Day 1
Me, calling Kid 1 back to the house from the office: Hey, could you please tell your dad that I can’t turn the heat on in the office? Is there some switch I should flip somewhere? He isn’t answering his cell.
Kid: Okay.
5 minutes later
Gordon: What’s going on?
Me, handing the remote over: I can’t make it work and it’s freezing in here.
Gordon goes through various options. Stares at the AC/Heat pump unit. The office is small, so it’s a small wall unit mounted near the ceiling.
Gordon: The vent opens but there is no air. Let’s let it run at a high temperature a bit and see what happens.
We work in the cold office for an hour. The edit of BLOOD HEIR must be done in the next couple of days or the CE will have a very short editing window. The AC unit decides to spontaneously blast frigid air.
Me: Could we maybe turn it off? It’s making things worse.
Gordon turns off the unit: The AC guys are coming to inspect the systems on Friday.
Day 2
Edit from the house. Accomplish nothing. The deadline for the edit is looming.
Day 3
AC tech: Your old unit downstairs is so loud because the motor is worn out. I can replace that. As to the office, I have never seen a unit like that. I don’t know where they got it and while the remote says you can set it to heat, it doesn’t actually work. My suggestion is to get it replaced.
Me, edit from the house. Get incredibly irritated by all the noise. Persevere.
Gordon comes over and gives me a hug: Hey. I called to the AC people. We’ll have someone come out on Monday and install it.
Me: How much was it?
Gordon: $5,000.
Me: …
Gordon: We need the heat in the office.
Me: You’re right.
Day 4
CE: I thought you would be sending it. Where is the manuscript?
Me: …
Day 5
Me in the cold office: I just want to stab myself at this point.
Gordon: It will be fine. Let’s finish the scene.
Day 6
Afternoon
AC tech: this unit is shorter. I am so sorry.
Me: Looking at the patch of orange on the wall: This is fine.
AC tech: It works, look. The only thing is, I leveled it, but your room isn’t level, so it looks weird…
Me: That’s fine. Thank you.
AC techs leave.
Gordon, going through the paint cans: I know we have arctic white somewhere.
First attempt to paint white over the orange. The shade of white doesn’t match.
I go back to the house. I come back to find Kid 1 on the ladder with the paint brush.
Me: You don’t have to…
Kid 1: I’ve got this, Mom.
Second shade of white doesn’t match.
Gordon: I could go get the paint.
Me, remembering that last time we tried Lowe’s nobody wore masks: It’s fine. Let’s just get the internet back up, so we can get into the Dropbox and get to editing.
Gordon goes away to put up painting supplies. I hook up the cable back to the wall and move the fully loaded book case back to the wall by myself, because I need the work space. It’s been 6 days without the office. I’m extremely stressed.
The modem online light blinks in slow motion. I stare at it. The manuscript is saved in the Dropbox and I can’t access the latest changes I made in the house unless the internet works.
Blink. Blink.
I move the book case back. I unscrew the cord. I screw it back in.
Blink. Blink.
Gordon: Why did you move the bookcase back to the wall by yourself? Why didn’t you call me?
Me: The fucking internet doesn’t fucking work.
Gordon: Okay. Have you turned it on and off?
Me: …
Gordon unscrews the cord and screw it back in.
Blink. Blink.
Me: AHHHH! WHAT THE FUCK? WHAT IS IT?
Gordon: I don’t know. We can work from the house…
Me: I don’t want to work from the house! I can’t get anything done because I get interrupted and the keyboard in the study hurts my hands. I WANT THE OFFICE TO WORK.
Gordon using the patient voice: Your tone is really hostile right now. It sounds like it’s directed at me. This is not my fault.
Me: I AM NOT MAD AT YOU! I AM MAD THAT THE INTERNET IS OUT. I WILL HAVE TO CALL SUPPORT! IT WILL EAT UP HOURS! THEY WILL HAVE TO SEND THE TECH OUT AND WE WON’T HAVE INTERNET!
Gordon: Okay. I’m going to give you some room.
Me, calling Spectrum technical support.
Me, 10 minutes later, after the auto system disconnected me, put me into a queue to be called back, called back and is now resisting: REPRESENTATIVE. REPRESENTATIVE YOU FUCKING SON OF A BITCH.
Finally a human being comes on the line: Ma’am, this is the residential support. You need business.
Me: Thank you, please transfer me to business.
Business Spectrum rep: Hi, my name is Rebecca. What’s the problem?
Me: We had to unplug the modem from the wall due to renovations. We plugged it back in and it doesn’t work.
Rebecca: There are two accounts. Which is it?
Me: The more recent one.
Rebecca: I can’t find it. Please read the numbers off the modem to me.
Me, get a foot stool, climb up on it, read off numbers.
Rebecca finally recording the number after the third try: I will try to get into the modem.
I know that the modem is inaccessible because the cable is also out.
Me trying to say the right code phrases: All of my devices are experiencing this issue.
Call drops. The ATT service is spotty, and there is no wi-fi because the internet is out.
Me, taking deep, deep breaths. calling back.
10 minutes later:
Automated system: You are having trouble. Let’s switch to touch tone.
Me: REPRESENTATIVE.
Spectrum Business Support: Hi, my name is Alicia. How may I help you?
Me: Hi Alicia. This happened.
Alicia: Well, she didn’t leave any notes in your account. Wait, there is one. It says the call dropped.
Me: … Look, I plugged the cord into the wall. It’s not rocket science, it should work, so something has gone Terribly Wrong.
Alicia: I agree with you. I am sending the tech out to you tomorrow between 1:00-3:00 pm.
Me: Thank you so much.
Later, me presenting Gordon with banana bread: Sorry I got aggravated.
Gordon: It will be okay.
Kid 2: I had a fight with Kid 1 about politics and I said mean things. Now she isn’t answering.
Me: Well, I saw some of what you said and I can’t blame her.
Kid 2: I am scared, stressed out, and exhausted. I just want to know who won.
Me: Your greatgrandmother survived Russian labor camp. We will survive this election. Your sister will forgive you. It will be okay.
Day 7
Tech, testing wires: Huh. Where is the cable box?
Me: Here.
Tech, testing more wires: Huh.
20 minutes later.
Me: So what went wrong?
Tech: When you unplugged the cable and plugged it back in?
Me: Yes.
Tech: It didn’t like it. The cable going from the cable box to the house is fried.
1 hour later.
Tech: I fixed it.
Me: Yay, internet in the office works.
Tech: I will check the main house.
Gordon: The internet there works fine.
Tech: I still go to check.
Ten minutes later
Me: I can’t activate the new phones. It says we have no internet.
Gordon, looking out of the window and seeing tech get into his van and drive away: Oh no, you don’t.
Gordon sprints to the van, flags the tech down.
Tech: I wasn’t leaving. I was going to your office.
Me: There is no internet in the house or office.
Tech: Huh. I unplugged one cable…
1 hour later.
Tech: I fixed it.
Me: Thank you.
Me: Gordon, our cell phone numbers are switched. you are me and I am you.
Gordon: Why?
Me: Hell if I know. Maybe the wireless going down interrupted it.
Gordon: Can we switch them back?
Me: Support isn’t answering.
Post except of BLOOD HEIR.
Day 7
Comments, paraphrasing:
“Moloch can’t be reborn in Arizona because the local Native American Tribes do not do child sacrifice…”
“You used tattered twice on the same page. What is the significance of that?”
“I didn´t like the new version of chapter number 1 of Ryder. I don’t to start a flame war so I emailed you directly because I really, really, really wanted you to know that I didn’t like it…”
Me, sipping tea in the state of zen: Delete, delete… The internet works. I got up early. I can continue the edit…
Skype call from father.
Me: Papa?
Dad: How are you?
Me: Explaining the debacle with the AC/Internet.
Dad: Okay. Well, we are all good.
Stepmom Irina, sliding into the frame: Ilonochka, we need help. He doesn’t want to tell you.
Me: Of course. How can I help?
Irina: We want to send Channel perfume to Dasha (my youngest stepsister) in Canada. We can’t send it through the mail and Canadian Channel site won’t accept our payment…
It is very difficult to order perfume on the Canadian Chanel site when you live in US.
It is depressing when you are barely treading water. I was thinking phone hotspot! until you said your phone coverage stinks…
This is my life the last week as well! Except also with kittens. Six kittens, 8 weeks old. Big gold eyes. Big splayed paws. Lovely, fluffy, healthy, cute. And energetic. Running RELAY RACES around our house, toppling lamps, plants and dishes everywhere they go. Trying to get into the dishwasher. To pee in the plants. To climb my daughter’s bare legs.
Adoptive families will pick them up in 2 weeks, is it ok both to love them and to count the hours?
They are so fluffy… ????
Yes, I would both love them and anxiously await their new people picking them up….
Your fosters are adorable. Thank you for giving these babies a safe place to grow and thrive.
May I hv one pls?
Sounds like you kicked butt and took names. Life happens and you dealt with it. Win for you.
Thanks for being honest about being right there in the muck with all of us.
+1
Oy! “They come not singles spies, but whole battalions.” (Apologies to Shakespeare, I think.)
I truly sympathize. It’s never one thing. There are always multiples. Internet problems are the worst, because there are sp many ways thing can break. And climate bends for nobody in Texas.
There will be no paint in your house that matches that wall. Eventually, you will paint the whole wall just tp stop worrying about it.
I suspect this darn election is helping keep everyone on edge. At this point, we just want it to be over. Yes, people care who wins, but we want it to be OVER!
Oh, good luck trying to order the gift. I’ll bet that is the hardest task in the whole list.
OY! At least it provided good distraction from outside events. Best of luck for the coming weeks, you’ve earned it 😉 PS I order Chanel from their US website, maybe you could go that route for your stepmom. I don’t know if they will ship to Canada but you can always try.
That’s what I thought too about ordering Chanel perfume through the Chanel website.
The kind I can wear can only be bought online. Even then it’s fingers crossed that I can get it.
It’s not easy or even always possible to order from a US site to ship to Canada. Some companies are set up for it with no problems others won’t accept the address or charge 75.00 in shipping. Yes, $75.00. SMH.
Rough week all around :/
Fingers crossed that means you got all the annoying irritating stuff out of the way and will now have several weeks of clear sailing! I mean, that’s how statistics work, right…? 😉
I didn’t post on the chapter 1 page cause I hadn’t read it till today.
I thought it was great. I have enjoyed the universe you have created with the Kate Daniels series and am eager to discover new and wonderful ideas within it.
Breathe.
We love your work.
That’s all you need to hear from us, so it’s all I’m going to say.
+1 million
Best Mom answer ever: ” Your greatgrandmother survived Russian labor camp. We will survive this election.”
Here’s to all the women who tough it out through the bad times!
Best reply ever!
Oh. Oh, no. The tattered comment was m-m-mine… I – I stressed Ilona out… Oh, noooooo…
S-s-s-orrrrrryyyy!
5 books in 3 days (diff authors), common adjective, broken brain, didn’t mean!
(I’m using drama for humor, too – you really are a terrible influence, Ilona. Sincerely wishing you a long spell of smooth sailing. ⛵)
Good grief! When it rains it pours. Hope you are all feeling less frustrated and stressed. Too bad we’re in different states. I work the paint dept in Lowe’s.
I loved both versions of Rider. Its what my children called a twofer. That’s a win win. Thank you.
Oy! Laughing tears! Not because of your misfortunes – you do not deserve this. But your dry humor gets me every time.
Oh, and I liked the new chapter one. The original chapter was great, but this is better as start of a novel, and it takes care of the necessary world intro stuff without being boring for old timers.
+1 ????
I can relate, and it’s NEVER just one thing at a time. My husband works away, so of course things break whilst he’s gone.
Our septic pump shit itself,
We finally got a huge dose of rain and it purged the dirt straight off the roof into my tank so we now have brown water for washing,
A lovely family of mice set up shop behind my bookshelf and chewed a hole in the plaster,
And I’ve just come back from the emergency room because my son cut his head open after throwing a rock into the air.
Ps, I love all of your books even if there are parts that I might have wished to happen differently. Why do people tell you that they don’t like what you have written? Do they expect you to change it just for them?
“Throwing a rock into the air”!
I’m sorry he hurt himself, but that is hilarious. And such a boy thing. Hugs!
OK, so I did that too as a 7 year old girl decades ago. Was bored, parents looking at rural properties and it seemed like a thing to do. Intelligence and wisdom are two different rolls as they used to say in D and D. lol I only needed a butterfly for mine but my mom had kittens. I recall my dad having a “really?” response. Hope your days since have been better. Speaking as a former child hellion, there are probably more of these days in your future. Sorry! My Dad used to say what goes around comes around…. which I said to my kids and I am eagerly awaiting the hell their potential children will send them through. I used to go building climbing (really tall ones for the love of God why) while intoxicated in college, I was very relieved that my son survived his version of that and graduated this last Spring. I am rooting for you! Hope I made you laugh. 🙂
Lots of hugs. Gordon, good job in keeping calm while Ilona got her frustrations out. ????
*Virtual Hugs*
Oh…and Blood Heir is awesome and I liked getting to see changes and theorize in my head how it will affect the story (most of which I know are probably wrong). Thank you for giving us a glimpse into your process and I’m sorry some people are mean or think this means you want our critiques and input on your story like we are all your story editors. What you write is pure magic and I hate that not everyone realizes what a gift it is.
Also, Spectrum sucks.
Consider getting a wireless internet kit for standby.
Which Chanel fragrance? Because much of the line are in department stores and you could order it from a Canadian department store and have it sent to her that way. Unless it’s one of the Les Exclusif, then you have to get it from a Chanel boutique or online. Speaking of which, do a Chanel boutique search in Canada, call the nearest one and explain your situation. They can take your CC number over the phone, even gift wrap it and throw in samples.
I’m a fragrance junkie.
I’m in Canada – reach out if I can do the perfume as a thank you for the amazing writing over the years.
hey me too – on the west coast can tots get an order for your family – also as someone else suggested call a dept store to order – The Bay (Hudson’s Bay)
I am thoroughly exhausted on your behalf – also I am glad you are ignoring the ridiculousness of some of these emails.
Much gratitude from this reader.
No words ???? Sending virtual hugs ????
I am like you; my husband is like Gordon. It’s even worse when he stresses out and I try to be the “voice of reason” as his short fuse then tends to trigger mine.
As for heat, I have several small floor heaters as I am always cold when other in the house are not. I admit they are not eco-friendly, but they can be a work horse in times of issues. I normally only turn them on when I am in a room. Just a thought for emergencies. Here’s a link to an example https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lasko-23-in-Electric-Cyclonic-Ceramic-Console-Heater-with-Remote-CC24910/313000439?irgwc=1&cm_mmc=afl-ir-78091-456723-&clickid=xqdyrGx-rxyLWrdwUx0Mo3bwUkE2JJyB2WqRyM0
I am sorry for all the woes, just remember – And this to shall pass….
Oh man, please take care of yourselves. I love what you guys write, but no one wants this to be at the expense of mental health.
I have this great visual of Gordon chasing the tech guy’s van down the street shouting “NOPE, NOPE, NOPE. You’re not going anywhere until EVERYTHING works!”
+1
I am impressed that he can still run!
Me, too! He would be my eternal hero and would probably break the Internet if he did that (or faked it) on video… hint, hint.
Try a Canadian department store like Holt Renfrew or the Bay instead of going directly to Chanel. The department stores take US credit cards and often have free shipping, and like our Nordstrom, carry brands like Chanel.
You can also try Simons. Also both Nordstrom and Saks 5th Avenue have stores in Canada
You have my deepest sympathies. Dealing with the mysteries of technology is dreadful. When my heat and technology goes out I want the technicians to care rather then be laid back. I agree with the kid, I want to know election results. Right now my stress levels are so high I won’t take my blood pressure. All I can say is tie a knot in the rope and hang on. I appreciate the work you are able to do.
Yikes! Rough week. Sending hugs.
And why do people think they need to give you copyedits? Or tell you they didn’t like a chapter? WTF?
Take care. Here, have some more virtual hugs. You guys rock.
Technology has always hated me. It got to the point one year that every time I touched a light switch, tried to move a lamp, or turned on my PC in my office, something either blew out or fried.
Hubby hugged me and said he’d call the electrician, don’t worry about it.
I walk by his office on my way to the kitchen when I over hear this:
“So, yeah. Our house wiring sucks. I still think I need to find a way to put a ground wire around my wife, nothing goes wrong unless she’s in the room.”
Oy.
Yes, I feel your angst. If a large bag of sage set afire would fix it? I’d find a way to send you one.
End of this particular drama: Hubby and the electrician discovered bad wiring running from my office and under the stairs that would have eventually started a fire. They replaced and re routed the wiring. Whomever wired our house needs to be tracked down and smacked.
Still giggling! Same thing with my daughter and one of her kids. Walk in a room—ZAP. Personal grounding wire!!
I thought the new chapter 1 was great. The old chapter 1 was really cool too but this one includes the world building etc and seemed like you could pick the book up without having read all of KD books and still have a basic understanding of who is who. I like them both. But even if I didn’t, I would never write you an email complaining. Didn’t anyone else’s mother teach them if you can’t say something nice, say nothing at all? You are obviously a much nicer person than I am.. but yes delete is such a nice button!
I hope the upcoming week is better for you and your family. I wish you the best of luck with the edits. I am personally done with 2020 and am looking forward to 2021.
Awww, hugs and green tea to you.
*Sending calm through the ether* All this will pass, and your wonderful stories will be even more wonderful books and sell like hotcakes. 🙂
Big hugs.
Ha! It is super satisfying that Gordon ran down the cable guy to have him fix it again. Internet issues stink, I’m so glad you’re past it 🙂 although the phone lines are still crossed (probably literally) that sounds like a fight for another day.
O M G I had the same issue when my kids randomly decided to mark up a wall in the living room. We could not find the same paint!! Glad its not only me.
Hugs
oh, I am so sad for you! i wish you had better conditions under which to work. heat. internet. phones that work. you know, the basics! I am in awe over your perseverance. that is so so so frustrating.
the worst are the ingrates who don’t graciously accept your gift. I really appreciated you sharing Ryder.
I will never, ever understand the need for some people to email an author and tell them what they’re doing wrong. Do these people also email actors and tell them how they could do better in their next movie? Seriously, what the actual fuck goes through someone’s head when they’re writing shit like that is beyond me.
Some weeks, it’s not a boulder smashing through your life that wrecks things, it’s the pebbles just piling and piling and piling. I’m sorry your week was full of punkass pebbles.
You guys are the best. I’ve been reading fantasy for over thirty years, and you became my absolute favorite authors the first time I read Magic Bites. When I met you in Atlanta a few years ago at a book signing, it was a highlight of my year. I hope it helps a little to know that what you do means so much to so many people.
+1
+1
Punkass pebbles. I love it! And so very true.
I am working on a linux app on my chromebook because my main system is down because I just took a contract that requires I store hardware in my office and I have to reorganize so I can do that. The machine can handle the work but my brain is saying “I want my big screen and my ergonomic keyboard and my office chair and my stuff where it’s supposed to be. I can do my work. I just don’t like it. At all. And I’m feeling kind of whiny about it and I know it’s dumb but … I like my normal and I want it back.
So I totally get this.
Quite the saga!
I hope the internet continues to work uninterrupted.
I loved the new chapter 1. And Banana bread is delicious. Sending love.
*HUG*
*HUGHUG*
*HUGHUGHUG*
Wow! That’s a helluva week! Hope you survived!!
Thank you for sharing your shitty week. Makes me realise my shitty week isn’t as bad, and no where near as expensive, as it could have been.
You’ll never find the right white, so fuck it. It can stand as testament to your resilience until it doesn’t matter that the morons in Lowe’s won’t wear their masks and you can pick a whole new tin of blindingly white paint to mark a new chapter in your story.
You and Gordon (with help from Kate and Andrea and Dina and Maud and Nevada and Catalina and Cerise and Sophie and Audrey and Charlotte and Curran and William and Hugh and George and Jack and Kaldur and all the others) are doing an epic job of allowing me a little escape from the dark reality of the now. With all my heart, thank you.
OMG, I’m so sorry this is happening to you guys. Some time periods suck, and you are getting an overload.
You don’t need advice, which is good because I don’t have any for you. Just want you to know that I’m sympathetic and thinking good things your way. Electronic hugs if you want them.
What a remarkably crappy week, on top of all the other national stresses. Just know that you are loved and appreciated. I thought the first chapter was brilliant. We are all rooting for you!
ouch… that is very crazy making, and it’s happening in the context of a very crazy making country/world right now… congrats on perservering
I feel kinda bad that I am so thoroughly entertained by your tale of woe.
The technology issues are probably due to the magic you create with your fabulous writing. Or a curse on your house. Kidding (or am I?). In any case, that sounds incredibly frustrating.
Sending positive vibes your way!
I can relate to this so well it left me laughing then crying then laughing again. Breathe if you can. If not go to goodwill and buy some cheap electronic component. Bring it home and beat it up with a blunt object. It’s very, very cathartic.
I loved the first chapter and greatly appreciate you taking the time to post. Hopefully all will get less fraught soon.
Oh my. I’m so sorry. Just chalk it up to the maliciousness that is 2020. Sending LOTS of virtual hugs.
Also working in much less than ideal conditions. You truly have my simpathy Ilona. I just want to say I truly admire you, life is not easy at the best of times and no one is perfect. But, House Andrews are good people and it matters.
For what is worth yall (including doggos and kitties) make my life so much better. I loved the edited chapter of Blood Heir, I hope you can finish what needs to be done and grab some rest.
It never rains but it pours. But you handled it far better than I would. I’d have been in screeching histrionics on day 3.
Oh my goodness. As I was following the internet tech story I was getting stressed for you. Good catch with the guy’s van Gordon.
(redacted comment about how people need to stop whining about Ryder)
I’m so sorry to hear about the hullabaloo.
I wish you all peace, calm and love ❤
We’ve got construction going on and it stresses out Gandolf the cat. He deals with it by sleeping in a pillow bed under our comforter and I think it’s adorable. Please see attached adorable picture.
{{{{{HUGS}}}}}
I got frustrated just reading that. You all must have been climbing the walls.
Here’s hoping that you got all of the “Murphy’s Law” incidents over with all at once and this means you’ll have really smooooooth sailing for the rest of the year.
This would be one of those weeks when I sound much like Elmer Fudd with the occasional ‘F*&K!” exploding from the center of my very being. Hang in there. As my dad used to say, “No blood, no foul.”
Sending love. I love the excerpt, can’t wait.
I feel your pain. I was a poll worker on Tuesday. We all came early before 5 to get everything set up.
First thing , connect the scanners (30) steps and connect to the WiFi.
Got 2 out of 3 scanners working. No WiFi, didn’t like the passwords. Even tried scanners passwords. Tried to call Board of Election, text them no answer.
Finally got an answer and new passwords.
People are lining up outside in 42 windy degrees. It’s after 6, when we suppose to be open for voters.
Brought some elderly voters in to warm up and rest. Finally started at 6:28 am.
Third scanner won’t accept ballots, get tech guy to help after an hour.
Still won’t work, order new scanner. Install new scanner, still won’t accept ballots.
Tech guy back, says , need another scanner.
Get second scanner, still No!!
Got third scanner at 6:30 PM. Which finally worked.
Someone brought donuts and coffee in the evening. We needed the ????.
9:00 pm started closing procedures.
Had to wait for scanners to download the results. It was very slow to download. Everyone was very tired and frustrated.We worked together to make sure everything was accurate and all paperwork correct.
Brought results to coordinator to download to board of elections.
Guess what, couldn’t download because of wrong passwords again.
Took another 30 minutes to connect with board of elections to log in.
Got home about 45-60 minutes later than usual because of all the delays.
My mother was so proud to vote every year. She said it’s our duty as Americans to keep our voices heard through our voting.
So , I became a poll worker to help with the voting.
All the poll workers I know take voting very seriously and do our best to ensure every vote counts.
Thanks for your hard work! I appreciate what you do. 🙂
Thank you so much! Grateful for what you did for our country!
Oh my goodness. What a debacle. AT&T.. What is up with them in Texas? My mother lives in Spring, and she’s had them out three times. One for connecting internet, but they disconnected her land line. Then back again to connect the landline again, and it lost connection to tv. And so on. Don’t worry about what anyone says about the writing. It’s still wonderful.
Hugs … to all. I loved the chapter and can’t wait to read the rest. What a week. I hope things return to normal and you can work with comfort in the office.
I just started watching “Blood of Zeus” on Netflix…it’s pretty awesome… so far
????
OMG… I’m glad you got it fixed (or mostly fixed). I hope you get the phones switched back soon! That email ticked me off (save the negative stuff for other sites people if you feel you really have to share, or better yet, keep it to yourself, wtf! Do you really expect House Andrews to change stuff cause YOU don’t like it? smdh), but I bust out laughing for “REPRESENTATIVE!” I don’t know what it is, but I get ENRAGED when I have to speak to an automated voice and I always yell ‘operator/agent/representative!!!!’ just like you did, lol. Also, the Russian labor camp comment helped put some things in perspective, thanks.
Hi.
I can read that being in your shoes is a bit (okay a lot) difficult these days so I just want to send some love and good thoughts your way. Also, I rescued a cute kitten recently and will be adding pictures so that you may admire her beauty too. She was about 3 weeks old, covered in black motor oil and very cold, but now she annoys my older cat and eats my fingers.
Thanks for everything that you do. I loved the new version of Blood Heir chapter one and I truly appreciated the work and thoughts you put into it. Your work is necessary and gladly received in these unbearable times.
You’re story made me laugh! I felt a certain kinship over REPRESENTATIVE. I never had so many evil thoughts as when I was on hold with the DMV for 45 minutes.
I will share my story with the hope that it cheers you. I work in healthcare, and yesterday I was processing COVID swabs for shipment to public health. Due to supply shortages, we have three different local tests, two reference labs, and 9 different specimens for testing. Every test is tracked digitally, and each shipment has a manifest, which allows me to check that no specimen is left behind.
2 hours before pick up- No errors, all tests accounted for
1 hour before pickup- No errors
150 specimens dropped off, please ship today.
Work hard, final count =298 specimens, pick up in 15 minutes 🙂
Check for errors–> 2 specimens missing :O
There are moments in life when time stops, and the future stretches before you in horrific clarity. I saw myself frantically searching through a sea of specimens, while the courier bit his lip and tapped his foot because each delay makes him late for his next pick up.
My coworker asked what was wrong. I explained two of our specimens were MIA, and the courier was due in 10 minutes. She said, “Don’t worry, I’ll help you.”
We used our heads, and found both in 3 minutes.
Friends make the world a better place, no? 🙂
A thousand hugs guys!
On a separate note, my fiance’s name is Artem with a nickname of Tyoma. He refuses to tell me what his other nickname is despite bribes of money, threats, chocolate and other types of favors. After reading this post, I asked him if it was Tyomachka and he reluctantly verified it was.
I feel like I finally won the pot of gold!! Thanks for helping me get to the bottom of one mystery in life!
Just reading this made an anime tick on my head. Can’t imagine this going on. Hang in there! More tea to relax!
You have my total sympathy. I despise when I have Internet problems requiring tech support. Monday I spent five hours trying to update my Apple Watch. The stupid phone said that I had 54 MB of space and the update needed 4.5 GB. After troubleshooting for an hour, I checked Google. I ended up unpairing the watch. When I paired it as a new watch, everything worked fine. FIVE HOURS!!!! Twenty or thirty years ago, I wouldn’t have had this much trouble!
Spectrum is the devil!!’
**Hugs**
Oh boy. You had some crappy days, but I have to say, you are hilarious. I burst out laughing in the middle of your post. Thanks for the diversion from our craptacular election.
Wishing you good vibes, wifi and hugs.
Oh, dear. I can’t help with the various hardware issues, but I hope that knowing most of your fans love everything you write helps in dealing with the (hopefully very small percentage) ones who apparently have nothing better to do with their lives than rain on you.
Allow me to introduce you to Eddy, who likes to get all up in my business from time to time. He sends very soft purrs your way.
Sounds like the magic was up and the tech was down!
We’ve had road work here and they managed to cut the cable twice within some four months. Extremely frustrating.
Y’all are so awesome! Definitely delete the idiotic comments. Y’all do you! Love the new edits and don’t care how it comes out because y’all’s work is divine! Thanks for all you do and I love these slices of life! Absolutely wonderful!
As someone who has every one of your books, I am beyond thankful for everything you overcome and all you do to put out your creations for us to enjoy. I fully understand how trials and tribulations stack up (having lost computer, fridge, hot water heater, roof work, painting, and multiple injuries all during covid telework and kid school from home)…so let me say I am eternally grateful you are continuing to overcome those things to write and produce. Just know you are appreciated. My daughter is currently going through Legacy after going thru Edge, my wife is going thru Edge after going thru Legacy, and then both are going thru Kate (re-reading for wife, first time for daughter). And I have gone through all of them multiple times. And Innkeeper. So thank you yet again.
God bless you for dealing w those commenters. I can’t even. I’m sorry your week has been epic. Mine has been epic but mostly for different reasons (I’m teaching public HS and have 292 high school students online. I only had 150 last term. Grading is EPIC).
Hugs
Regarding the issue of getting Chanel perfume to your sister in Canada, thebay.com is the website of the largest/oldest department store in Canada. They ship to all corners of the country. And they carry Chanel. (:
On a side note I really enjoyed the revised chapter of Ryder. I especially appreciate that Conlan has more to say for himself. I thought that interaction and the scene with Sienna were more consistent with established characters. A boy who challenges the rat alpha as a toddler is not going to be a silent or manageable 10 year old.
Happy weekend!
You sound very much like my husband any time he’s had to call tech support for work. “Representative. God forsaken, miserable useless Representative.”
And yes, I edited that rather heavily. ????
This too shall pass. Hang in there.
That is a HUGE pile of suck for days!! So sorry for “The Troubles”. Glad it all worked out.
Have you tried using percussive maintenance?
It probably won’t fix anything, but it might make you feel less stressed.
Note: for financial reasons, only try the percussive maintenance on things that will be replaced, not on things that will probably be fixed.
Note #2: If percussive maintenance is insufficient, gravitational assist may be added.
????????????????
LoL
???? My husband used percussive maintenance on a mouse (the pointing kind, not the cute squeaking kind) that wasn’t working. To no one’s amazement, it was indeed insufficient.
I just yelled REAL PERSON at a customer service robot, shortly before reading this post. That did work!
I once spent some godawful amount of time dealing with a phone menu robot and eventually got, “Your call will be answered by the next available representative.” (SCORE! I thought) “All representatives are currently busy. Thank you for your call, goodbye.” Click.
…umm. Wut.
I might have verbally abused the phone menu robot a little bit when I called back. But only a little because I was at work and clients might hear what I was saying.
Sending everyone who needs it lots of love and perseverance. Blood Heir is going to smash and I can’t wait.
We have a saying on Afrikaans. “Hou die blink kant bo!” and can be grouped in the same category as Dorry’s “Just keep swimming!”
Thank you so much for making my life more beautiful with your writing.
I am so so sorry. Also, helpless with laughter. Sympathetic laughter, I swear. Good luck with all the things.
I’m so sorry this is happening. I will be praying. I love your books and am excited for anything you put out. You guys are awesome.
I’m so so sorry this all happened to you. Also you should teach your kids to never discuss politics or religion with their siblings and definitely do NOT play monopoly with them in order to maintain family harmony. (Scrabble can be risky too.)
And this is probably not helpful. . . but your white patch around the heater. It would bug me so just in case it’s annoying you, I’d doodle some arty bits around it. I had a problem ceiling in my teens (lumps and OCD. . .) so my mum let me loose with some mini paints and I had a gold star around my light fitting, eye of Horus above the curtains and various other little things. It meant I could ignore the imperfections and apparently it looked good to others too!
Umm. Anyone know how to edit comments?
I probably shouldn’t laugh because living through this would’ve been super stressful, but you have such a way with words – I love it.
I’m so sorry.
If you contact the Hudson’s Bay Company they can probably handle your perfume order. thebay.com
Best wishes and I hope things improve!
Caryn (in Canada) ????????
This is perhaps a bit crazy, but if you are still struggling to order Channel in Canada, I am willing to help. I am in Canada!
I feel this so much. I work in healthcare, so I have been avoiding my mother for the past 8 months.
She just got a kidney stone. This is literally what I do for a living. She moves in to my house, because she has had a stroke and can’t be home alone on pain medicine, she might fall. But, she has no stairs at her house.
At my house, not on pain medication, she falls down the stairs.
1visit to the ED later, no head injuries.
1 COVID scare at work, because we have had no COVID in the past 8 months, but now that I have a disabled relative at my house, someone at work is positive.
Multiple COVID tests later, no COVID.
1 surgery and week long recovery and now she is back at home (this was all faster than for a normal patient because, once again, this is what I do, all day and every day).
Now I just have to make it through this election. Sigh.
When you unplugged the cable and plugged it back in it “didn’t like it”. LOL look modem, you are an inanimate object. You do not get to have feelings about being unplugged.
Also, how did your numbers get swapped? Are these new Sim cards? They might have activated ghe sim nuber on the wrong line. If they fit, swap them and presto!
Kid 2 is learning a valuable skill. I’m not sure if the point of contention was related to the validation of the delays or differences in opinion on a reasonable outcome. When people we love and value don’t agree with us how can we discuss without becoming combative. It seems to be a skill in short supply and not one demonstrated in any debates so we are on our own to learn this.
Fingers crossed for smoother sailing in the coming weeks
PS i loved the chapter. The original was great. But somehow this blew it out of the water. Eagerly awaiting the final product. Eager but no pressure. I will devour when it arrives.
Glad to know I am not the only one who loses it at times. Funny what is important to each one of us during stressful times. I think I am probably in the kid 1, kid 2 mode right about now. Earlier my youngest dog had knocked over the cable tower and I didn’t know. Phone was dropping calls and doing weird stuff. I was about to lose it. Sister needed help with legal stuff. I feel you.
Delete is my favorite these days. Delete, delete, delete. My smile is very Zen, yes.
At least, I think so.
I would like to expand my delete capability, in fact. I can think of some most excellent uses for it. That might be even more Zen.
I’m sorry. I laughed at loud at the f- internet part because I relate to it so so much. This is me. And I swear when my husband asks did you unplug it, there’s a slow exorcist rotation of my head towards him, and a demonic voice spits out YES. I was drowning in hurricane claims working remotely with spotty internet and cell service, but at least we got power back! Hope your week gets better now that you have heat and internet!
Although i too have had a bad sad 10 days, you always brighten them! Thank you for sharing. ????
I totally completely get it. I have 4 kids under the age of 6. Some weeks are horrible. This week has been stressful to say the least. There has been voting, a teething baby with a fever and diarrhea, health complications for me, my uncle died from covid, my sister and sister in law and brother in law all have covid, and that’s the tip of the iceberg lol. Today kid 3 hit kid 4 and bit kid 2 lol.
So sorry for your loss. I survived covid pneumonia in August and September and keep reminding myself that at least for a few months I don’t have to worry about getting sick again, but it is frightening to be that sick and know it could be worse. I had surgery last week on my hand and elbow and was perversely glad it wasn’t as bad as covid was.
I once babysat four kids under the age of 8. After four hours I was chanting, “Your moms will be home soon,” like a prayer.
I can’t imagine doing that day in and out.
Dear God,
Will this horrible year ever end? I still want to grab 2020 by the throat and beat its head against the wall. I’ve decided on “Let go and let God” , He has a plan, and continue to take my stress tabs in multiples!
I swear that when you yell at the automated phone menu they can measure your voice volume and put you on hold longer hoping you’ll hang up ????
Wishing you a better week ahead ????????????????
Book writing in 2020. Hugs and tea. Lots and lots of soothing tea. Loved the Chapter One preview. I learned a new word.
Thanks for the laugh! And for reminding us that our grandmothers (mine lived through WW I and WW II, losing siblings both times, with my grandfather a POW during WW II) had it much worse and yet coped.
Love, love, love the first chapter you just posted. Am eagerly looking forward to the book!
This too shall pass, thank whatever deity you believe in. I always loved being the go to person for my parent’s tech issues. it made me more sympathetic to the tech person who had to deal with me. BTW, where in the US was a tribe that DID do child sacrifice? I loved the rewrite.
I hope things improve. No internet is sooo frustrating. Love the excerpt. I know the edits you’re doing will make a better book.
Hope the heat continues in the office. And cools when it gets warm again.
Take care of yourselves.
I’ve tried meditative breathing many times with no effect.
Today 2 of my girls were just alternating yelling at me, at each other, at the other two kids just bad day.
Finally figured out if I close my eyes and do my pain management breathing it works some for meditation.
I just…the kids are in bed. And I just need time. And wish I had banana bread.
Here is a naughty puppy for you. Give yourself all the breaks, Bogey does!
Oh my dear….
I tried chatting with the cable company last night since I felt so bad anyway. Two hours later I lost the chat. … Felt worse, so it was possible.
I LOVED the new chapter 1 of Blood Heir and thank you for the diversion.
I really like the new Ryder. It feels more polished. The original was wonderful and we needed it so thanks but I am glad you put in the work to keep your quality.
Argh!!! Life does love to throw crap full speed at our faces. I am PRAYING that your next seven days are peaceful and refreshing. I know you’re on a deadline, and I’m so incredibly grateful that y’all choose to continue with this book. I still want to hug your neck. While wearing a mask, and appropriately physically distant. ????
I can understand your children being stressed because of the usa election. I live in canada and it stresses us a lot too!
When i had a functionninb body, i had a punchinb bag in the basement and used it when the frustration of life got too much, mightbe a good investment for your office?
I am very sorry you guys had to go through all that. Computer problems send me into an absolute berserker rage. I think if I had gone through all that with an edit deadline looming, there would have been several fist sized holes in the wall. I hope it all works now. And I also hope there were many more positive comments on your Blood Heir posting. I loved reading what you had previously , but am saving myself for the book this time. I know it will be wonderful.
That sounds very stressful. I am sorry. I know what it’s like when I am in the right zone and I have a deadline, and it’s so hard when external things that like start preventing you from accomplishing your goal. I also lose my shit when I get frustrated and need to just yell. Reminds me of that dragon breathing fire you posted a while back. Nothing short of incinerating everything in your way seems like it will do.
Perfume huh? ((HUGS)) ((HUGS)) and more ((HUGS))
Thank you for posting Ryder. I loved it. I didn’t notice anything with a repeated word, and that’s what editors are for anyway. I just appreciated that you posted it. More so now that I know what you are dealing with. Thank you again.
Thank you for the excerpt. It helped on Wednesday(?).
It seems extremely difficult to start a story after an 8 year break while avoiding too much exposition. Bringing Sienna to us in the flesh was a great touch. I didn’t remember the welcome signs from the earliest draft, and they set the tone of the world and the narrator very well.
Someone read that Moloch set up his horrible cult in Arizona and assumes that the Amerindian population became his worshipers. I don’t remember House Andrews making the smallest hint in that direction. I live in the greater Phoenix area and can with all confidence state that there are huge (HUGE) numbers of people with no Indian heritage living here. There are large areas in the mountains and deserts with low populations due to scarce resources; and if Moloch wanted more land he could awaken one of our dormant volcanoes and scare the people away. The Arizona this story is set in is as post apocalyptic as Atlanta so may not resemble the real Arizona much. Come on people; read what the authors write and don’t read into it stuff that is not there.
I totally agree with you! It’s a great story for Pete’s sake. Enjoy it. I live in Arizona too. Southern to Phoenix. There is a whole lot of empty in this state.
Wow. You win this week. A fiber artist won last week-her neighbor falling into a sink hole while mowing led to the discovery she has sink holes below her lawn and around her house! I don’t even want to be in the lottery…
It’s not much, but I hope it brings a smile to you. These squirrels exist in the world!
I am in Toronto, Canada. Please reach out to me if you need any help with ordering perfume, I can do it from here, easy:)
Someone DIDN’T like the new Ryder? Wow. I thought it was brilliantly done. So there.
And I’m sorry. I need to remember you probably hear more negative than necessary and there is never too much positive. So thank you!
I’m sorry. I understand completely. I’ve had a frustrating week dealing with insurance issues that I thought were resolved three months ago. I was in tears yesterday explaining the issue to my friend yesterday. Today when I had to repeat the whole story again to the medical supply company because she wouldn’t just take my message to give to the person I had been talking with I broke down in tears again. I do think this has been a rough week on everyone and everyone is on edge.
I loved Ryder. I thought the first version was great but this version was so very much better. It’s amazing what a little editing and rewriting can do. A good story can become an incredible story. I can’t wait to read the book. I know it will be amazing.
Please try not to stress. Drink tea. Knit something. Give yourself the breaks you need.
This version of Ryder was great.
Omg, so many hugs. You are a saint for not murdering someone during all that.
Also, I agree with posts saying Ryder snippet was amazing, and thinking Arizona location implied native worship is wrong. You’re very clear that Moloch is a transplant from the old world. Nothing to do with local history, he just likes it hot.
A cup of tea and a back rub ?
????????????????????????????????
Bless you.
I am just numb at this point.
I hope all the things stay functional at this point.
And you can get the Chanel ordered! 🙂
I loved this, it makes me feel so much closer to my favorite writers. Sorry about all your hassle. If we lived closer together I’d be there with a bottle, refilling your glass while you work.
I feel sort of bad laughing ???? but you did post it for us to see so in reality I am not. So sorry not sorry ????
I do however feel for you. You are a saint to keep dragging forward. Good for you!
To close I have to say that until recently I did not understand how many people DO NOT UNDERSTAND what an author does. Good grief!! You are not in the business of “write what we ask”. The audacity to presume that! I cannot even … what the f…? So pls hit the delete. Do not read! You are an ARTIST not a “lets-write-a-novel-together” vending machine. Again, good grief!
????
I’m happy,,, laughing my arse off, at the new catch phrase, “‘Let’s write a novel together,’ vending machine.”
Oh my gosh. I couldn’t imagine. I was getting frustrated reading this, but I also had to just laugh at the end of what must have been the most outrageous week. The anger that I feel when technology does work (ITS SUPPOSED TO AAAAAALLLLLWWWWWWAAAAAAYYYYYSSSSSSSS WORK) is exponential as you try things over and over. I’m glad it’s fixed. I’m glad you can edit your beautiful book, I’m glad you have tea and are zen. I’m glad you deleted the comments from those horrible trolls. ????
Doesn’t work*
Who would have thought that disaster in 21st century will be “No Internet” .
My husband keeps all out files on “the cloud” and it always frustrates me.
We are watching the elections with a very high interest although we are at the other side of the world, my kids call me from school if there is any news.
Please keep calm here we are on Lockdown 2!
Lots of love
Lots of kisses and hugs!
And thank you so much for the new excerpt of Blood Heir, I loved it!
I’m at a point of stress (even if I live in France so am less impacted by the election results) that the only reading material that soothes me is yours, so I was even more thankful.
I’m sending you lots of good energy vibes, so that technology stops bothering you.
😉
I don’t know if it’s been said already on this post (I only had time to skim the comments, I haven’t really read them all yet), but I just love the guy with the quill that you put in the pic. He makes me smile every time. I’d like to vote for him to be in the normal rotation with the expresso in bed guy. ????
Hope next week is better! ????
OMG, I feel you.
Luckily when this happens in my house I have my hubs who is a tech genius and always makes things work. You name it, he can fix it (computer, AC, TV, cable, internet, mixer, hair dryer) and I am profoundly grateful for him.
It is so difficult when you have to rely on tech support for things. It takes ages and you get so frustrated.
I’m glad everything worked out for you in the end and I cannot wait to read the final version of Blood Heir, I know it will be fantastic, like all your other work.
Space heaters…
Pretty redundant now but for future.
Everyone’s on edge, I think.
Luckily I have your books to look forward too!
Yesterday I saw someone spill their scrabble letters in the street.
I asked them, “What’s the word on the street”?
They said “if you don’t know then why the hell would I”?
Helvetica and Times New Roman walk into a bar
“Get out of here!” shouts the bartender. “We don’t serve your type.”
A bear walks into a bar and says, “Give me a whiskey… and a cola.”
“Why the big pause?” asks the bartender. The bear shrugged. “I’m not sure. I was born with them.”
What does
Charles Dickens keep in his spice rack?
The best of thymes…
and…
the worst of thymes
????????????
I totally love your posts!!! Hahaha ????
You know what? Who cares if I can’t spell Armaggedonn? It’s not like it’s the end of the world ????
What do you get when you divide the circumference of a jack-o’-lantern by its diameter? PUMPKIN PIE ????
Funny!
Hahahahaha, thanks for the laughs
As Kate would say…. You need something to stab. Seriously.
I am with you on the no heat. My school’s heat went out in part of the building, the whole unit has to be replaced. We are there (teachers) full time. Students are 50% in and 50% online. I had 2 jackets and a blanket in yesterday because it would get above 58.
My hands turned blue.
We have 2 space heaters for the kids but my “office” is in the back. I can’t plug in a heater there because it trips the breaker which will destroy the smartboard.
No ETA on when the heat will get fixed.
It’s the icing on the shitshow cupcake that has been this week. I am there with you!
My heart goes out to you. All the little things add up, fortunately it never last. Hang in there.
For what it’s worth, I really liked the revised chapter 1 of Ryder. I also liked the original. Both things can be great!
I am sorry for your rough week. Internet problems can be a particular type of disconcerting that can only come of your virtual home collapsing in an electronic earthquake. I hope things are getting better.
Wow. All that, and you still gave us the new first chapter in the midst of it!
Thank you!
My husband also reacts this way: I feel as if your anger/frustration (over a mechanical issue) is directed at me. It’s hyper empathy, like a magic power. (Karen Moning has a character, Kat, who feels other characters’ emotions, she has to be deconstructed and re-wired in an isolation room with a silent lizard man.) I have not found a work-around, and he does not like banana bread.
I wonder if you had had the heating unit replaced as a ‘residential‘ customer if it still would cost a suspiciously even number of $5k? Maybe other readers know more about that. It seems high but I don’t know what a unit costs, and it was urgent. Super frustrating that it was not a delayed maintenance issue, it was a surprise/unknown problem at a bad time.
Wow… am I a bad person for laughing the whole time ?
And can we have a whole book with your everyday life ?
More seriously, even with your crappy week, we can feel the love between all of you. Great family.
Thank you I have had weeks like this. So stressful for no good reason.
Ohhhh how frustrating! At least you had banana bread.
So very sorry for your horrible week — reminds me of the title for a book I read once.
sorry also that some of your readers don’t know how say thank you and keep silent if something isn’t exactly what they like.
Sending you best wishes and many many thanks for hours of enjoyment – not only in the past but to come as I re-read your books often – and for sharing your thoughts with us.
(Would send you hugs too, but that might be impertinent.)
After reading everything you went through, I wanted you both to know that I really, really did like the edited first chapter. Take care of yourselves first. Your books are worth waiting for!
OMG!!! I also have 2 Spectrum accounts and have spent hours on the phone with them this week. They were supposed to call yesterday. They didn’t. I need to call today and I have done everything, including going to HEB at 6:30am, to avoid calling…
PS: I loved the snippet from Blood Heir????????????
Thank you so much for this. Not being an author I’ve never had your exact issues, but I’ve had some similar enough that I felt you pain/frustration. I hope you are laughing now because I did when I read it. And today even a small one is good.
I am sending you all the perfect, matching, not overpriced, warm fuzzy sock vibes right now.
The work you work so hard to do helps so many of us when we have had weeks+1 like yours. Thank you.
Also, wow. Fuck. That’s a week.
So, I see all is normal at your house, too.
The paint will never match paint already on the walls, even if it’s the same paint can you used to paint the room in the first place. It was explained to me once very clearly why, but all I can recall is that oxidation and being in the open air actually changes the color of the paint after it’s on the wall, while what’s in the can stays the same and you absolutely cannot expect it to match. When things settle down, since it bothers you, buy all new paint the color you want the room and paint it all. It’s the ONLY way to fix that issue, unless you take a chip of paint to a store and ask for a small can to match what it is now. Even then, it will not fade at the same rate as what’s all over the rest of the walls, and it’ll show. Trust me on this one — I’ve tried it and failed at it many times.
If you had asked for suggestions to heat the office, I’d have suggested an electric oil radiator. I heat my whole house with those because the idiot who built our house put in an electric furnace that blows cold air and runs constantly because it’s too small to heat the house. Our first winter in this house was cold and extremely expensive. Then we used the wood burner, but that’s messy and the stupid thing cracked and it doesn’t work any more. I got the electric radiators, put them in every room, and the house is perfect now because we control the heat in each room individually. You can’t set it and forget it, but you can adjust it as needed, and it works well. The heaters are about $40 each. They last for years.
The votes will be counted, then they’ll be recounted, then there will be a huge argument, and then we’ll have an election that’s settled. Nobody will be happy.
Deep breath. Cup of good tea. Closed eyes and imagining being some place you love to visit. You need to find a way to be calm in the chaos of life. Things go wrong, deadlines loom, but calm is a must-have thing. We all love your work, and we are all hoping you will still love it when this mess ends and keep doing it for us to enjoy. Say a prayer and keep slogging. You’ll get there. We’ll be here.
Sympathies. And ditto. I think everybody in the country is having a bad week.
It is very difficult to order for my family in the USA because I live in Canada 🙂
However if you want to send me the address, I’ll be happy to send the perfume to your step-sister.
I’m Canadian. Alberta. If I can help, let me know. Keep up the fight. Light has to show up sometime.
I cannot express to you how much I love the first chapter of BLOOD HEIR.
SO GOOD.
And such a balm on that day.
Thank you both & here’s hoping everything is working now.
Quick hack for heat: buy a heating pad (30” x 16” or other various sizes) on Amazon for about $25. Flexible – you can wrap in different configurations – and mobile – you can take it with you anywhere in the house. 🙂
Another heat idea: we keep our house on the cold side and my desk is by the window – sometimes I work with my legs tucked inside a sleeping bag. Don’t need electricity and it feels cozy.
It’s called a portable electric heater.
Oh goodness! I just had an experience like that with tech support for my internet carrier. I just bust up laughing ‘cause I so feel your pain. Personally I’m beginning to think it’s a 5g conspiracy! ???? They announce 5g “what the world has been waiting for.” I role my eyes…I haven’t been waiting for 5g and I don’t like those stupid low orbit satellite chains that Elon Musk launched. Oops…. any way. After the announcement my high speed internet goes down to dial up speed twice. Ugh! After four calls they finally get it working again. Good luck and God speed getting everything done in time.
I absolute do feel bad for laughing but I CANNOT STOP LAUGHING!!! LOLOL, it’s almost like an episode of Keystone Cops, yeah? Are you sure you didn’t write this to make us all laugh? 🙂
I hope your edits are finished soon, your internet and heat never go out again and your tea is strong and hot! 😉
I freaking love the new chapter for BLOOD HEIR!!!! I can definitely tell how much more work went into this version as opposed to the initial one we saw posted on the blog.
I am normally a calm and reasonable person, who does not expect things to be perfect and goes with the flow … most of the time. I find myself screaming at the recordings on the automated customer assistance. I have no idea where this anger and frustration is coming from. Things start out calm and normal, but at some point I end up screaming at Comcast/Xfinity phone support recordings (not at the people — the people are great).
Enjoyed the revised opening chapter.
I like the new image at the top of this blog post (2nd time it has been used, I think). That guy looks so affronted.
Thank You for helping me feel better. Nice to know I’m not alone in the everything that can go wrong will go wrong basket, And a piece of my tooth has cracked off, Oy
PS. I live in Vancouver, Canada and would be happy to order perfume from shopping site.
Heart Hugs
Be Safe Be Well
Orders to family in Canada are often a pain! I tried to get my brother a gift card for a food delivery app and the US gift card doesn’t work in Canada and the Canada site wouldn’t let me pay with an American credit card. I had to have my other brother buy the gift card, say it was from me, and then Venmo him payment. The things we do! Thank goodness Amazon works between US/Canada…just have to pay ridiculous shipping.
I also love the new Ryder chapter! So great. I felt like it hints at so much more to come, which is delightful.
It seems you are always having to renovate and tackle parts of your house right during a crisis moment in your book production! Maybe you should sacrifice a goat? … No. … But I am amazed you can function in the middle of that. Thank you for persevering! I loved Chapter 1!
Hi- Peace to House Andrews. And, thanks for all the fun in your blog. I love reading them, especially now during this tumultuous time.
So, something I learned about ordering from Canada. They have no rules on e-mail privacy. No laws to protect you, especially living in the US. I ordered from a web-site in Canada about five years ago, and I was inundated with spam, which expanded exponentially. Everyone sold my e-mail to everyone else, at a speed that was very impressive, if it wasn’t driving me crazy at the same time. They have nothing in the e-mails to “unsubscribe”, which makes sense, since you never subscribed in the first place. It took me over a year to get out from under them. I learned a valuable lesson, so I am sharing my experience with you so that hopefully you don’t have to go through what I did.
Peace and blessings to all of you. Stay safe. Stay healthy.
I am SO sorry you had to go through all that thoroughly and deeply aggravating nonsense…but if it helps, I haven’t laughed this hard for a month at least.
And it was the really great, “boy-have-I-been-there-and-it’s-exactly-that-crazymaking” kind of laugh.
Wish I had such a funny story to tell you in return, but at least consider yourself thanked. Effusively.
Oh, and PS? I LOVE the new Chapter 1. And I’m a die-hard Team Derek member.
Faith
SympAthies cAble. Sounds like mine. I.am college educated but it leaves me when trying to speak to a human instead of The programmed answers. I end up screaming A human!! Give me a person!! A representative!!! To no avail.
Re those who write to authors and have the incredible gall to say you don’t like their book??!! DON’T READ THEM AND SHUT THE F*** UP! how rude!
Well, I’m very sorry you are going through this. You’ve made me feel better about my life. Thanks? Good luck with the paint, phone switch, Ryder, and Canadian Chanel. Sending you best wishes that you get more free tea and socks.
Sometimes a girl’s just gotta rage…
Make it loud.
https://youtu.be/z5rRZdiu1UE
Sorry you’re having trouble with the internet, it’s terrible when you need things to work quickly.
I really enjoyed the rewritten chapter 1 of Blood Heir. The first version was great, but this one’s better
It feels like the end of October into the beginning of November was a complete shitshow. The end of September my washer dryer in my apartment broke. The apartment complex told me it was under warranty and they wanted to see if they could get them to fix it. Well that doesn’t make the people any money so they weren’t really rushing to get it fixed. They did send someone out. He ordered the part which we had to wait weeks for only to find out that it was the wrong part. So at this point it had been over a month that I’ve been without a washer. I told the apartment complexes to replace it with a new one I wasn’t waiting any longer. And then my water heater went out the day before my washing machine was supposed to be installed and I also found out that same day that I have been exposed to covid-19. I also realize that every year at this time I have to reapply for EBT benefits because I’m on disability. I had not heard back from these folks and I was a little bit concerned that I went online and realize they’ve cut me off. And it’s not just for my EBT but it’s also for my medical help which allows me to pay for what Medicare doesn’t pay for. Sigh… So this was all on Monday and election day was Tuesday. This whole week has been an absolute shitshow. Only good thing is that I don’t have covid-19 thank God! They did come yesterday and put in my water heater and my washer machine. So I don’t have any food but I have clean clothes in a clean body. There is that to be thankful for. It will be a lean Thanksgiving but you know what it is what it is. I’m not having any luck with the EBT people. I called yesterday and did a preliminary and they said I had to do a phone interview today. I called today and they said we’re not doing phone interviews because of covid-19. They said you can’t come into her office because of covid-19. They said go online. I’ve already gone online that’s why I ended up calling yesterday. So it looks like I won’t have my EBT benefits back anytime soon. And we still have not gotten the results from our election. But I think we’ll have those results back before I get my EBT back. We just have to plug on as you have done and so aptly stated that her family went through much more hardship in Russia. It’s funny how we look at the things we go through and they’re so overwhelming sometimes and frustrating to us but when we look back in history we realize we are in such a better place than what they were. If they can do it we can do it. We just need a lot of wine and chocolate to get through LOL and banana bread ????
Your posts always bring a little sunshine. I love your sense of humor. Don’t pay attention to the Negative Nancys. They should just read something else. There are a whole lots of other books out there! ????
Bwah ha ha. Thank you for the post, Ilona Andrews. These things usually come in threes for me which does not explain why every once in a while at work I had Monday on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Usually the week after my vacation. Very stressing. But since no person physically died or ended up in ICU or convalescent home with multiple broken bones…. and there are not hazardous substances to be removed … have a special lunch with Gordon and let this go from your psyche.
Good luck on perfume ordering. Trump closed the US / Canada border sometime ago. Then had a fit about “smugglers” using Great Lakes etc. My suggestion is if your publisher has an office in Europe then see if you can fulfill family desire in a round about way. Not illegally but using legitimate European resources ….
Hahaha no need to smuggle or ship from US. Also the border is not closed to commercial trade only non-Cdn citizens . Canada has many department stores and retail establishments including Nordstrom which carry Chanel. And amazon.ca which I routinely use with my US address and no foreign exchange fees credit card to send gifts to my Canadian family. ????
I’m sorry your week was so rough. I really liked the updated chapter.
Advice for the last problem: If you get a VPN you can say your in Canada and not have that issue! (I use ExpressVPN it’s the 3rd VPN I’ve tried. It doesn’t slow down my internet, they don’t save your data, and it was very easy to set up.)
Does a VPN cause problems when you order from Amazon and other sites in the US?
Yep, sometimes it does. E.g. Target recognizes you are on VPN and won’t allow you to sign into your own account (even on the app).
I’m not sure VPN doesn’t store your data, so I wouldn’t recommend actually paying for something while you are on VPN.
I’ve never had a problem with it. I’m in the US and say I’m in the US (cause you can pick your city that the VPN runs through), I have my VPN running all the time and I buy stuff from Amazon and Target. The only sites that have any problems that I’m running a VPN are governments sites. Like when I renewed my car registration online I had to turn off my VPN because the page wouldn’t load properly.
I feel so guilty for laughing.
I have been there and I have no advice, not that you would need it anyway. Banana bread seems like an excellent therapy.
I know your heating issues are resolved, but space heaters are gold. And cheap. I’ve lived all over Canada and the northern US – always have a couple stuffed in a closet somewhere. I HATE being cold.
When it rains it pours, huh? Glad things are smoothing out. Somewhat.
FWIW, I loved loved loved the edit of Chapter 1. Teasers, insight, polished. (You do know that by deleting the original online posts of the book, your horde is going to be meticulously saving everything you publish on your blog for potential future comparison. lol)
Also super jealous of Gordon’s ability to deal with a partner who has flipped their lid. My husband would hunch his shoulders say ‘I’m doing my best’, or ‘I’m not such a bad guy’ – and I’d feel like I kicked a puppy. It sucks. Marriage – so fun.
Oh dear! I feel your pain! Ryder will be wonderful. All your books have been. You and Gordon are amazing. I know you’re stressed. I’ve been reading romance novels and doing very little this week, beyond teaching a couple of classes. Hugs to you, Gordon and the kids.
What a week! I HATE talking to the automated system, and keep saying “Representative” in a louder and louder voice. Then I have to reign in my temper when I actually get to talk to a person!
Why is it that when you unplug the cable, the whole system crashes? We unplugged ours and moved the cable box because we got a new TV – just one cable box, not even the router or the main box. When I called tech support, they said “you need to tell us when you plan to move the box because it doesn’t like that”. What? How can a box not like to be moved??
So anyway, I sympathize. At least now you have a funny (kind of) story out of it! 😉
Enjoyed the tale! Sorry to hear about your trouble, but I can so relate and suddenly feel very “normal” (scary thought!). 😉
Oh wow!!! Just…wow. I admire your perseverance, because if it were me, I would’ve tapped out. Just tapped TF out…or had a mini breakdown which would’ve jumpstarted my ability to problem solve. I’m stressed out reading this. I hope it gets better.
Ahhhhhhh. I just had to scream a little in frustration on your behalf haha. Oh boy!
That internet tech should be cateful! We have seen what happened at Sunshine Realty when they kept calling afyer being told “NO!”
Curran may put your head in his mouth, however briefly. You wouldn’t enjoy it. But we would!
Dear Ms. Andrews,
I hereby grant you permission to immediately advertise for a professional, proficient, yes-ma’am, full time Personal Assistant for both personal and business related problem solving issues. You Really deserve it!
I mean really, the least he/she could do is make ur knitting life easier by keeping ur yarn organized and all those lovely little skeins wound.
It is somewhat comforting to know I’m not the only one having weeks like this. Let’s hope that next week is better!
Unless I missed it, you haven’t detailed the current status of AZ anywhere. So no one should be assuming what powers and peoples survived the return of magic and the following years. Your world, your rules.
Thank you for the revised chapter, I really enjoyed it. I love all your work and re-read it regularly.
Hang in there. 🙂
I just love you guys so freeken much!!! (((hugs and Aloha))) from me! I am not alone!
Omg. So sorry!
????
Oh spectrum…..my internet drops at leadt once an hour. Not fixed after a year. I have yelled the representative multiple times. My ex banned me from talking to comcast feeling we would be blacklisted based on my interactions. I mived now spectrum woes i feel you.
If this is a plea to your Canadian followers to get the perfume ordered from the Chanel Canada website let me know and I’ll see what I can do. You have my email. Let me know if needed.
Mercury Retrograde strikes AGAIN which totally sucks. Hope it gets better.
Goodness! That was one heck of time!
Breathe.
Loved chapter 1! Thanks for sharing.
Hugs all round!
X
I repent in dust and ashes for the “tattered” comment. Mea Culpa. I DO love the first chapter of Ryder and I thoroughly appreciated the humor of this post. Thanks for sharing.
Anything electronic hates me. Eons ago when computers were the size of coffee vending machines and PCs were just getting underway, I worked for a small computer building and programming company. I did data entry, receptionist etc. The final test for a computer going out was for me to “test” it. Fast forward to today. If I try to Zoom with anyone my computer crashes; three tries, several computers, being watched like a hawk by computer guru annnd…computer crashes. I’m not allowed near the household central heat/AC controls. TV remotes?? Fugged aboud it. On the other hand, I’m a good baker, and I can grow almost anything. Things electronic are perverse. It’s the opening shot in the take over by AI.
Your husband was smart and left you alone so you could vent and maybe throw your shoe or something. I hope that there was wine or something with chocolate later that night.
When under stress I’m mostly silent quietly internalizing my anxiety. But recently I had a really bad day. My husband was trying to help me but seemed to make things worse and I exploded, screaming on the top of my lungs “I’m having a shit fit”. My husband covered his ears and he and the dog ran out of the house saying he hoped things got better.
I have to admit for several days after “the scream” I felt this wonderful “lightness of being”.
I realize this is too late, but just FYI, you can order via Macy’s/Nordstrom, pay with your US card or even PayPal and ship to Canada. Works every time!
Ooo, heard about it, but never seen the hate in real life–was that an actual Cable Discharge Event (CDE) that fried your internet box?! Loss of Internet During Pandemic is surely a traumatic event! Good to hear you have survived! 🙂
Try Perfume.com they have an amazing range and send worldwide, they often have free postage too. Even more joy, you can often buy testers for peanuts. They don’t have the fancy knobs on the bottles or posh packaging but the scent is the same. Ryder was super, loved it.
Have you thought about writing a soap opera based on your (not truly so) hysterical home life? One of the reasons I love your books so much is because you write “real” life thoughts, emotions, reactions into your characters. Love you guys! Please stay safe!
Dearest Ilona,
You have obviously had a very very bad, awful week. I am very sorry about that….I would offer you brown sugar and cinnamon if I could (they usually work for me…not always, but even when they DON’T make everything better, they still taste good)
Feel free to curl up in a ball and suck your thumb…we will not judge.
I blame it all on Starbucks…they bought Teavana and all hell broke loose.
Lol, our internet is crappy so I feel your pain! The good side for me is I just read books not write them. I love your books and your blog! Reading Emerald Blaze right now and can’t wait for Ryder! Keep on persevering!
Dear Mrs Andrews, I am down with Covid right now and I am re-reading your books….I started with the Edge series, now I am going through the Hidden Legacy one, next I think I’ll re-do the Innkeeper…I am writing to thank you because these difficult days, your books are a ray of sunshine in my days. Have a good day.
Dear Mrs Andrews, I am down with Covid right now and I am re-reading your books….I started with the Edge series, now I am going through the Hidden Legacy one, next I think I’ll re-do the Innkeeper…I am writing to thank you because these difficult days, your books are a ray of sunshine in my days. Have a good day.
And I managed to write “days” 3 times in a sentence.. let’s say it’s Covid please…
Things haven’t been going good lately… So I’ve been in a funk, not reading my favorite blog (yours)…
But this post had me LOL at 10:00 pm when my pre-teen son is rolling his eyes at me instead of doing his Spanish homework.. (my husband is fast asleep…)
Feels good to laugh…
Thanks…