Many thanks to viirullinen for the reminder this morning! Here’s the next two chapters of Iditarod!

1080 words today, despite work and a nap. Gwen is marveling at her burgeoning friendship with Loomis, and discovering some of the physical damage that Riddick left behind.

I think I’m going to set my work day goal back to 500 words. While on day shift, I can’t seem to get the gumption to do any writing. At 500 words, it’ll be short and sweet. Besides, chances are good that I’ll whip out my goal and then decide to stick it out ‘just a little bit longer’ like I did this afternoon.

I’m going to remove the bandaging from my finger now. Give the wound some air. Bumped it pretty good at work today, but it didn’t break open. I think the homemade splint keeping me from bending the knuckle is doing a wonderful job.

2432 words for the day. Totally rocking.

I didn’t write on Thursday and Friday due to my downfall. Yes, I succumbed to Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. At least it only took a day and a half to read. (Damned work kept getting in the way!)

Cut the hel out of myself this morning. It’s been about 22 year since I learned my lesson about trash cans. You know the one . . . don’t force things down in the garbage because of can lids sticking up at odd angles? Yup. I hope this means it’ll be another 22 years before the next time. Still have the scar from that last one. Two fingers down, six more and two thumbs to go!

2323, a nice round number. . . LOL!

Chapter fifteen of Orphan Maker is complete, with major angst and mystery for the two MCs. And chapter fourteen of the new and improved version of On Azrael’s Wings is complete with new scenes as the Third Army makes its way into the city of Diosa to be billeted at the governor’s barracks.

I’m now off to run errands and see about buying a network hard drive to story files on . . . my Mac hard drive is almost bursting since I got my iPod . . . I need more storage now!

After writing my one thousand words yesterday and doing chores and the like, i became unaccountably bored. For some bizarre reason, I opened up On Azrael’s Wings and spent the evening reading through my edits (which stop at chapter fourteen.) Got a wild hair this morning and have already completed 1169 words on that novel.

Cool.

Now I still have a thousand words to go on Orphan Maker. I definitely want to finish the next chapter. I don’t know if I’ll continue writing today or begin reading Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Choices, choices!

But once I got past the first four or five paragraphs, I warmed up. 1052 words written, equaling one scene and half a chapter. Not sure what’s happening next. I’m already in uncharted waters in that I hadn’t planned this scene. (That makes about five scenes that have organically grown into the novel from my original outline.) I expect there to be further shuffling in the outline, as well, since the next projected scenes aren’t conducive to keeping up the mystery and conflict. Hel, they might end up deleted altogether.

In any case, Gwen has offered to answer questions about Riddick for Loomis. Loomis is showing an uncharacteristic hatred for the man, shocking Gwen with the sheer depth of the feeling. She’s so surprised that she’s forgotten to ask Loomis what Riddick ever did to her to cause the loathing. (And when she does ask, she’s going to find a brick wall.)

On the medical front, I’m due in on the 16th for another cortisone shot – this time in the right elbow. My elbows are giving me problems, true, but my rheumatologist saw swelling there that I didn’t. I also had a gallon of blood removed for tests and x-rays taken of my hands, feet, and the elbow in question. I’ll find out on the 16th if there’s any lasting damage anywhere (which I really think my feet may have) and I’ll ask him then for any work restrictions in that regard.

1210 words this morning. Chapter fourteen is finished. It’s, by far, the longest chapter at over three thousand words.

Loomis has finally heard the rumor that Riddick made it to the city and told this particular bunch of kids abuut the township. Did he tell them more than just that? What do they know? And Gwen now wonders about Loomis’ very extreme response. What could cause it? What history does Loomis have with Riddick, anyway? And how come Loomis is so familiar with this little dime piece from another homestead?

Jealous and curious . . . Gwen’s looking for answers, now.

I live.

Rheumatologist appointment this afternoon. Going to see about changing my meds. My eyesight is getting a bit worse (at least enough for me to notice) and that’s one of the side effects of the drug I’m on. Also going to see about another cortisone shot for my foot.

Writing’s been . . . slow. Just haven’t had time, it seems. My bad, since I’m the one who has to make time. Instead I’ve been keeping up on the chores and doing the odds and ends tasks that pop up after a move. A few days ago I got in about 800 words on Orphan Maker. That chapter’s almost finished. I have a few hours alone this morning while the wife goes to work – I’ll see how much I can get written.

I’m kind of getting nervous about Orlando Bardcon now. I agreed to do the Sunday breakfast thing and a reading. It’s suddenly occurred to me that I’ve never done a reading before. * gulp * Top that off with hearing loss and my comfort levels fall way off. I can’t gauge how loud I am and I’m usually accused of mumbling. And if there are Q & A sessions afterward, will I even be able to hear what’s asked? YIKES!

Then there’s the whole issue of what to read! * shiver *

And here’s something for you patient readers out there . . . chapters twenty-three and twenty-four of the Iditarod tale. Next week will begin the actual race! YAY!