Juno what?

I'm over at Fictionistas talking about one of the worst April Fool's pranks I ever pulled. Come share your stories too!

Oooo...shiny!

First and foremost, there's an auction going on to raise money for a dedicated writer going through some serious hard times. Check it out here.

Then look! My website is all fresh and shiny! My dear, talented friend, Jax Cassidy, gave the whole thing an extreme makeover.

Check it out here: www.kristenpainter.com - ain't it grand?

Do you think I should redesign the blog to go with it or leave the blog as is?

Caturday!

Ah yes, the ubiquitous cat-in-sink picture. Unfortunately, cat-in-sink leads to stinky breath when the sink's owner can't brush. *sigh* Still, Max is awfully cute in there, isn't he?

Where am I?

I'm in there. My metaphorical writing cave. Trust me, it's a lot nicer than it looks. Especially since Hotrod installed the chandelier.

How's the book coming? Awesome. It's amazing. Who knew I could write such delicious darkness? Must get it finished, though. Then some lucky editor will get to read it too.

Have a great weekend!

Word Of The Day

Today's word of the day is: Shenanigans

–noun Informal.

1.	Usually, shenanigans. a. mischief; prankishness: Halloween shenanigans. b. deceit; trickery.

2.	a mischievous or deceitful trick, practice, etc.

I adore the word shenanigans and have been using it a lot lately. Not always appropriately, but I find that even funnier. Just saying the word makes you feel spry. I swear. Try it!

Now please use shenanigans in a sentence. The best sentence will win my undying love and adoration.

Wednesday Workday

After a long, fun stay, my folks are headed home to Maryland. It kinda sucks, because I really like having them around. I have a great relationship with my parents, something I value highly - especially because I know it's not the most common thing, either.

And while I did get some writing done while they were here, I didn't get the kind of word count I should have, so today is going to be one of those serious writing days where I glue myself to the keyboard and only take breaks to eat and....well, you know.

My goal is a minimum of 10 pages. I'm capable of doing more, but I haven't written that much in a long time. Maybe today is the day I get back into the swing of mass production.

What are you up to today?

Hero Worship

I've turned myself into a super hero. You can too! Come see over at Fictionistas!

Writer Question

This came up on Romance Divas recently and I thought it made for an interesting discussion, so let me ask you guys.

When do you know a manuscript is dead? When do you stop revising and put it away? Or do you keep them all alive? What's your take on that?

Me? I guess I kind of believe a manuscript is never dead. I know I'm a much better writer now than when I started, but I think I could revise anything I've written and bring it up to my current standards.

Caturday!

Dude. Nobody wants to see that.

Friday Matinee

The new Nic Cage movie, Knowing, comes out today, so we're planning to hit the matinee and check it out, then do another round of homemade pizza for dinner tonight.

I'll also be writing - just like I did yesterday. Don't you love it when you feel like what you're working on is really, really good? I'm loving the book I'm writing, and I'm enjoying the work. Which is not to say it's easy, but that it's worth it.

Saturday, Hotrod and the Sicilian (doesn't that sound like a '70's movie?) are headed to the races in Sebring, FL. My dad knows a guy who sponsor a car so they're going to get to be in the pits and everything. My mother and I will be celebrating this exciting opportunity by shopping.

What are your weekend plans?

Welsh Cookies

Also known as Welsh Cakes and Griddle Cookies, these raisin cookies are a true childhood memory for me. With my folks being here, I got to rummaging through my late grandmother's recipe box (one of the best things I could have inherited, let me tell you) and lo and behold, there was the recipe.

My mom, dad and I immediately added the necessary ingredients to our shopping list. This afternoon, we made the cookies. I was in charge of the cooking, which is basically like making pancakes. I've never been in charge of that before. Guess I'm finally old enough, huh?

The taste is probably more scone than cookie, but if you've ever lived in an area that had Pennsylvania Dutch, there's a good chance you already know what these taste like. If not, try them. You will nom with pleasure, I assure you.

Here's the recipe for these awesome, addictive little cakes. Enjoy!

• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 1/4 cups raisins
• vegetable oil, for griddle
• NOTE: some recipes also add nutmeg or cinnamon, and I've seen other add ins like orange and lemon zest. You be the judge on what you do there.
  

Directions

1. Heat griddle until medium hot. (I wouldn't heat the griddle until you've got the dough mixed.)
   
2. Sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
3. Cut in butter like for pastry.
4. Combine milk and egg; add with raisins to dry mixture.
5. Stir until moistened and mixture holds together.
6. Roll dough out onto floured board to 1/4-inch thick and cut with 2-inch round cookie cutter. (Or a juice glass. lol)
   
7. Oil griddle lightly. (If you use a non-stick griddle, you can skip this step.)
   
8. Place cookies on griddle.
9. As bottoms brown, top will get puffy.
10. Turn and brown other side.
11. Serve hot or cold.

3...2...1...Lift Off!

We finally got to see the shuttle launch on Sunday night, so here are some pics as promised.

Here you can see it just start to ascend over the house across the water from us.

This is a cool shot because the sun was still setting at this point and those final rays caught the shuttle's vapor trail and lit it up like a sunset. I promise you, the vapor trail isn't usually orange like that.If you click on this picture to enlarge it, you can see two points of light near the top end of the vapor trail. Those are the twin fuel boosters that have just fallen away. Very cool.

We've got two more shuttle launches scheduled for May. Hopefully I can get video of one. It's really something to see and hear live - about a minute after the sky first starts to lit up, the rumble reaches you. Really cool. Hope you liked the pictures!

Erin Go Braugh

I'm talking about St. Patrick's Day over at the Fictionistas. Come on over or I'll pinch you for not wearing green.

Shuttle launch pics tomorrow!

Something Different

Yesterday after church, we went to a Chinese buffet for lunch. It turned out to be one of the nicer ones and they had one of my favorite flavors of ice cream - green tea! They also had banana, which is one of Hotrod's favorites, and coffee, which is one of my mom's.

Have you ever tried green tea ice cream? It's kind of perfumey, but not in a bad way. What's your favorite flavor?

Caturday!

Payshunz. I haz it.

Friday the 13th

It's Friday the 13th again.

Some events have been intentionally scheduled for Friday the 13th for dramatic effect:

• Comic Relief Red Nose Day 2009 is on Friday 13th March.
• Resident Evil 5 will be released in the US and UK on Friday March 13th 2009.
• Black Sabbath's eponymous debut album was released in the UK on Friday, February 13, 1970.
• The Opening ceremony of Athens Olympic Games took place on Friday, August 13, 2004.
• The 13th book in A Series of Unfortunate Events was released on Friday, October 13, 2006 by Lemony Snicket, also known as novelist Daniel Handler.
• Four of the twelve films in the Friday the 13th series, including the most recent (a remake of the second), were released on a Friday the 13th.
• Joss Whedon's new show Dollhouse aired its pilot on the same day as above (February 13, 2009).
• Every Friday the 13th thousands of bikers ride to the small town of Port Dover Ontario, Canada.

Speaking of Dollhouse, are you watching? I have been, but I can honestly say the show hasn't grabbed me the way I'd expected. What's your take on it?

Trying Again

The shuttle launch was scrubbed late afternoon yesterday due to a hydrogen leak, but they're hoping to try again this afternoon.

Although we were really disappointed, we soothed away those feelings with homemade pizza. It was delicious, but I've already been on the elliptical this morning to make up for it.

In other news, my friend and award-winning romantic suspense author, Roxanne St. Claire is now on Twitter! Follow her: http://twitter.com/roxannestclaire

Have a great Thursday! Get some writing done!

3...2...1

After driving all night, my parents arrived here about 7:45 this morning. They'd originally planned to arrive Thursday, but after I informed my dad that tonight's evening shuttle launch is quite possibly the last one ever, they changed their plans and got here early.

Tonight we'll be headed to Titusville to get a closer view of this awe-inspiring event. Not that we can't see it pretty well from the back yard, but being that my folks drove 11 hours, I can get them a little closer.

What are you doing tonight?

Things I See In My Backyard

I'm over at Fictionistas today talking about signs of spring. Come chat!

Oh Happy Day!

My house is now empty of all visiting family and in a few short hours, Hotrod will be on the road too.

Don't get me wrong, I love Hotrod's family (most of them anyway), but I'm not used to have kids and babies in my house. Or having to be fully dressed just to go into the kitchen. I like my routine. My cats like their routine.

Granted, in a few days, my parents arrive, but for me, they're much mellower visitors. When he's not fixing something that needs fixing, my dad sits outside and watches the water and the birds. When she's not cooking, my mom sits inside and reads. It's peaceful when they're here.

Speaking of peaceful, can you hear that? It's the sound of silence. Blessed, sweet silence. Ahhh...

Now, I will spend the day writing and at some point, take some time to workout. What are you doing today?

Caturday!

My mother wrote what? Oh the shame...the shame...

People Worth Following

Twitter is turning out to be a lot of fun. I'm so glad I've gotten active on it! If you're not, you should be. It's a great way to get some scoops on industry info.

Here are some people to follow to get you started:

Me: http://twitter.com/Kristen_Painter
My agent: http://twitter.com/ElaineSpencer
My editor: http://twitter.com/angelajames

Now go have a great weekend!

I haz a sad

I have to clean house today. In a big way. All three guest rooms have to be primed and ready to go. Why? Because starting this afternoon, Hotrod's family descends.

I really hate cleaning. I love a clean house, just hate the process. Plus it never seems to last for more than a few days.

The biggest kicker? I'm never so motivated to write as when I have something else pressing to be done. Are you like that too? Need to leave the house in five minutes and you're on such a roll that you could bang out a chapter if you didn't have to leave? Why is that?

Must go clean. I'm sure the vacuum is going to give me blisters...

The Farmer's Daughter

No, that title isn't a punch line, it's a description of my mom. Today is her birthday, and this post is a tribute to her.

My mom was raised a farmer's daughter in the mountains of PA. Life wasn't easy, but then neither was having three brothers, I imagine (knowing my uncles).

She became a grade school teacher, another job that required hard work for little pay. Perhaps this was preparing her for marriage to my dad? I kid! Trust me, my mother has The Sicilian all figured out. The first time he asked her to marry him she said no.

Through the years my mom has been a constant source of calm, a rock no matter what storms may come. She is a great cook, an intuitive decorator, quick to laugh, an unparalleled grandmother to my brother's kids, a superb MIL to Hotrod, the perfect foil for my dad and a wonderful friend. She's also my favorite shopping buddy (where do you think I learned it from?). Plus, she looks great for her age thanks to her dedicated workouts and healthy eating habits. (Actually, I'm hoping it's also great genes.) I cannot recall ever seeing my mother in "mom" jeans, but she's quite often found in bootleg yoga pants and an impressive selection of jewelry.

Happy birthday, Mom! You are a true original and a class act. I love you.

What's your daredevil level?

I'm over at Fictionistas today talking about acceptable levels of risk. What's yours? Come on over and tell me.

Monday Quickie

This is a quickie, because starting Thursday afternoon, Hotrod's family descends upon us for at least four nights, which means all the guest rooms have to be cleaned (not that they're dirty, but you know, dusted, vacuumed, cat toys removed...), food for their stay has to be planned, all that stuff. My writing time basically disappears on Thursday as well, because I'll probably save the cleaning until that morning. Any sooner and the cats try to erase my efforts.

Also, this is a quick post because I'm about to get on the elliptical. I'm down about 17 pounds from the end of Dec and finally getting back into working out in a dedicated way. Today I'm trying to get it out of the way early so I can spend the rest of the day writing.

What are you doing today?