The rumours of my demise

OK, so there haven't been any rumours. (Unless you're reading my blog, in which case you have good reason to wonder if I've curled up my toes and am just getting greener and fuzzier by the day.)

But in case you were wondering why I haven't been on IM much, or written the next chapter of my latest Sweiss story "A Man of His Word" or the promised sequel to my non-fluffy H/G fic "Endings and Beginnings" (or, if you're really a sucker for punishment, you could ask what happened to "The Artifact" or even "Incarnations", but I'd really rather you didn't, because it's just too embarrassing that I can't seem to finish crossovers), let me tell you what's going on in my life this month:

I have a half-hour concert on Sunday night. Eight songs. And my singing partner and I still need at least one more practice. (We also need a name for our duo, because it's pretty clunky always being billed by our full names, but it's too late to change the flyer or the signage for this particular concert now.)

I have to get our church choir into shape for a concert at the end of August, including learning a couple of new songs and putting together a piece for a trio. I started coding the trio song into Noteworthy Composer last night, so I could break it up and make MIDI files of the various parts for us to learn -- and then the power went off and I lost the entire alto part. Wah!

We are in the process of deciding (probably this week) whether we're going to build a house. Which means lots of discussion and looking at diagrams and talking to the builder, etc., etc.

I'm betaing yahtzee63's latest epic, which is wonderful and I don't begrudge the time a bit, but if I want to get it done I need to stay away from other online distractions as much as possible. (Unfortunately I'm not doing such a good job of that, as you can tell.)

There's going to be a bunch of graphic design work coming in soon, which I will then have to find time to do, in between keeping up with various domestic chores and looking after my two preschoolers.

I'm waiting on a formal reply from Ye Editor at Major Publishing House about my YA fantasy novel Knife (which, by the way, is kind of a sucky title -- I'm leaning toward calling it Hunter now, with the prospective sequel to be called Seeker, but maybe that's lame too, I dunno). I'm told that said letter will probably come in before the end of the month, and will contain details of some revisions she'd like me to make. That sounds good, doesn't it? Maybe? I hope? O_o

I have to get my act together and write a proper outline for my presentation at Convention Alley at the end of the month, plus I'm going to be helping place various bits of artwork and advertisements into the convention program as needed. And then, of course, the convention itself takes place from July 30 - August 1st.

avarill and lydaclunas are coming to visit the last week of July. Whee! I can't wait. But my brother and his wife and their little boy are also coming early that week, and I'll want to spend at least a little time with them. So you can pretty much write me off for the last week of this month and the beginning of the next...

And I just know I've left some more stuff out of this list.

Anyway, this is just for those of you who might otherwise be inclined to worry that there's something wrong, because I haven't replied to your comments or your e-mails or shown up to talk to you on IM. Now you know where I'm at, you can stop worrying, and I shall stop neglecting my maternal responsibilities and go play a game with my kids...

The rumours are no longer rumours

I have died, after all. Of ecstasy. Because sannalim's home-made cinnamon rolls just arrived by FedEx, and I have just taken my first bite.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Mmmmmmmmmmm. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I am about a million miles out of the Zone right now. I would have to eat, like, a whole cow to get back in it. But you know what? I. don't. care. Because these rolls are absolutely amazing. My only hope right now is to find a lot of friends who love cinnamon rolls to come and save me from myself before I eat the whole dozen.

Thank you so much, sannalim. I've got your address off the box, and your GAME t-shirt will be in the mail shortly.

Did I say yum? YUM.