Random Friday

Random Friday is... random!

• baked a second honey buttermilk loaf this week - the hooligans ate it as quickly as they had the first!
• also baked hamberger buns yesterday
• tried to make my no bake cherry cheesecake with a diffent pie filling as the topping - I picked up strawberry-rhubarb and raspberry pie fillings. Well, luckily I tastes the strawberry-rhubarb before putting it on. Tasted like fake strawberries, no tart from the rhubarb and I tried a rhubarb chunk, too - no flavor! I tested the raspberry before putting it on and it was better, though still not great. I used it anyway. I guess there's a reason the cherry pie filling is what's traditionally used!
• baked brownies yesterday
• baked chocolate chip cookies today for the son because he's wanted the chips ahoy cookies on Monday when we went shopping because he hadn't had them in forever. Now he knows why he hasn't had them in forever. Not great and apparently they didn't soak up any milk, even when he left them in it for ages. So now he has homemade ones :)
• I discovered hot wings ruffles potato chips - picked one up out of curiosuity on Monday. I enjoy the bite of the spices as I eat them
• doing large hotdogs for supper tonight
• I see so far random friday has been all about food....
• bought a new frying pan that arrived today - all of mine let everything stick to them, so hopefully this one will work better. They claim the diamond shape pattern cut intot he bottom help with browning. We shall see.
• didn't do much crocheting this week - just a bit one evening, did add a new color to the blanket I'm doing, I'll get it a little farther on before sharing a pic
• I did take out my adult coloring books and have been doing a bit of coloring - rainbowing everything that I've done so far
• I have not been sleeping great so last night I took melatonin. I slept over 6 hours, so yay. I did wake up around 6:30 and had to wake the hubby up to go get me a yoghurt drink because my sugars were dangerously low and I didn't trust myself on the stairs.
• despite the extra sleep, I am headachy today - who knows maybe because of it - I got a decent amount last night, but I'm still in a deficit overall
• I can't believe it's May already! 
• I also can't believe it's Friday again already.

Have a great Friday!

Sean

smut fixes everything

Random Friday

...is random

• like many introverts it feels like I've been practicing for this age of self-isolation all my life. I've got this. 
• I do miss being able to go do a grocery run at 10 pm when there's hardly anyone in the stores, and I have to admit to feeling guilty if I take a long walk in the mornings just for the exercise.
• writing is going slower than usual, but I'm trying not to stress myself out over it
• every now and then I get sucked down the rabbit hole of AITA posts - people can be so evil to each other
• speaking of getting sucked down a rabbit hole... I watched the Tiger King on Netflix. Wow. If I wrote a book with all that in it I'd get reamed in the reviews for it being too unrealistic, too much, etc. Humans are not a nice species. 
• I am going to make hot cross buns tomorrow - I have never eaten them or made them before, but my guys like them, and I'm wanting a bread challenge, so I'm gonna try them out
• I miss having a working stove/oven. Sure the mini oven and the little burner aren't doing a bad job, and I'm learning their quirks and how to work around not having a full sized oven. But. Full sized ovens come in handy and being able to have two different burners going at once is nice too, but the biggest thing is that the kitchen, which is small to start with, feels overcrowded because now there's two more appliances on top of the range. 
• We had snow yesterday. Not terribly surprsing, it is still the first third of April and there is still snow on the ground here and there where it was fairly deep and where it doesn't get much sun. But it was a reminder that winter weather isn't completely gone.
• I guess there isn't going to be a tulip festival this year which makes me sad
• salt and vinegar chips for the win - especially if they are ripple cut

Happy Friday everyone!

Sean

smut fixes everything

Random Friday is Random

• Good Morning!
• I got caught up on all my shows on the regular networks, so I have been binging stuff on demand and the various streaming services - caught up with The Gifted and I'd love if they would do a third season of this. Also started watching the second season of Lost in Space. My fave characters are the Robot and Dr. Smith. I like the Robinson kids, but the parents occasionally make me grumble. 
• Winter so far has been - here have some really cold weather, oh yeah, snow, let's throw a bunch of snow at you. Wait, let's warm up above zero (freezing) so a bunch of the snow melts but there's nowhere for it to go so the sidewalks are now water and slush piles so your feet are soaked right through - sorry, not sorry. I miss the good old-fashioned winter where it was darn cold for three-four months solid and only started melting when it was serious about it being spring. This back and forth crap makes it hard for walking (and is great for creating tons of potholes.)
• Nonetheless I'm loving the snow on the ground and it's just so beautiful while it's snowing, with everything covered in white
• I'm still baking, just not as much as I do at Christmas. I've got a batch of maple walnut cookies in the oven. I'm seeing my folks today and I wanted to bring them some. 
• I start Ozempic on Monday. I'm nervous, because the pharmacist and doctor said I have to watch closely at first to make sure my sugars don't drop too low. But I'm also nervous that it isn't going to work that way for me and my sugars are just going to remain as they are. I have to admit to feeling like a failure that I can't keep them down better. Unfortunately I love carbs in almost all the forms they come in...
• I can't believe it's the last day of January today - where the heck did the month go?
• I wish you all a very happy weekend

Sean

smut fixes everything

Random Friday

• Everytime I get a rhythm going and get regular posts up here on my blog, something happens to derail me. I guess all I can do is keep trying!
• Lots of movies out or coming soon this summer that I want to see. At the top of the list is the one from the Fast and the Furious franchise with Dwayne Johnson, Jason Stratham and Idris Alba! Need I say more?
• I want to do more contests, but I will admit that I'm the worst when it comes to remembering to pick winners and send prizes. I tell you - I need a keeper. 
• The problem with todo lists is that a) I have to remember to make them and b) I have to remember to look at them and see what needs todo-ing next
• So far it hasn't been a bad summer for me weather wise, but now we've hit a bunch of days in a row where I have the doors and windows closed and the a/c on. Is it too early to say I'm looking forward to winter?
• Ah, the weekend is almost here. I plan relax and relax and then relax some more. I will be doing my best sloth imitation.

Happy Friday All!

Sean

smut fixes everything

Random Friday

... is random.

• the weather broke overnight sometime - thank the lord - it started out at 22 this morning and it`s now 18 and there is this amazing breeze. It would only be better if the wind was blowing in the right direction and actually coming into the house. Can`t have everything, I guess.
• I feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel I`m currently in - but I have a suspicion it might actually be a train ;)
• I am still loving Masterchef Australia more than is reasonable - I`ve got new ones to watch now, too. This one is season eight.
• It really is amazing how much better I feel now that it`s no longer like an oven set on high out there.
• I love having the back door open to let the fresh air inside the house. It starts feeling stuffy after a few days of nothing but a/c
• I`m pushing to finish four books. Once I have, I get to do some binge watching of some of the stuff I want to see on Netflix. I`m very much looking forward to that.
• I`ve been having a hard time finding my groove again ever since RT. I need to get it back soon...
• I have managed to do a blog post every day this week. So that`s a plus.
• my father continues to bring me rhubarb on a regular basis, which is awesome - I`m hoping to make another rhubarb custard crisp today. 
• okay, I need to get back to the writing
• happy Friday all!

Sean

smut fixes everything

Random Friday

is random!

• I do this every summer. It`s like once the warm weather shows up I fade and I have the hardest time getting stuff done, but I am trying very hard to get back into the swing of things - including doing more blog posts!
• I need to pull the winner for the not going to RT contest. I have a couple extra things to throw in with the prize (like a copy of Born of Air in print, too)
• It hasn`t even been that hot yet. Or rather it`s been hot but not humid, or it`s been humid but not terriby hot. However, I`m kind of dreading July.
• Strawberry season is almost upon us. I want to make jam this year, even if it`s only one double batch.
• My father is getting too much rhubarb to use all on his own, so I have been blessed with his overflow. I have made pie and rhubarb custard crisp so far. With the new batch I got yesterday I`m going to make rhubarb cookies and another custard crisp.
• I know rhubarb is an aquired taste, but I am a sour fiend and so I love it. And in desserts you get that sweet/tart mix that is just divine.
• Still watching Masterchef Australia. We have finally gotten a new season here (8) so I have new episodes to watch instead of retreads.
• I have editing to do - boo
• I have writing to do - yay
• I have laundry to do - double boo
• I have baking to do - yayayay
• The dog is giving me the why haven`t you walked me yet eyes so I should go pick the winner of the contest and then take him out.
• Happy Friday everyone!

Sean

smut fixes everything

Random Friday

Random Friday is random.

• I am so behind on everything
• the house is 50% cleaner than usual though so I am only half as behind on that
• I have not been sleeping great lately
• found two new time wasters - wordscapes and CodyCross (which is clearly Canadian, which makes me grin)
• walked my feet off this morning, then gave the dog a longer walk this evening. My feet are tired
• having corned beef and coleslaw for supper tonight - I also cooked the two pig's tongues I'd gotten, so there will be tongue sandwhiches for lunch tomorrow
• I took a peek at prices for my ticket to Reno. It looks like I'll have to do two stops - Ottawa to Toronto to San Francisco to Reno. Fourteen hours with wait times and getting in at midnight. Needless to say I am going to be exhausted. Luckily Tuesday is only pick up registration package and go to cinema craptastique. Pretty sure I won't be up to much more.
• I love kokopeli
• I have gotten to the point where I far prefer the feeling of my head being freshly shaved over any hair on it at all
• I am making a big easter meal for a bunch of family tomorrow - there will be lamb and ham and lots of veggies
• I wish you all a good friday and a good easter weekend.

Sean

smut fixes everything

Random Friday

...is not only random, but long overdue!

• It's been a while since I last updated here. The weather suddenly turned hot again and my brain went back into hibernation mode. I just can't seem to get into any sort of rhythm or do more than panicky last-minute hitting deadlining on anything right now.  I need the weather to turn and I need it to do it soon!
• Cleaning and cooking are also harder to do when it's hot like this - it's not just the work that gets left behind but everything. 
• My living room fan has gone from quietly blowing air at me to sounding like a plane is going to be taking off any minute now, even on its lowest setting.
• I'd like to go apple picking this year, but if the weather doesn't change soon, I'm going to miss the season entirely.
• Haven't decided yet what I'm going to serve for Thanksgiving (it's in October up here in Canada). I guess what I serve will depend on how many people I wind up with.
• I was thinking of not doing cookies at Christmas this year, or just doing a couple of kinds rather than the dozen or so varieties I usually do. However, I can already feel the desire to do it at the back of my head, so I likely will. I will need to find the magazines that I've used in the past with the recipes for a lot of them, though...
• Finally saw Wonder Woman - it's a great movie and I'd say the best for DC Comics. Hopefully this bodes well for Justice League. I know if nothing else I'm looking forward to seeing Aquaman. I may be a bit of a Jason Momoa fan... from back in his Stargate: Atlantis days.
• I'm looking forward to the new TV season - the return of certain shows and all the potential in the new shows is always fun.
• Second Avenue Sweets on Second and Bank has the best lemon tarts and lemon squares. They are extremely lemony and tart, not like a lot of lemon desserts at most places, where there's a tiny bit of lemon flavor and a whole ton of sweet.
• I'm very worried about BA - she's sick and the doctors have no idea what's going on and the insurance won't approve her going to the Mayo where they deal with the more extreme cases. Hell, if the current health 'plan' gets rammed through, she's not going to be covered at all in the new year. I just don't understand the lack of caring that lets people even contemplate a plan where over 30 million people will lose access to health care. I just don't understand that.
• The other day they cut down the big maple that was just outside my backyard fence because it had a slight lean toward the house (it wasn't falling over, that's just how it grew to get sunlight). The backyard now looks very stark. It's awful. Not to mention I've lost all my shade and I have to pull the curtains during the afternoon because there's nothing shading the living room from the sunlight.
• And it's so hot out there right now - the sun is crazy hot. Hell, you can even feel it first thing in the morning as it comes up. I walk the dog as the sun is coming up and it's decent out there. As soon as the sun crests the trees/houses/etc, you can feel how darn hot it's going to be later, just by how hot that sudden sun is. Blah.
• Okay, this is getting whiny, so I'm going to say.... TGIF!!

Have a good weekend.

Sean

smut fixes everything

Random Friday

• so glad to be home
• so glad to have AC
• don't care that it's starting to get ugly hot out
• because - I did mention the AC, right?
• I might just spend the next two days doing nothing but sitting here
• with the AC on high
• mmmm AC
• AC
• AC
• AC
• AC
• AC
• Have I mentioned the AC?
• TGIF!

Sean

smut fixes everything

Random Friday

... is random!

• I have not been in the headspace to be around a lot in social media lately. Part of it is summer, part of it is what's going on in the world, but I'm trying to turn things around.
• I love that this gay dad-dating game is doing well 
• I've decided to stop buying bread and have been making everything from hamburger buns to French sticks to more interesting loaves. I am going to try a salsa bread today, which looks like a basic bread, but instead of water, you put in a cup of salsa. It looks super fun.
• There's just a few more days of Christmas in July specials of 40-66% on 20 of my titles. Find the full list here.
• I have been loving strawberry season. There is nothing like fresh, local strawberries.
• I have been watching a bunch of movies - I should do a movie monday round up from the last three weeks or so.
• I found "zesty bbq" roasted almonds at the store the other day. I am loving these. 
• I have had a dozen or so raspberries of the little bushes in my garden. Raspberries are such a bright flavored fruit.
• The writing has been slow this month. I'm blaming summer.
• I did get the next Iron Eagle Gym novel in, and received a contract for it. So yay for that. Look for The Eager Boy in late spring 2017!
• I'm trying to give up all pop - so no more ginger ale, which has been my bubbly drink of choice since I gave up coke. I wish I liked bubbly water or tonic water, but I don't. It would make it easier to have something bubbly to replace the pop.
• I'm also trying to give up chips, so I've been having nuts to replace the chips when I want something saltycrunchy. It's easier to give up the pop and chips at the same time as they kind of go hand in hand.
• Okay, I need to bake bread and make sure I have something planned for supper. 
• TGIF!

Sean

smut fixes everything

Random Friday...

...is very random!

• edits abound
• so do house guests
• fresh local strawberries
• icky humidity
• is it winter soon, yet?
• new books!
• I want steak
• tomorrow is Canada Day!
• yay for festivities being televised
• tomorrow is also July 1
• how is it July already?
• TGIF!

Sean

smut fixes everything

Random Friday

• After two days of mid-summer weather I am so happy to have a much more temperate day today. The high today is lower than the low from the last two days. I'm jealous of those folks who got snowstorms, though!
• The weather looks good for tomorrow's plan to go see the tulips - there will probably be lots of pictures on instagram... I just love the tulip festival. I love how all these different and beautiful flowers are tulips.
• I've been craving something lately, only I don't know what. I just can almost taste it in my mouth and I'll wander through the fridge and the cupboards in the kitchen and just not be able to come up with what! Very annoying.
• I made meatloaf last night and tonight I'm having meatloaf sandwich for supper. Yum.
• Got my ticket for Guardians of the Galaxy 2 in 3D at the IMAX on Sunday. I figure if nothing else there will be baby groot and Chris Pratt to look at ;)
• The todo list is still large, but I did get some stuff on it done, so that's a good thing.
• I'm looking forward to working and also relaxing.
• Have a great weekend all!

Sean

smut fixes everything

Random Friday

• got the concrud - which is what they call the sick you get after a convention. I seem to be on the other side of it and getting better *fingers crossed*
• lovely day today - tomorrow and Sunday are supposed to be raining :P
• I still haven't organized myself from being away. Hopefully I'll be able to get back into the swing of things on Monday and go gangbusters for a while.
• It's Canada's 150th anniversary this year and I've got a bunch of fun Canadian giveaways planned. I should probably start soon as it'll be July 1 before I know it!
• Got a fun idea for a new series. This one will be self-pub. I'm going to keep the details under wraps for now.
• I just signed a contract for Daddy Needs a Date with Dreamspinner Press. Look for this one in December.
• Will be going to visit my mother on Sunday. I shall be taking some cake with me. I just have to decide what kind. Or maybe I should make those triple lemon cupcakes... they were amazing.
• If it isn't raining too hard tomorrow I'm going to go to Dow's Lake to see the tulips. Next weekend will probably be better for them, though, as it's been cooler than usual.
• I need to get my office cleaned and organized 
• I need to get everything organized, actually ;)
• TGIF!
• I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Sean

smut fixes everything

Random Friday

• TGIF!
• Found a channel that's running Masterchef Australia from a couple of years ago. I'm loving it. They take much more time -- doing a challenge one week and the elimination challenge the week after. I wonder if they ran it two nights in a row or something down there. Any Aussies in the blog audience with info?
• all of a sudden the trees buds have sprung and they all have what looks like a green fuzz - it won't be long until that turns into actual leaves. I love how it always seems to happen overnight.
• I'm off at RT next week - I leave Monday afternoon and get home again Sunday afternoon. If you're going to be there - I'm the one with the bald, tattooed head - come and say hi.
• I saw a turkey this morning - live and wandering around the neighbourhood. I got a picture but it's such bad quality and he's off far in the distance. He wouldn't let me get close -- walked in the other direction as soon as I headed for him, even though I was trying to be slow and quiet.
• I'm so looking forward to Guardians of the Galaxy 2 - I'll have to wait until I'm back from RT though.
• Lucifer comes back this weekend - I'm very happy about this!
• I need to gather all my stuff and pack for RT. Stuff and clothing. 
• I also have a few things to get accomplished before I go so they aren't hanging over me.
• Going to poutine fest tomorrow! I'll bring my extra stomach with me!
• Happy Friday all!

Sean

smut fixes everything

Random Friday

Random Friday is random...

• TGIF
• How come all the edits always come in at the same time? I had three books due the beginning of February and at the same time I had three edits come in to me, all due back the same day...
• If you want a Valentine's Day card - send me an email to seanmichaelwrites @ gmail . com (without the spaces) and I'll pop one in the mail to you.
• I will get to drawing the winners from Smutty Advent sooner than later, I swear.
• I need to spend some of the weekend enjoying Winterlude!
• If I didn't have a bazillion hours worth of editing to do, I'd totally go see a movie this weekend.
• I am hungry for something, but I don't know what. As a result, I'm eating everything in the house in order to fill the hole. If I knew what it was I was craving, I'd totally just eat it and be done.
• I can't believe it's February already. Where exactly did January go?
• Have a wonderful weekend!

Sean

smut fixes everything

Random Friday

It's the very last Friday of the year! I can't believe how quickly this past year has gone. At the same time, I'm really looking forward to it being 2017 already.

Gotta admit, I'm feeling pretty disheartened right now. That's three publishers that have screwed me out of monies owed in 2016. (Okay, the ARE money would have arrived in 2017 but it's for 2016). It makes it hard to keep on being positive and to keep wanting to do this. By 'this' I mean publish, the writing is something I can't stop doing. I'm not going to stop, I just need to take a few days to get my head back in a good place.

I'm probably going to see Passengers tomorrow in the VIP seating at the new theatre in town. A small indulgence to see 2016 off. I'm not exactly sure what to expect, so it'll be an interesting experience. The plan is to have lunch there. I'm just not sure about eating while movie-watching. I don't even do popcorn once the movie starts. I shall report back.

I don't have any exciting plans for New Year's Eve. In fact, I may just stay at home and watch movies. I was going to go to Parliament Hill and watch the fireworks. They are supposed to be extra special this year to kick off the 150th birthday of Canada celebrations, but it just seems like a lot of effort. We'll see if I feel any differently tomorrow.

Okay, I'm going to sign off for today. I will be brighter and more positive next time.

Sean
smut fixes everything

Random Friday

It's Friday once again. Here's the randomness.

• After a mad rush at the beginning of the week, I finally got a few days in to relax. Time to get back to the grindstone, though.
• I need to get my holiday cards out this weekend so they have a hope of making it to people by next weekend.
• I'm going to see Rogue One tomorrow - a matinee at the IMAX
• Got a new release today - Shifter Rescue: Soul with Changeling.
• The new Mannies book came out the other day - Making it Word - and it's at Amazon and All Romance Ebooks.
• I haven't made a cookie since Tuesday. I kind of miss it - I'd gotten into a rhythm. I might have to go ahead and make something just because.
• Had a salted caramel baileys spiked hot chocolate earlier today. Yum.
• I'm feeling the neat for steak or a nice juicy hamburger. I might have to do something about that.
• The only problem with taking a day off is you've got three times as much to do the next day, not twice, but three times.
• Happy weekend to all

Sean

smut fixes everything

Random Friday

Random Friday is less random and more ack!

• Ack!
• I'm totally behind on my Smutty Advent
• I still have a bunch of cookies to do before Sunday morning, gifts to wrap, and cookie trays to put together
• I'm working on an edit I should have already sent back
• did I say ACK!?
• the DVR is almost full and I don't have time to watch stuff to clear it out
• I have a zillion Christmas cards to write and address
• there's no way I'm going to get a Christmas story written for said cards this year
• my house looks like a bomb went off inside it
• Ack!
• I'm flailing like crazy
• because of the todo list I'm jumping from thing to thing and not actually finishing anything
• I need to set up a cover reveal for the new Mannies book
• I need to find some folks to host guest posts for the new Mannies book
• Ack!
• Ack!
• Ack!

Yeah, the result of my lack of organization rears its ugly head every year around this time... at least I have almost all my shopping done this year...

Sean

smut fixes everything

Random Friday

Random Friday is random!

• having a fabulous time Chez Tortuga-Talbot
• my flights went smooth as butter - both early to board, both early to land
• look for Velvet Quartet to be available this weekend
• Bassets Sonny and Sadie are the cutest and always remember me
• just got first draft covers for the next two Dragon Soul Series books - love them!
• working on blog posts for new releases is harder when you're on holiday
• blurb writing is also harder when you're on holiday (and it's pretty hard to start with!)
• the sun always seems way brighter in New Mexico
• today will be movie day - we haven't decided what genre yet
• finally had my first tamale - so good! will definitely have more
• TGIF!

Sean
smut fixes everything

Random Friday

TGIF!

Happy Friday to all!

This week has been busy, and lots of stuff has been accomplished. I've gone through and returned three edits and one proofing, and approved a galley. I still have to send out last week's prizes, go through another edit and get the latest VG novel off to my editor. But more has been done than not done.

I've made most days of my Boo pics, too. I had to catch up a couple of times and I think I'm still one day short, but on the whole Boo and I have managed to have daily fun. I kind of want to put those pics up somewhere, only I'm not sure how. Maybe Boo needs his own blog or something... I don't know. I might continue him through the rest of the year, too. We'll have to see.

Meanwhile, I can't believe it's already October 21 - time just goes by far too quickly. I want to do some Halloween chocolates and Halloween baked goodies this year. I've got ten days to go, so I need to be serious about it if I'm going to do it and get it done soon.

The cooler weather definitely wakes me up and sees me working to get on top of my todos and it makes me want to cook and bake and make things. I like it a lot.

Enjoy your Friday!

Sean
smut fixes everything