The winner of the free autographed book I offered during my visit with the Smutketeers is Shadow! Shadow, be sure to email me with your snail mail address
so I can get your prize to you!

I think I have most of my family obligations out of the way now. I’m buying the Red-Headed Hellion a house, and we closed on Friday. Yesterday, we bought cleaning and painting supplies, contacted the handyman, worked on getting utilities scheduled. Today, we did one last drive by Walmart for last minute supplies. Since I’m the bank, I don’t have to do the work. I’m free now to do what I do best—write.

But now I’m running on empty. Have any suggestions for ways to get me energized? Any secret family recipes? What do you do rev up for a hard week? I’m drinking a cup of coffee as I write, but I’m sure I’ll need more to get me through the next couple of weeks. I have to keep my head down, ignore the family, and pretend my office is a cave deep inside a mountain with a dragon guarding the door while I slave away.

Any suggestions?

Also, I sent out my first newsletter using a new newsletter hosting site yesterday. If you didn’t get a copy (and it was a little skimpy on news, only because I didn’t have time to add a personal note) be sure sign up for the newsletter. The signup blank is easy, and located to the left of this blog, although you might have to scroll down a little to find it. I will be running some contests in the newsletter that are only for subscribers!