I've been downloading pics today and thought I'd share. DH took these last week on his trip. (He's the one in orange).

Beavers Win! Beavers Win! Beavers Win!

From www.osubeavers.com:

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Bill Rowe scored the go-ahead run on second baseman Bryan Steed's throwing error in the bottom of the eighth inning, and Oregon State held on to beat North Carolina 3-2 for its first College World Series title Monday night.

The Beavers (50-16) became the first team in CWS history to lose twice in Omaha and win the national title. Oregon State also is the first truly Northern-based school to win the series since Ohio State in 1966.

Way to go BEAVS!!!!!!!

Oregon State made it to the finals of the College World Series! They came all the way back after losing their first game to Miami, and last night beat #1 ranked Rice (for the second time) to make it to the finals. The final series starts Saturday where they'll meet up against North Carolina.

Can you tell we're pumped? So guess where DH is? Well, last time he called he was in Utah. Yep, he's driving to Omaha. He spent a couple hours online after the game searching for flights but couldn't find a decent price, so he and a buddy are off on a roadrip. They left at midnight, pumped up on adrenaline and testosterone. I, personally, think they're nuts, but they live for this stuff. I made him promise he'd pull over if he got tired. He 'yessed' me to death, which means he'll just keep driving.

And, Piper, yes, DH would be horrified to know you didn't even realize OSU had a baseball team! (Shhhh...I'll keep your secret since I like ya.)

First game's Saturday at 4pm PT. Everyone together....

GO BEAVS!!!

It's been a while since I posted a Bryce-ism, and this one was too funny to pass up.

As many of you know, DH and I are huge OSU Beaver fans, and the Beavs are still alive in the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. Last night they played Rice University in an elimination game (they won, by the way, and are now playing Rice again tonight in a live-or-die game for both teams. The winner goes on to the final series). So we're in the car coming home from the club last night where I'd just taken the kids swimming and DH had gone to work out. DH - who is the biggest baseball nut you ever met - is sitting in the passenger seat talking to me about OSU's chances in the game while I'm driving. And he says, "They just need to beat up on Rice tonight."

Now Bryce, sitting all the way in the back of the suburban (and who has radar ears), perks up and says, "Hey! You want someone to beat up on me? That's not fair!"

To which DH and I both chuckled, and DH says, "No, honey. Rice. Without a B."

Bryce frowns and says, "No, Dad. There's a B."

DH shakes his head, twists around in his seat and says, "No, Rice. R-I-C-E. It's a school."

And Bryce, the smart four-year-old that he is, replies, "Daaaaad. It's B-R-Y-C-E! And school's over!"

Gotta love 'em...

Yes, you know them: Military Intelligence, Government Organization, Working Vacation, Jumbo Shrimp, Peace Force, and my personal favorite...

Positive Rejection.

I've heard of this nebulous thing, but always thought, "Come on, a rejection is a rejection. You can spin it however you want, but it's still a big fat R."

And then I got one. Actually, I didn't get one, I've received a couple off this last round of mail-outs. I've gotten used to the standard form R's. I've even gotten used to the polite personalized R's that gently say, "this isn't right for me, but I see promise" (ahem, a gentler, kinder, standard R). I've even gotten used to the fact a lot of agents are sending form R's on fulls - although it grates on me. So when I got my first personalized POSITIVE R on a partial, I was shocked. No, wait, I was floored. Esp. when it came from a big agent who is known to be a little snarky in her responses - IF she takes the time to give you a personalized R. I read it, and thought, "Woohoo. R." Then I reread it and realized as far as R's go, it was a pretty good one. Then I got another one, from another big agent. And while both of these agents ultimately rejected for different reasons, they each had great things to say about my story and writing, were very encouraging, and both thought I wouldn't have a problem finding someone to rep it.

It's not the answer I wanted, and it still means nothing until I find that one person who loves it enough to pick it up, but it feels like a move in the right direction.

So, okay, maybe positive rejection is still an oxymoron, but it's not as bad as I thought it was before.

A few of my favorite things.

I stayed up until 1 am last night rereading my most favorite book (yes, Piper, you know which one that is). What is it about those fav's that just draw you back time and again? I can overlook all the "errors" because the characters and the story are so amazing. *sigh* That's how I want to write.

I bought a new bra. Now, normally I don't get excited about something like this, but this bra is AWESOME. It's the new VS Secret Embrace strapless bra and it feels amazing. You don't even know it's there. Seemless, tagless, the softest material EVER. I've never spent $45 on a bra before, but this one was worth it! (And then I spent $14 on matching panties. How smart was that?! But they're so comfortable!). A new fav.

I can finally get through my spinning class without feeling like I'm going to have a heart attack. Not a real "fav", but it's great for the bod, so I had to include it. And hey, I'm proud of myself!

I started thinking about all the books I want to write. There are a lot brewing. And I'm excited to do them all. Guess that means I need to get started on the wip. Might work on that tonight.

What are some of your favorite things?

I've been doing a lot of thinking during this down-writing time while painting. About where I am and where I'm going. I recently hit my three-year writing anniversary - still without a sale. I think it's safe to say any naive expectations I had about the publishing world being a piece of cake have all but flown out the window.

In a recent post at Romance Worth Killing For, Joan talked about writing being more than just writing. That it encompasses things like critting, research, study, classes, and a keen eye for the market. I agree. And I've been doing those things. Especially studying the market.

There have been a lot of first sales on the loops. It's hard to read the constant barrage of "I sold!" and not feel a little melancholy at the state of your own publication endeavors. But when I look at what's selling, I have to admit to myself that the brunt of the sales I'm hearing about are erotica sales. Some young adult, a few paranormals. That's not to say nothing else is selling - I've seen a few contemporary romance sales to HQ, a western to Kensington, etc. - but the majority of what's selling isn't what I write. Most of the RS sales I'm hearing about are from established authors.

So that makes me look at what I write and say, "Well, why are you writing it?"

Easy. Because I love romantic suspense. That's where my heart it. It's what I read and what I like to write. Could I write something else? Sure. I could. Would it sell? I don't know. I know I'm as good as some of the people who are selling erotica and young adult. I might even have a better chance at making a sale if I wrote either of those, but do I want to?

The answer right now is no. And because it's not something I really want to do, I don't think I'd be working to the level I am now.

Where does that leave me? I want to be published in RS. I want my books in print. I want to sell to a major NY house. And I'm willing to wait for that to happen. It might not happen when I want it to, but I know deep down it will if I keep on going.

Last night J and I were chatting, and she said, "I guess there has to be a Plan B at some point." At the time we were talking about print pubs vs. epubs. I can sort of see her point. There's a lure there to sub to an epub. To get a little validation, to join the crowd. I know of a lot of people who are selling to epubs - a lot of good writers. I could do that too, but when I look at my goals and what I really want, being pubbed by an epub right now isn't one of them. That in no way is a reflection of one being better than the other, it's just my own personal wants and needs at the moment.

All of this is tumbling through my head as I plot my next book. It will be another romantic suspense. It might not sell, but I'll keep writing. I know I picked a competitive genre to write in. I also know at some point my persistence is going to pay off. I hope so, at least.

What do you guys think? Do you have a Plan B?

...I just feel like it.

Sick baby, the painting project from hell, and school winding down. Those are a few of the things occupying my time.

Writing? Shee-yeah, right. I wish. Plot is simmering. Characters are getting restless. The first scene is all but shooting out of my fingertips.

And yet I paint.

And chase kids.

And do laundry.

And plan.

Will get back to writing soon.

I must. Before I go insane.

I told you I was in redecorating mode.

I was getting tired of the the gray, so I decided to revamp.

What do you think?

So, So, Sowing...

My Gremlins have been on me the past few years to plant a garden. As my husband will attest though, I have a brown thumb. Every living plant I've come in contact with has died a terrible death. I killed two ficus trees this past winter, destroyed a Christmas cactus and recently let two big beautiful boxwood in planters on my deck turn a golden shade of brown. The plants that hang on are doomed a terrible fate. They get watered when they limp over like decrepid old men. I can admit I hate to weed. Deadheading is a chore I abhore. And in the heat of summer, when the deck is baking, it's way more appealing to stay in my cool house than remember to step outside with the hose and give my struggling plants a needed drink.

I've balked at the garden idea for a long time, partly because having grown up in the country, I remember the hours my mother spent tending to her garden. I don't have the time or patience or even a smattering of desire to do the same. Part of me just doesn't want the responsibility of killing more than my fair share of plants. So I've been more than thrilled with the reality that we haven't had anywhere on our lot to put even a small garden for the kids.

Not so this year.

In February we had a series of wind storms and as a result lost a beloved 30'-wide Deodora cedar in the corner of our property. I loved that tree, cried when we had to have it taken down. What we were left with was a huge hole in our landscaping. DH has since replanted another, young (read: ity-bity) Deodora, and now (much to my chagrin) we have a big blank space, just perfect for - you guessed it - a garden.

So, today, DH and I were out there building a raised garden bed for the Gremlins. Hours in the sun, raking and digging and planting. I'm completely convinced we planted everything way too close together and within a matter of weeks (assuming I remember to water) we're going to have a jungle of vegetables. The kids are thrilled. I'm looking at it thinking: this is the bane of my existence.

However, there is a small bit of irony at play here. As I was reading the directions on the seed packets, I noticed several said to thin the struggling plants once the shoots cut through the earth. Keep the strong ones, lose the weak ones. And I realized that's what I've been doing the past few weeks. I haven't been writing. I've been playing with storylines and plots in my mind, trying to see which one will be my next WIP. I've been busy - painting and redecorating our master bedroom (and now gardening) - but I've also been sowing my stories, trying to see which one will take the lead and shoot upward. I can't say with 100% accuracy I know yet which direction I'm taking (I'm not done painting yet), but I can say I have a much stronger direction.

We'll have to see what grows in my garden and my laptop in the weeks to come.

Now on to a few housekeeping things...

For those of you who don't know, Mondays are my day to post over at Romance Worth Killing For. My post is already up (imagine, I'm early this week!). Also, we're hosting a weekly contest over there and this week's prize is a harcopy of Sandra Brown's The Alibi. All you have to do is comment to any post during the week to be entered into the drawing, so head over!

Also, in case you missed it, Allison Brennan gave a great interview at Writer Unboxed this past week. It's a three-part interview, worth skimming back through. I love Allison's interviews because she's always so forthecoming and honest with her answers. And she's a wonderful inspiration for all of us still struggling toward that first sale.

And for those of you interested in contests, Karin Tabke had a few things to say about them last Friday at Murder She Writes. Worth looking at if you're thinking about entering or are currently trying to interpret those elusive comments.