I did it!

With a little help (okay, a lot of help) from Jane Graves. I sent her my flash file and she converted it to video for me. Now, of course, I am salivating to buy the program that does the conversion, because, heck, maybe I'll make a whole bunch of videos! They are SOOOO fun (when I'm not tearing my hair out, that is).

Please hit the "Play" arrow on the video screen to see my short trailer for my April book.

I am also in the process of moving my web page to a new server. I've been using the free webpage offered by my ISP provider for many years. All I had to buy was a domain name and a small fee for "forwarding." But my web page has gotten so big that I've outgrown the free space. Now that I've started the process it looks extremely complex and scary! I hope I can get everything taken care of with no lapse in service. But meanwhile, I can't update my webpage (so that old Picture of the Day is just going to have to stay there).

I actually got a lot of writing done today. Not writing, really, but editing. I got through about 150 pages of my suspense book--much better than I expected. And I (we) swept the porch and raked the yard. It's been so long since I raked that SNAKES are hibernating in my leaves. I about fainted when I uncovered one, and not a small one, either. Not a garter snake. I never saw its head, so I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing it was a racer. They're harmless constrictors and fun to play with--I used to catch them when I was a kid. Today I let this one slither away. He burrowed deeper into the leaves/grass, hopefully underground.

I'm also doing an online "Goals" class. So. Busy busy!

Thanks for visiting,
Kara

Pages written: 147 edited
Where did I walk: Around the neighborhood, to Carnival, 5762 steps
Treasures found: 1 quarter and 2 pennies
Today's affirmation: I have an inner calm and total confidence that everything will be fine.

Technology is so frustrating!

I've been working all day trying to get my video to post correctly at Google Video and/or YouTube. I finished my book trailer. It's no masterpiece--I was really just playing around with the program to see if I could get it to work, but the final result wasn't horrible and so I decided to post it. But, though it plays just fine when mailed as an attachment, the version I uploaded to Google Video has no sound.

I have no idea what went wrong with it.

But I'm so tired I don't think I have any brain cells left with which to figure things out. If you have any clues, please share!

I did start the day out nicely, with breakfast at Norma's. Rob and I agreed that we had lots to do on the house and that we should work one hour per day on cleaning, straightening and maintenance, starting today ... right after lunch. Well, I've discovered a new weight-loss miracle. Because, interestingly enough, had no interest in lunch today until almost dinner time, and by then Rob was off to Tai Kwon Do. So, no housework today!

Thanks for visiting,
Kara

Pages written: 0
Where did I walk? To Norma's, 1712 steps
Treasures found: 0
Affirmation: I am full of energy and motivation.

Workshop in Tyler

Today I drove two hours (no hardship on this lovely spring day) to speak to the Romance Writers of America--East Texas Chapter. I talked about agents. It was a small but very friendly group. And hey, they fed me! Sometimes I think I should walk around with a sign that reads, "Will speak for food."

It was late in the afternoon by the time I got home. I took a nap. (I didn't sleep well last night because poor Chloe had a tummy ache and was jumping onto and off of the bed and yowling intermittently all night. This morning she yakked up a hairball the size of an orange, poor baby.)

This evening I worked on my book-trailer movie. Making Flash movies is addictive--I could do it all day! If I ever decide I don't want to write, I'm going to make movies.

Thanks for visiting,
Kara

Pages written: 0
Where did I walk? Nowhere, unfortunately
Treasures found: 1 penny, on the floor at the restaurant in Tyler
Affirmation: Everywhere I look, I find wonder and beauty.

Another Productive Day ...

... Not. Still in Post-Deadline funk, but that's okay. I prepared for my workshop tomorrow and did my usual walking (went to the library--not as much fun without Rob).

But Rob is back! He had some air reservation challenges trying to get home from Orlando but he finally managed to get on a plane. We went out to dinner tonight to celebrate.

When I got home I worked some more on my movie, which is a 30-second book trailer for my April book. (Considering how long it takes me to do this stuff, the movie might be done by NEXT April!!)

Have a great weekend,
Kara

Pages written: 0
Where did I walk? Library, 8026 steps
Treasures found: Zip
Affirmation. I may be a lump, but I'm lovable.

Finito!

Did I spell that right? Anyway, I typed THE END today, and I rewarded myself by working on my first Flash movie. This is all Jane Graves' fault. She MADE me buy SwishMAX, which is a Flash movie-making software, and it is OH so much fun, but very time consuming. I've been working for hours and I only have about three seconds of video, mostly because I am having to figure everything out.

Tomorrow I will get to editing, revising and polishing GOOD HUSBAND MATERIAL (there is unfortunately a very good chance that I won't get this done by my deadline, since I'm going out of town on Thursday). Maybe it won't be as yucky as I fear.

I mailed off my prize to the winner of my February contest today. Congratulations to Sheila Green of Lewisville, Texas! If you would like to win a prize, I will be announcing a new contest on my website, www.karalennox.com, in the next few days.

Thanks for visiting,
Kara