FlyLady

You know its a real challenge to try and keep on top of things. Me I've got a husband to love, two beautiful kids to nurture, a house to maintain and fulltime work as well. Something has got to give and generally its the house. Well for me it was. Yes that's right was.

A friend told me about this website Flylady

This site is my new best friend. LOL I've been "Flying" for a week. My sink is shining, the main living area of my home is looking the best its looked in a long time. I'm only on day 8 and am taking each day at a time. Following their baby steps.

I like their adage of "You are not behind! I don't want you to try and catch up; I just want you to jump where we are. O.K.?"

Last Friday, before I started Flying, I would look at my house and think "where will I start". Well I started with the sink and on Sunday I ironed in 15 minute bursts. That was the best, I got the basket of ironing done and other things as well.

Wednesday night I set my oven timer for 5 minutes and did a quick pick up around the family/dining area. Thursday night my daughter comes home and walks into the family/dining area and says "Wow mum, its nice and tidy" . I admit I felt 10 feet tall then. LOL

Just a simple thing, but for me it was big. The great thing about it is, DH has got on board too and cleans up the kitchen after himself whereas before he didn't.

Some of the things they have listed on their site I did anyway but I admit I feel in control of my home situation and I haven't felt like that for a very long time.

I like "flying".

JN

So what next?

Well I've been busy organising my life at home and had no time to check in on my blog. So I do today at work.

I've been mulling over what I've been feeling since I read the comments to my last post. I guess no one likes to be found wanting. Nor do they like to be told what they should be doing and not doing.

I guess for me I should just stick to the light and fluffy stuff, forget the serious stuff because I always seem to be lacking in something.

Take this example for instance. I made a comment on a friend's blog. I really wanted to write an insightful reply but I seemed to struggle with what I wanted to put down but I still replied. Then I visit today and see a really, really insightful reply and think, "Geez I've just got no idea" and I think if I want to be a writer and I can't answer a simple query in an intelligent way how the heck am I going to be able to write a publishable book.

I always thought myself to be quite intelligent. I did well at school and I can generally hold a fairly good conversation. But lately, well I seem to be lagging behind.

So will I attempt something serious again? Give me a couple of weeks and I'll have shaken this funk and yeah I'll attempt it again and no doubt in some eyes I'll have made a complete bungle of it. LOL

In the meantime back to the regular light and fluffy posts.

JN

Will it Ever End?

So I heard on the radio news today that its the 3 year anniversary of the war in Iraq. Apparently there is still a need for allied forces to be there to stop terrorists entering and causing another attack. I'm pretty sure that is what George Bush said. But he certainly doesn't appear to want to let control of Iraq go.

Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't the main culprit for the September 11 attacks Osama Bin Laden and isn't he in Afganistan somewhere?

I only caught a bit of Farenheit 911 and I must make an effort to see it all but it really made me think. What if it's true? What is the relationship between the Bin Laden's and the Bushes?

I was always amazed at how the fight moved from Bin Laden to the need to get Saddam Hussain. Was George Bush Jnr trying to finish what his father started back in the early 1990's? A lot of other nations got pulled into the Iraq war, Australia included. And what of Bin Laden? Is he really dead or is he still floating around somewhere. Granted Saddam was evil to his people but he certainly didn't mount a strike as devasting to another nation as September 11 was.

I guess we'll never find out the truth. I just hope that it all ends soon and I know there will never be world peace but its nice to hope sometimes.

It's a bit scary that I'm blogging something that borders on serious ;-)

JN

Commonwealth Games

So currently taking place in Australia is the Commonwealth Games. You could say its the watered down version of the Olympic Games. It is just countries of the Commonwealth competing and in most cases Australia is always at the top of the medal table.

I admit this time I didn't think too much about it but now its started I can't help but become very patriotic which is very hard when I live with a New Zealander (DH). The rivalry between AUS and NZ is rather large and both of us are very patriotic. LOL

This year we've had two of our swimmers pull out due to illness. Now these two competitors are currently Olympic Champions, Grant Hackett (1500m) and Ian Thorpe (200m 400m). I can say that on the first day of competition we struggled in the pool. The absence of these two men were telling but then yesterday (Saturday) we had an awesome day.

The thing is when I watch the Olympics or the Commonwealth Games I get really choked up when I see a competitor winning be it either from Australia or another country, but more with Australian competitors. The Australian weightlifter than won the gold medal last night was so emotional, crying when he was presented with the medal. Here I am sitting on the couch choking back the tears.

I remember watching the Athens games. Zane was just a few weeks old and was feeding during the night so I would turn the tv on a watch the games. Saw our hockey team win the gold medal. That was amazing because it was extra time and we have been waiting so long to win that gold medal.

I have no idea what it is about the Olympics etc but there is just an emotion there that just gets you right in the guts and I know I'm forever swallowing back the tears.

Hmm then again sometimes TV adverts make me cry. Guess I'm a bit of a sap. LOL

But GO AUSSIE!!!

JN

Book Challenge - Books 21-23

Okay slowly catching up on my blogs. The problem is if I don't blog straightaway about the books I kind of forget what they are all about. LOL

Anyway here we go

Book 21 - Flawless by Michelle Hauf - Bombshell/SIM (Aust)

This is the second book in the "IT Girl" Series. The series is basically about wealthy young women who are actually secret agents. Sort of like Paris Hilton meets Charlies Angels. This story is about Becca. She is a gem specialist and must track down some missing diamonds. She also has to work with MI-6 Agent Dane Ashton. These two spark off each other from the beginning. Dane has a secret agenda and at the end of the story I was still not sure if he worked for the good guys or the bad guys or he was just out to settle an old score.

It was a pretty good read but I'm finding with the Bombshells that I really am a romantic at heart so I do need a HEA and I sort of got it with this book. It only took me about a day and half to read it and there was plenty of action.

Book 22 - The High-Society Wife by Helen Bianchin Sexy/Presents

I have to say I do like Helen's books immensely. They are quick reads but they tend to be always the same. This is about Gianna and Franco. An arranged marriage, a joining of two children from families that started a corporation together. She loves him but is pretty sure he doesn't love her. Enter ex-lover from years ago. All of a sudden Gianna is unsure of Franco's feelings towards and this woman decides that she wants him back.

I really did enjoy the book but I just didn't Get it. Why after so many years does the ex-lover decide she wants Franco back? She basically tells Gianna that Franco will be hers and to just give him up. Of course Gianna gets more and more insecure and then accuses Franco of having an affair with the woman.

Most of the ex's always do a bit of stalking and at the end the hero always says that of course he loved her, he wouldn't have been interested in a marriage if he didn't. And the threat of a lawsuit usually sends the ex-lover scuttling away.

There was one book of Helen's that took a different twist to this theme and that was that our herione had a violent ex-husband who came back and gave her a bit of a touch up.

I'll continue to read Helen's books because as I said I do enjoy them but they are a bit predictable. I wouldn't mind seeing a change of theme from Helen but I don't see that happening.

Book 23 - For Revenge or Pleasure by Trish Morey Sexy/Presents

Now for a totally different theme how about a plastic surgeon as our heroine? That is what Jade is. An Aussie living in LA working at a well known cosmetic surgery. She does most of the laser surgery and has a good heart and great intentions for how she can improve the lives of young children born with birth marks. She is a bit naive about her business partner, Grace, but later in the book you understand why she is that way.

Our hero, Loukas, is hell bent on revenge and Jade is the perfect woman for that. He wants to find out the ins and outs of the surgery where she works because he wants to bring down Grace. I know this book will be released in the US in June 2006 and I highly recommend that you go out and get this book. You won't regret it.

Trish is a relatively new author but her writing is amazing. The depth that she went to in this book is brilliant. The sexual chemistry she created between Jade and Loukas is there from the very beginning.

She portrays Jade's shyness and naivety, towards Grace, beautifully and when the truth comes out you ache for Jade.

Loukas is ruthless in the beginning and when you see the reason why you feel sympathy for him. But you also see that he has a wonderful side when he is with Jade. They are both hiding secrets and both must travel individual paths to get to the end. Along the way they open up and expose themselves to each other.

A must read this one.

Okay getting there slowly. Thanks for taking the time to read this everyone who does.

JN

Books 18-20 of Book Challenge

So here I go another rundown of books. I thought about doing blogs in advance but I don't think that will work because of the date written to date published. It will get lost!! LOL I've got so far behind in my blogs. I've read 30 books.

Book 18 - A Venetian Passion by Catherine George (Sexy/Modern/Presents)

Okay so Catherine has created a little series around a particular family - The Dysarts. Read all the childrens books and now this book is about the friend of Fenella Dysart.

I have to say this herione annoyed me something cruel. Laura was a very stubborn person that would never accept a gift. Everytime our hero, Domenico, tried to do something nice she threw it back in his face.

Needless to say the did work out their differences and a happy ending was had by all. The interesting thing in this book is that Laura's sister had a crisis. I'm now hoping Catherine will write her book.

I do enjoy Catherine's books very much.

Book 19 - Taken by the Highest Bidder by Jane Porter (Sexy/Modern/Presents)

This was an intensen read. Most of Jane's books are that is why she is a great author. This book was about Sam and Cristiano. Cristiano is a Formula 1 driver and also a consummate poker player. He 'won' Sam from her husband who was a complete loser at the game. It comes out in the book that Sam's stepdaughter is actually Cristiano's half sister. That was one of the reasons he played Sam's husband till he had nothing left to give. He knew that if he got hold of Sam he would get hold of his half sister. The fact that he was extremely attracted to Sam helped to seal the deal.

Sam is an innocent even though she has been married twice and about to get married again to Cristiano. Her first husband died on their wedding day and well she only married her second husband to protect his daughter.

Once I got into this it was a hard book to put down. Lots of little turns, but it was also about the growth of our heroine.

Book 20 - Billionaire's Proposition by Leanne Banks - Book 1 The Elliots Dynasty Series (Desire)

OH MY GOODNESS. This book was ABSOLUTELY SENSATIONAL. I started it on the Bus in the morning and finished it on the bus on the way home. This book flowed and flowed. I turned page after page and was so engrossed in the story I didn't realise just how quickly I was reading.

Gannon and Erika work together and have a past relationship, but he chose to end the relationship because there where whispers around the office of just how much time they were spending together. Now a year later he wants Erika back on his team at his magazine. He lures her back and at the same time the passion between them once again arose.

Still the same problem abounds, Gannon doesn't want the whole office to know of their relationship. Erika has been there done that once and doesn't want to go there again. In the end he decides they need a 'break' and she moves back to the other magazine she was working on.

Oh and Erika wants a baby and decided Gannon would be the ideal father. In the end Gannon makes a public declaration of his love towards her.

Can't wait to read the next instalment of this series!

JN

Taken the Plunge

Well I did it. I finally did something to get on the road to being a serious writer. No it wasn't submission, I'm aiming for before the end of May for that one. But I entered a competition. Yay Me! (self praise never goes astray)

So it was the Query Letter & Synopsis competition run by the
Romance Writers of Australia organisation (ooh yay me again I did a link).

Both these things are important to nail to make sure your MS gets a read. If I don't get further than the first round, that's okay, hopefully I'll get some good comments. If I get bad ones I'll just ignore them. LOL

I think the most important thing for me was to actually follow through. I thought about entering this competition a couple of years ago but didn't do anything. So, thanks to my new writing group I've joined, I took the plunge.

It really made me get excited about my story again. I've really edited down my first chapter and have got some feedback on that. Now to make changes to that and continue with my editting of chapter 2.

The secret for me is to keep the momentum going. I need to make sure I make time and JUST DO IT! I'm forever making excuses. So now I'm going to endeavour to write each night and if I can squeeze some in, at work. It's a matter of getting myself time organised, kids in bed, lunches made, dishes sorted out. Then I'll write. I may only write for half an hour or I may write for longer but if I'm doing something every day then its a good thing. Some nights might be editting other nights might be new MS.

So now that I've said it out in cyber land I'd better make sure I do it. Hmm if I was a bit more savvy I should have a side bar on my blog showing my progress. That can be for another day.

I'm now no longer a contest virgin.

JN