Blow That Horn

Back in 1998, I was laid off from a company I had worked at for twenty years. I pretty much knew it would happen as they gave me a little over two months to find another job. Plus they gave me roughly five months in severance pay. Thankfully the times weren't as bad as they are now and I had a job lined up before I left that one. In fact, in less than four months from starting the new job, I was hired at another company I preferred.

One of the hard parts of starting a new job (and sometimes a new position) is working with people who don’t know you or the type of worker you are. So you have to prove you have common sense, you’re reliable and honest. When you first working somewhere and you become sick and have to call in, you just know they’re thinking you’re lying and you’re one of THOSE people. I never forget I was still in my probation period and I had a hundred and three temp. I still came into work. And yes I probably infected everyone in a ten mile radius, but I wasn’t taking a chance that someone thought I was faking it. Did they send me home? No. I worked all day and all of those afterwards.

You know, for that matter, you can be in the same place and same position, but change bosses and you find yourself in the same spot, proving yourself. Sure, you have info in your file talking about what a wonderful worker you are, but it only takes one boss who doesn’t like you to ruin that.

I’m one of those people (it appears) that doesn’t really impress people at first, but as time goes along and a boss has to work with me on a project or two, they realize “yes, she knows her stuff” and “yes, she’s damn good.” While I feel I’m average and mainly I’m a hard worker is all. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in a meeting with management and see surprise looks on their faces when I give them an observation they hadn't thought about or pinpoint a solution they missed or they finally realized how much I do know. I’ve put it down to that I don’t go around tooting my own horn (only here on this blog) or go complaining about everything.

What made me think about all of this is the problem I’ve been having getting published. Doesn’t everything come around to writing? I figured the last few years, I’ve been working up to a momentum and my time is coming. With the requests and finals rolling in faster and faster, maybe I’ll impress the right person soon and I’ll get the call. Finally.

Home Sweet Home

So far, I’m still reading the same book. Still not too enthused but it does have its moments. It’s like going to a brand new house. Everything is clean and unsullied but there’s a coldness to it. No homey feel. Let’s see if I pass the halfway mark.

Hurray!

I found out today my manuscript OUT OF THE SHADOWS is a finalist in the GOTCHA! contest. Happy day! It feels so good.

[Update] AND my manuscript THE CAGED HEART is a finalist too! This is my first historical ever to final.

Male Author

I’m reading a book recommended by a friend. In fact, she liked it so well, she gave it to me. So I’m reading a book written by a man and I’m rather leery about it. Why? Mainly, from past experience, I’ll probably be disappointed. Because rarely do they provide the emotional rollercoaster I love in a book. So far, this author in particular has talked about the tax on the protagonist’s house, mentioned numerous times "the dynamics of the city," and described the weather. The rest of the story has been interesting, but the going from present to past tense and back again along with first person to second to third and...you get the idea, is very jarring. I’m giving the book a couple more chapters then we’ll see if it is worth my time reading the rest. I don’t have much hope.

Yes. I bias.

You Know What?

You know some days it just doesn’t pay to be nice. I’m just saying…

Pretty or Plain and Clear

We all love seeing beautiful handwriting. My husband has a really nice one. But I can't stand to get a whole email written in Script. I swear it hurts my eyes, especially when it's in a small font.

I get an email from someone like that about once a month. How do I tell her without hurting her feelings or sounding like an old nag?

What? Nah. She doesn't read my blog. ::sigh::

Shame On Me

I've had a sneaking suspicion that I've done this and probably more times than I would like to imagine. I bought a book and never read it because I forgot I bought it. I know. That's awful. How did I do this? And how did I realize it?

Well, it was like this. As you know, I have a new study. With the move from one room to another, I had boxed up my books (and there so many, no matter how many I've given away before), placing some in boxes to keep and some to give away. The ones I gave away were authors I've read and didn't care for their style/stories or they've been given to me at conferences and luncheons and even dirty Santa parties and were not my cup of tea.

As I was throwing books into the box to give away (two boxes actually), I noticed one I didn't recognized. Yes. I may not remember every book I've read, but if it is still in my house, I remember something about it. So I read the back and thought how much I love the premise. Much older man and younger woman. I also like the other way around too. Anyway, I read the first couple paragraphs and still didn't remember the story. Hmmm. Could it been given to me recently and I forgot? I looked at the published date. 2001. No. That's too old to be given away. Maybe someone loaned it to me and I forgot. I hate doing that.

Since the story interested me and the first couple paragraphs were good and I didn't remember it, I decided to give it a try. Maybe as I got further into the book, possibly a chapter or two, I would finally remember it.

I was in chapter three and decided that I've never read it before and I thought what a shame. The guy was alpha and so yummy. The girl was spunky without being a bitch. So someone must've given it to me. About that time, a piece of paper fell out. It was a receipt to a grocery store. Could've someone left it in there by mistake? unfolded it. Heck! It was from Winn Dixie in the small town I live and the items were the type of products I normally purchased and it was dated April 2001.

I had bought it and probably sat it on my book shelf with other TBR books. During maybe influx of books (conference), it was moved around and forgotten.

It was good and now I want to read the next book about the brother. It's an Intimate Moments (Harlequin changed them to Romantic Suspense imprint). You know what that means, I'll have to go to an used book store or worse, go to Amazon. The way I feel about Wal-Mart (avoid it like the plague) is what I feel for Amazon.

Shame on me for missing out on a good author in 2001. Now I need to make up for lost time.

The author and book? A YOUNGER WOMAN by Wendy Rosnau

This Is My Kind Of Series

Quote for the Day

Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward.
Victor Kiam, businessman and entrepreneur

New Movie

Oh, yes, this one looks like a lot of fun.