing, and I suppose if I were a liar, I COULD say that. Alas, I believe in honesty so I'll tell the truth . . . I've been lazy! I've done a bit of reading, spent time gazing at my fish, ran to kids' end-of-school programs and activities, and tried to make friends with my new Dwarf Hamster (named Harvey The Wonder Hamster . . . please tell me someone else out there knows where this name originated! Otherwise, I'll feel dreadfully old and nerdish). He's a cute little thing!




But he likes to bite me every time I put my hand in the cage. He's even taken to biting me when he's out of the cage. I get the feeling he doesn't like me. I'd feel bad, but my oldest daughter had him before me and we had to trade (I got her hamster, and she got mine) because he kept biting her (as she is only 6, I felt the need to protect her from this mean little thing) so I know it's not just me. I may have to take him back to the pet shop on Monday if he doesn't behave himself (we got them on Wednesday) and see if I can trade him for a less ferocious model. :-(

Anyway, that's what's been going on . . . I really should keep up with my blogging better! Sorry all!

Unite!

I am joining the ranks of my fellow writers who are publishing links to Barbara Bauer and her attempts to silence AW and others from posting the Twenty worst agencies list that has Barbara Bauer as fourth in the list. I am also posting the list (though if you click on the second use of HER name, you'll be taken to SFWA's copy of the list) here on my blog.


THE LIST:

* The Abacus Group Literary Agency
* Allred and Allred Literary Agents (refers clients to “book doctor” Victor West of Pacific Literary Services)
* Capital Literary Agency (formerly American Literary Agents of Washington, Inc.)
* Barbara Bauer Literary Agency
* Benedict & Associates (also d/b/a B.A. Literary Agency)
* Sherwood Broome, Inc.
* Desert Rose Literary Agency
* Arthur Fleming Associates
* Finesse Literary Agency (Karen Carr)
* Brock Gannon Literary Agency
* Harris Literary Agency
* The Literary Agency Group, which includes the following:
Children’s Literary Agency
Christian Literary Agency
New York Literary Agency
Poets Literary Agency
The Screenplay Agency
Stylus Literary Agency (formerly ST Literary Agency)
Writers Literary & Publishing Services Company (the editing arm of the above-mentioned agencies)
* Martin-McLean Literary Associates
* Mocknick Productions Literary Agency, Inc.
* B.K. Nelson, Inc.
* The Robins Agency (Cris Robins)
* Michele Rooney Literary Agency (also d/b/a Creative Literary Agency and Simply Nonfiction)
* Southeast Literary Agency
* Mark Sullivan Associates
* West Coast Literary Associates (also d/b/a California Literary Services)

If you feel so inclined, please see Jim's blog for information on how you can unite against scam agents/agencies.

Technorati link: BarbaraBauer

Where am I?

Well, it's been a while since I posted to this blog. I've been taking care of my family, reading books, revising, critiquing, caring for my guppies (you can read about them by visiting Guppy Diaries), and writing a bit now and then. :-) The kids will be out of school for the summer soon, and I may not have as much time for writing as we have family reunions and such during the summer.

I've joined a new critique group and am very happy with the feedback I've recieved (and hopefully the feedback I've given is helpful). I've done more revisions on my first chapter as a result. Is there ever an end? :-)

Go Fish!

Well, I went fishing, sort of . . . I went to the pet shop and purchased some Fancy Guppies. Why? Well, it is a long story so if you do not have time to read it (or you don't care), just keep swimming.

My daughters have aquatic turtles that used to live in a ten-gallon fish tank. They started out as wee little things but have grown (duh!) until the 10g tank was no longer large enough to accommodate them. We purchased a twenty-gallon turtle tank (yes, a tank made especially for aquatic turtles) and the turtles are much happier with their new digs. After the move, I was left with the 10g tank. Well, obviously I had to put it to use! My son's science teacher was kind enough to offer Feeder Guppies (the kind that people buy to feed to other fish, etc.) to anyone who wanted them. My son brought home four of them for himself. Since he already had a small fish bowl to keep them in and didn't requre my 10g tank, I asked him to bring some Feeder Guppies home for me. He was happy to oblige and returned with nine fish for my 10g tank.

So how did the Feeder Guppies turn into Fancy Guppies? Was it magic? NO! As I said, I went to the pet store . . . But that's later in the story. :-) So I have nine Feeder Guppies. I begin to research Guppies online (I wanted more information) and discovered the wonders of Fancy Guppies. Now, if you don't know, Feeder Guppies aren't the most attractive things, but Fancy Guppies . . . Now those are beautiful fish! The websites I visited filled my mind with information and left vivid images of the gorgeous guppies in my brain. So I went to my pet store (to purchase more food for the turtles . . . And no, we don't feed them guppies) and there in the tanks were Fancy Guppies! Oh, the beauty, the wonder! I had to have some for my self!

I purchased two males and one female (after the sales clerk assured me the Fancy Guppies wouldn't devour my Feeder Guppies) and happily brought them home. The next morning, the female Fancy Guppy was sleeping with the fishes, and not in a good way (she was dead). I mourned as I flushed her (what did you want me to do, bury her in the back yard?) and after I dropped my kids off at school, I went back to the pet store to purchase another fish. This time, the sales clerk was kind enough to let me purchase one female and get two free (I think she felt sorry for my loss). So that brought the count to 9 Feeders and 5 Fancies. But was that enough? No!

The next morning, I woke to find baby guppies! Eight of them! Apparently, one of the new females was pregnant! I transferred the babies to a new container (the adults will sometimes eat the babies) and went shopping for a breeding net (so I could put the babies back in the tank and they would be protected from the adults) and some baby guppy food (yes they sell such a thing). Well, they had gotten a new shipment of fish! Could I resist? Nay, I could not. I purchased two more females and one male. I also purchased two smaller tanks (normally used to keep Beta in), one for my son to put his guppies in, and one for my oldest daughter because she wanted some guppies too! I brought everything home, set up the new tanks, took my Feeder Guppies from my 10g tank, gave six of them to my daughter, three to my son. Then, my youngest daughter decided she wanted some guppies (like I couldn't see that coming). So I took the small tank from my son, went out to the shed to retrieve his old Beta tank (I think it holds 1.5-2g), cleaned the tank, transferred his original four fish into the Beta tank, gave my youngest daughter three guppies in the smaller tank, put my son's baby guppies in the small fish bowl, and now everyone is happy.


So we have a lot of guppies (one of my son's Feeders had two babies)! I must say, I don't regret it (at the moment). The fish are beautiful and I love to be able to look at them as I pause in my writing. It is so relaxing! So, if anyone needs guppies . . . :-)

So, what have I done writing wise? Revised my query and used it as bait to catch an agent. So far, I haven't even had a nibble, but I'm hoping to catch one soon.

Adventures in Breakfast

So what did you eat this morning? I had a bowl of Rice Krispies. Now for those Rice Krispie purists out there (a purist being one who believes Rice Krispies should remain unadorned and unadulterated, thus they either eat their Krispies plain or allow only milk to contact their Krispies), please turn away, for I am about to divulge my warped and unpure way of enjoying my Rice Krispies.

I assemble the necessary tools (a bowl, a spoon, the box of Rice Krispies, the gallon of milk, and my secret ingredient) and set them on the counter. My secret ingredient goes into the bowl first, followed by the Krispies. The milk is then poured over the top and the spoon inserted. I lift a bite to my mouth and enjoy! :-)

If you are guessing my secret ingredient to be a fruit of some kind, you are correct. Is it Strawberry? Banana? Kiwi? Orange? What can it be? Well, don't think me strange (I threw in Kiwi and Orange as options to throw you off), but I prefer to add seedless, green grapes to my Rice Krispies.

This may sound odd, or even gross, but have you ever tried it? NO? Try it and then you can tell me how you like (or don't like) it!

So, what do you eat on your Rice Krispies? If you don't eat Rice Krispies, what do you eat? I think a person's food says a lot about them . . . not that I believe you truly are what you eat (or I'd be a walking bar of chocolate by now). :-) So what does my eating green grapes with my Krispies say about me? It depends on your point of view (the way you look at things, not the POV you write in). :-)

What do you think?