Funny Things About Hotels

My husband has discovered certain, interesting fact about hotels in the past couple of years as he has taken more business trips. The higher the 'star' on the hotel? The more expensive EVERYTHING is! Free internet? Are you kidding? Free breakfast? Sheesh. What do you think we are? Here to serve you?

No. I think the higher the 'star' on the hotel, the more you pay for an experience. Coolness, sophistication, trying to feel rich? I really don't know.

Now. Damon and I will be staying at a hotel in California. Originally we were going to stay with relatives, but they have pets and he is allergic. However, it's fun to stay at hotels. I prefer it in a lot of ways because it gives me time where I don't feel pressured by anyone else. I can just do whatever! Because we will be staying for ten days, Damon decided to cash in his miles and one of the hotels is right on the beach. I'm totally stoked.

BUT, it is a four star hotel. I'm not sure what that means. I've only stayed in a four star hotel once before--Denver. I recently blogged about our little summer trip to Denver and I LOVED the hotel. But it was a historic hotel and gorgeous because of the historic part. Beautiful, ornate woodwork and almost a sense of being in another time. Now you KNOW that appeals to the writer in me.

This hotel is brand new. And even in it's little webpage talks about their 'casually sophisticated vibe'. I'm not sophisticated. Not remotely. Casual? Yes. I've got that part down. How can I stay in a hotel that is 'sophisticated'? I don't have the appropriate clothes--I'm sure!

But whatever. It's the experience. And boy, am I planning on using it. I'm going to take a ton of pictures! And walk on the beach. And maybe go swimming too. But what I really want to use this hotel for is some ideas. Maybe I'll get to see people not like me . . . but the OTHER side--you know, those people who think staying in a four star hotel is beneath them and the only reason they're there is because of some weird accident. I need to see people like that . . . because I want to use them in books! I need to have SOME idea what they are like. I'll be really disappointed if they are just normal, like me. Rich people are not supposed to be normal, right? They're rich!! ;)

So even if we don't get the internet and a continental breakfast, I'm going to have FUN!!

What a Week

Here is my last week of school: SICK.

I made it to school on Monday, and for first period on Tuesday. By second period, my voice had pretty much vanished. And if you can't talk, I mean, what's the point, really. So I went home. My voice started to come back yesterday and it is much better today.

So I'll make it back to school in time to say, "Have a great break!".

I feel really badly too, because I really wanted to help my kids with their projects. Basically tomorrow I'm going to give them the choice to hand it in, or hand it in right after we get back from the break. I feel like I SHOULD have been there to help out on the last minute things. Ah well.

However, I've really enjoyed being at home, resting. I finished up my edits with The Middle Princess--YES, I did get past that dratted Chapter 11, and way past it. I also read two of my friends' books--which both rocked by the way--ah the wonders of a laptop in bed, a large gallon of water, and plenty of medicine to keep one company!

But, now my voice is mostly back--and I've missed FOUR days (I started getting sick last Thursday, so I took Friday off) and it's kind of freaking me out how many days I'm missing. So, yeah. Definitely back to school tomorrow!!

Christmas Break is ALMOST HERE!!

Progress on Chapter 11: Well I've gotten through it. Now I have to go back and do word searches on was, were, that, and possible looked. My characters look a lot.

School is tomorrow--last week before Christmas Break! Woohoo! I'll have a lot of papers to grade, but we also get to go to San Diego this year. Damon's sister, Tina, got tickets for us. What a great Christmas present, right? We'll be there TEN days! It'll be crazy, but I hope a lot of fun. I'm also planning on going to the beach to do some writing. Doesn't that sound like fun? Okay, well maybe not to everyone, but just sitting on the beach and listening to the waves come in? That sounds nice, right? At least it will be warmer than here!

Trying to Encourage Myself

I'm trying to encourage myself to look at chapter eleven. I opened up my computer, put my fingers on the mouse pad and slowly, so slowly headed in the direction of Chapter 11. Yet, I paused as I ran the cursor over that little picture that said "Chapter 11". Just two clicks. That's all it would have taken, but I couldn't take the plunge. I couldn't look at it. Not right now.

So instead I went online and started blogging. Well, first I went to other people's sites and read a few things THEN I came back here.

I'm still not feeling any more prepared than when I first started surfing. Hmmm . . . obviously I should have just taken the plunge.

I was talking to a friend yesterday, complaining just a little about when my husband is home--it's hard to not want to spend time together, which means I don't get any writing or revising done. She suggested that I get home and get writing. It's a great suggestion. Literally, if I got home at 2:55 everyday (which isn't always possible) but if I did, I could conceivably work on writing for THREE hours. That is a LOT of time. But I told her I often come home stressed so then I want to do something that lets me veg. I'm trying to limit that vegging out time to one hour. Which still leaves me with a full two hours before the hubby gets home. And if I just ignore things like supper and laundry and cleaning--which I can, that's what weekends are for, right? Or just limit my cleaning time to 15 minutes a day (which worked great last year and I could always clean while watching something) then I could totally have two whole hours a day. Which, when you think about it is a lot of time. So I need to stop my whining (yes, Ali, I DO) and get myself in gear.

Look at the time. I still have 1 hour 50 minutes to revising.

Deep breath. I can do this. I can open up that file and START. I CAN!!!!