Jax's Artistic Journey...

This must be a freak thing but in two days I've had problems with both service. First off, I got a package from HarperCollins and UPS did not leave me a sticker, did not attempt to contact me. It wasn't until almost two weeks later that I received a postcard from UPS that said to pick up my package by Feb. 14. Hello, it's Feb. 28th! I called to get my package and it has been shipped back to the owner! So I told them it was unacceptable and gave 'em hell so a manager is supposed to call me back. On the note in the system, the delivery person said there was no listing. Hello! It's on the freakin' buzzard that has my name and apartment number. Also, my address was clearly listed with apartment number in their system!!!!! Talk about incompetents! Jeez, leave it with the damn manager or something...

Now, as far as Fedex, I shipped two boxes at once and they managed to separate the boxes that says One of Two. C'mon, common sense should tell them there are 2 freakin' boxes. Not only that, the shipment was delayed 2 days when it should be OVERNIGHT... so I had them ship it back to me! At least they ended up reimbursing me on fees..but still!!!! These are two highly reputable companies.

Aaargh... I'm having a bad night. I'm going out to meet my vendor and drink up a storm. Maybe I shouldn't be making decisions while intoxicated. LOL

I hate bad days. It starts off like crap and the rest of the day tends to end in the toilet. Pardon the visuals. Well, I won't let it get me down. Eek!Tomorrow night the Amber Quill Contest will be revealed and then I'm scrambling to finish the Phaze contest entry. Then tonight I've got to create a 5X5 piece for a quilt that Romance Divas is auctioning off. It's going to be fun. Maybe I'll paint on fabric.

Anyways, there's a lot going on in all my friend's lives and I'm trailing behind.. Can I say publishing possibilities? I'll give the scoop when it's finalized.

I looked on my calendar and realized I don't have another 3 day weekend until May. Yep, it's going to be a long 3 months. Some days I want to pull the covers over my head and hide..sleep would be more adequate, but I don't know what that's like anymore. haha!

On a good note, I'm almost done with another client website and it really makes a difference to force the client into my company so I don't have to send and receive a hundred emails. Yep-still proud of myself for slowly getting it done. Slowly is the operative work as my arthritis has been killing me. That, and lack of time.

I should set up a "Feed Jax" fund so I can stay at home and write. Wouldn't that be something. "Aspiring artist and writer needs donations to keep her alive." That's a good headline.

It's the weekend and I'm hard at work on the Phaze Heat Surge contest. Yep, I'm gonna be writing away and putting current WIP on hold. I figured the best way to practice is to submit. I've been lazy about it but I think I ought to give it a whirl or I'd have to wait a whole year.

Last week I was pissed off when I was trekking to the subway station and as I walked across the parking lot I noticed someone throwing their trash in the bushes. I would have ran up and totally gave them a piece of my mind, but 1. they were two far away and 2. there were four of 'em and they looked pretty rough. Now, I'm not afraid of confrontation or getting into fisticuffs but when you know you're outnumbered, you're not stupid enough to try. So, when I did catch up with them I made a snide comment and gave them dirty looks. It made me feel better. What's up with people? There's like five trash cans around! Save the environment and drop it in the darn thing. I'm still enraged!!!!

I have a lousy HMO and I don't feel well. I've switched doctors 5 times in the last year and a half and now I have to switch again. Problem with HMO is that everything is specific and all the doctors who accept it usually overbook so they don't pay any attention to your ailments. They pat your hand, give you a fistful of prescriptions and send you on your way. Today, I'm looking for a new DR. I can't wait until I can change over to PPO. I don't care that I'm spending $400 extra a month on it just to get some good medical care. I need it.

I'm taking yoga. I've decided to attend classes with Lisa next month. Yep, I need to start doing it once a week with her and then take an additional class closer to me a couple of days a week. It's exciting. My apartment manager says we're getting a new gym. Heck, they should for raising rent 10%. I swear they raised my rent two months ago but I'm too tired to move. I like my little apartment and loft. It's cozy and I get a lot done. I'll be here another year or so unless I win the lotto.

Gosh, I need to start writing....

Romance Divas is excited to be bringing you 6 of the steamiest names in romance writing today.

On Feb 24th at 9pm EST, we’ll be chatting in our very own chat room with :

Sylvia Day

Ann Jacobs

Eve Lilas

Lauren Dane

Patrice Michelle

NJ Walters

Don’t miss it today! We’ll see you there!!

I love James Blunt!

I can listen to the song "You're Beautiful" every day and not get bored. I've set a soundtrack to listen to, just to get me in the mood while I work on my current project -- It totally helps! I get in the zone relatively quick and my writing simply flows. The characters are practically writing themselves.

Well, I'm truly bummed I missed James at the House of Blues on February 7th. That was when my father fell ill... Unfortunately, that is his only LA appearance for a long while. Sniff sniff.

I mostly listen to sappy Adult Alternative stuff..what gets you in the mood?

I am one to love a day off, but unfortunately I've spent the last 15 hours working on websites and a book cover. No writing done whatsoever...At least my book cover was approved, so I am officially official at Liquid Silver Books! Yay! It's an exciting thing to start something new and love what you do.

I guess all the stress is worth a little bit of accomplishments. I hope this week will fly by in the corporate world and I hope I don't screw up my taxes!

Hope you all had a great President's Day.. now I'm gonna go watch something lame like "Wife Swap: How it saved my marriage" -- LOL, exciting!

Darnit, tagged by Kristen

Guilty Pleasures:

1. Office supplies. Simply, I collect junk. I have bags and boxes of pencils, pens, stationary, stickers, post-its, staplers...you name, I've got it. I'm an office supply whore. Any chance I get, I pick them up at conferences, hotels, offices.... Then I don't use them..it's just having them in my possession comforts me. I do that with art supplies too!

2. Coffee. I can't exist without cappuccinos or lattes...if I don't get my fix I'm not so chipper. It's a drug, I tell ya! It makes me feel like it's my one real vice and I cannot quit for the life of me because I think I wouldn't be able to function without it. Have you seen my work load?

3. Catalogs. I horde furniture catalogs mostly. I'm preparing myself for when I purchase my house. I've got a good idea of how it'll be decorated, but it's always good to find more inspiration. My hubby thinks I don't know it when he throws them out, but I do! Now I stash them elsewhere.

4. Painting. Everything changes when you're forced to paint for an art show, but nowadays I'm not painting...but sometimes I sneak off and pull out the watercolors to do quick stuff. Getting my hands dirty makes me feel alive. The whole point of sneaking to do these things makes me feel naughty. Well, I should be painting because it pays a heck of a lot more than what I'm making now with three jobs!

5. Eating. I love food. I love it beyond anything else and I'm not talking just the drive thru and pick up kind. I'm talking gourmet, baby. Five star restaurants or hole in the walls offering entrees that make you melt even before you get it. If I were mega rich, I'd be found eating all the time. LOL I don't mind going all out for a good meal when I have it. There's this whole persona I take on when I'm at a fine dining restaurant. I weave this exciting tale in my head.. I'm a spy, a celebrity, a reporter.. I'm such a dreamer, but food indulgences are heavenly that way! Try it.

Tagging: Briana, Maria, Karen, Jenna

How pathetic am I if this is my song....

Your 2005 Song Is

Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day "My shadow's the only one that walks beside me My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating" In 2005, you bummed everyone out. Like you care.

I am now officially a staff artist for Liquid Silver Books.

It's going to be a lot of fun and I hope the experience will be a rewarding one. I've finally found a company that has the same vision I do on design and I'm glad that I have agreed to join their team.

Hurray for me!

Thanks to Barb... I have to do this....

current clothing: navy lightweight sweater, black slacks
current hair: chin length, jet black inverted bob
current mood: grumpy / sleepy
current refreshment: coffee, lots of it
current annoyance: being at work when I should be home writing
current avoidance: thinking / working
current smell: Aveeno daily moisturizing lotion
current thing you ought to be doing: sleeping
current thing or things on your wall: TPS Report / Initech memorandum (Go watch Office Space, maps, phonelist, holiday calendar, inspirational quotes
current IM/person you're talking to: my bosom buddy, Jesse on IM
current jewelry: wedding band and a square-cut pink sapphire on titanium setting
current book: Sweet Liar by Jude Deveraux, oldie but goody
current worry: bills / Valentine's plans
current favorite celebrity: Gerard Butler
current obsession: Anything Bronte for research on current WIP
current love: sweet hubby
current longing: full-time writing career in my pajammys and painting masterpieces in my art studio
current disappointment: not being able to attend RT this year / no vacation days
current lyric in your head: You're beautiful, you're beautiful, you're beautiful it's true. I saw your face in a crowded place and I don't know what to do, 'cause I'll never be with you...
current music: Back to Bedlam by James Blunt
current favorite book: Jane Eyre
current favorite movie: Pride and Prejudice / 2005 version
current wish: publishers clearing house
current happy thing: smell of paint on canvas
current undergarments: black laced thong & matching bra
current desktop picture: mandatory generic company wallpaper - Blah...
current plans for tonight/weekend: eating, writing, lots of sex, sleeping (repeat action for best results)


Who will I tag next? Briana, Sherice, Kristen, Lisa

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and I don't know where my hubby will be taking me this year. I expect a great surprise or else I won't give him his... LOL

For all you Romance Divas folks out there, we have great interviews up. Read the interview I had with our Author of the Month, Sylvia Day...

I also featured the fabulous TJ Jones from Mr. Romance in our Spotlight On segment.

There's a flurry of activities going on and I will have to say I'm estatic about the July RWA Conference in Atlanta. Kristen and I will be roomies once again. Although we didn't get the concierge room (which for the life of me I don't know how it filled up so fast...), I think it will be a lot of fun no matter what floor we're on. I've finally paid my dues and almost all caught up. I have so many chapters I'm with I can't remember them all. I still need to pay for the conference. Now, I need to save up for spending and fun...

I have been a busy bee. Book Two of my Ghosthunter is coming along great. Gothic novel is absolutely incredible and my web jobs are coming together. I may not be caught up yet, but I'm getting there.

Gosh, I'm spent just writing about this.. time to go to bed. Toodles.

Rejections: 6
Waiting for editor responses: 4
Possibility with re-write: 1

As I work on 3 projects simultaneously, I've come to the conclusion that I still haven't completely saturated the market with Ghosthunter. So, as I work on re-writes, I am drawing up another game plan...

I wrote 5 pages on Spirits of the Lost today -- the second book in the Vanquisher series. I am thinking dark, brooding, dangerous.

Whoops, need to re-focus on the gothic novel this weekend.

FLORIDA LIVING


This is a true account recorded in the Police Log of Sarasota,Florida...

An elderly Florida lady did her shopping and, upon returning to her car, found four males in the act of leaving with her vehicle. She dropped her shopping bags and drew her handgun, proceeding to scream at the top of her voice, "I have a gun, and I know how to use it! Get out of the car!"

The four men didn't wait for a second invitation. They got out and ran like mad. The lady, somewhat shaken, then proceeded to load her shopping bags into the back of the car and got into the driver's seat. She was so shaken that she could not get her key into the ignition. She tried and tried, and then it dawned on her why...For the same reason she did not understand why there was a football, a Frisbee and two 12 packs in the front seat...

A few minutes later, she found her own car parked four or five spaces farther down. She loaded her bags into the car and drove to the police station to report her mistake. The sergeant to whom she told the story couldn't stop laughing. He pointed to the other end of the counter, where four pale men were reporting a car jacking by a mad, elderly woman described as white, less than five feet tall, glasses, curly white hair, and carrying a large handgun.

No charges were filed.

MORAL OF THE STORY?

If you're going to have a Senior Moment, make it memorable.

I just got back from a week with my family in Orlando. Of course, it wasn't my original vacation plans...I had to hop a plane last Friday when I was told my father was hospitalized. Can't tell you how distressing it is living a zillion miles away from elderly parents-- it's easy to feel helpless. Thankfully, my father was lucky and survived the worst, but four nights of sleeping on a lumpy, leather recliner and eating take out food really got old. Jeez, I even got on a first name basis with the staff. LOL

Anyway, I hoped to get some work done and even lugged my laptop there. I tried writing, I really did, but it wouldn't come to me. So, I spent most of the time watching movies and entertaining my dad when he was coherent. It's tough seeing a parent look so fragile. It puts things into perspective.

Since my family doesn't have DSL, I couldn't get to my emails and by the time I did, it was in the hundreds! I tried answering a few, but ended up shutting off my email to worry about later. Right now I'm exhausted and still recovering from the trip. I can say, I had a lot of time to contemplate and strategize what I want for myself in five years.

Now, it's back to reality....

Sometimes you walk along this road called life. While you're taking a nice, long stroll, the weather is beautiful out, the sun shines bright and everything seems to be exactly as you'd want this day to become.. then as you move on past the colorful flowers in bloom you think the world couldn't get any better.. As you continue on, you're too busy smelling the fragrance of the flowers, you become absorbed in the immediate and stumble, tripping over a bump in the road. Soon, the clouds darken and rain pours, soaking you to the bone. This perfect day is not so perfect any more.

What do you do?

You stand under the rain...you think...you laugh...and you don't care you're cold and wet and you hope the weather clears.

There's a lot to think about these days. I've seen my fair share of rain clouds and I've been soaked a time or two, but I keep trudging on.