And She's Back!

I was never so happy to be able to flip on the lights--and have them come ON. 

We have a very old generator at Zannini South. The last time we used it was five years ago during Hurricane Rita, then ten years before that for some other hurricane I no longer recall. Greg used to be good about cranking it regularly to keep it primed, but that sort of fell by the wayside 20 years ago. So it's always with great trepidation and then relief when the thing starts up again.

The ironic thing is we have a brand new and much bigger generator at my place, but it was too big and heavy for me to carry in my vehicle. Even if my neighbors could help me load it--I don't think my light duty truck could have handled it for such a long trip. 

But all's well that ends well. My only disaster at home was a hose I forgot to disconnect. We had a freeze while I was gone and it burst the hose. I had water everywhere. After what I've been through, this was minor.

Now I have to hustle to finish my edits for Apocalypse Rising before my editor, Deb Nemeth chops me up into bite-sized Maria pieces and feeds me to her zombie fishes. 

I hear she keeps author-eating fishes in a special feeding tank. She waves red-stained manuscript pages at the beasts and it makes them rabid for "deadline-missing" authors.

:Hand to heart: I've never missed a deadline. Besides, I don't want to get eaten.

***
Today is New Year's Eve. A time to reminisce and to look ahead. 2010 has been a good year for me. And I think 2011 will be even better. :o)

What one event, good or bad, was the most memorable for you this year? 

And who's staying up tonight? Of course, you guys on the other side of the world have already welcomed the new year. Did you stay up?

~~~~~

Here is my New Year's wish for you. Whatever your desires, may 2011 exceed all your expectations. And no matter what happens, remember that you are surrounded by people who think the world of you. --I know because I'm one of them.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Comments

Cate Masters said…
Hooray for electricity! Are you in a solar-friendly area? That might be a viable alternative! But you can always come stay with us during protracted outages. :)
This year was kind of a blur, but it had definite peaks, balanced by lows. As always.
Wishing you an amazing 2011!
I also wish I could stay awake for it, but this hacking cold's made me sleep deprived. Baby New Year will have to wait for awhile.
Maria Zannini said…
Hi Cate: Actually, we were thinking more along the lines of wind turbines. We have a field behind us that might suit our needs. It's one of those projects that is awaiting funds.

Sorry you still have your cold. Stay under the covers. The New Year will get here whether you stay up or not. :o)
Glad your power is back on!

You'll be pleased to know a friend of mine found Touch of Fire through my blog. I think she enjoyed it.

Have a Happy New Year!
Dru said…
I'm glad you got your electricity back.

This year had its ups and down, but my most memorable event of the year was attending my first Malice convention and meeting all the authors that I read.

I hope to stay up tonight.
Mason Canyon said…
Wonderful to have your electricity back. I hope to stay up to at least see the new year in. Wishing you much success, good health, happiness and wonderful surprises for the coming year.
Happy New Year.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Maria Zannini said…
Sandra: Thanks, hon. And thanks for letting me know someone found Touch Of Fire on your blog. :)
Linda Leszczuk said…
Welcome home. I hope the beginning of your new year is a little less stressful than the wrap up of this one.

You know 2010 held a couple hard losses for our family so I'll skip those and just mention that other biggie - RETIREMENT! Woo woo. Now let's see what I can really do with all this free time.
Maria Zannini said…
Dru: Every year, I try to stay up--and every year I fail. I am so NOT a party animal. LOL. Happy New Year, Dru.

Mason: I have never enjoyed lighting and heat more. :o)

Thank you for your warm wishes. Happy New Year!
Maria Zannini said…
Linda: Retirement is a biggie. And it opens a great big world for you. I can't wait to see what you'll accomplish in 2011.

We have your public statement on your blog now, so you can't take it back. :grin:
Anonymous said…
Bless you the wishes are returned and Happy New Year.
I'm so glad you got your electricity back and I hope you avoid those author-eating fish

I think the most memorable thing this year for me as joining blogland.:O)
Cathy in AK said…
Glad you made it back on the grid : )

No big plans for tonight. The kids will probably outlast us. That's getting old for you : P

2010 was pretty dang good around here--great trips, friends visiting, finding new bloggy friends :) oh, and that selling a book and getting an agent thing ;) but I think 2011 will be even better.

Hope yours is wonderful, Maria!

Happy New Year!
N. R. Williams said…
May your generator continue to work. All the best.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
Maria Zannini said…
Madeleine:

Ref: blogland
You came out like gangbusters this year. You did great!
Maria Zannini said…
Cathy: Yeah, you had a really pitiful year with just signing with an agent and a book contract. LOL.

I don't know how you'll be able to top it next year. :o)
Maria Zannini said…
Nancy: I hope I won't need that generator for a long time. Happy New Year!
Sherri said…
Happy New Year Maria!

Author eating fish? Yikes! And YOU thought FB was bad, LOL
Maria Zannini said…
Sherri: Tough editors always have something to keep their authors in line. :grin:

But great editors are priceless. They are the most amazing people I've ever met.
Marianne Arkins said…
I <3 Deb Nemeth -- she edited my "Kitchen Matches". You lucked out on your editor :-)

Okay, honestly, I know I cursed her more than once during my edits, but I also know she made it a better story.

Good luck and welcome back :-)
Maria Zannini said…
Marianne: Why didn't anyone tell me she was such a good editor? I am amazed at the things she finds.

I want to steal her away and keep her in my attic, but her family would probably miss her. :)
I am glad you have your electricity back. :)

We are staying up. We were going to spend a quiet evening home with the kids but some friends invited themselves over. It is good to know we are loved. LOL so we are having an improptu potluck party. :)

It will be fun. We had a lot of losses and deaths in the family in 2010. My favorite moment in 2010 was when my brother announced his engagement to his girlfriend who the whole family loves. 2011 will definitely be a better year.
Maria Zannini said…
Kimber: Potluck sounds great! I know you guys had a rough year, so it's nice to share the last hours with friends. Happy New Year, hon!
Angelina Rain said…
I’m glad you finally have electricity. I hope your New Year was good. My new years wish for you is more publishing success. Give the doggies a hug from me. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Maria Zannini said…
Thanks, Angelina. The dogs send doggie kisses right back. :o) Happy New Year!
I think all editors have those fish, based on what I've heard. Maybe that's how they should pick new authors from now on, see who can hold their hands in the tank the longest.
Anonymous said…
Good luck with your edits, Maria, and best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2011!
Maria Zannini said…
Barbara, Liz: Happy New Year.

I might be the exception, but I love getting edits from my editor. I am awed at how good they are at drawing the best out of a writer.
Ellie Garratt said…
Happy New Year, Maria! I've neglected your blog over the last couple of weeks and I must apologise.

Oh, my. No electric?! Yikes. I'm glad it's finally sorted. Ooo...I'll remember those zombie-fishes this week, whilst I'm doing the final edit on a 10,000 story!

The most memorable event for me in 2010 was meeting the great William Shatner. Oh, and receiving my first anthology publication.
Maria Zannini said…
Ellie: So tell the truth--do you have Shatner's autograph tattooed on your body? LOL.

Shatner is pretty memorable any old year. :)
Renee Miller said…
@Ellie: I am soooo jealous. Shatner is a Canadian god. Well, he's darn funny anyway.

@Maria: No electricity for any amount of time makes me nuts. We don't actually own a generator but the only time it was an issue was a few summers ago when there was this huge black out. Actually, I think they called it a brown out and I'm not sure why. But because this is a small town we noticed something interesting. There were several babies born 9 months later. Apparently birth control requires electricity to work. Who knew?

My most memorable event of 2010? Um...getting paid to write. Seriously. Not getting paid to write what I'd like to get paid to write, but I got paid just the same and that's great. Oh and my youngest learned to read, thus releasing me from bedtime story hell. Now I only have to read one book and can tell her to read numbers 2 through 99 herself. Actually I'm kind of proud. She reads way above her grade level, as does my oldest. Not so great when the 6 year old picks up Nana's romance novel though...
Meghan S. said…
Hooray for getting your electricity back!

I actually went out last night to a party at a catering hall. It was nice, good food and not too crowded. Happy 2011! :)
Maria Zannini said…
Renee, you did have a pretty memorable year on both counts. I still remember my first writing paycheck.

Meghan: Sounds wonderful! I love parties, but not crowds. I often wonder what people see in that.

Happy New Year to you both. I am back to swigging Nyquil. I think Cate Masters passed me her plague.