Are You Ready for the Summer?

As the buds begin to appear on the trees, when the flowers begin to push up through the ground seeking warmth and sunlight, this writer turns her eyes toward Summer. Yes, I've just skipped the entire Spring season. Why? Because it's just tucked in there for a few nice days teasing and tempting in all it's blue-skied delight. If you live in NJ that's a license for the same sky to turn gray, open up and pour tons of snow on you just as you were rotating your wardrobe from thermals and mucalucs to crop tops and Bermudas.

Not that this has happend yet this year, but I'm warily watching the skies. Last week it was sunny and mid-sixties, today I had to turn on the electric blanket before I went to sleep because it was so bloody cold in the house my toes had turned blue.

I loved sitting out on the porch last week as my dog played in the yard and I took a library book outside to bask in the sunshine. It felt so good. I even contemplated taking my computer out there to write a bit, but doing it this way gave me a bit of a break from all the characters running rampant in my head.

It's hard to believe a quarter of this year has already gone. I'm not anywhere near where I wanted to be writing-wise. But is that any wonder. No, not really. I saw this same thing every year. Why are the days off not as productive as I'd like? That's really where it all begins. Even on the days when I write 4-5K it doesn't seem like enough. Maybe I should shoot for 6-7.

So, this quarter's goals: Getting Serenity's Price full out to Harlequin. Getting the full of Bad Religion to Loose-ID. Finishing Intimate Weapons to send to Liquid Silver. Getting Water Mark out the door. Finishing The Host: Bloodlust and getting it out the door. Then let's not forget Carved in Stone.

Maybe by the time summer roles around I'll have a few of these accomplished. I also want to lose the first 30 lbs. of a whole lot more weight I need to lose. Commit myself to exercising and getting outside more.

It's a tall order, but I think I can manage.

What's on your agenda as we hurl towards the summer? Any vacations? Trips with family? Writer's conferences?

-Kate