JourneyLeaf: Life a Page at a Time

Book Report -- Getting Close!

Am I sounding like a broken record?  It feels a bit that way.  But the wrap-up of a book project is a lot like extended finals week in college.  I still have one more chapter to thin down, but I finished chapter five yesterday as well as an appendix on working with recipes from foreign countries.  Now I'm working on "bridge pieces," bits of narrative to introduce each chapter before I hit reworking chapter six.

My friend Jennifer Niven has two successful published books with more on the way and is often invited to speak at book clubs and writers' groups.  She said she's often asked about inspiration and knows people want to hear about singing birds and lightning bolts from the sky, but far more often it is the reality of the electricity bill that keeps her going.  I've had some fabulous and inspired moments on this project.  I absolutely love what I do.  But before the excitement of holding a finished book in your hands or seeing your book in a bookstore, there are all the hours by yourself staring at the blinking cursor on the computer screen.

I'm getting close now.  I think I can get the bridge pieces and chapter done today.  (Although I woke up at 3:30 and couldn't go back to sleep, so I foresee a nap or two in my day ahead.)  If Jelly Tot would kindly give me the weekend, I can put everything in order on Sunday from the photographs to numbering the pages then get this in the mail on Monday morning.

But, of course, the baby may have other plans.  If that's the case, that's okay too.

Book Report -- Nov. 28

I hope you and yours had a very nice Thanksgiving!  This was my first without any of my side of the family there, so it felt a little odd.  But I have a huge number of things to be thankful for.  

Just one and a half more chapters to tidy up on the book.  It's getting harder and harder to cut paragraphs, so I'm just trying to do my best to cut down the sentences and hope my efforts get me there.  I'll probably send to to the press at least a little oversized.  They send it out for peer review, so before I cut deep to make sure I get it into the size limit, I'd like to first and foremost be away from it long enough to have some perspective and, second, hear what the reviewers feel are the strengths and weaknesses.

Off I go to get more done.  The big hope is to get everything in the mail on Monday and perhaps have a day or two before Jelly Tot arrives to catch my breath.

Book Report -- Nov. 26

I got through an entire chapter yesterday and was pleased -- yet this morning I woke up thinking that one of the transitions in the chapter was too clunky and needs more work.  I cut 4,979 words from that chapter, which was great -- yet now I realize I need to move one more long recipe into it.

Each chapter seems to have its own challenge.  Chapter two was all about transitions and I couldn't seem to get the flow right for a long time.  Despite my two morning glitches, yesterday's chapter seemed to be simply about cutting.  The odd thing is that it is so painful and difficult to cut sentences and paragraphs at first, but then I start looking at the whole thing and thinking, "Shoot.  I'll just cut all the rest of this."

Today's challenge?  Not sure yet.  The chapter seems to be in pretty good shape except for being a bit lengthy, but I never know until I dive in.

Here I go...

Book Report -- Nov. 25

Whew!  The messiest chapter is now out of the way, although I only managed to cut 2,453 words on that one.  Now I have 12,155 words to cut as I tidy up the last four chapters.  I think I can manage 3,000 or so words per chapter.  And these four chapters are in pretty good shape in terms of how organized they are, so I don't have to do battle with them the way I did the last few days on chapters one and two.

Hmmm.  I'm starting to think I may make it.  If I just keep my nose to the grindstone....

At bedtime, Brian and I are still reading our way through our travel journals from our honeymoon.  Here are comic relief pictures -- hanging out with Leo and the Queen (at Madame Tassaud's Wax Museum).  Pip!  Pip!  Cheerio!

Book Report

Not sure if I'm going to make the book deadline.  Jelly Tot seems happy enough where he is, but the December 1 deadline from the press itself is still looming.  

There are nine chapters altogether and when I finished the first draft, I had 130,236 words...and I'm supposed to have only 105,000.  That meant cutting about 35 to 40 pages.  I've gone back through four of the chapters, tidying up and culling unnecessary sentences and paragraphs, but also putting in the necessary end notes and selecting photographs.  I've managed to cut out 10,628 words.  That leaves me to cut 14,608 words across the next five chapters and I think that is manageable, but with the Thanksgiving holiday, I can't be sure of getting enough time in to actually do the work.  All I can do, though, is just keep plugging along.

Today I've come to the messiest chapter, the one I'd be horrified if UGA Press saw.  So I'll breathe a little easier after I can get that one done.  If I miss the deadline and they ask to see what I have as is, I won't have to feel so apologetic.  

I think the hardest part for me is seeing how the whole fits together.  Most of the chapters are around 25 pages and that's hard enough -- keeping it all in my head long so I know whether the flow is working and if I've covered all the topics.  The entire book?  Even harder.  I had outlines, but they have been shuffled enough now that they don't make sense anymore and I don't have time to create new ones.

The crazy thing is that I want to be done, but I don't want to be done.  I love this work and this topic.  I'm going to miss it.

Journals and Travel

Brian and I have been spending a little time each night reading our honeymoon journals aloud a day at a time.  He wrote a page or so per day.  I tend to be a little more wordy -- no surprise there.  His journal is straight text while mine is full of pasted-in ticket stubs, picture from brochures, and the like.  It is great fun to read them "side by side."  Each captured a detail or two that the other didn't, so the lovely trip becomes vivid again.  While spending most all day at the computer and then the reality of the tail end of a pregnancy, its nice to go wandering down memory lane.

Westminster Abbey on a November Day

Warwick Castle

Creature Comforts -- Philosophy Bath Gel

My friend Danielle started it.  One year around my birthday a box arrived with a bottle of Philosophy brand bath gel in it.  It was a "plain Jane" sort of domed bottle with a black snap top.  The odd thing was the scent -- Pumpkin Pie.  And it really did smell like pumpkin pie!  From the first use, I was hooked.  This stuff can be used as shampoo, shower gel, and bubble bath.  It is much thicker, richer, and nicer than anything else I've ever used plus the scents are very true and not too harsh.  I think one of the biggest appeals, though, is the variety.  I love to have small pleasures that I change with the seasons and Philosophy is perfect.  In the winter months of the new year, I stick with Hot Cocoa, Cinnamon Buns, or one of their mint scents.  In spring I move to one of the fruit scents like Berry Crumb Pie or one of the vanillas like Waffle Cone or Birthday Cake.  In the summer, I love Lemonade or Fresh Peach.  September is for Apple Cider while in October and November I've always got a bottle of Pumpkin Pie in the shower.  I'm out of Candy Cane for next month, but can make do with Egg Nog.  I'm a little tempted by the new gingerbread variety pack they have out -- Cinnamon Hot Dots, Gingerbread, Spicy Gumdrops, and Sweet Creamy Frosting.

When we moved cross-country, out went all our liquids.  We gave away every bit of cleaning supplies, cooking extracts, etc.  But I couldn't give away my unfinished bottles of Philosophy.  I put the caps on tight, slid each bottle into a sealed freezer bag, and then packed them carefully in a plastic bin with a tight lid.  And they arrived just fine.  I'm glad I did.  Right now some of my longtime favorite pleasures are limited -- visits with old friends, a long hike, marathon shopping jaunts with buddies, and the like.  I don't have time for movies and such.  I'm trying to eat healthy for Jelly Tot.  I've been tied to my computer for a while and soon will be tied down to the house with a newborn.  But the pleasure of a warm shower with Philosophy is always there.  (I know!  I know!  Several of you have warned me that I'll barely have time for a shower once the baby comes, but at least it will be a good one.)

Sephora beauty store carries Philosophy, but some department stores (like Dillards) carries it too.  And there are shops online.  I've found that each store carries a different selection; even the Philosophy website doesn't always have them all.  They are admittedly expensive -- $16 for 16 ounces.  But it lasts a very long time.

Some of the other scents:  Carrot Cake, Red Velvet Cake, Melon Daiquiri, Raspberry Sorbet, Strawberry Milkshake, Key Lime Pie, Caramel Mocha Latte, Spicy Pear, Orange Cranberry, Black Licorice....

Christmas Nesting

Parting of nesting and getting ready for the baby is knowing that Christmas is right around the corner.  I know Brian can spend some time with the baby while I zip out to do a few things but, again, getting ready is part of the nesting thing.  I feel better now that all the gifts are bought (or at least ordered) and the stockings are ready.  Last weekend we tracked down a Santa hat for Brian because Jelly Tot has a Santa suit with one and I want a picture of my two guys in their hats!

I think Christmas is a nesting time anyway.  I always think about that line from the Simon and Garfunkel song about "a deep and dark December," then want to be home where the tree is lit, baking or reading or doing other cozy pursuits.  I love the idea of the baby being part of that this year even though I know I'll be sleep deprived.

Getting ready for being home much of December means that I have to peek at the Christmas displays now.  My dad loved the holidays but always grumbled about holiday decorations appearing in stores too early.  This year I'm grateful!  On the weekend, Brian humored me by wandering around Kmart and Wal-Mart with me looking at decorations, wrapping paper, toys, and the like.  (It was such a lovely break from the book!)  On the way home from my doctor's appointment on Tuesday, I stopped at Target to do the same.  I don't buy much; I love my old familiar decorations (especially now so far from home), but I love the colors and sounds and watching little kids look around at everything.

A teeny stocking for Jelly Tot

38 Weeks

I forgot to mention when I posted this morning that today is a cause for celebration.  Jelly Tot and I are now at 38 weeks!  Although 40 weeks marks the expected due date, weeks 38-41 are considered normal full term.  I've had friends who went through the scary experience of premature babies and am grateful our little guy has hung in there to full development.  Now just don't get too big, please, Jelly Tot... 

Nesting

It's true.  Although I have to admit that I'm a nesting person anyway, nesting is almost irresistible when a baby is on the way.  Before my niece was born in 1999, her mom who never cooks anything more than fish sticks or poached eggs had me in the kitchen with her helping to make casseroles to freeze.  (She never used the casseroles and eventually they got pitched.)  A few years later, I stopped by to see a friend who was supposed to be on the tail end of bed rest and I realized she'd done a complete overhaul of the kitchen pantry including scooting a heavy set of shelves across the room.  (If memory serves, I threatened to hit her with a frying pan.)

Me?  Making sure the baby's room is done is the most satisfying part of nesting.  But I have this secret urge to make sure the rest of the house is stocked too.  We went up to the Travis Air Force Base Commissary and I loaded us up on extra toiletries, paper towels, house cleaning products, and toilet paper.  I've also purchased jars of pasta sauce and the like for easy "cheat on cooking" meals.  I just want to be able to get by without getting out for a while.  And it is a need rather than a feeling.  Brian can do the shopping for a while or I can zip out after feeding the baby, but that doesn't stop me from stocking up.