The First Half of Summer Vacation

Holy crap, how can it be July already? Things have been nutso in Chez Jarman - but that's nothing new, eh? (And there's my Yooper coming out thanks to my 2 week trek into the wilds of Upper Michigan)

Summer started off with a bit of stress. My 11 year old ended up in the hospital to get her appendix removed. Thankfully, she is doing well and pretty much back to normal. Having the kids home for the summer... Well, that has cut into my writing time more than I anticipated. I think I tend to overestimate how much I can accomplish with a houseful of people. But I am managing to write every day. Even if it's only a couple hundred words.

At the end of June, I had the pleasure of spending a week with a group of author friends at a cottage on Lake Superior in Upper Michigan. It was amazing and I'll be doing a separate post on that right after this one. :) I have pictures and everything.

The following week, the hubs and kids met me up there and we camped for 5 days at the state park on Lake Superior. I loved it, but man, the Lady Lake Superior threw some fits. One night, the storm that came off the lake completely took down our tent. Leveled it. Thank goodness my parents live only 10 miles from the park. So they were lucky enough to get a call from me at 1am saying, "Unlock the doors; we're heading over." We had another night that storms rolled through, so 2 out of the 5 nights we spent at Mom and Dad's. But other than that, it was a beautiful week spent enjoying the area. I miss living up there, and certainly didn't appreciate it enough when I was there.

Now, I'm back, catching up with the day job and getting back into the swing of working every day again.
LOL

The rest of the summer is just as busy with family camping with the hubs' side of the family, bringing our oldest to base camp (boy scouts) to spend 6 weeks training as a counselor, Authors After Dark in NOLA at the beginning of August, and hubs and I are planning a weekend away alone to celebrate out anniversary at the end of August. Come September, I'll be sighing in relief when the kids head back to school. Even though the school year is busy as all get out, I'll have my days back. And I'll REALLY have them back because I'll no longer be doing childcare during the day for my 3 year old niece. Her baby sister is arriving in September and their mama has decided to stay home then. So, in theory, I'll be able to get loads more done, right? LOL

Stay tuned for pics and tales of the Yooper Writing Retreat. :)

Hugs
~J

Start of another week...

...the last week of school for the kiddos. I look forward to and dread summer vacation every year.

I love summer--don't care for the cold Midwestern winters--but with 4 kids, our crazy schedule is just as crazy in the months of no school. Sports and camps and all that jazz. The hubs and I try to do as much as we can *with* them, because we know the time is coming with hanging out with Mom and Dad is going to be the last thing they want to do.

But it's all good--I've planned out my summer schedule and know exactly what I want/need to accomplish. For me, it really helps to get my plans on paper or on screen. I need that right in front of me, reminding me of what needs to happen, otherwise--I'll admit it--I totally flake and at the end of summer vaca, I'm sitting there scratching my head, wondering why I didn't get more done. LOL

I've been updating my website (after giving this blog a bit of a makeover), which is a hair pulling experience. Drives me crazy every time, but in a warped way, I enjoy it. Best feeling ever when it turns out the way I want it to--it's just the journey to that point can be a bit frustrating.

I'm still working on Seth (the next Into the Shadows book), and that is coming along so well, I'm kinda scared. LOL If all goes well, and darn it, it'd better, I'll be sending off to my editor by the weekend. Wooot.

I guess I'd better get back to it. :)
Happy Monday, all!
~J

Craziness ensues...

This time of year is always insane around our house. It's the end of the school year and there's a ton of programs, concerts, etc to attend. And frankly, the kids are getting squirrely. They're ready for summer, ready for school to be D-O-N-E. I can't blame them; I remember what it was like. :-D

It's been beautiful here--warm weather, sunny days. I've gotten a ton of yard work done...and still a ton to do. LOL But I'm enjoying it. It's so nice to be be outside after a long winter, isn't it? It's difficult to sit inside on the computer when it's so nice out, but I manage. LOL

The day job is keeping me busy, but I love it. I've been writing when I can. I'm currently finishing up a short--a menage. It's yummy and I am completely and utterly in love with the heroes. Gotta love that. I'm also working on the next installment of the Fey series. Fingers crossed that my editor loves these stories as much as I do.

We're heading out of town this weekend. Going to visit my family. I'm looking forward to it very much. I haven't seen them since Christmas and this summer is hectic so I don't know when the next time I'll be visiting will be. So the plan is to enjoy the long weekend with my parents and siblings, and niece and nephews. I'm planning on writing. Anyone who knows me will tell you I'm a night owl. I'm up long after everyone goes to bed, so it's the perfect time to enjoy the peace and quiet and get some pages in.

I hope everyone's week is going well. Any big plans for the weekend?

~J