I can't believe it's been...
almost a week since I last blogged. Man, Im slacking.

Well, blog-wise I am. In other areas of my life I am running on 12 cylinders...and I only have 8..and at least one of them is misfiring...

Okay, I'm not even 100 words in and I'm already sounding like a blithering idiot. Lemme just tell ya what I've been up to.

Hubby got his inheritance check from his grandfather's estate earlier this week. I won't say how much it was, but there is enough there for us to pay off/up all our bills and finance our move to Columbus. So, it's pretty much official: We will soon be Ohio residents...in or around the Capital city.

Thrillsville.

I'm trying to be excited and optimistic about the move. I'm trying to remember that this is a chance for a more stable and financially secure life. I'm also trying to forget what a hassle moving is, that I now have to start looking for a job in a new city while still being 2 hours away, and I'm REALLY trying to ignore how ticked off Taylor is that we are moving. To say she is not pleased would be 10 steps below an understatement.

I can't say I blame her. She has gone to the same school, with the same kids since kindergarten (except for one year when she was in school in NC). To uproot her and make her start all over again breaks my heart. But there ain't a whole lot I can do about it. It was easier for me to bulk at moving when I was still working a steady, secure job. But now that I can't fall back on that, my main argument for not moving is gone.

I'm sure she'll be fine and will have no problems making friends, I just resent the fact that she has to. I can't be mad at Lou, there simply isn't anything here. So, we have to go where there are jobs, and Columbus is the closest alternative. It's better than Phoenix, anyway.

To try and make Taylor feel a bit better, we went shopping yesterday. she wanted a pair of Kenny Anderson shoes (for those not in the loop, KA is a skater clothing designer...or something like that). These shoes are ugly as all get out (don't believe me? see for yourself!) but she loves them, so I relented and told her she could have a pair. By the way, did you check out the PRICE of those things? I don't mind paying $80 bucks for a pair of cuteshoes, but almost a hundred bucks for ugly ones...

Anyway.

They didn't have them in her size. *sigh* She tried on several other styles, but ultimately decided to wait til PacSun got a new shipment in. I gave them my name and cell # and the sales girl told me she would call and let me know when the shoes came in.

While she was trying on shoes, I looked around the store and I realized something: my daughter is a walking advertisement for PacSun. Now, I knew she was getting clothes at the mall...I bankrolled most of them. But I didn't realize that all these clothes were coming from the same store. But I should have known something was up when all the salespeople greeted Taylor by name. I knew about the Etnie and Elmo shirts, cuz I picked those up in person, but the Independent, Dickies, Bam, Adio, and countless other shirts I didn't know came from there. almost every shirt and pair of pants she owns came from that store.

I need to buy stock in PacSun. I am keeping them in the black.

Anyway, the shoes should be in sometime next week.

Let's see..what else is going on...oh! the housing prices in Columbus are RIDICULOUS! $250,000 for a three bedroom, 2 bath home. And it's not even a victorian with a wrap-around porch! We're going to have problems when it is time to consider buying a home, becuase I am NOT paying that much money for a house I only "sorta" like. I'm not fond of the "new development" style homes, and that seems to be all I am seeing. Fortunately (at least for now) the rent rates aren't too bad.

In other news...I am working on the synopsis for Three Wishes again. It's going much better this time, and I'll keep you posted on the progress.

Well, that's it for now. Have a good Monday!


- posted by Kim @ 12:22 AM

 
Today..
was a LONG day! I know this is going to post on Tuesday morning, but I am talking about Monday. Just thought I would clear that up from the get go!

I had topay bills today. Never a fun thing to do. Oh well, guess I should be grateful that I had to money with which to pay them.

Nah. I resent paying bills. There are so many other things I could do with the money that we spend on electric, water, cable and phone.

Okay, so I like the cable and phone. And I like to be clean and have running water in my home. Si I pay them. I hate it, but I do it.

Anyway, after I paid bills, I went around to various department stores in search of the best deals for clothing for my almost 12 year old daughter who has the body of a 17 year old.

There were no deals. It was all pricey and most of the clothes were too old for her. We're gonna fight when it comes time to actually buy the clothes.

But I'll worry about that later.

After the trips to the department stores, I headed to work. Big mistake. I shoulda slammed my hand in the car door and driven myself to the hospital instead. It was chaos. Lots of people calling to complain about their computer. It took lots of self-control not to tell them that I didn't care. But I like my job..I like my job..I like my job...

Anyway, now I am home and falling asleep at the keyboard. I was so wanting to get some writing done tonight, but I am just too tired to focus right now. I think I'm going to end this entry and head for bed.

Later!
- posted by Kim @ 3:56 AM

 
Today...



was another BEAUTIFUL spring day! I spent it pretty much the same way I spent yesterday -- hanging out on my porch, then running errands. I so hope this weather is here to stay and that it's not going to revert back to the rainy/chilly/windy mix we were experiencing. Well, here's a thought...lemme check the forecast...hang on...

*sigh*

The forecast could be better -- tomorrow a chance of thunderstorms and a high in the mid-upper 70's. Tuesday...the same thing...then the rest of the week, the temps will hover between high 60's and low 70's...with a chance of rain.

So, I guess it's a good thing I got out and enjoyed the 80 degree weather of this weekend. I know I know, it will be back...but I don't want it to leave, even if it is for only a little while.

In other news
I talked to a friend of mine on the phone today. She asked me if I was still working the "day job", so I filled her in on what's going on there, and about the possible move. You would have thought I told her that I was going to become an ex-earthling and move to Mars. The first thing out of her mouth was: "Well, if you would give up your silly notions of being a famous author and get a regular job like the rest of us, maybe you wouldn't have to move somewhere else."

WTF?

Uh, I HAVE a real job, and its that REAL job that is heading out of the country. I didn't quit. And it's my husband's desire to "have a real job like the rest of us" that is prompting the move. I was thinking all this while she was still blathering on about my needed to "get my head out of the clouds and grow up". I was going to say everything I just said above, but opted to simply tell her to "bite me and don't expect a postcard after we move". Then I hung up.

She didn't call back. Can't tell you how crushed I was 'bout that.

For the life of me I cannot fathom how I ended up with such run-of-the-mill, straight-laced, white-bread friends. (I'm talking about my friends in the brick and mortar world, my online friends are just as ethereal, beatnik, and quirky as I am). I am the rebel of the group, and once in a while, they feel the need to "reel me in". Well, I'm NOT a fish, and I don't need to be reminded of the cold, hard realities of the world we live in. Just because I opt not to dwell on how much reality bites, does not mean I don't acknowledge it.

*sigh* I need new friends (again, I'm referring to the b&m ones. I need to hang out with other like-minded individuals...more artists..writers...creative freelancers. My old friends just don't get it. They don't understand how we could pass on vacationing in Cancun to buy a high-quality printer and a sound board. It doesn't make sense to them that we aren't buying a new car every three years, or that we don't replace the living room furniture with the seasons.

In many ways, I think Lou and I have more of a clue than they do. But, lemme tell ya, if their life is the definition of having a clue, then please, let me remain clueless, cuz I like my reality a helluva lot better than theirs.

Okay, that's enough about that. I know you guys know where I'm coming from, and that makes me feel better.

Namaste ~

- posted by Kim @ 10:53 PM

 
Yes, you guess it...another quiz!
1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, find line 4. Write down what it says.
"Mel I hate to break this to you, but Sex and the Cityis a fictional program." The Boy Next Door, by Meg Cabot

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can. What do you touch first?
The base to my cordless telephone. Now, where is the PHONE?!?

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?
Fairly Odd Parents

4. WITHOUT LOOKING, guess what time it is.
8:07pm

5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time?
8:08 pm

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
Ketulah (the dog) snoring. The TV, cars on the highway, my clock ticking

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing.
I spent most of the day outside. All morning with my coffee and notebook, and then most of the afternoon running errands.

8. Before you came to this website, what did you look at?
my email...all spam, all the time.

9. What are you wearing?
grayish/black leggings, an orange t-shirt, footies, and reebok tennis shoes (planning on going back outside and watching the sun set when this quiz is over.)

10. Did you dream last night?
probably.

11. When did you last laugh?
When my daughter IM'd me (about 2 minutes ago) to tell me that her best friend dyed her hair green. Deliberately.

12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?
Hum...a clock that doesn't work, a sketch of Ketulah that my daughter drew, curtains on the window, an african-style necklace my sister gave me.

13. Seen anything weird lately?
Of course, I'm a wife and a mother.

14. What do you think of this quiz?
It's long

15. What is the last film you saw?
The Matrix Revolutions. I'm *still* scratching my head.


16. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy first?
Pay off my bills, give my parents some SERIOUS cash, buy a house, pay for Taylor's education, sail away in the sunset.

17. Tell me something about you that I don't know.
I used to teach accounting.

18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
All deliberately stupid, ignorant, prejudiced people would be transported to their own fenced-in state...Montana perhaps...where they would be forced to hunt and live off of each other..leaving the rest of us thinking, rational people to live in peace. (Not that I've given it much thought...)


19. Do you like to dance?
Yeah, I like to shake what my mama gave me. :-)

20. George Bush: is he a power-crazy nutcase or some one who is finally doing something that has needed to be done for years?
I think he's power hungry, I think he's got a score to settle, and unfortunately, I think our troops are paying the price.

21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?
Her name is Taylor Leigh-Anne

22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?
Zachary Trey

23. Would you ever consider living abroad?
Um..no. Jamaica...hell YEAH!


- posted by Kim @ 7:20 PM

 
In Search of...
I spent the bulk of this BEAUTIFULspring Saturday trying to find a copy of Connecting @ Home Magazine. I have a column in the magazine and I didn't get a contributor's copy this month.

I went to every library and grocery store in the tri-state area. Nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada. But I did find a great deal on Stouffers meals and Ore Ida fries, so I guess it wasn't a complete waste of time.

Also, while I was at one of the libraries, I read through the latest issue of The Writer. Great issue. Would like to have it. Can't find it either.

We really need to move to a city that has stores that sell magazines and newspapers from around the world. Oh, wait, I think we are! I'm sure Columbus, OH has all that and much more to offer. I found a killer> apartment complex that I would love Love LOVE to move into. And the rent is good too. Again, more details on that as the plot thickens.

I'm going to spend the rest of Home Alone Saturday sitting in front of my computer, sipping iced tea and enjoying the day. I might venture back out onto my porch. I spent most of the morning there. Had my coffee, notebook and pen...

and completed the final chapter of Three Wishes! Yes, you read it correctly. All I need to do it type that puppy in, and I can call it a finished book. The the hard part begins...finding someone to buy it. I can do this. I have faith! This is my year, the fortune cookie said so!

Well, I'm off to do something...not sure what, but I'm sure a computer and an Internet connection will most like be required.
- posted by Kim @ 5:35 PM

 
Just a note:
I'm going to be renaming this blog and creating it on my website. I'll keep this blog up, because I really don't want to lose the archives, and I haven't quite figured out how to move it. And yes, there will be a link from here to the new blog, and a link on the new blog back to here. Shouldn't be too terribly confusing...except I'll have to update all my sig files.

So let me rephrase...it shouldn't be too confusing for YOU..but I'm going to be scratching my head for awhile. LOL

Anyhoo..as soon as I come up with a name for the new blog, I will post the link and then you can tell me what you think of the new digs and name.

Later!

- posted by Kim @ 1:55 AM

 
oh Oh OH!



UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE!

Hubby and I had a big 'ol fight about this possible move, and I told him that I was tired of being the chief breadwinner. I said it was his turn and that I couldn't do it anymore, and that, more importantly, I shouldn't have to. He's the man of the family, he should be the provider, I should be the helper and unless he was willing to take on the role he accepted when he said "I Do", then we were staying put. Or *I* was staying put and *he* could do what he wanted.

Wonder of wonders...he AGREED

So, he promised that he would find a job that would require that I worked part-time only, and then not at all. That, I can live with.

On that note, I actually found a job in Columbus that I might actually apply for. It's the same thing I do now, only for a boatload more money.,,30 hours..full benefits...fitness center, discount on housing...pretty cool.

Okay, I'm going to go and see if any of the places that this company offers discount for are worth living in. Wish me luck.
- posted by Kim @ 4:39 AM

 
Okay. so I earned the title
Of Obsessed Quiz Taker. But this one almost makes that English degree worth it.




You are a GRAMMAR GOD!



If your mission in life is not already to
preserve the English tongue, it should be.
Congratulations and thank you!


How grammatically sound are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Pretty cool, eh?

- posted by Kim @ 1:18 AM

 
Okay, so the last time we chatted...
I told you that we were contemplating a move to Phoenix, AZ. Well, I think Phoenix is out...but Columbus, OH is back as the forerunner for the new Francis Family Homefront.

We're still arguing about my working part-time vs. working full-time and supporting him. I'm standing firm. I will work part-time, but I am not going to move out of my paid-for home to live in an apartment, pay rent and support him. we're moving because HE can't find a permanant job here. He keep going on and on about how he hates that he can't support his family, but then he says that unless I work full-time too, we won't survive. Pick one, buddy!

Okay, enough about that. If anything new and worth mentioning develops, I'll let you know.

News from the writing front
So far, I'm holding my own with the April Fools challenge. Sure, I'm behind a bit, but I am gaining ground. Hopefully, I can get ahead on Wednesday and Thrusday when I don't have the pesky "day job" looming over my head. Speaking of the "day job", our call volumn has increased and we are swamped with calls. Why our superiors thought it would be a good idea to accept new work from a company that is letting us go is beyond me. We don't have the staff to take the extra calls, our metrics are in the dumpster (metrics are the goals that the project is supposed to meet daily...so far we have yet to meet one daily metric this month...the first time this has happened EVER), morale is beyond low, and all we hear is, "we have to keep a brave face on and be professional to the end".

Yeah, bite me.

Anyway, that's it. I'll check in later. Enjoy your week!
- posted by Kim @ 4:54 AM

 
Okay, so like, everyday someone sends me a link to a quiz site. I've posted several in the past (check out the archives if you are THAT interested), but I decided that I would post the latest few that I have done. Yeah, I know, I'm just filling up space in my blog, but now YOU can take the quizzes too! Just like me to share the love, isn't it?

Anyway, here we go:


YOU'RE YAKKO!

Which Animaniacs Character are You?

Talkative, huh? Perhaps sing-ative would be more appropriate, actually. When people don't understand something, it usually drives you to cutting, sarcastic remarks. Your other extreme is bursting into song with almost no prompting, often to explain complex ideas. No one knows quite what you are, exactly. You have made many "special" friends, and there's baloney in your slacks.

Click here to see my Livejournal.

Does this mean I should move this blog? Hum...





I'm exceptionally artistic!

Find your soul type at kelly.moranweb.com.

Gee, there's a stretch!

And NOW..for the Mother of all Quizzes...

You are an quiz-taker Find out what kind of quiz-taker you are

- posted by Kim @ 12:04 AM