My sister-in-law Amelia has expressed grave disappointment that I haven't been blogging. So here's a quick catch up:

THE MOVE TO CALIFORNIA:  We're still working on fixing up the house.  We've BEEN doing this for weeks and months.  Everything takes longer than I ever imagined.  I've finished painting the kitchen, but afterward I had a case of vertigo so haven't been able to do any work that requires ladder climbing or bending over or looking up, which pretty much rules out everything.

But I'm gradually improving.  I've been getting ready for Christmas, though, instead of working on the house, and generally being a bum.

We made an offer on a house but couldn't come to terms with the seller, so we're still looking. 

WRITING:  As you can see from above, THE PREGNANCY SURPRISE is on the shelves!  I'm working on a YA paranormal book that started out as something really light and simple and has gradually gotten dark and complicated.  I'm not sure if I've gone in the right direction.

WEAR-A-NOTE:  My handmade notebook necklaces are now called Wear-A-Note.  I might have mentioned this before, but I had to change the name for trademark reasons.  But the product is exactly the same, and I am still selling them at http://karalennox.etsy.com.  I've also gotten into selling a few vintage items.  If you look at the top of my blog, you'll see I've joined two .ning networking sites: My Handmade Registry, which is a gift registry where you can make a wishlist of handmade gifts, and Vintage Village, for lovers of all things vintage.

OTHER STUFF:  Went for a walk today to buy packing tape, then go to the post office.  But they closed at noon on Christmas Eve, can you believe it?  We stopped at Scary Jerry's for a few grocery essentials (I'm making scalloped potatoes and salad for tomorrow).  Then we made another trip by car to Walgreens and the main post office.  Whew, glad that's done.

That's pretty much my news.  Hope you are having a safe and happy holiday, wherever you are (even if this isn't a holiday for you!)  Travel safe, hug your loved ones a bunch, and relax. 

I'll check in again soon,

Kara

This weekend, Dec. 20-21, I'm a guest author on Vicki Batman's "Books and Stuff" blog.  Please join me.  You can ask questions or make comments, and I'll be checking in periodically to respond.

Here is the link: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com 

Several of the Etsy Dallas members contributed their gorgeous artsy, crafty handmade goodies to be used as a give-away as a promotion for our 1st ever Jingle Bash!  I'm a member of Etsy Dallas, and I'm selling my Wear-A-Note Notebook Necklaces at the Jingle Bash, but I didn't donate an item for the Swag Bag mostly because I've been overwhelmed and missed the deadline.  But lots of my clever artsy friends donated their cool stuff.

Want your chance to win over $270 worth of handcrafted goodness? Hop on over to Funky Finds and get all the details…..

Win Jingle Bash Swag

This is what you have the chance to win….
* Dowdy Studio (http://DowdyStudio.etsy.com): Original Owl silk screened tee (retail value, $25)
* Pamela Michelle (http://PamelaMichelle.etsy.com): Art print (retail value, $35)
* Tefi Designs (http://www.TefiDesigns.com): Juicy Fruit Necklace (retail value, $32)
* Patti Haskins (http://PattiHaskins.Etsy.com): Stuffed Drawing-Flying Dog (retail value, $20)
* Bijoujuju (http://Bijoujuju.etsy.com): ‘Treelightful’ polymer pendant (retail value, $11)
* Karma Crochet (http://KarmaCrochet.etsy.com): Wool Headband in Red shades (retail value, $20)
* LolaFalk (http://LolaFalk.com): The Lola Mini-Zip Pouch (retail value, $22.00)
* MiaMaria Designs (http://MiaMaria.Etsy.com): “Calavera” craft apron (retail value, $24)
*Michele Cook Designs (http://MicheleCookDesigns.Etsy.com): Copper & Blue bead earrings (retail value, $15)
* Cut Out & Collect http://cutoutandcollect.com): Japanese Linen Scooter Pouch (retail value, $15)
* Freeforged Jewelry (http://freeforged.etsy.com): Ionic-Sterling silver molecule post earrings (retail value: $16)
* Starrydance (http://StarryDance.etsy.com): Lucky Cat necklace (retail value, $12.00)
* Designing-Diva (http://Designing-Diva.com): Pink Fused Glass Guitar Pendant (retail value, $25.00

August was the last time I updated my webpage.  I used to update it daily. ::sigh::  But today I finally put up my new cover, a new picture and a new quote.  I know I should launch a new contest but I just don't have the energy right now.  I am consumed with home renovation.  Today I made another pilgrimage to Home Depot to return stuff that didn't fit/didn't work/didn't match and buy new stuff.

I was looking at light bulbs, and I pulled one package off the shelf that was open.  A lightbulb tumbled out, and bounced about three times before finally breaking.  Everyone stops and stares--it's so embarrassing!  Then I had to stop for groceries--that, or we would have to go out for breakfast again tomorrow because we were out of Silk AND Half-and-Half.  I must remember--never go to the grocery store between 3 and 6 p.m. on a weeknight.  I waited in line for 20 minutes, I kid you not.  The first line I was in, the cash register broke just when it was almost my turn, so I had to get in another line and wait again.  (But there was a very cute baby ahead of me in line, so I entertained her and myself during the wait.)

I got no NaNoWriMo pages written today, but I did write my Romancing The Blog post, which will run on Wednesday.  I talked about NaNoWriMo.  I also worked on my notebook necklaces a bit.  Finally did a new listing at Etsy.  If you haven't checked out my Etsy shop, it's here: http://karalennox.etsy.com.  This is where I now sell the product formerly known as Memo-Pause.

I'm going to bed.

Thanks for listening to me whine,

Kara

Oh, my achin' back!

The upstairs floors are finished, but still drying.  We can't move back into the bedroom until Wednesday.  I will be soooo glad to give up the sofa bed!  It is miserable.

Now I'm painting the downstairs bathroom.  Should have been a simple job, just an itty bitty room.  With really bad looking paint and two louvered doors that are a bitch to paint!  The whole room is primed and the ceiling is done.  today I finished the trim, though a couple of places need a second coat.  That means tomorrow I get to do the fun stuff--painting the walls!  That's when the room really takes shape.  Maneuvering a ladder in that tiny room isn't easy, lemme tell ya.

My handyman won't be able to help me for a while--his mother is dying and he is with her.

As for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writers Month) I don't hold out much hope that I'll finish the 50,000 words, since I only have about 7,000 right now.  It's been hard!  I am blogging about it at the Harlequin American Authors blog, http://har.blogspot.com, tomorrow (Tuesday).

I am so ready for bed.  It's raining cats and dogs and I'm just going to lie in bed and listen to it.  Mmmm.

Thanks for reading,

Kara

Some other stuff that's going on with me:

1) Remember Memo-Pause, my notebook necklace business I launched earlier this year?  Well, apparently I was infringing on a trademark.  As a result, I've had to change the product name and take down my website.  Instead of putting up a new website, I'm selling the notebooks strictly on Etsy.com--at least until the house is done and I have my life back.

If you are interested, check out my Etsy shop:  http://karalennox.etsy.com.  Oh, the product is now (tentatively) called "Wear-A-Note."

2) I finally finished painting the entry way today.  I might have a bit of touch-up left to do, but the worst is over.  I even scraped all the windows today, took up the masking tape, re-installed curtain rods and other hardware.  This weekend:  we're refinishing floors upstairs!  Nasty, nasty work.

3) I registered for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).  So, from November 1-30, my goal is to finish the book I'm working on, the sniper book, or write at least 50,000 words.  God knows how I'll do it with all the other stuff going on, but I'll try.

4) I've turned into a horrible lump.  With my shoulder injury, I stopped doing yoga and bicycling.  Now the shoulder is completely healed, but I lost the habit and I'm having a hard time getting back into either activity!  I'm not walking as much, either, because Rob isn't home as much to nag me.  (He's teaching/directing/playing a lot of bridge these days.)

5) I have a new book coming out in December, an American Romance called THE PREGNANCY SURPRISE.  I've been too lazy to post another cover, but I will some time soon.

That's about it!  Don't know if I"ll keep up the blogging; I just haven't felt like it lately.  Maybe I'm depressed, or maybe I just haven't had enough going on to talk about.  (Not that that stopped me in the past; if I had a boring day, I reported what I ate for dinner or whatever.  Speaking of which, had nice blackened salmon for lunch today and black bean nachos for dinner.)

Thanks for reading,

Kara

I know, it's been eons since I blogged.  Things have been a bit hectic.  First my niece's wedding, then a trip to California, and then the momentous decision:  Rob and I are moving to California.  But first we have to sell our house, so I've been busy doing all the necessary repairs and renovations.  That means painting, and painting, and painting.  Lots more to go.

I just wanted to blog about a funny experience we had this evening.  We tried a new restaurant that opened right around the corner from us. It's an upscale Mediterranean style restaurant, and we didn't realize it was so fancy (previous restaurant in that spot was casual). So we were a bit underdressed, but the owner seemed so pleased to see us! We wanted to order wine, but they don't have their liquor license yet, but that was okay. About midway through the meal the owner said he would serve us a complementary glass of wine--he had sent his wife home to their house to bring their own personal wine because they wanted us to be happy!

Then the owner sat down at our table and drank wine with us and told us his entire life story. We declined dessert, but the owner was so anxious for us to try his dessert that he told the waiter to bring some cheesecake and berries, and then some fried bananas, and did we want coffee? We were there for at least two hours. I have no idea why he took such a shine to us, since we were dressed like street people. Oh, and the food was delicious.

This restaurant is the owner's dream.  He had so much passion for it, he wanted to tell us how he prepared every single dish and what his philosophy is.  I hope he succeeds.  Running a restaurant is such a hard business.  Dreams are such powerful things.

Thanks for reading,

Kara

I'm leaving early tomorrow morning for Los Angeles to visit family and friends and go house-hunting!  Can't wait.  Depending on what I find, when I get home Rob and I will make a final decision as to whether we should move west.  But already, I'm starting to think about screenwriting again.  I made the decision to give it up and focus on novels, but I've really missed it.

American Airlines has canceled my flight and re-scheduled me twice already.  I was supposed to leave tonight; now I'm not leaving until the morning.  The good news is, I won't have to drive at night in L.A. (I have crap night vision).   Good thing I don't have any pressing appointments tomorrow morning!

I'm taking the laptop with me, so I might blog from the road.

Thanks for visiting,

Kara

Rob is spendinga lot of time teaching bridge these days; when he's not here I turn into a slug.  I'm still working on the sniper book and also brainstorming a new idea that came to me while I was driving, and I am critiquing Rob's werewolf-bridge book.

I received line edits in the mail today so I guess I'll be doing those tomorrow and/or Friday.

I bought a different kind of bird seed for the wild birds, and today I had a chickadee convention in the back yard.  There must have been six or seven of the little guys.  I was harvesting some lettuce from my garden, which is right by the feeder, and when I turned around they were all over the feeder and not much afraid of me!  I just stood there watching them for a few minutes.  They move faster than the speed of light.

Thanks for reading,

Kara

After all the years I've been faithfully blogging almost every single day, I seem to have gotten out of the habit.  But here is the catch-up:

I am waiting for the insurance company to decide if they're going to give me any money for a new roof.  We have hail damage, apparently.

My serial killer book, IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, is now with four publishers.  Finally.  This book has been in the works for years, so I will be disappointed if it doesn't sell.  But I am working on a new book, the SNIPER book, and I am waiting for my agent to give me feedback on the first 100 pages.  I thought her input on the other book was so valuable, I wanted advice while this one is still in formative stages.

Memo-Pause is percolating right along.  After a dismal summer, sales have picked up, so that has been keeping me busy.

Last weekend I drove to Iowa to attend my niece's wedding.  It was outdoors in the backyard of the groom's parents, and it turned out just beautiful!  They put so much work into it.  I also got to see my sister and my cousin Tommy, whom I don't get to see very often.

On the way to and from Iowa, I stopped in Kansas City to visit Carla Cassidy, and OH did we have fun!  We can just sit and talk for hours and hours and never run out of stuff to say.  And that's what we did.  On the way home, my front bumper tried to fall off.  It was flapping in the wind, and I found a gas station and called Triple A to come tow me--I didn't think it was safe to drive the car.  I had visions of hte bumper flying off and coming through the windshield, or causing an accident behind me.

But while I was waiting for Triple A, this very nice biker overheard that I was going to be stranded in Orlando, Oklahoma (I have no idea if they even have a motel) and he took pity on me and jerry-rigged the bumper so I could at least get back to Dallas.  I drove very slowly and made it home that night, and the next day I took it to the Starkey brothers, who put it back together with duct tape and bailing wire (I'm not exaggerating much).  And they didn't even charge me.  We'll see if it stays on!

That's all the news that's fit to print!

Thanks for visiting,

Kara