Friday Random

Random Quote of the Week: I try to do something everyday that I can tell my mother about.

Random Task of the Week: Defeating the evil army of ants that invaded my child's filthy bedroom because someone was sneaking snacks to bed and hiding them under her pillow. Just, ewww!, on so many levels.

Random Contest of the Week: Are You Hooked? I've had a ton of excellent feedback from the other authors and the Secret Agent. Enough that I think I know how to "fix" the opening to make it lovely. The one problem that a lot of people have is a lack of the character's name. (shakes head saddly) that isn't going to change now or ever so I suppose some people will just have to scream.

Random Recipe of the Week:
5-minute Homemade Ice Cream

1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup milk or half & half
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
6 tablespoons rock salt
1 pint-size plastic food storage bag (e.g., Ziploc)
1 gallon-size plastic food storage bag
Ice cubes


- Fill the large bag half full of ice, and add the rock salt. Seal the bag.
- Put milk, vanilla, and sugar into the small bag, and seal it.
- Place the small bag inside the large one, and seal it again carefully.
- Shake until the mixture is ice cream, which takes about 5 minutes.
- Wipe off the top of the small bag, then open it carefully. Enjoy!

A 1/2 cup isn't much, we doubled the recipe using half cream and half 2% milk. I used a large amount of regular salt, a capfulof vanilla, and maybe a 1/4 cup of vanilla/lavender sugar I had waiting for some lavendar cookies.

Random Cuteness of the Week: Eldest decided to try her hand at sewing this week (she's almost six) and so I helped her make some super simple pajama pants. Small and Pink joined in on the fun too. And then Small and Pink decided to eat some chocolate powder (quick) by the cupful. That was funny too was I was done cleaning up.

Random Bad News of the Week: Grandma is back in the hospital. She's 84 and has an on-again-off-again flirtation with cancer. It looks like they're "on again". She weighs a whooping 76 pounds (listen for the jealous sighs of the super models wordlwide) and very tired.

Random good News of the Week: My friend Windsong has had a request for a partial on her second query of her beautiful novel. She's very talented and I'm fully expecting an ARC when the time comes :o)

Random Question of the Week: What is considered "fair use" for a comic strip? I used to save comic strips cut from the newspaper or the ones e-mailed to me in the mornings and I know I can't use them to make money (like by printing out all of a comic and selling it) but could I post a favorite Calvin and Hobbes panel on the blog or not? I'm trying to find out for a character posting I'm cooking up.

Random Progress This Week: I've edited the first three chapters of Bryson Anomaly. It's going into Draft 2 and actually looks so much cleaner than some of my other books. I know it needs editing and has some weak points and some repetition but it's amazing how just writing and writing and writing can actually make first drafts coherent. I've also finished up through Chapter 10 on DoJ. There is progress there. I'm hitting the section that needs major retooling and I hate it, but I'm moving forward.

Random Prediction of the Future: My MIL flies out tomorrow morning. The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged) is playing at the local theater..... I see insta-babysitter and a cheap date in my future.








So.... What's your random?