Real Pants, Real Shoes...

I put on REAL pants today, real shoes, a real bra, and a real shirt!  This, as opposed to my usual daily garb since somewhere around mid-week of March 16th, of sweats, a t-shirt, maybe a sports bra and either socks or slippers.

This 'working from home' situation is a blessing and a curse! I roll out of bed at the same time I would normally if headed 20 minutes or so to my actual workplace, but instead of some quiet time, or cranking Jon Secada or Toby Keith in the car (I know, strange combination), I head down 13 steps to the dining room table, my COVID-19 'stay at home order' makeshift cubicle. Of course, I'm not alone, Max & Wolfie are there, wondering why the hell I'm actually not leaving the house.

While they do keep me company, these two felines can be terribly judgmental.I mean, take a look at Wolf, you know he's thinking, Why don't you get the hell out of here!
That is, of course, when he's not keeping my chair warm, when I go for a leg-stretch and do a lap around the living room!

Max, on the other hand, is very 'hands on' when it comes to my daily television work. As you can see, he has a paw in every aspect of this show. From giving me 'a look' at my choice of words when it comes to scripting a tease, to actually helping me type those words. I didn't have carpal tunnel before, but if this 16 pound cat lays on my wrist any longer...

As you can see by the look on his classic orange tabby face, he's a bit serious when it comes to his managerial duties while I'm working from home.

In the meantime, there is reason to 'celebrate.' Known & Wanted, is waiting on an e-pub shelf near you, ready for purchase. One review says it's 'Awesome!!!' - yes, with three exclamation points (not my emphasis added!) So, grab yourself a copy, it would be greatly appreciated.

And come Monday, April 27th, my writing-partner-in-crime, Deanna Wadsworth's, companion story, Braving the Deep End is released, you can preorder it now if you like. Her story gives you a little more insight into the 'Martin' family of both books.

Here's hoping your favorite authors are keeping your mind off what's happening outside the confines of your home, and from being too overly concerned about the fall-out of this 'historic' event. The 'people in my head' have been keeping me company, forcing a paragraph or two into this laptop daily -- in the meantime, I'm gonna go crank out another 10 miles on my elliptical --  Joel C. Rosenberg is keeping my mind occupied, and soon, it'll be time to reread entire episodic series from Brad Thor, Vince Flynn/Kyle Mills, James Rollins and Mark Dawson.
                                                                  Happy quarantining!

  When not playing with the people in her head, Wendy has a full time job behind the scenes in television.  She lives with her cute chef husband and two fuzzy felines in the Great Lakes region of the Mid-West.  

A Week's Worth of Travel, But Only in My Head

But, I have to go back to work!

   My week off from my 'regular' job has come to an end. Do I want to got back to work, yes and no. During this time off, I never left the county in which I live, but I did travel a whole lot with the people in my head.

Hocking Hills State Park - Logan, OH

   I went to Hocking Hills State Park in southern, Ohio, where some interaction of great emotional magnitude takes place between Eli and Zoe - the main characters in my now-finished 1Night Stand "Known & Wanted."

'Spiegel 1 & 2' - Toledo Museum of Art

    I drive past the sculpture below at the Toledo Museum of Art every morning on my way to work. It's called 'Spiegel 1 & 2' - 'mirror' in German. And in the dark, it's all lit up, just two bright figures. They're made of letters, with so much to say, yet, they have no faces, no way of communicating. The way Zoe feels much of the time.
    I visited the imaginary 'Birch County Justice Center,' the real Toledo Hospital (only in my head), The Heights at the Renaissance in downtown Toledo - for an 'in head' quick dinner.

My ass-kicker, Deanna Wadsworth

     Not only did the time off allow me to dig up and plant my garden - which has been fallow for two years due to on going roof work on my home - but it allowed me to spend more time than ever before with this lovely lady. My partner-in-writing crime and ass kicker, Deanna Wadsworth. Now when say 'more time than ever before,' seeing her for more than an hour on three separate occasions over fourteen days-- a major big deal.

   We spent a late Monday afternoon with Captain Rebecca McMonigal of the Wood County, Ohio Justice Center - read that, 'the jail.' There aren't enough words to thank Capt. McMonigal for the time, information, conversation, explanation and 'experience,' Deanna and I both took away from the visit.
    We spent another afternoon plotting more stories, clarifying plots, drinking and post-drinking shopping. Then, a few days later, she colored my hair.
     When I wasn't gardening, house cleaning, errand running and dodging the recent Monsoons, I spent some 90 minutes daily on my elliptical visiting far off lands with my pals Mitch Rapp and Scot Harvath.
     So, what did I get out of this vacation? Hopefully, piles of fresh garden veggies, another published book, ideas for at least four more, and a recharged mind to tackle the work that actually puts beans and rice on the table.
     Is it October yet?
 

When not playing with the people in her head, Wendy has a full time job behind the scenes in television, a part time job in radio and an even 'parter' time job trying to keep her house clean. She lives with her cute chef husband and two fuzzy felines in the Great Lakes region of the Mid-West.