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What I'm writing in YEAR OF THE DOG

I just finished writing Year of the Dog ! It had a massive plot hole that I had to fix which turned out to be more work than I expected. Here’s a snippet: “Hey, Auntie Nell.” He wrapped his arms around her, bussing her on the cheek and breathing in pikake flowers and shortbread cookies. And suddenly he was nine years old again, and her solid presence had made his chaotic world stable once more. “What are you doing here?” He usually took her to dinner on Wednesday nights, but today was Tuesday. The edges of her smile faltered a little before brightening right back up again. “What, I can’t visit my nephew?” She angled around him to enter his home. “Is this your new house? Looks lovely.” Which was a blatant lie, because the fixer-upper was barely livable, much less acceptable to a neat-freak like his aunt. She also left four matching pink and purple floral suitcases on the stoop behind her. Only then did Ashwin notice the cab driver standing slightly to the side of the walkway. “Can ...
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One Thousand Gifts-30

Captain’s Log, Stardate 12.18.2006

I’m participating in the “One Thousand Gifts” list from Christian Women Online. Click on the picture to find out more about it.

751. I got to sit out from the high school small groups at youth group and work on my manuscript. I got a lot done.
752. Leading worship at youth group was fun
753. My husband and I had a good discussion in the car about marriages, divorce, etc.
754. We had a good youth group leaders meeting, talking about future direction
755. We mailed off a bunch of packages and all our Christmas pictures to family.
756. We gave out some of our Christmas gifts to the youth staff (early this year!)
757. I had some very yummy potstickers
758. Tasting the liquid chocolate ganache was wonderful
759. I finally synched my iPod.
760. I read a few more pages from my Betty Neels book
761. My scarf is done!
762. I learned a neat way to cast off my scarf
763. I made a pretty fringe on my scarf!
764. Captain Caffeine and I made LOTS of chocolate truffles to give as gifts. They taste pretty good, even though they look like cat turds. Camy’s Chocolate Doo-Doos. LOLOLOL
765. I slept a LOT
766. My hands have been dry, so I’ve been able to use more of my lovely smelling hand lotion lately
767. Captain Caffeine is being a sweetie and washing dishes from the chocolate making.
768. My husband bought me some pate from Cosentino’s today—very yummy
769. He also fixed it so that I can now connect my Windows desktop to my Mac laptop
770. I got an opportunity to submit my testimony to Christian Women Online, their January edition
771. It’s fun watching CSI Miami and seeing the familiar character actors and making guesses as to who is guilty based on how well-known they are.
772. I have enough yarn left over to make another scarf
773. I had a yummy veggie burrito and veggie enchilada from Burrito Factory
774. I now have time to make more cards, both to give as gifts and to mail for Christmas
775. Captain Caffeine used up the excess chocolate by making—what else?—chocolate covered espresso beans
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