This is apparently a problem that comes with Pontiac Grand Ams. When you use your directional and it automatically clicks back after you make your turn, you continue to hear the ticking. No, the directional is not still on … I’ve stopped the car and have checked. This ticking is not the ticka, ticka, ticka that a directional makes. It’s a constant (and rapid) tick, tick, tick that does not stop. And its as irritating as hell.

It doesn’t happen each and every time. You may go a couple of months without the tick, tick, tick, and then all of a sudden, its constant. The only way I’ve found to stop it is when you actually turn off your car or you drown it out with the radio at full blast. Which of course is not a safe option. I’ve taken this to a Car-X and they told me that this isn’t something they can repair. That I’d have to take it to a GM dealer. Excuse me … there aren’t any GM dealers around anymore. I haven’t tried a regular car repair place so that’s my next option.

I’ve had two other Grand Am owners tell me they had the same problem and they have yet to find a solution. In the meantime, I’m tempted to become one of those irritating people who do not use their directional.

No matter what you’re doing in life, there always seems to be interruptions. Like this little kid who even now is peering over my shoulder and reading this blog as I write it. Talk about a potential interruption.

No seriously … I’m mostly talking about events in your life that gets in the way of your writing. Those little things from having to take the kids to school (and pick them up), to health issues. Anyone who regularly reads my blogs know that I also write a cancer blog on Fridays … so obviously cancer has been a huge interruption in my life. I’ve known other writers who have some pretty serious health issues in their lives, yet they continue to write. They … or I should say we … don’t let a little thing like health issues stop us. Why? Because we love doing this too much.

One of the biggest interruptions for writers can be the day job and family. The day job … okay, you can work around that. You can either eke out a bit of time during the day to sneak in a bit of writing, or you mentally block the time out knowing this is time destined for the steady paycheck. This way you can plan for that hour or two of writing later in the day. Family? That’s different. There will always be family interruptions. Whether its that niece’s birthday party, a graduation, a quick trip to emergency when someone takes a fall, or … whatever. Family nearly always takes precedence. Except … and there’s always an except … when the interruptions are gratuitous. “Mom. I need a ride to my friend’s house.” “Mom, he hit me!” “Mom, I have this paper cut that really, really hurts.” No, those interruptions are grounds for a blow up. At some point, every writer has to set the boundaries … and enforce them. Kids need to know that writing is a serious occupation and that there are times when that closed door means just that … a closed door.

I’m still in the process of setting a few of the boundaries. How ‘bout you? Do you find them effective? And do your kids (if you have ‘em) respect them?

First off … the good news. Got my tumor markers last Tuesday and we came in at 102.9. Woo-Hoo!!! Fabulous news as far as I’m concerned. Not wanting to quibble over .1, I’ve been calling it 103. Still, that’s over 90 down from last time I was tested two months ago. Progress is being made.

Second … not so good news. Went in yesterday for my weekly treatment and evidently my blood work is wonky. No longer average as far as the white cells, etc., goes. Very, (VERY) low with the white cells. As in stay away from anyone who is ill because my immune system is shot to hell. Which is just perfect because one of the guys at work has been hacking and sneezing for the past couple of days. Perhaps I should stay home for the next week or so. I wish.

The end result is that I didn’t get any chemo yesterday. Personally, I would have rather gotten it since the Abraxine and Avastin combo is definitely working for me. Still, the good news outweigh to bad news, in my opinion. So I’m stickin’ with that warm and fuzzy feeling rather than dwelling on the messed up blood work.

And remember to repeat after me …“YOU ARE A CANCER WARRIOR”

Here’s a bitch session that I think is more common than I know. Not sure what it is, but why does someone … men in particular … always leave that little bit in a package? And then puts it away!

I’m not man bashing here. Hubby doesn’t do this, but the two guys at work does it constantly, and it makes me nuts. They’ll take the last half dozen crackers, pretzels … or whatever, and then, with about one or two remaining in the box, will leave it on the counter. It doesn’t occur to them to take the last few and then toss the box.

I don’t see women doing this. Is it just a guy thing? That’s right up there with drinking out of the milk carton, leaving a bit of backwash and then replacing it in the fridge nearly empty. Disgusting? Yes. Irritating? Infinitely so.

And this is also something I’ll never understand.

Although she isn’t a writer, Barbara is one of the strongest advocates for the romance genre that I know. For years she’s been an avid reader and had attended several conferences. It wasn’t until around three years ago that she met with Karen (I forget her last name) of Publishers Weekly who came up with the brilliant idea of Barb becoming one of her bloggers. Barb was resistant at first. After all, what did she know about blogging? Who’d want to listen to a nobody?

Well, guess what? A lot of people. Barbara Vey just celebrated her third anniversary over at PW with a rousing weeklong virtual party that featured a day for each romantic genre (or several genres within one day). Her hits were off the chart and the comments were many and all in keeping with the themes and the fun. After three years, Barbara garnered quite a supportive following and it showed in the number of people who came to her virtual parties.

Barb also managed to pull this off this despite the fact her mother passed away on the first day of the weekly celebrations. She had everything set up and a friend (and author), Shari Anton kindly made sure everything was posting correctly and that the parties came off without a hitch.

Well done, ladies. I’m already looking forward to the fourth anniversary.