The shop I had my car towed to called, and the results are MUCH better than feared. It is NOT the engine like they feared. It is NOT the AWD like my husband feared. Instead, my little bro is the winner... it's the alternator! A bearing seized in the alternator and it threw and damaged … Continue reading Good Car News at Least
Car Excitement Or Does It Really Take 24 Hours to Tow a Car?
My husband and I were out working on Friday, and we had paused on a far back road to take photos of a renovated barn when my car went THUNK and turned off. It wouldn't restart. My husband got it turned around in neutral so it wasn't blocking the road, but it would NOT turn … Continue reading Car Excitement Or Does It Really Take 24 Hours to Tow a Car?
It’s Probably NOT Cancer
I've been vague about why I've had an MRI and such, but I have contacted family, and here's the low down. Disclaimer: There is NO NEED to panic. NONE. No one is going to die, and it's not a crisis. I have two extra salivary glands on the outside of my jaw. In early 2020, … Continue reading It’s Probably NOT Cancer
End of the World Bunkers-R-Us
I had a TON of fun looking at end of the world bunkers with my brother and rating them based on practicality, design, whether the close spaces would incite violence, you know, the usual criteria. So far, my favorite is from Atlas Survival Shelters: The Pennsylvania. The image below is, of course, theirs and copyrighted … Continue reading End of the World Bunkers-R-Us
Magic 8 Ball Says: Results Are Promising
I got my MRI results literally the day after I had it. Talk about quick response time! Note that this was taken with and without contrast. They were fun to read through. I thought they would JUST check our location of concern, but they looked at everything. I was impressed with the level of detail, … Continue reading Magic 8 Ball Says: Results Are Promising
MRI Anecdotes
I didn't get any pictures from the techs, sad, sad, which is unfortunate, but I had my MRI on last Monday! I was rescheduled, and it turns out that's because they wanted to use this piece that wraps around my head, and that won't fit in the normal MRI. Fair enough. I was scheduled for … Continue reading MRI Anecdotes
Sewing Masks Again
Since the pandemic started in 2020, I've been sewing masks for family. In fact, I've only bought one mask, and that was to support an author I love. I started early enough that I was ahead of the materials rush and was able to pick from a variety of fat quarters at WalMart and bought … Continue reading Sewing Masks Again
Christmas Traditions: The Bird Ball
Families tend to build holiday traditions over time, and our family is no different. But this one is just plain silly! Let me present to you... the bird ball: My grandfather was a fan of garage sales. He died in... 1979? So that's how long this tradition has been running. And at one unfortunate garage … Continue reading Christmas Traditions: The Bird Ball
Off to Get My Head Examined Take Two
I'm heading to Madison this afternoon for my MRI. This is attempt number two since they scheduled me for the wrong machine last time. My in-laws will watch Tundra which is super nice of them, and we'll stop by and see a friend from college on the way. He's in long term recovery care - … Continue reading Off to Get My Head Examined Take Two
Happy New Year!
Or Happy New Year's Eve at least! Traditionally, my husband and I go around and change all the fire detector and carbon monoxide batteries on New Year's. Because nothing says being an adult like drinking and climbing a ladder propped up on a staircase. I jest. The drinking happens afterwards, but it's a silly image … Continue reading Happy New Year!
Story Bible
I'm working on a story bible for my Ocooch series. If you're not familiar with the idea, a story bible is a file, document, or set of documents that store all the useful information you need for a series so you don't contradict yourself. What color are the best friend's eyes in book one? It … Continue reading Story Bible
Pragmatic Gifts
You might have noticed that my blog has been, shall we say, 'light' on photos lately. This is because the camera that we got for our wedding in 2013 finally died. It's had problems for a long time now, but now it won't even stay on for more than a few seconds. I'd been using … Continue reading Pragmatic Gifts
Merry Christmas, Ya’ll!
No post today because at the time I SHOULD be posting, I will instead be in church. My church is less than a block from my house, so that's no big deal. I just walk over, and my husband stays home to watch Tundra. My family always opens our presents on Christmas Eve though, which … Continue reading Merry Christmas, Ya’ll!
Officially On a Content Editor’s Schedule!
When I published my first novel, I didn't have the money, after all the $3000+ in expenses, to hire a content editor, so I muddled along with beta readers and a proof reader. This was a mistake. I'm not 100% happy with the result. Now that I'm revising book two, I want to get it … Continue reading Officially On a Content Editor’s Schedule!
Reschedule: Off to Have My Head Examined LATER
Turns out they scheduled me for the wrong MRI. ... I didn't know that was a thing, but it means that I have a NEW MRI appointment on January 3rd. They called me frantically at 7:15 in the morning to reschedule, so I can't fault the poor lady for hopping to get it fixed. I … Continue reading Reschedule: Off to Have My Head Examined LATER
Off To Have My Head Examined
I have to travel for an MRI today, so there's not much post to be had. See you on Monday~! *smile*
I Made Bread!
No, this is not gluten free bread. Instead, this is me testing my End of the World supplies. Like, if you're storing them? Please check to make sure you know how to use them or they're useless to you in an emergency! In this case I have wheat berries and a wheat grinder. So I … Continue reading I Made Bread!
Tax Estimates
I've mentioned before that I went manic during the earlier part of the year and spent a ton of money rapidly. I haven't had a manic spell like this for almost ten years, so it was MORTIFYING. What I didn't say is that to keep us afloat I pilfered from our quarterly taxes. I didn't … Continue reading Tax Estimates
Character Artwork
I loved the cover for book two SO much, and it was done by a different artist than book one, even though its the same studio. Here is a cut from it: So, for marketing materials I commissioned the same artist to do character portraits of the love interests. Can you guess who? It's Hakon! … Continue reading Character Artwork
Logo Ideas
I need a logo incorporating my initials for some marketing materials, and my friends have been helping out. The initial idea because I like hedgehogs (and act like a hedgehog): My rework: Which works out perfectly because I already draw a hedgehog like this on my business cards. The plan is to get the logo … Continue reading Logo Ideas
I’m Crying. Literally Crying Tears of Relief and Joy
First Draft Is Done!!!
Take a look at my Kanban board! The first draft of Ocooch 02 is at 113,000 words! Book 01's first draft was only 76,000 words. It's going to be SO LONG! I can't wait to revise it!
NaNoWriMo 2021: WINNER~!
We Hit 700 Posts!
I set up my blog in January or February of 2017, had a few haphazard posts while I set things up, and then settled into a solid writing schedule of 3 posts a week, every week. I've only missed... 2? days entirely. In which I posted an apology the next day. I've had a handful … Continue reading We Hit 700 Posts!
I Couldn’t Resist! And Where Is the Old One Going?
I've been going to my in-laws' new house, but I don't want to bring my computer cross country and put it at risk. So I've been using my old, yellow, 8" Kindle Fire. It's... clunky. Kinda battered. Some things don't work. And then... Amazon had 'Black Friday Early'. So... I was naughty. This is the … Continue reading I Couldn’t Resist! And Where Is the Old One Going?
My Honey Made Me Orange Chicken!
I've been pretty stressed lately. Mostly because I'm pushing hard for words for NaNoWriMo! But my husband decided to cook more, and he's been experimenting with cooking new recipes. Mostly, he's been trying things himself. I'm personally a fan of any cooking that isn't mine because I don't have the energy right now. But this … Continue reading My Honey Made Me Orange Chicken!
GrowStalk Planters… Fail?
If you'll remember a prior post, I went oh-so-manic and bought end of the world supplies. Part of them were grow lights, seeds, and grow stalk planters. Then I proceeded to evict everything from my closet and set them up. They looked nice at first, but let's take a look at how they're doing now! … Continue reading GrowStalk Planters… Fail?
You Need a Budget (YNAB) and Their Scandal
This is not a dramaful blog. Let us discuss... some drama. If you know me, you know that I'm big on using the You Need a Budget website for tracking my spending, budget, debt, etc. I'm a huge advocate for it, often given passionate explanations for why You Too Need YNAB! I'm on the Facebook … Continue reading You Need a Budget (YNAB) and Their Scandal
Covid Vaccine Booster Oops
I mentioned, briefly, that I had a reaction to the Covid Booster, and I guess I should elaborate on that. TL;DR: Get the MATCHING booster for the shots you already had! My first two vaccines for Covid were Pfizer. The first, almost nothing but a sore arm, and the second I had a day of … Continue reading Covid Vaccine Booster Oops
Monday NaNo Update!
As a reminder to those who aren't writers, during the Month of November, many authors and aspiring writers attempt the NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month challenge to reach 50,000 words in 30 days. Now, 50,000 isn't exactly novel length in my opinion, about half of what I write in one, but it's a lofty … Continue reading Monday NaNo Update!
Christmas Lights Are Up!
Sunday was just a lovely day out, so my husband took down the Halloween lights and put up some for Christmas. We don't have anything fancy, and the white hues don't match, but he had a lot of fun, and it looks cheery! Half of one strand is dead, hence the dead zone. The brilliant … Continue reading Christmas Lights Are Up!
Lovely Fall Photos from the In Laws’ New House!
Okay, this is just a pretty photo dump! It was a gorgeous fall day with rich sunlight and long sleeve temperatures. Behind the house, there's Open MFL land: The north side of the house: Zoomed in across the fields to the east where a farmer happened to be taking in their crop: Same location, zoomed … Continue reading Lovely Fall Photos from the In Laws’ New House!
NaNoWriMo Update as of Sunday Morning
So, this is being written on Sunday for my Monday post. As of this morning, I'm at 15,732 words! The goal for today is 11,669, and I haven't written yet today so I'm doing well! I did some of this writing at my in-laws' new place, so I have to take a bit to transfer … Continue reading NaNoWriMo Update as of Sunday Morning
Another Small Manic Swing and Med Change
I had my appointment with my psychiatrist on Wednesday, and there will be a small med change. First, was getting chewed out again for not contacting her while manic. TO BE FAIR, this time only lasted four or so days, and my husband caught it quickly so I didn't spend too much money or hurt … Continue reading Another Small Manic Swing and Med Change
NaNoWriMo!
Ya'll. YA'LL. It's National Novel Writing Month! Which may not affect you directly, but I'll be writing 50,000 words in 30 days to celebrate. This will be the 7th time I've done this event through NaNoWriMo.org , and I've 'won' 5 times! Here it is! I won't be starting a new book, although the event … Continue reading NaNoWriMo!
Tundra Turned Eleven!
And to Round Out Your Week - Cute Photos of Tundra My camera died, so I spent time using one of my mother-in-law's old phones to take photos of the new house. I don't have a smart phone, and my digital camera was from 2013 as a wedding gift. I'm not sharing those because it's … Continue reading Tundra Turned Eleven!
Amigurumi – My Progression So Far
I got the bright idea that, to save money, I should crochet some cute animal figures for family, you know, otters, wolves, that type of thing. Fantastic. I found an amazing pattern. Even better. The problem? I don't know how to crochet. **facepalm** I'm not going to buy fancy supplies until I know I can … Continue reading Amigurumi – My Progression So Far
Porter Robinson Concert!
On the 7th, I attended a Porter Robinson concert at the Sylvee in Madison, WI with my husband as our anniversary present to each other. I knew going in that it was going to be VERY painful, and so I talked with my doctor in advance and asked for ONE painkiller. Instead, she gave me … Continue reading Porter Robinson Concert!
Let’s Talk Mania
I don't spend a lot of time talking about my mental illness, which is unfortunate in that it doesn't, I don't know, put a face to the illness as much as I like. But I also don't like singing the same song all the time. It gets old. You get sick of it. I get … Continue reading Let’s Talk Mania
Artwork Update
Obviously, this piece isn't done, but I wanted to show progress on my current piece. I laid down marker first, and now I'm working over it with Prisma color pencils. A close up of the mostly finished face. You can especially see here that her hair and the background aren't done, as well as the … Continue reading Artwork Update
An In Progress Art Piece
The art I've been doing can take anywhere between 10 and 40 hours depending on the complexity. So, this piece isn't done yet, but I have some in progress photos to look at. First, the reference, with her bare chest covered. From Studio Grafit. The sketch on printer paper: Obviously, I'm going full on mermaid … Continue reading An In Progress Art Piece
Puppy Pool Paddle 2021~!
It's that time of year again! The Puppy Pool Paddle is an event put on by our local animal shelter every August, and they rent the pool so that the dogs can all play together in the water. It's the end of the season, so they clean the pool after to get rid of the … Continue reading Puppy Pool Paddle 2021~!
I Look Like Someone Dressed Up Their Dog in a Princess Outfit
Just because your character CAN wear something doesn't mean they SHOULD. I rolled a new character in Guild Wars 2, creating a Charr. Now, I don't usually like Charr, but I saw someone make a tiny and cute one, so I thought I'd give it a try. I did the reverse of most patterns with … Continue reading I Look Like Someone Dressed Up Their Dog in a Princess Outfit
Preview of Murky Water’s Cover!
And some pretty for you: Murky Water is set around Thanksgiving, and of course the Kickapoo River Valley is a starring point in it! The cover is complete; this is just a preview. Yay~!
Mixed Media Try Number Two
Another mixed media art practice. These are all photos, no scans, so the final reflects light a little. The reference photo from Studio Graffit on my photo frame. It's propped up on the easel my husband got me a little while back. I've free handed a sketch of the photo on printer paper, and I've … Continue reading Mixed Media Try Number Two
My Copyright Was APPROVED!
I got a letter in the mail from the Library of Congress! And inside? A certificate for my copyright on 'Still Water' that shows it was approved. I'm SO happy! Like, seriously, should I frame it?
My Mobile Writing Set Up
You might be surprised to know that I do the majority of my first draft away from my desk or computer. I use an Alphasmart Neo 2 for drafting, and I love the comfortable keyboard AND the fact that there is no internet and thus no distractions. I keep the Alphasmart, my printed progress, and … Continue reading My Mobile Writing Set Up
Paperback Proofs!
I finally got to see my novel in print! There are some issues with this proof, so I resubmitted with corrections, and now the paperback is live! You can find it here on Amazon. I took photos: These two are for my god kids, and they live in Canada. I didn't list this book widely … Continue reading Paperback Proofs!
“Still Water” is Live!
IT'S LIVE! You can buy it HERE as an e-book for $4.99 or as a paperback (soon!) for $14.99. A quick blurb: Danita Morgan is starting over. New town, new school, new everything. A chance to walk away from a relationship gone sour and the restraining orders filed against her.Her new neighborhood is made up … Continue reading “Still Water” is Live!
That Art on Your Parents’ Fridge? It Matters
I have many issues. I'm disabled. I'm mentally ill. I have a ton of anxiety. You know what I don't have an issue with? Trying new things. I'm talking about the kind of self confidence that, when faced with a new hobby or a steep learning curve, allows me to throw myself at my goal … Continue reading That Art on Your Parents’ Fridge? It Matters
Renee Wittman 