Taking some time...
Current mood: busy

After all the promo, I seriously need to hibernate.  Veronica will be around to post blogs, answer simple questions, etc. for me for a bit.  I'll be sure to keep you updated on Luna and the books. :)

Yasmine

6:52 PM - 3 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Stick a fork in me, I’m done for the day....
Current mood: melancholy

Man, I really need to read the synopses of movies before I watch them for the near future.  With my bi-polar mood swings running at a real rough pace because of my stress over Luna, I really, really don't need anything depressing right now.  Hell Boy--that was fun, I watched Ghostbusters again the other day and that was about the right speed.  But tonight I watched the Curse of the Golden Flower.  Brilliant, vivid, moving, very opera-like...but tragic and left me so fucking depressed that I can look up and barely see the bottom.  I thought it was going to be like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which I love.  It so was not.  Very good, but really NOT what I needed right now.

Ugh.  I'm off to feed Luna.  We're syringe feeding her water too, just to get some extra into her.  My heart just aches watching my baby girl so weak...we need to break the infection soon.  Of course, she's only been on the antibiotics a couple days--so I know we have to give it a bit more time.  But right now, I really, really need something to make me smile or laugh or a ladder to climb out of the pit.  Sheesh...at least I got some work done today.

Okay, chalk it up to a sucky evening and I'm going to go feed the babe and then find something stupid to watch on TV.  Sometimes that's the only thing that works.  That and hugs and good stuff like that.

Yasmine

5:55 AM - 9 Comments - 16 Kudos - Add Comment

2500 Lightning Strikes in 24 Hours...
Current mood: contemplative

Yeah, that's been our weather.  Massive thunderstorms have been rolling through western Washington since last night.  I spent the evening last night sans computer since it was too dangerous to leave the surge protectors on.  Instead, I managed to see Hell Boy (LOVED IT), and finish reading Marked by PC Cast (LOVED IT). 

We're in a lull right now, may have more this afternoon (at which point the computer will be off again).  And the skies just crashed open today--pouring rain like a dam burst.  Here are some shots (this one is particularly spectacular) of the lightning around the area.

Meanwhile, I want to take this time to say: PLEASE...this weekend--and any time--do NOT drink and drive.  Too many lives are lost to stupidity.  I know the heartbreak from the other side--a family member (no longer living) killed someone by drinking and driving.  I never could forgive her for that--she wiped out someone's life, and ruined the lives of his loved ones through sheer and total stupidity.  She was driving a pickup with a bunch of friends--they were all drunk--and tried to pass a semi.  She didn't make the clearance and they plowed into the back of it.  Yes, she was hurt too--but tough shit, she didn't have to be behind the wheel.  She knew better.  And one person died.  I loved her--love her still though she's no longer with us--but I never, ever could forgive her for doing that to someone.  Don't make a mistake you'll regret for the rest of your life--or that will ruin someone else's life.

And if you don't drink and drive--my love and wishes for safety to you--because this is a dangerous holiday.  (Keep alert--drive defensively).

OH...and just playing nagging Auntie here--WATCH IT WITH THE FIREWORKS....they scare animals (keep your pets indoors because a lot of pets run away during this time), they can cause serious injury and death.  Best choice: go to a professionally choreographed fireworks show.  If you must buy them, don't buy illegal fireworks, keep plenty of water around, and just be smart.  (And don't drink and light fuses at the same time, either, dudes!).

Okay, enough lecturing.  Have a safe, sane, and fun holiday.  (Go read Dragon Wytch. *grins*--hey, I had to give another plug!).

Yasmine (getting off the soap box)

12:04 PM - 6 Comments - 9 Kudos - Add Comment

Had a scare with Luna...
Current mood: thankful

Okay, this morning Luna was resisting her food, being a little pill. She was perky.

Then this afternoon, I was in my office when I heard this pathetic squeak of a meow and I looked down. Luna was sitting beside me, hunched down, wheezing a bit. I panicked. I picked her up and carried her into the living room, we sat in the wing chair and I waited for a moment to see if it would continue. She was listless, unresponsive, and gasping a little. I thought sure she had just crashed and that it was almost over. I called Sam and he headed home. I called the vet and got an appointment.

Luna was very weak and very quiet and I snuggled her on the bed as we waited for Samwise to get home.  I thought sure that we were going to have to say goodbye to her today. I cuddled her and cried and talked to her...

We got to the vet and he checked her lungs--which sounded fine, thank the gods. Checked her eyes--sluggish, slow...but he also noticed she was severely dehydrated again. He said that she was still stable but the unresponsiveness worried him. He gave her a big dose of sub-q fluids and bingo...up she perks and gets loud and aware. He said that she's fighting to get the toxins out of her body and probably can't drink enough to keep them going.

She's been soaking her chin in the water dish, which has had us worried, but it's probably her mind's conception of trying to get more water. I told him I was afraid she was going to drown one of these days (she zones out and I'm afraid she'll just fall asleep in the water), and he said that can--and has--happened, so we've elevated the water dishes to where it's hard for her to do that but where she can still drink if she stands up.

And he's adding calcium powder to her diet--which I can add to the food we give her, and we switched to a liquid antibiotic, which I can also add to her food if need be (I got a nasty bite from her trying to pill her last night--and yeah, I'm taking care of it, antibiotic ointment, keeping it clean, because it did swell a bit).

Anyway, she got to come home with us, which I was terrified wasn't going to happen. And she wandered around a little, looking like a furry balloon because of the sub-q...and then curled up for a nap, looking a lot more comfortable.

I honestly thought we were going to have to say goodbye, but again--thank the gods, it's not today. We're going to take her in again tomorrow, and then 2-3 times a week for hydration for the next couple weeks till we can get this infection and the jaundice under control. One thing I am grateful for is she knew to come to me for help--she made the effort to stumble into my office because she knew Mommy would help. That alone tells me she's not ready to go yet.

Thank gods my career has picked up the past year like it has...we have the money to take care of her like this. A lot of people don't.

Yasmine

5:19 PM - 11 Comments - 14 Kudos - Add Comment

Contest Winners From My Dragon Wytch Countdown

I will contact each of you who won, (providing there's a way for me to).  Thank you to everyone who entered!

Winner of the Cover Art Contest from my Forums (and the winning art from popular vote turned out to be--yes, the actual final cover of the book--3).
Alexandretta (post 58)
" Definitely Number 3: I like how the next series of three give the sisters a more growing-into-character look. The actions/experiences/results of the first trilogy helped to present them in a new 'next-stage' sequence... more personal/mental/psychological development, leads me to see the next phase...."

Winner of the Smoky or Maggie Poster:
Taryn Raye
"Oh wow! That's hard because I have so many favorites….but if I had to pick just one it would be—When Delilah turned during the tree decorating and wound up in the tree among all the sparklies…I loved it because it held familiarity for me and reminded me of my cat Mizzy (aka Miscellaneous) when she was a kitten. She might have been maybe 4 months old at the time and she was mesmerized by the twinkling lights and shining ornaments. The next thing we knew, she dove two foot from the arm of the couch into the tree and came out, dragging tangled lights strands and ornaments with her. Can you tell I have a soft spot for those of the feline nature?"

Winner of the Complete Chintz 'n China Series:
Lesa Dragon
"Ghosts? Yes, I think there are ghosts out there, and though I've never seen one myself, I have felt 'not alone' at times when I knew for sure I was.  I would very much like to encounter a spirit, friendly please. I enjoy the SciFi Channel's "Ghost Hunters" thought I'm often frustrated that they don't spend more time at one location. I will see you in October, if we don't cross paths before then."

Winner of the Brian Froud/Lora Irish Books
Penny Floyd
" My favorite fairy tale is cinderella, but I must say I enjoy reading all of the fairy tales old and new alike. As for favorite dragon, Eragon's dragon Sephora. But Puff will forever be in my heart as my first dragon. I still have my Puff the Magic dragon book and audio tape."

11:54 AM - 4 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Interview with me on the Witchy Chicks
Current mood: awake

...we've decided, on the Witchy Chicks, to give people a little glimpse into what our lives are like as writers.  Last month we interviewed our own Terey Ramin (she's funny--you really should read her interview).  This month, it's my turn.  (I have a link there to pics of my office if you want to see where I work).

Yasmine

8:28 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Pet blog about Luna’s condition...

My friend, Amy Shojai (who is one of the most talented pet-care writers around, and who's talented in many other ways as well), asked if she could blog about Luna's condition.  I gave her the go ahead, with the stipulation that she add in we're not fully out of the woods yet.  Here's the blog, and here's Amy's Website (she has a MySpace page too--you can see her on my list of friends--I highly recommend her books, btw).  If for some reason the links don't work, then you can find them on the blog on my site.

Latest update:

6.30.08: We dropped her at the vet to find out about the teeth and the water. She's very dehydrated but shows no sign of hyperthyroidism or diabetes. Her liver readings are, of course, high but not at a worrisome rate so her liver is still functioning, she still has a nasty bout of jaundice, a good thing--her weight hasn't gone down any more (she gained a few ounces but he's just calling it stable right now), but her white blood cells are quite elevated and he says she's probably got an infection, so she's on antibiotics now. Her temp is also low--so she's curled with hot water bottles. He does NOT want to put her out to check her teeth--she's too weak for that still--but he couldn't feel anything wrong with the jaw and thinks she may be grinding her molars as we feed her. We've got antibiotics to give her twice a day now. And we're taking her in twice a week for sub-q while she seems dehydrated. I don't want us to try it at home, she's too fragile.

Yasmine

2:26 PM - 7 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

Dragon Wytch is official today...
Current mood: quiet

It's out.  Whatever comes, will come.  I hope people love it--or at least like it.  I'm officially tired today.  I'm going to take the rest of the day off and play games and try not to think about how it's doing. ;)

Yasmine

12:17 PM - 20 Comments - 26 Kudos - Add Comment

*whispers: BTW....*

Tomorrow Dragon Wytch is officially released and on the shelves!!!!  I want to hear how you like it. (whispers, I hope they like it!)

It's too hot here.  And our Luna is now fighting an infection--think good thoughts for her.  She's made some definite strides, but we aren't out of the woods yet. *sigh*

Yasmine

10:50 PM - 9 Comments - 18 Kudos - Add Comment

Jezebel interviews Camille
Current mood: flirty

Over at Jackie Kessler's blog her character Jezebel, a former succubus, interviewed Camille.  You can 'hear' the interview over at her blog (and if the link doesn't work, you can always find it on my blog on my site or on live journal).

Camille found it a riot.  I think if the two of those characters got together we'd be in a whole lot of trouble.  Or at least the male population would be in a lot of trouble.  (It's a little raunchy for the more delicately inclined). *wicked grin*

Yasmine

Currently listening : Love on Your Side: Best of the Thompson Twins Release date: 2007-09-04

10:34 AM - 2 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment