1. Edits are back to the editor on Another Night Another Dream! Weren't too bad. I added a scene to the story, which I really like. Still waiting to hear on Blood Lines. It needs a name!

2. Haven't gotten far at all in the office reorganization but...I'm getting new vinyl in my bathrooms and kitchen. I can't wait. It will actually be shiny instead of dull! Of course, I'm sitting here now in hammer/saw central (on Thursday) and we had to move all of the furniture out of the kitchen so the entire house is a wreck. LOL. The kitchen table is in the living room. I think the kids want to keep it in there so they can watch TV at dinnertime.

3. Okay, who watched After the Catch? Edgar. Oh my goodness. I melted. It was so sweet. Deadliest Catch was good, too. Another Time Banditless episode though. Now the Northwestern had to go through ice.

4. I read Charley's Web by Joy Fielding. Wow. I stayed up way too late last night (1 AM). And got up this morning to find more books by Fielding. I have a reading goal of 10 this summer and am only at 2 so far. :( it'd be a shame for me not to go do something special for not meeting my summer reading goal.

5. Speaking of books, the youngest likes audio books. We had listened to a couple of Magic Treehouses. She was looking for a Stink book and they only had it in audio book. We listened to that and Judy Moody Saves the World. Next up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Bonus: We volunteered at the SPCA on Tuesday. If you're on the lookout for a cat, now would be a great time to adopt a new buddy. The SPCA was overrun with cats and little kittens, and I know a lot of shelters are having that issue right now. No, we didn't take anything home. We erm *whispers* thought about it.

May the muses have cats
Mechele

1. I'm almost done. I hope to be able to write done by tomorrow. It's topping off at about 70 K, which is about where I wanted it to be. Next week, a flurry round of proofreading and editing. I want to submit before I leave on vacation.

2. I blogged at Authors of Erotic Romance (for the first time, yay! me) on Tuesday. It's a super group of erotic romance authors. I blogged at Trampy Vamps today, too.

3. We have all four come down with summer colds. Yuck. I guess the family who sneezes together, stays together? Needless to say this made our first week of summer break...grumpy.

4. I broke my Twitter application on my Iphone. I broke my computer. The hubby is wondering what else I can break. A friend suggested a wake for the computer...I like that idea! LOL.

5. I read Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamilton. The last quarter was...odd. But I liked the book overall. I saw a review pointing out a squick factor and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I see on the one hand the point but Anita wasn't really conscious per se. Little torn there. I did love the book up to the end. Edward is in it and thank God I don't think she'll ever sleep with him. It would ruin the entire relationship IMO. Heh heh, I've logged my first book of the summer reading goals. Go me!

May the muses have reading goals
Mechele

As I do every year, I'm going to post my goals to summer. Sometimes I get to them. Sometimes I don't. Sometimes I find other things to become goals I didn't even know about when I wrote this. I will post in late August/early September about how we did on meeting the goals.

1. Write. Oh yeah, deadline of July 1st. Gotta get that manuscript turned in. I'm aiming for June 28th.

2. Go to the library. My girls have signed up for the summer reading challenge and I'd really like them to make and meet summer reading goals. I'd love to spend a lot of time at Twin Hickory. I love our library :) I think I'll set a reading goal too...and I've signed up for the adult summer reading programs.

3. Go to Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens a lot. They have an exhibit, Butterflies Live that I'm chomping at the bit to go see. They also have water play on warm days and as I'm sure gymnastics practice will be in the heat of the afternoons and Lewis Ginter is close by....

4. Go to Busch Gardens. The youngest wants to grow 2 inches by the end of summer to ride all the coasters. I'd like to go there 3 or 4 times this summer.

5. Spend time at pools. Yes, we'd like to sit poolside. Although, considering my oldest's burn rate already, indoor pools maybe better for us.

6. Go on vacation with the family. We'd like to go to Hershey *Grins*.

7. Travel to Washington DC to attend the Passionate Ink Nationals Luncheon. I'm excited about this. Little nervous about the travel (Northern VA...ughhh) but hope I make this one.

8. Write some fun stuff. I've been working my butt off on submissions. After Blood Lines is done, I'd like to do a few fun writing things.

9. Spend time with my mother in law and with my sisters. Have been missing them.

10. Walk the dog daily. All the rain and the schedule has left her wanting in the walk department. I'd like to institute a family walk daily.

11. Volunteer at the local SPCA.

12. Just hang out. Not have anywhere to be. Chill at the house with no plan. (I say that now...but after a few days, the kidlets will be fighting I bet and I'll wonder why nothing is going on LOL).

13. Find fireworks on the 4th.

We'll see what I do and don't do.

Mechele

Geeks of the world unite! For some reason, I love this video. Jonathon Coulton music. Geekdom advancement. What could be better than that?

Happy Memorial Day! To all who have served, you have my thanks.

I'm writing writing writing. Trying to hit that deadline and make it sing *G*.

Did watch the season finale of Dollhouse. Really good. They've been renewed so there will be a second season. Should be interesting.

Both of my girls got good news Friday and Saturday. Made for a good weekend.

May the muses have good weekends
Mechele

at MSPOT with Marissa Alwin and Melissa Lopez at 9 PM EST.

http://ping.fm/rteny

Yeah, I know I missed blogging yesterday. I'm writing like a maniac. Wrote 3 K yesterday. I need to get going today....

I did blog at Trampy Vamps today on what I've been reading and human monsters.

http://ping.fm/l8sgI

May the muses have vampires
Mechele

A day early....

1. Field Day is Friday with the youngest (hence the day early). It should be a lot of fun. Races, tug of war, jolly ball. And I get to do it all over with oldest in a week :).

2. Writing is struggling along. I wrote a scene that I knew didn't work and it took me two days to figure out why. But I did and fixed it! I'm aiming for 2 K or more a day and so far...not hitting much more but am hitting the 2 K.

3. Big Bang Theory had their season finale. LOL now I have to wait all summer to find out what happens.

Deadliest Catch is gearing up for the end of King Crab season. I really wonder what's going to happen with Phil Harris. Will he ever go back out as captain?

4. Checked out Scream for Me and Kill for Me by Karen Rose from the library. Haven't started them but really looking forward to reading them. Even if Die for Me did haunt me a bit.

5. So my county is going through redistricting. It's been getting heated as everyone has plans they like. On Wed night I went to a meeting on it. I had to cheer. One guy used the example of a 8th grader, Chuck who just worked up the nerve to talk to the little red haired girl to make his point. *G* Peanuts is everywhere!

May the muses have jolly ball
Mechele

The big news: Settle's Mine 5: The Man has been accepted by Loose Id! I'm thrilled.

Other big news: Settler's Mine 2: The Lovers is coming out in print. Soon. Like probably available in a couple of weeks. *does a snoopy dance*

I'm now the mom of a 10 year old. Hard to believe. And she got something noisy for her birthday. LOL I need earplugs to write now when she's home.

One thing I had to do when I got back from RT is done. The other will be done as of tomorrow. Now the waiting game begins. *sigh*

Now I must write like there is no tomorrow. And when you have a July 1 deadline...there really isn't. Blogging will probably catch as can for the next two months.

Hugs
Mechele

Saturday was the day of the big book signing. That I was to be sitting by Lori G. Armstrong at. *G* I had several books to be signed by her.

The day started out with breakfast and I snuck into the ball room where the signing was to peek. There had been doubts at first as to whether I could sign on Sat. So to see my books there was a big relief. I snapped a picture and got escorted out. LOL troublemaker.

Came back when it was time and got settled in my spot. Went to find Megan Hart and Lauren Dane to get get books signed and wound up buying their jointly written book.

Settled next to my neighbors. Adra Steia (who is also Ash Arceneaux) had sat next to me at the ebook expo. And of course there was Lori *G*. I had a lot of fun sitting next to her. We talked about stuff and she signed a bunch of books for me. I bought two of her Lorelei James' titles. Mary Stella came by and snapped a picture of both of us.

I met so many people at the booksigning. I promised promo to some and promised to look into signed bookplates for someone (I'm working on it! I swear!). Had a lot of neat things happen, including selling out of both Dinah's Dark Desire and Settler's Mine 1: The Rivals and only having one copy left of Secrets of Seduction II.

The signing was awesome. There's no other word for it.

Afterward, Mari and Melissa and I went to find something to eat. We came back for the Mr. Romance Competition which was cute. Then readied ourselves for the Dorchester party. Sam *sniffle* had to fly out so she left us.

Went to Dorchest and hung out for a while, then retired to the bar.

Melissa had to be up at *sigh* 3:50 AM to catch a 4:30 shuttle to the airport. So Saturday turned into Sunday very quickly.

Mari and I hung out most of Sunday together at the hotel and then at the airport.

I'm a little sad that RT is over because I did have such a great time. I met so many people and enjoyed myself. I had a great time hanging out with friends, both old and new.

Now, I have so much to do! LOL. I have some things that cropped up from RT and I also have a deadline of July 1st.

May the muses have busy times
Mechele

Now I could relax LOL. My nervous times were over and done with.

My hubby called with a question first thing in the morning so the roomies and I woke up to Pour Some Sugar on Me. LOL

I did Club RT Friday morning, ran into my friend Ann and chatted with her for a bit.

Hit promo lane again. Attended a couple of publisher spotlights.

Went to the Harlequin 60th anniversary and had mashed potatoes in a martini glass. That was interesting.

Attended the Agent panel, which was pretty good with information.

Had to miss the editor panel due to an obligation. Thanks to Jane from Dear Author who twittered the whole time. While I was waiting, I was reading her tweets. Jane, you took very good notes! I appreciated it.

Had a snack with Melissa, Sam, Mari, Trista and Lynn. Then we got ready for the vampire ball.

The skit Heather Graham and the group did was very good. We laughed a lot and it had a lot of interesting music.

When dancing began, we ended up sitting with Lynn, Trista, Eileen and Brooke. We did a lot of table dancing.

Mari and Melissa ended up getting a centerpiece...a creepy centerpiece.

We shut down the party and had a now customary drink at the bar.

Mechele

Attended a panel on epublishing myths, which was good. Had an appointment, which was another cause of my nervousness but went well. We will see what happens with it.

Oh! On Wed, I met up with Mary Stella, a good friend, and Beth Ciotta. Beth just got a puppy and I have serious puppy envy! LOL.

Off and on, I went to help set up for the faery ball and also attended the mandatory practice. Realized I would be FIRST introduced. *gulp*.

Went back to the room and got into my faery dress. It was beautiful. I wore the hood and the wings and just adored it. My MIL rocks!

I had chosen to be picked up via golf cart because several others in my building were being picked up. I walked out and a golf cart picked me up...apparently the wrong cart as they called the room looking for me later. Yes, in my faery dress, wings, and hood, I got a lot of strange looks riding in a golf cart to the convention center. LOL.

Had a quick picture session, realized we would be eating on stage and *gulp* I was sitting right next to the stage edge.

The skit that Mark Johnson did was very cute, then he introduced all of us. I didn't trip or fall! Yay me. Sat very carefully next to the edge. Ate very very carefully so as not to drop anything on my dress.

Went out to the floor to dance after faery court obligations were done. They played my favorite song *G*. Apparently Mary Stella told them to *G*.

I shut down the Faery ball and helped to clean up. Walked back to the bar and had a quick drink with Melissa and Mari.

Next Fri and Sat.

Mechele

Thursday started with Melissa and I leaving Mari in bed for some more slumber LOL while we went to the Loose Id breakfast. And it was awesome. About 20 Loose Id authors in the same place is a grand thing.

Treva Harte was gracious as always and fun to talk to. I also talked to Lynn Lorenz some more along with Jianne Carlo and Adrianna Dane.

I dashed to my spot in Club RT and had some fun talking there. Got a bunch of entries for my basket! Whoo hooo. Refilled my post it notes and snagged some neat looking items from promo lane. Got quite a few ideas for promo I can do down the road LOL.

Mechele, next up a basket case emerges

Got up Wed and found some breakfast. I took over my postits for promo lane and my giveaway for Club RT.

Attended a wonderful panel on being 10 places at once (promotion). Got quite a bit of information from that panel.

I also participated in a panel on Putting the Men in Menage with Trista Ann Michaels, Samantha Kane, Liddy Midnight, Lacey Savage. We really had a wonderful time discussing both m/m/f and m/f/m menages, what to do and what not to do. Went well I thought.

The Ebook Expo came and I had a good time sitting and talking to people coming by. Gave away 25+ excerpt CD's and 25+ Book Worm Bags.

Treva Harte popped by with Loose Id tattoos and Anne Douglas came by to say "Hey!"

We had a quickie dinner, I think with Ann (my days are running together, it might have been Thurs I had dinner with Ann) and then onto the Ellora's Cave Jungle Fantasy party. I was announced as Melany Logen and escorted across the stage by a model. I didn't fall so was good LOL.

I didn't stay late because the Faery Ball was the next day and I was very nervous about my day on Thursday.

May the muses have good times
Mechele

PS on Tuesday I met the incomparable Lyn Cash! I was so thrilled to see her face to face.

Blogged at TRS Blue yesterday http://ping.fm/iBsfW