The Shelving Of The Novel with Kitten Pictures!

Hello! It's another Monday. Woo.

~I've been talking a lot about querying lately, which is funny (not ha-ha funny, really) because this past week I made a tough call and decided to shelve CALLING DEATH.

I took my baby by the hand and said, "I'm sorry but it's time . . ." and lifted him onto that imaginary shelf. He looked so sad, guys. But it's like taking your kitty to the vet. They may fuss and cry and not want to go, but tough nuggets. You know what's best.

I wish I felt like I knew this was best. I don't, honestly. I'm just beaten down to the point of no other option. Without knowing exactly why it isn't working for agents, my hands are tied. I'm told the writing is good, even beautiful. Told the voice is great, but then vagueness about a pass. I mean, I know notes from agents are rare and I'm blessed to have gotten as much direct feedback that I have, but I still have no direction to go. So, onto the shelf it goes.

Instead of sulking (we'll pretend I didn't for a couple days after that decision, mk?), I'm throwing myself into the new book. AND, if that isn't enough, I'm setting myself a deadline to have the rough draft done by the end of March. EEP!

It's kinda fun...

~In other news, I can't fit into any of my pants anymore! I've been exercising for, over a year now. Lost 10lb in the beginning, when I went to interval training and weights, gained 5 back. Had to stop watching the scale, though. Muscle weighs a butt-load, dudes! I have abs! And visible arm muscle! I don't mean to brag, but I kinda do too. It's been so enjoyable, getting fitter. The girls I work with in the office and I get together over lunch break every day and knock a one out. I love the workouts we do too, and have even started making up our own.

~I'm DYING for season 3 of Walking Dead to come on Netflix. It's the only show I'd get cable back for. If I wasn't stubborn. I heard so much goodness about it, can't wait! And Downton being back on has been awesome! I make the hubs watch it with me on Sundays. And by make him watch I mean I put it on and at some point during the hour he always falls asleep. But whatevs. He can absorb some good taste in drama while sleeping, right?

~And lastly in news probably no one gives a crap about: Last year we had a surprise in our backyard. A feral had kittens under hub's half pipe in the backyard. SO CUTE. If you know me, this is not shocking stuff. Strays in need FIND ME. And I'm not even joking. Maybe I'll tell you about all the strays and kittens before this litter some day...

Anyway, of course, I had to take them in. Got momma caught in a live trap one night and took her in to get fixed. She lived in the guestroom for 5 days while she recuperated from her operation. You couldn't touch her, you couldn't even see her most of the time w her hidey spot she had under the bed, inside the box springs stuffing.

After that, it took a while to get the kittens. Only 3 were tame enough for me to just snatch bare handed, since we had to wait so long for them to get weened and everything from mom. And then the last 3 got wise to the trap and that was drama. But eventually they found a new home in my bathroom until my cats could get adjusted enough to them. (Are you counting? That just went from 5 cats in my house to 11)

Please ignore the mess. They were LOVED to drag out all the toys at once.

 

Take that cuteness and add 4 other kittens. Awesome.

 

And months after that, we had gone through MORE drama and tears and gotten 5 of the 6 homes. All this to say, my house has gone from 5 to 8 to 12 to 11 to 9 to 8 to 6.

Missy Catelyn is our newest member. (she's such a prim lil lady) I just couldn't go through putting her in Petsmart and Petco anymore, it stressed her out and me out so badly. Hubs has proven his love for me yet again by not saying anything about it. He's so patient. He must love me. What man would put up with ALL THOSE cats in his house if he didn't love his lady?

She is an expert fetch player, too. Must get a video of this one day. She's good. 




Happy Monday, guys!