Replay

Hi all !!

       Well here we go again. A replay of last summer. For those of you not in know, I had poison ivy last summer for the first time ever. It turned into a bad case spreading from my arms to then basically being  everywhere. The meds the doc prescribed that was supposed to help, didn't help @ all. I had 2 doses of it before it finally helped and started clearing up. During that time it was about 100 degrees and I had to wear long sleeves as keeping sun off it helped it from spreading. Showers were cool (which wasn't a problem as it was so hot out).

         So to make a story short, found a few spots on arm and thought it was under control. Found 1 spot on the other arm. Keep those few spots covered and thought it was all. But yesterday @ work I saw a spot that was in a prime spot to hit the edge of my desk and irritate and spread. Got that covered and saw spots showing on the other arm too breaking out. So I got bandages on them and look like a mummy, but will keep it from getting all over my clothes and getting back on my. I think some tank tops I had worn last summer might have ended up with it on it and now that I might have worn them again now trying to get things clean quickly and have to get the script for the meds again :-( and had to take off yesterday from work to get all the bedding washed and have to be careful of what I wear right now. It's all a GIANT PAIN. I  can't believe I have to go through this again. At least it's not full on summer, but still.    

Well and not so well

 Hey all !!

    Things went well for the party I wrote about the other day. My parents were genuinely surprised and I think pleased with the whole thing and the gift. I am so glad for them and that we could do such a wonderful thing for them. Only wish that certain people would have had a better time or kept quiet about things to not take the damper of a wonderful night. Oh well can't have everything I guess.

    Eagerly awaiting the program for my pda so I can write easier. It's had to been delayed in being sent till this week so hopefully I'll have it soon and installed. Got to go through my word documents and start clearing out old papers and the like that no longer need to be on my computer as it's running very slow and almost full of memory. So someday soon got to do that on top of other things.
 

A bit of family happiness

Hi all !!

    Today this is going to be a personal blog. Today, in my family we celebrate a wonderful milestone that most do not get to do in this day and age where everyone is so hot to get divorced and switch spouses they are switching shoes, today is my parents 50th wedding anniversary. There has been only 1 other couple in my family that I can recall that celebrated this milestone. That was my grandparents on my Dad's side. I still have the picture that my aunt had done of them to celebrate that occasion on top of my computer desk where I can see it everyday. So you can see how important this day is to me.

     In all the years growing up where there big fights and talk of divorce, I didn't think we'd make it to this day. However, as I grew older and gotten married myself, I can see how hard they worked to make sure that, despite the things that happened back then, they stayed together. Without seeing that and having them as an example to fight through the petty arguments, or even larger ones and not let them eat away @ the love that brought u together in the first place, I would have given up on my marriage or even never had gotten married in the first place. They are the best people I know. They support their children in all their endeavors and only want what's best for them.They are there without question, unflappable in their resolve to give only the best to us and give us what we need when we need it no matter the cost to them. I was blessed to be part of this family when God decided to surprise my parents with me 8 years after their last child had been born and they had thought they were done with children. If I could have chosen my own parents, I wouldn't have chosen a different set. Not matter the petty family squabbles that occur in every family, the love they have for us got us all through tough times and still do. They are the best parents ever !! So Mom and Dad, to you, with great vigor, I say HAPPY ANNIVERSARY !!!

   To celebrate this great moment in our family, we are having a party for them. Even though they don't know about it yet (shhh it's a surprise !!) I don't think there is any better way for us to repay them the great honor of being our parents.

Some exciting news

Hi all !!

   Not that I should be doing this as I haven't even finished the one book I should be focused on writing, however, ideas come when least expected. So it is with great enthusiasm that I announce to you, my on line audience, that I have had another idea for yet another story and have started notes and ideas about it yesterday as it came to me. So it is fiting that my horoscope states:

 "Cultivate a talent that causes you to stand out from the crowd. You are at your most empowered when you are free to follow your true heart and passionate interests today."

     So I am excited that my for once it and my real life are actually in sync (it occasionally happens) though I don't put much stock in these as mostly they are so not anything to pay the smallest attention to.I just thought that this was fitting as I was announcing my new idea.

     On another personal note: I still am disappointed to see that things haven't improved in my home town. Not that I expected an overnight change, but am disappointed that any local readers of this blog haven't tried to get in touch to try and see about getting involved in any way to make things better here instead of complaining about how bad it is. I'll be the first to admit there are things that we wouldn't be able to do unless we had some clout in some way, hence hoping to be published, but there are things we as citizens CAN do and if there are local readers who would be interested in talking about options, please comment and we'll see about things in another medium to get things started. I can't do this alone and for once I feel the need to really get involved and do something.

Writers Rant

I want to rant for a moment about my hometown and being a writer. I know we are a small city/town and can't have all the glitz and options of a big city. However, as a writer in this town there are no agents, or publishers in this area. Well there is one that you pay to have to pay them to have your stuff published. Though not necessarily a bad thing because my friend who helps me out did that with her book, but the lack of options or help in a budding writers quest to get published can be a real downer.

I have to say things are on a cusp of either going very bad or can start going back to up to where it used to be when I was growing up here. If I get published and get popular to the point where I can have some influence, things that my family and I don't like that's going on here can be helped. I really want to do some good here, but without the funds to run for any local office or without being well known in the area like those who can influence the way things are around here, I am at a stale mate. What I would do if I could get published and get popular, any chance I would get during a tour would be to bring attention for the need for change here and the urging of the people here to not let this town die. I just want my home, my family to be safe and have a safe place to grow. I don't want to have to split my family apart by having to leave. I also don't want to have to be a divorcee @ 37, not because my husband and i don't love each other, but because of where we live. I don't want to be alone at this age and start over again.

Things have gone on too far here. Time for action is now !! If it gets any worse there won't be any way to not leave. Got to get the support of all you on line people to make this happen. First by the support of this blog and your dedication to keep reading it, 2nd for support once I start a kick start to get this published and 3rd to actually reading my book, or more hopefully books when they are out. Please help this blogger who loves her family and home town the chance to get out there and make something of herself and make something of her town and give her family something they can be proud about and be proud of where they choose to raise her and live.

What a day

Yesterday I had to get blood work done and my veins didn't want to cooperate as usual. Got stuck 3 times in order to get enough blood to fill the tubes needed to run all the tests they wanted. Needless to say I am bruised and was uncomfortable last night. Sleep didn't go so well and woke up in tears around 5 am because the annoyance of the steady slight pain and lack of sleep. Today is no writing day as my brain will be functioning on just getting my job done. Not that I am happy about that as I am in a good part of the book that I really look forward to finally writing. The end is ever nearer and then just got to type and edit. Hope everyone who's been looking or reading will help support me in getting this published and out to the masses. I could use all the help I can get :-D

Doing a happy dance

My husband had the time off from work today and said something about my not working on my book lately. I reminded him I was really waiting on a word program for my pda. So he goes right on his computer and finds out how the company who made my pda went out of business back 10 years ago or was bought out or something. He finds something via e-bay (got to love that web site sometimes) that is a version of word  for the pda. Who knows if it will run or work with mine, but it's something and then hopefully I'll never have to hand write again. Though I must say on those slow days at work like today, it came in handy to be able to have the notebook right there to write, even if it's a word or 2 before the next call comes in.

Today was slow as I just mentioned so indeed I did get writing done today. Not too much and not sure how much of it is really any good. Got to see how it really flows once I get to editing it. At least I had time for the creative juices to flow today.

On another tangent I am enjoying Rebecca, though it's going slow. I am listening to Manfield Park, but Jane Austin as an audio book on my mp3 player and really am enjoying that, though I know that was a few centuries again, but I still can't get past the cousins marrying thing. Though it's written in such a way that you want to 2 to be together, but still cousins???  On that note I must leave you to watch Dancing with the Stars :-D

Full of sunshine

Nothing about writing today. I must say that work has been quite busy and when it's not reading the classic Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier is taking up my time. Only on page 106 and have had it a week. Granted haven't had the time to read as much as I would like, but still. I am tryign to enrich myself by getting back into reading the classics. I just feel stupid that it's taking me so long to get through it.

On to the sunshine. The weather here has been perfect all weekend. Sunny and about 75 degrees. Today I worked in my garden. Weeded it and smoothed it and finally put a weed cover over it so only the flowers can come up and should keep back most of the weeds. Now need more dirt and more seeds to fill the rest of it. Love days like this when got Church out of the way early, got the yard work I wanted done out of the way and am proud that I did it. Now I just got the gift for the big event to finish and blood work to take care of during the week. Other than that maybe this girl can have some down time except for playing in the sunshine :-D  Loved taking my walk yesterday. Might do that again today too. It may seem silly to feel proud for working in the garden and getting it ready to plant and trying to grow beautiful flowers to liven up my back yard, but it makes me happy and me happy gets the writer in me going :-D Granted it's been hard to get focused back on my book, but this yard work that relaxes me will get back into the frame of mind I need for my characters to come and play.

frumple

Well all, no new news on the writing front. Work has been keeping me busy so not able to get much done. Also still no palm word program as of yet so can't really use that either. Keep trying to remind my husband to look into it for me as I got too many choices and none seem to be what I was looking for.

On a personal front, things r ok @ the new job so far. At least I think so anyway. Got big life event coming up in the family that am very pleased to be putting together and being able to be a part of. Got a hair apt after work tonight and for once it's something I'm looking forward to doing after work. This week has been a crazy one with things going on before or after or in the middle of work that I have worn myself out. Can't wait to use tonight to relax some and have a nice new do for big event next week.

Not much

going on in the writing situation lately. Also not really getting anywhere trying to get a word program on my pda either so. Got other things to plan right now that is taking up my time as well. Work has been busy and not much time to write.So all in all I am ok, just blocked for the moment.

Frustrated writer.

Now for a rant.

I recently wanted to go back to my pda for my writing instead of hand writing. The idea is the word program I had (key word there is had, more in a moment) on my pda would link to my computer when I "HotSynced" it to my computer. then I'd copy and paste to word. Done this in the past when I first started writing this book and it worked. No having to waste time typing up what I wrote because all of it was typed. You might ask wasn't that a pain with a styles. Answer no. My husband had thought of that and bought me a full keyboard that folds up that the pda attaches to and when set up looks like a mini computer. So back to my original rant. It's been years since I've used it and as I already posted, concerned about running out of space and having to start another notebook before I finish this book. So I decided to go back to what worked in the past and get moving on the typing and use my pda again. I finally after many starts got the thing to finally turn on. Later that day when I went to use it on lunch @ work I discovered I didn't have the word program anymore. Come home that night and finally get the thing to HotSync with my computer thinking once I did the program would come back with all my other data, NOPE. Now trying to find a word program for my pda so I can finally get to use it like I want and find everything but what I want in searches. Every time I think I might have hit on what I wanted, it turns out to be a big goose egg. So if anyone has any suggestions on where I can find/download a word program info would be greatly appreciated.

Of course was frustrated last evening trying to do this as my husband watches me struggle. This morning more searching was fruitless before work. Husbands promise of help didn't happen and still can't find anything. Other things happened this morning before work that also added extra stress before leaving and even while trying to get to work. So can't wait till book is done and published and hopefully hits it big enough so I can just work from home. All this leads to restless sleep as this was still on mind and just not in mind fram to bo @ work let alone write while there. Of course it was  so busy today I wouldn't have gotten anything written anyway, but that's besides the point. Mind set is half the battle of any job, especially a writer.

End rant. 

On the writing front

I had a good writing day today. Not as many pages as yesterday, but some good stuff was put down. I think so anyway :-D However, dismayed at the fact that I am running out of space in the notebook I am currently writing the story in and don't know if I am going to get it finished before I run out of space. That doesn't mean I won't move on to another one, but was hoping that wouldn't happen. Don't know how long this book is going to be, but I know where the story is heading and how it ends. I just have to get the characters there now. I knew the beginning and ending before most the of the middle came to me in start and stops. knowing where you need to be, but not knowing how to get them there was what has made this take as long as it has. The other stories I have started, didn't have as much info thrown at me when the ideas came. This one came to me pretty much fully born with how it should start and end and the few twits in the middle. Not how or what led up to these points, just that these were concretes that were not going to change. The characters were very clear that certain things had to happen and they have not wavered on these. Though I must say Troy doesn't like one thing that has to happen to Tess very much, but understands that it's necessary and though not happy with me for it happening, knows that it leads to a greater good in the end.    

More news !

Surprise !! 2 blogs in 1 day.  However had to share that that today was a  big, big  day writing wise !!! I am thrilled with it so far. Can't wait to get some time to type up and edit it with my good and locally (where she is) famous friend who has been so great throughout all the times I've been working on this with helping me edit. Even though we don't get to see much of each other since college staying in touch has been the best thing that could have happened to me. Her successes drive me to continue to work toward my gold when I might have given it up and listened to the nay-Sayers. Even though I also decided on a dedication for my book, the only person I'd acknowledge on the acknowledge that would be in it would be her. She's been my rock during all the years I've been slowly getting this together. If not for her encouragement this project and dream would have died a long time ago. Everyone else mostly has been either indifferent or treated it as a passing fad or just something else I'd never complete. That along with the above mentioned friend are the driving forces behind me. As sick and tired as I felt all day, I was energized by the pages completed. Helped me get through the day. Now it's time for a quick shower and early to bed. Night all !!

Not sure what's going on

with me lately. I've been not able to write on my novel "The Reunion" for the last few days. At first I thought it was because my characters needed a break after pouring forth a bevy of emotion they entrusted me to put forth for them. I thought I also needed a rest after it too. So Friday and over the weekend put aside the work expecting Monday I'd pick it back up. Yesterday the notebook I am writing the novel in just sat staring @ me on my work desk not enticing me to pick it up, open it or write a thing. I am trying to get over a cold so maybe being extra worn down I didn't have the creative juices flowing. Even today though a little better then yesterday, still feel I rather read something then write something. Which is sad because I really want those of you out there who have showed interest in my story to be able to have access to more of it or the whole thing @ your local book store. I also have other characters who want to come out and play and I put them off just so I can finish the one, but @ this point none are going to get finished. However, I hope today I have some inspiration to write again and be just that much closer to bringing to the masses.  

On the home front and writing

On the home front, things seem to be going well on the new job for the most part. Doing the usual cleaning and doing the bedding. Went through some old mail and got rid of things which is always good. Used this past week to take care of some old mail that I meant to take care of so feel accomplished for that. Still got some of that stuff to catch up with, but it was nice coming home from a crappy night @ work to my order of clothes I'd been waiting for. Waiting for time off again to go through my old clothes and get rid of stuff. Just got to stop myself from reading instead and having my day getting away from me as it does most times :-D

On the writing front, not much to report sadly. I after my wonderful day of things flowing, my characters decided to take a day off from talking to me. I didn't want t force it to come as that never works for me so knowing it wasn't going to happen, though I hate loosing a day, I didn't want to write crap so just placed it aside till it's right. I can't wait to finish as it's getting nearer and nearer. Hope those of you who have read the first chapter have enjoyed it and are interested enough to read more or by the book :-D

Writing came easy, oh and a surprise. Info on another one of my stoies

Writing came easy today. The characters and words that i wanted just seemed to flow today. Even though hand writing in a small notebook, got about 4 -5 pages written today. One of my co-workers who knows about my working on the book noticed I wasn't have and problem with word flow as I was yesterday. I had complained to him yesterday that after a certain point the words weren't coming and I felt blocked. I find that if I feel this way it's best to set the writing aside for a time. Usually the next day things pick back up and the characters want to talk to me again :-D

I am loving living the world of Tess and Troy at the moment. Of course every once in awhile my character Anita McFarland wants to come out to play and I have to put her in a box as I really don't want to pick back up with her till I at least finish the other.

Excited

Hey all !! I am excited to post that the pivotal scene has been written !! Yea !! Is playing out a little differently then I thought it was, but one character that I thought was going to only play a small part in this part of the book, ended up talking to me (you writers out there know what that's like) and insisted on playing a bigger role. Can't wait to see how this plays out with the rest of the book.

Yet another update

   Just in case anyone is interested, by time I left work last night I was @ a pivotal scene in my book. The lead in to the "Big Breakup". Once this part get written, the twist occurs and then the it's the end. I am excited that it's nearing completion. I really just can't wait to have the words "The End" be penned and for the world to be able to have access to something that's only been mind and 1 other person for all this time. Then it's on to the next project. Believe me I have enough started that if I ever get to finish them and get them published there would be a bunch of books out there @ book stores with my name on them. Which would be wonderful to see.
   
   Of course just had a set back in the progress of the book. I just found that a Saturday's worth of typing up what was hand written and saved on a portable drive and had originally thought to have been saved to my computer can not be opened at all and had been deleted off the drive.As it was my husbands and had only borrowed it for that day and didn't want to keep it on there once given back. So just a tiny set back, but annoying to say the least. Though not as upset about this as I could be as it's only about 5 pages that are missing and there is so much that needs to be typed anyway, it's not that big of a loss.        

My dream

My dream is that I get at least one of the books that I have started published. Of course I have to finish writing it. I've been working on it for 10+ years now. I've been trying to fit in writing in between working full time and doing the normal clean up of the house and wanting to do my own reading. Of course doing my own reading has taken up more of my free time then writing has, mostly because reading can be done anywhere and it relaxes me more. Lately I've been setting a goal to work on it more and finish it. I have been diligently working hard on getting it written. I do have to say that I hand write it as most of it's done while I am @ work and not on my personal computer. I have to then type up more of what I have written and edit. Thanks to a wonderful friend that I have had since college, I have another pair of eyes to help edit. So it's still a while off, but want it out there to gain some notice so it can be published. Living in a small town with no literary agents and 1 publisher that is one you pay them to publish your work, it's going to take more then the book being finished and being good to get it out there so I am counting on all you cyber people to spread the word and make this girls dream come true.

Working on completeing my resolution

I know it's been a long time since I posted a blog. So many things have changed and are still in the process of changing that no time to update about that. What I did want to update is the fact that I'm working on a book and want to get it published. What I am going to do, as it's still a work in progress, is post a bit and see what kind of reactions I get or suggestions. Hopefully if anyone who reads this finds it interesting and passes it along to someone who can get it published I'll be grateful. So here it is :

                                                               

                                                               Chapter One

Troy Noble was on his way home from his job as a landscaper, and he let his mind wander to what was tonight – his ten year high school reunion. Tonight his life was going to change forever; he was going to make sure it did. He had a plan. As he was thinking over this plan, Troy arrived home.  He had just gotten off from work and was grimy from the day’s labors so he hopped into the shower to clean up, revealing a very tanned and muscular body from many days working outdoors. When he was finished and had dried off, he put his mind to picking out the outfit he would wear tonight. He stood with a towel wrapped around his waist in front of his closet. After careful consideration of his wardrobe, Troy chose a black suit with an emerald green button down dress shirt. He knew from past experience the shirt would bring out the green of his eyes and that the suit was cut just right to show off the muscular build of his body to perfection. As he was getting dressed, he let his thoughts wander to the reunion again as he sat on the edge of his bed, pulling on his pants. He couldn't believe that it was tonight. He had waited eight years for this night. It was eight years ago when the women he loved and wanted to marry walked out of his life for what could possibly be forever – Tess. Just the thought of her name, let alone the fact he was going to see her tonight, sent his mind off to never-never land. The phone rang, snapping his mind back to the present.

"Hello" he said a little rougher then he intended.

The voice on the other end belonged to his friend Joe. Knowing what tonight was, Joe wanted to check on his friend. "Troy" Joe said, "How are you doing?"

"Fine" Troy said.

"Just fine?" Joe asked, knowing his friend was lying. "Nervous about tonight?" Joe asked.

"No" Troy said, then paused "Yes," he admitted reluctantly.

 "Don't worry – things will work out great. Tess and you were meant to be together. I've been listening to you talk about her since we've been in school together,” Joe said, being supportive of his friend’s plans for the night.

"Thanks." Troy said. "I needed that boost of confidence".

"You’re welcome."

"I have to finish getting ready,” Troy said. “I’m running late."

"Ok, then I’ll talk to you later. Let me know what happens."

"I will,” Troy said. “Goodbye, Joe."

"Goodbye," Joe replied.

When Troy hung up the phone, he finished getting dressed and assessed his appearance in the mirror.. The suit was a far cry from the jeans and tee-shirts he used to wear in high school. Not bad, he thought. He just hoped Tess would think so too. Tonight he had to look just right.

As he left his house to drive to the reunion his mind wandered back to Tess. Tess was the girl he had been in love with since sixth grade. However, as is typical with boys his age, he didn’t know how to express those feelings, so he teased her. He actually thought he had lost her when he teased her so much in ninth grade that she would run anytime she saw him. Things looked up for him in eleventh grade when she offered him a pen when no one else would. He was determined to get back into her good graces because he still liked her, so he made sure that he returned it promptly. That did it for her. After that when they saw each other she would at least say “hi” to him. Things really changed for them in their senior year of high school. They had first period class together. During this time he would flirt with her by making the chair in front of him push against the one that was behind her making her chair move so she would have to notice him. During some of this time she had a boyfriend and watching her walk into class a little breathless and her lips kiss-swollen killed him. He wanted to be the one who left her like that. There wasn't anything he could do about the boyfriend, but he could always flirt. Things really heated up when she and her boyfriend broke up. He saw her upset one day as she came into class, and it nearly broke his heart. He laid low with the flirting and listened to her talking to her friend to find out what happened. They broke up!!! He couldn’t believe his luck. After that he stepped up the flirting. One day he was pushing on her chair like always, and she didn't turn around to flash him a smile like she always did, so he kept pushing on the chair till it was nearly out the door. That day the teacher caught him because of her chair being so far up from where it normally was. It was embarrassing when the teacher brought it up in front of the whole class. She was so unbelievably sexy when she blushed, he thought, remembering that day fondly.

As his drive to the reunion came to a dead stop in rush hour traffic, his mind continued to focus on Tess. Now he remembered ever better times that he spent with her at college when he spent time with her before and between classes. He still remembered the first time he saw her sitting outside the library with the sun glistening off the natural blond highlights in her hair. She looked like an angel. Then when she flashed him that smile of hers he felt as if he had the air knocked out of him. He had to struggle to not trip as he walked passed her. When he came back out of the building, and she was still there, looking so good, he had to get closer. As he got closer he could see what his coming over was doing to her. He could tell that she was nervous, but she acted cool. From then on they spent days like that no matter what the weather. They even spent time sitting in his truck talking. It seemed so easy and natural with Tess. However, the only catch to this comfy situation between them was now he had a girlfriend and she didn't have a boyfriend.

Then, not long before he was due to graduate, she met somebody. She had switched majors, but she was still going to the same school. From then on he didn't see her anymore. Every once in awhile he would happen to drive passed her house. She would sometimes be outside when he passed by. When she was, he would either beep or, when he was bold enough, stop by and talk with her in his car. Other than those times he didn't see her. The last he knew, she was leaving town to get her bachelor’s degree.

The last time he saw her was at a local restaurant. He was meeting quickly with his father to be introduced to a prospective client. As he was walking to meet them, he saw her sitting with a woman he knew was her mother and two other women he didn't know. He flashed her a big smile and she did the same. When his meeting was over, he went over to her table to greet her. She invited him to stop by her house sometime because she was back in town for good, but he never saw her again because he knew if he did, he would have to tell her how he felt and he couldn’t do that. His family wouldn’t be happy with him for breaking an unspoken promise to marry Cristina. So instead he had to forget Tess’s invitation to stop by and information that she was back in town for good.

Thinking back on those days warmed his heart. It was those carefree days that led to when he really fell in love with the bewitching woman that captured his heart so early on. Then he thought back to the day when his mother showed him the Sunday paper engagement section and asked him, "Don't you know this woman?" He started to argue with her stating that he wouldn't know anyone who was getting married, but then his heart skipped a beat when he saw that familiar smile looking back at him with another man with his arms around her. That was the worst day in his life. Since then he had been keeping tabs on her. He knew where she was living and where she was working, but he never tried to see her again. He knew his plan for tonight was a little bold and that he was risking a lot, but he also knew that it would work like a charm and win him the woman he loved.

With that final thought, Troy pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant where the reunion was being held. He locked his car and got out into the hot summer night. He strolled to the door, went inside and found the room where the reunion was. He walked over to the sign-in booth where he ran into Mary, a friend from school who recognized him right away.

"Troy," she said. "How nice to see you!”

"Nice to see you too," Troy replied and took his name tag from Mary. Then he walked further into the room.

He scanned the room and saw the familiar faces of his former classmates, searching for one in particular. He was nervous that she wasn't going to show tonight. That would be just his luck, he thought as he walked over to the bar. He ordered a drink and as he took it from the bartender, he turned and saw her. The sight of her took his breath away. He took a swig of his drink to steady his nerves. Tess looked just as he remembered. He gathered his nerve and walked over to where Tess stood talking to her friends. Tess had her back to him and didn't see him approaching.

When he was standing right behind her he said, "Hello, Tess."

At the sound of his voice, Tess turned around and saw Troy standing before her.