I want to know if the economy tanks over water , does the country become a floatation device?

A few more sharp bumps and I should have my life landed on solid ground again. Thanks but I won't be flying Bushbama airlines again. Air Romania with chickens in the aisles is more progressive and definately friendlier. I am probably dating myself  but my response to all but 1 or 2 politicians is I know that they are lying because their lips are moving. (old joke). It doesn't mean that I will be living a high life but as we continue not to recover , and we haven't - no jobs=no recovery, what I have I own. Minimum wage does not count. And what exactly was the purpose of terrifying my 80 plus parents and still losing the credit rating?

People down here are pretty pissed and tired of being poor. Tired of not getting paid, tired of everyone not catching a breath and taking a step backwards when creditors call for their money. Ok, now that ACORN has been paid off with healthcare, can we please get serious? Its not that Americans won't do certain jobs- just not for ten cents on the dollar. We are going to do it ourselves. so why do we need them? Maybe as this thinkis supposed to be for and by the people, maybe the people whould look at revision. Federal retirement added to Social Security, reducing the pensions to the average pension of the majority of the constituents of the electoral district. Federal health care needs to join Medicare. Both Social Security and Medicare have had nonrelated loans conscripted from them. No privilege beyond the joy of service for public service. Bet you'de hear some screaming then.

On my writing, my vamps are well and alive on the West Coast just north of Berkeley for book 2 ( still not named) . Where the first book established conflict and characters , the second has more action as the Lillerics decide , after centuries, that they are through running from the children of Adam and Eve. Running has delayed not solve the problems that they are now experiancing. Technology is neutral and aids both sides. there are some new characters and , I hope, gives more insight into their society.
Unlike Charlaine Harris's vamps, they don't want their civil rights or recognition as a race. the idea of a Great Revelation as in True Blood , would horrify them . They want to be left alone. I did find, however , the idea of Craig's list as a take out menu appealing.

104 in 2011

There remains a little more than six months to 2011. I just finished my 20th book , and still flounder behind on reading the desired 104 books for 2011. Granted I started six weeks late and did take the time to read Breaking Dawn. I am determined to get as close to the 104 books as I can before the end of the year.

I was surprised by the authors that were read more than the others. I was so sure that Robert Bloch would do better but then I really got hooked on Lynsay Sands. I also started reading the Sookie Stackhouse books because I signed up with a Yahoo group to talk about True Blood. The comparisons between the books and the series got me focused on them.

Then there were changes in my life. We lost our major client at work . For about six weeks, I was afraid that I would lose everything. I am spending more time at work now as I finally got a new client. I qualify for overtime for the first time in four months. I would have expected to focus on my literary escape better than I did . All I did was worry myself sick. Sometimes real life insists on intruding. Right now I am not very fond of real life so am spending time once again in Bon Temps.

Goodreads.com sponsors the event , I believe that my pages are open to public, so please feel free to watch my progress. http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2511415. However I do, I am pleased with my progress and amd proud that I read (reportedly) more than the average American.

New movies that I want to see

http://www.ifcfilms.com/films/we-are-the-night We are the Night

http://www.ifcfilms.com/films/stakeland Stakeland

I don't see the point of seeing the remake of Fright Night. I like the old one. I admit it, Chris Saradon is hot.

And then there is the gentleman who may actually sell me that not all blondes are airheads.
Eric Northman from True Blood. True Blood returns on 6/26.

Building Book 2 -research phase

For those who have read Ceiling of Stars, which introduced my protaganist Arina and her chef husband , Henri - both are generic pagan Lilleric ( direct descendents of Lilith , Adam's first wife) , you may remember lesser characters , Rosie and Joshua Greenburg. Their daughter , Linda , is a wonderful brassy little girl who has no fear of any of her own, enough to capture the heart of the Copain's only son , Thomas.

I decided in book 2, at this point anyway. that it might be fun to expand their part in the series. So there will be some fun things in store there. I decided that Joshua should be Jewish (Reform) Both Judaism and Islam have a edict against the drinking of blood. But if the gypsies can be forgiven for stealing (allegedly for stealing the nail meant for Jesus's heart), then Joshua can be Jewish. He just has to stay away from the sciatic nerve and spine. And Rosie, a woman that Henri descibes with great admiration as having the "bones of the life down cold," has an interesting background. I used to be friends with a Reform family - okay I own it, my mother used to send me over to their house , where I was invited for dinner , because Rabbi would argue with me , where her minister was condescending - I don't do "on faith" even today.

As a reoccuring theme is that vampires can be anyone , if they are any good about it, they survive and you do not readily spot them, they can be anything. Religious artifacts have no power over them - they are not demons. I had great fun doing Ceiling and to keep my interest, it is necessary that the development in Book 2 ( as yet untitled) be a growth process as well, as I prep Ceiling for agent consideration.

Tornedos , Chapter Partners , and where do I get Henri's information.

We had tornedos yesterday in Middle Tennessee. They were bad enough that our bosses at work evacuated us to the basement of our building for about forty five minutes. I didn't see much damage until I went home last night. Madison Station , about 12 miles from Nashville , lost their power and several really old trees are gone. There was even a hole in the stone wall surrounding the cemetary where the trees used to be , which lies in the path of the fallen trees. We do know from the path of damage that it crossed Gallatin Rd and may have travelled up Briley ( a highway)-both major throughfares. I had lights when I got home and Rivergate ( Madison) was pretty okay .

Yesterday , my chapter buddy , Mariah , sent me the last of her YA novel, Blood Moon. Its a wonderful book and her help as been invaluable. I have sent her the last 5 chapters of Ceiling of Stars. Her help has been invaluable. There are many light moments in Ceiling but my vampires are predators. Read this as there are some really intense times as well. The two parts that I worried about most , she critted as if I were talking about baby Sophie tumbling over in her chair. It did not shock her. I wish her luck with her endeavor, it is a nice story. Having taught , it certainly is something that I would consider on a reading list.

Ok, I am not a chef though I love to cook. My mother is a retired home economist with a major in dietetics . So where do I get Henri's cheffie knowledge? Some of it is experiance, I have cooked all of my life and some of it is because I shop at a restaurant supply store (GFS) at least some of the time.
Add that to years of working restaurant, though I don't anymore, and you have it. The don't put your knives in the dishwasher basket advice was actual advice that I had recieved while shopping. So if you are looking for inspiration , you would be surprised where you will run into it.

So Ceiling is soming together nicely , Mariah's edits and comments have been valid. I am going to finish cleaning up the manuscript and stick it away for the next thirty to sixty days . Then I will reread it and see what changes need to be made. In the meantime, I have started writing the second one- this was always intended on being a series. There is no title yet but ,as I have been told that most authors fall down on book 2, I am working on keeping the concept of genetic vampires hiding in plain sight fresh. Interesting aside, the supervisor from the other department and long time friend saw an outline of a conversation held with Arina in her new location . Henri, though not perfect, doesn't commit most of the sins that human husbands routinely do. Leaving the seat up in the bathroom is common to both species. She wanted to know 1) if he were real and 2.) how you met someone like he and his father. I teased her and said " You don't care that he drinks Human blood about once a week do you? That people may die?" She was pretty much willing to over look the blood drinking if he would pick up after himself and help with the care of any kids (Henri is good about both.) She said that she had watched me write this thing for about two years and never once had I ever had Henri say that Arina needed to lose five pounds. Henri would be so pleased- he is competitive and likes to make Human men look bad. Sad part is if human men are capable of learning the same lessons , they are not doing it but then Henri is over 200 years old .

Nanoedmo - finished at 30 hrs 5 mins

It closed before I got home from work or I would have had 5 hours and 29 mins more.

Proud and Loud

Okay , I admit it - I think that this is a good idea. Thanks Lorelei!