Ever get utterly, undeniably freaked out by something you can’t explain? It doesn’t happen very often, but it does, it socks it to you.

I enjoy my day job and I like it for the most part. I like what I do. The one thing that I never liked before I started it was the idea of going into people/strangers homes. After doing this for years, it no longer fazes me, expect for the occasional occupational hazard of mentally documenting and categorizing things in your friend’s homes you could care less about.

Anyway, back to my story. I opened the door of a house today that freaked me out. I cannot explain why, I don’t want to know why. But something about the place left me completely, utterly unsettled. The hairs on my arms stood on end, my head felt creepy crawly, my pulse is still racing and I wanted nothing more than to get the heck out of Dodge.

I don’t know that I’ve collected information I need quite so quickly (and I really hope the sketch closes – as in I got the measurements right). I just didn’t want to be there. Something bad happened there at some point I am certain. I don’t know, can’t explain how I know this but I do. And I don’t like it one bit…. Off to try and shake that creepy crawly feeling.

It’s that time of year RWA Nationals. And no matter how much I wish I was there (because I could really use a break from my real life about now, lol). I’m actually enjoying all the vast variety of workshops being offered online this week.

Playing ‘what if’ can get me into trouble. Okay not really, my life isn’t nearly that exciting. But ‘what if’ can eat away blocks of time. I get sidetracked very easily. And when it comes to writing ‘what if’ can eat away whole chucks of my actual writing time. I’m sure it has to do with my panster habits. I’ll be happily writing a scene and something will just pop into it. Usually it’s something previously undisclosed to me by the character. Something in their past, something they want, something that tells me a lot of things I really needed to know. Like in my WIP the heroine has this really crappy car, I knew she had it, I knew it wasn’t her first choice of a car, but I didn’t know why she had it. Until wham, bam, thank you ma’am, she dropped a previously - undisclosed to me - bit of pertinent information. Now I know. Of course that means weaving the reasons into the story, but that's the fun part. I just love it when a character finally discloses stuff I really need to know.

To have place where you can let your hair down and be yourself. No matter the emotion of the day. You can vent or rant or whine. You can celebrate or cheer. My point is you know where that place is for you. Sometimes it’s home, sometimes it’s a dear friend, sometimes it’s a group of friends.

More than likely it depends on what the issues are. Like the Cheers song sometimes you need…. To be  

Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name. 

What’s even better is when you get some direction out of your whine. Of course sometimes you just get cheese, but in the end you’ve still got your place… where everybody knows your name.

My last post about working at home leads into this one… well because in order to work at home I have to have a place to work. I have the standard desk, desktop computer, etc. But well… my office shares space with my laundry room, which in turn ends up being the storeeverythingthereisnootherplace for room.

Well I spent the better part of my weekend turning my office back into my space There’s plenty room for both since it’s a fairly large room, but I decided after working at home two days last week I had to deal with some of the stuff I’d been putting off dealing with. I did some, I still have a ways to go, but I made major progress. I can see the floor, which is a huge plus since I end up writing until my eyes are crossing some night this will make getting out much easier. I have lots of pictures hanging on the walls now, since I’m still dealing with some of my dad’s stuff and there were a lot of pictures of the kids, they brighten the room up a bit.

Still have more to go but made a dent. I unboxed three boxes of book and put them onto my huge bookshelf, problem is the shelves are so deep I’ve three books deep in some spots, still working on weeding through books. I know I have too many books, but my TBR selection is huge and keepers… well most of those are still boxed, but I did manage to make two shelves on a smaller bookshelf for some of those. sigh, at least I found a place to put work related books and research books, all it all it was a pretty productive weekend, of course not productive where I needed it to be in the form of firming up a workshop on dialogue, but um… well I have five days for that.

Well I know most full time writers work at home, but as they say you can write anywhere and I have found this is true for myself. I enjoy writing just about anyplace. Some of my most productive writing days are sitting at my desktop. But I have to say some days my alphasmart is my writing salvation. I wouldn’t write a word some days if not for it. It has a lot to do with the fact I have a young, active family. You know they expect food most days? <eyes a rollin’>. In all seriousness, the money I spent for my alphasmart was the best investment I’ve made in my writing. I bought it years ago before I ‘took a break’ but I use it much more now. I have turned it into a very productive tool for myself.

But that’s not the kind of work at home I’m talking about. My day job is pretty flexible, more than most. I do work on the road, because they sort of require you go out and inspection the houses you are appraising <g>. But to do the work, do the reports I have all the necessary equipment at home. And being a small office, we transfer our calls regularly when we are out in the field, therefore it is just easy to answer my cell phone at home as it is on the road (even more so). So I’m sort of in a transition right now. I plan to start working from home more and more. Today it just sort of worked out that way with the price of gas it was much better to do my nearby inspections and come home to do the reports. It made more sense.

An additional benefit? My family gets a cooked meal, my laundry is washed waiting for me to fold later, lol… All of that means I will get good, well deserved writing time tonight!  I have few classes and some paperwork to do and one more state certification test, but when all is said and done my goal is to work at home, doing appraisals and maybe writing for a real deadline!

I had a conversation with the oldest today. It’s summer and while she has day camp or some activity planned for almost everyday of the summer we have gone totally off schedule this year. She’s older now. A tween. Needless today I don’t plan on chunking down a small fortune to make sure her summer next year is filled to the brim with things to do.

Back to my debate. She’s spent some time with friends and family this summer and she mentioned there’s this really good show coming on tonight. You know a regularly scheduled program (okay I know it’s probably re-run season). Talking to her about this show and the show that follows – apparently another really good show got me thinking.

I told her, I guess these families/kids watch regular programs each week. She replied quickly – each day. Then she said – they’re TV people, not like us.

It made me a little sad at first. To hear her say this. Like we’re missing something. But that was just a gut reaction. The old, what am I depriving my kids of? Then she went on to say she likes the way we are, but sometimes it fun to watch regular stuff.

We do watch regular stuff. Some. Mostly we watch specific channels, not specific shows. Mostly we don’t watch much TV. It’s on in the background of our lives sometimes, other times not.

The youngest only gained interest in TV within the past few months. She still would rather talk with her dolls than watch a TV show.

The oldest has the standard array of other entertainment items. Ipod, video games, computer and of course cell phone. And there are shows on some channels she does truly enjoy. But not with any regularity.

To DH and I TV is not a priority, ever. There are seasonal shows I KNOW I would like, but I don’t have time or rather don’t make time to watch. I have avoided TiVo like the plague, because I know I could be pulled into a wide of array of must watches.

Writing in general has been on my mind this week, maybe because I haven’t done any? I had a hectic weekend and then was out a couple of days with other fun(not) stuff. But writing seems to stay on my mind anyway. It’s something that is there even when I’m not sure I want it to be. I think that must have some deeper meaning that I am willing to evaluate right now.

As loop moderator of my local RWA chapter loop I took it upon myself to issue writing challenges in early 2007. I was just resurfacing with the group and opening myself up to the idea of writing again, period. I had taken a long break, but regardless writing or stories rather were itching to get out. I thought I needed writing challenges and the group was excited to have something fun and writing oriented taking place on the loop. In April I posed a dialogue challenge offering several opening lines. I know for certain that three of the scenes written because of that issued challenged have helped to propel members interest in writing or helping move them forward. Mine did. I’m back to dreaming up writing challenges this week. I figure it’s time to issue a few.

I feel as if I at a stalemate. I have stories to write and tons of idea, but I guess I get overwhelmed sometimes. Waiting to be propelled into the right direction… and that my friends is as philosophical as I get.

My baby brother (he hates when I call him that, but considering he is many, many years younger than me it happens) is now officially engaged. He was a wreck for a week or so. Yes spur of the moment – sort of. Marriage had been discussed but the ‘perfect proposal’ opportunity presented itself. So after many lies, much stress – lies, ring, lies, flowers, lies, food, lies, accessories and more lies he is engaged. To a wonderful person who we already love dearly. Trust me, if she can put up with him she can handle our family J And considering the outcome the lies are easily forgiven.

The ha, ha funny thing about the whole ordeal – now that is over… my mother has these terms of endearment for her children see – I’m the liar (yes I have fixed this addiction by writing fiction) and my brother, well mom says lovingly – he lacks compassion. Sorry mom, we reversed rolls last week, but now we are back to our regularly scheduled lives.

Which brings me to WHEW! I’m glad to get back to a normal schedule. I never realized (until I was a mom) how much I crave schedules. Not that we follow them to the T but I like structure, which baffles me, since I tend to live mostly un-structured. My point is we made it through the holiday weekend and a minor medical thing and back to normal workdays, hours, day camp, etc. Yay!

 I guess we are doing the stay-cation for the 4^th. Actually family, friends, fireworks, fantastic food will all be included. Of course when you go to the store and spend upwards of $150 on JUNK and burn two tanks of gas to get where you’re going it almost feels like a vacation J Happy 4^th!

1. 1. Meet new people (okay only sometimes, but it’s nice).
2. 2. Easier to hash out details (of upcoming events) in person.
3. 3. A few hours in the company of adults who don’t want something from you (vs adults you work with/for_)
4. 4. Learn something new? Most of the time yes or at least a new method to try.
5. 5. Get excited about writing in general, maybe even brainstorm and idea or two J
6. 6. Share commiseration with others who understand the process.