As a writer, I tend to be an observationalist (is that a cool word, or what). Sometimes this leads to snap judgements, usually followed by an 'in your shoes' reflection, and eventually, the mental filing away of character tidbits.
Here's what I observed yesterday:
11:00am weather report:
currently 11 C (roughly 52 F) with a high of 17 C (roughly 66ish F), mainly sunny with winds from the north.
I went to the grocery store around noon-time and quickly determined that there were generally two camps of dressers.
Camp #1: The summer-is-here, short-short and sleeveless top/t-shirt wearers. Crocs or sandals were the footwear of choice in 99% of the cases.
Camp #2: The I'm-not-convinced-summer-is-here-yet jeans and sweater and/or hoodie crowd.
Got me wondering...
Are the folks in Camp #1 hopefully enthuastic, naive, or stupid?
That north wind was chilly and even in my jeans, t-shirt and Crocs (I went for the cross-dresser approach), the goosebumps broke out.
Maybe they didn't check the weather channel and the sun beaming in their bedroom windows gave them a false-positive reading.
Or perhaps, if they did glance at the news, they thought it would surely climb above that predicted 17 degrees (the weather man often errs on the low side).
Or maybe they were so ultra-organized that they already put all of their cold-weather clothes away for the season (in their defense,... we have had awesome, hot weather in the last few weeks).
And what about the Camp #2ers...
Are they hardened cynics, realistic, or just plain savvy?
Did they check the weather and immediately translate that 'north wind' into 'hoodie'?
Or did they simply step outside wearing shorts and halters and say, "WTF?!" and run back in the house to change?
Or just maybe, unlike their uber-organized counterparts, have they not yet dug the warm-weather clothes out of the Rubbermaids?
And what about me?
The jeans were on my bathroom floor and within easy reach. The t-shirt was on top of the laundry basket and I slipped on my Crocs because I was too lazy to bend down and untie my sneakers.
I expected to roast, instead froze,...
and didn't check the weather until I got home. ;)
Hmmm... hard to pigeon-hole people at the end of the day, eh?? ;)
Monday, April 28, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Seven Random Things Meme
So... I cut blogging down to two times a week and it seems I can't even keep up with that! Pathetic...
The post I intended for this past Thursday was a meme. TL tagged me for this 7 Things Meme and these are the rules:
I must tell seven random and/or interesting things about myself. Then I have to get five blog buddies to play, too, and link to their blogs. And I have to post the rules.
This is troublesome...
I've done similar memes and I'm not sure I can come up with 7 new things, so forgive me the repitition, but I'm going to try and tie each 'thing' to writing.
1. I appeared in a popular daytime soap opera back in the late 80's. Five walk-ons, one solid line. It was fun experience, and although I was diehard fan of this show in the past, after reading the (inane) scripts, I haven't watched it since. If you watch soaps, try this: walk away from the screen and just listen. Listen from another room, close your eyes, whatever, but just listen to the dialogue and you'll see exactly what I mean.
If you're a fellow writer, you'll be shocked at what they get away with.
2. I may be 4o-something but I still feel 27. Sometimes I act 7.
When I write, I get to be all different ages.
3. Obsurity scares me.
Is this why I write?? Do I want to somehow leave a mark? Hmmm...
4. I'm prone to panic attacks and I hate myself for it. I used to love to travel, try new things, and like a true Sagittarian, would hop from one adventure to the next. What happened to me? I'm now afraid to fly and can't stomach kiddie rides at the amusement park! Just thinking about being trapped or riding on a public bus accelerates my heartbeat to dangerous levels.
It makes me feel better that I can still live through my characters :)
5. I hate housework. I really really loathe the entire process because there's no end. You just finish one task and there's another waiting. You do it all and realize you've got to start all over again from task one.
That's my favorite thing about writing -- there's a beginning, middle and end. Ah,... satisfaction.
6. I'm a horrible sleeper. I fight going to sleep, I'm restless when I do sleep, I wake up often during the night and am plagued by 'vivid-dream syndrome'. No matter how tired I am, it takes me at least 30 minutes to fall asleep once my head hits the pillow.
One reason I started writing is because during that 30 minutes, I have people talking in my head pleading with me to let their stories be told.
7. Sometimes I wish my cats could talk. There eyes are so expressive, I'm sure they'd have so much to say! Perhap explain the whole 'butt-licking' thing...
This has nothing to do with writing, except that both my cats sit on my desk while I write. Sometimes I read a scene aloud to them and they listen (seemingly) attentively. I get an occassional blink or fuzzy head butt, but I'd love to get some solid feedback!
I'm tagging Leah, Amy, m., and Christine ... and anyone else who wants to play!
The post I intended for this past Thursday was a meme. TL tagged me for this 7 Things Meme and these are the rules:
I must tell seven random and/or interesting things about myself. Then I have to get five blog buddies to play, too, and link to their blogs. And I have to post the rules.
This is troublesome...
I've done similar memes and I'm not sure I can come up with 7 new things, so forgive me the repitition, but I'm going to try and tie each 'thing' to writing.
1. I appeared in a popular daytime soap opera back in the late 80's. Five walk-ons, one solid line. It was fun experience, and although I was diehard fan of this show in the past, after reading the (inane) scripts, I haven't watched it since. If you watch soaps, try this: walk away from the screen and just listen. Listen from another room, close your eyes, whatever, but just listen to the dialogue and you'll see exactly what I mean.
If you're a fellow writer, you'll be shocked at what they get away with.
2. I may be 4o-something but I still feel 27. Sometimes I act 7.
When I write, I get to be all different ages.
3. Obsurity scares me.
Is this why I write?? Do I want to somehow leave a mark? Hmmm...
4. I'm prone to panic attacks and I hate myself for it. I used to love to travel, try new things, and like a true Sagittarian, would hop from one adventure to the next. What happened to me? I'm now afraid to fly and can't stomach kiddie rides at the amusement park! Just thinking about being trapped or riding on a public bus accelerates my heartbeat to dangerous levels.
It makes me feel better that I can still live through my characters :)
5. I hate housework. I really really loathe the entire process because there's no end. You just finish one task and there's another waiting. You do it all and realize you've got to start all over again from task one.
That's my favorite thing about writing -- there's a beginning, middle and end. Ah,... satisfaction.
6. I'm a horrible sleeper. I fight going to sleep, I'm restless when I do sleep, I wake up often during the night and am plagued by 'vivid-dream syndrome'. No matter how tired I am, it takes me at least 30 minutes to fall asleep once my head hits the pillow.
One reason I started writing is because during that 30 minutes, I have people talking in my head pleading with me to let their stories be told.
7. Sometimes I wish my cats could talk. There eyes are so expressive, I'm sure they'd have so much to say! Perhap explain the whole 'butt-licking' thing...
This has nothing to do with writing, except that both my cats sit on my desk while I write. Sometimes I read a scene aloud to them and they listen (seemingly) attentively. I get an occassional blink or fuzzy head butt, but I'd love to get some solid feedback!
I'm tagging Leah, Amy, m., and Christine ... and anyone else who wants to play!
Monday, April 21, 2008
No Cuttie for Wylie (again), Juno, Gone Baby Gone, Sunny Days, Blog Roundup
I was supposed to have my surgery today... the one that was postponed from March... but the blighters postponed me again! Now I have June 9th to dread.
I watched 2 movies this weekend:
Juno - a quirky, smart, thoroughly enjoyable movie that I highly recommend. It's different and delightful on so many levels.
Gone Baby, Gone - I'd read Dennis Lehane's book of the same title, so I was mentally prepared for the subject matter - child abduction. Normally, I'd stay FAR away from movies like this because as a mother of two young children, my stomach couldn't take it. But I already knew the outcome and only had to leave the room once.
Anyhoo... it's an excellent movie. Casey Affleck has definitely come out of the shadow of his big brother (Ben directed, btw) and though it has its dark moments, it a rich story with deep moral conflict. It's funny, hubby and I totally disagreed on how the main character (Patrick Kenzie) dealt with the situation in the end. (ignorant bastard - both Kenzie and my DH)
My only niggly complaint was the portrayal of Kenzie's partner, Angela Gennaro. In the Kenzie/Gennaro books (they're recurring private investigators in Lehane's books) Angie is a kick-ass no-nonsense toughie. The movie treated her like helpless girl. Grrrr.
The weather in Southern Ontario has been GORGEOUS. We went from winter to full-on summer in 3 weeks. My kids have tans, the dh has a burned bald-spot and I'm sporting a farmer's tan from the hours of yard work. Couldn't possibly stay cooped up indoors when the sun was shining so brightly and nature was greening-up before my eyes.
In other words - no writey for Wylie. (Aside from the Toronto Romance Writers newsletter, of course, which was due out yesterday... but is not, yet.)
Ah well... I needed a good dose of vitamin D having been deprived of it for so long.
How did you spend your weekend?
Before you go, I've got two places for you to check out:
You MUST go to Nicholas's blog and click on the link he provided to an Al Jazeera broadcast featuring an amazingly passionate and articulate woman who wants to bring her culture into the 21st century.
GO!!!
Savvy Leah has provided some terrific tips on making Google work for you. You may think you know what you're doing, but seriously, you'll learn something... Go!
I watched 2 movies this weekend:
Juno - a quirky, smart, thoroughly enjoyable movie that I highly recommend. It's different and delightful on so many levels.
Gone Baby, Gone - I'd read Dennis Lehane's book of the same title, so I was mentally prepared for the subject matter - child abduction. Normally, I'd stay FAR away from movies like this because as a mother of two young children, my stomach couldn't take it. But I already knew the outcome and only had to leave the room once.
Anyhoo... it's an excellent movie. Casey Affleck has definitely come out of the shadow of his big brother (Ben directed, btw) and though it has its dark moments, it a rich story with deep moral conflict. It's funny, hubby and I totally disagreed on how the main character (Patrick Kenzie) dealt with the situation in the end. (ignorant bastard - both Kenzie and my DH)My only niggly complaint was the portrayal of Kenzie's partner, Angela Gennaro. In the Kenzie/Gennaro books (they're recurring private investigators in Lehane's books) Angie is a kick-ass no-nonsense toughie. The movie treated her like helpless girl. Grrrr.
The weather in Southern Ontario has been GORGEOUS. We went from winter to full-on summer in 3 weeks. My kids have tans, the dh has a burned bald-spot and I'm sporting a farmer's tan from the hours of yard work. Couldn't possibly stay cooped up indoors when the sun was shining so brightly and nature was greening-up before my eyes.
In other words - no writey for Wylie. (Aside from the Toronto Romance Writers newsletter, of course, which was due out yesterday... but is not, yet.)
Ah well... I needed a good dose of vitamin D having been deprived of it for so long.
How did you spend your weekend?
Before you go, I've got two places for you to check out:
You MUST go to Nicholas's blog and click on the link he provided to an Al Jazeera broadcast featuring an amazingly passionate and articulate woman who wants to bring her culture into the 21st century.
GO!!!
Savvy Leah has provided some terrific tips on making Google work for you. You may think you know what you're doing, but seriously, you'll learn something... Go!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
All Hail Red Garnier
Big hand claps for RED GARNIER, author extraordinaire, who just sold to Penguin/Nal. She's hit the big-time -- NEW YORK, baby!!
Congrats, Red. Remember us when you're peering down from the top of the NY Times Bestseller list. ;)
And if you haven't read our Red (hee), may I suggest the following:
Bona Fide Liar
Divine Assistant
Amatista
The Devilish Games series
Or the upcoming Seven Sinners.
And those are just her EC titles. Her work can also be found at Loose Id (The Sheeman, Villain) and Liquid Silver (I Take Thee, Stroke of Midnight).
Three cheers for RED!!!
Congrats, Red. Remember us when you're peering down from the top of the NY Times Bestseller list. ;)
And if you haven't read our Red (hee), may I suggest the following:
Bona Fide Liar
Divine Assistant
Amatista
The Devilish Games series
Or the upcoming Seven Sinners.
And those are just her EC titles. Her work can also be found at Loose Id (The Sheeman, Villain) and Liquid Silver (I Take Thee, Stroke of Midnight).
Three cheers for RED!!!
Monday, April 14, 2008
Nim's Island - worth it for Gerard Butler in a leather jacket!
I took my eight year old to see Nim's Island yesterday and breathed a huge sigh of relief... FINALLY someone in Hollywood made a GREAT movie for kids. It was the perfect blend of interesting story, imagination, laughs, a wee bit of tension/danger, more laughs, and Gerard Butler in a leather jacket and fedora...Okay, that last part was all about MY needs.
Jodi Fosters 'part-agoraphobic' writer was played to comic perfection, without being OTT.
There was no overt violence, sexual innuendo, or graphic content that I'd have to explain to The Boy afterwards. It played to KIDS, and wasn't full of sexual innuendo or pop-culture references that only I would understand, as we see in so many 'kids' films these days.
Gerard Butler played a dual role -- Nim's father and the adventurer Alex Rover, who lived in the imaginations of both Nim and the writer, Alexandra Rover. The only weird thing here was he used both his natural Scottish accent while playing Alex (ah... perfection) and an awkward American accent for his Dad role (but still,... his lips were moving so that's okay).
In a nutshell: Widower-marine-biologist father and 11-year-old daughter live alone on an island in the South Asiatic Sea. Dad takes the sailboat to a reef to see some special phenomenon while daughter stays home to tend sea turtle eggs (girl is friends with the animals, her only playmates). Storm hits -- Dad's boat in trouble, he doesn't get home. Girl get's injured.
Meanwhile... Alexandra Rover is suffering writer's block. She decides to correspond with FATHER, whose article she read in National Geographic, but ends up exchanging emails with the injured and alone Nim. She overcomes her agoraphobia to get to the girl. And what an adventure she has in her travels!
Nim thinks Alex Rover is The Alex Rover, the character in the adventure books she loves, so when she finally meets Alexandra Rover, the author, a woman!, she is disappointed.
Both the girl and the author 'envision' Gerard Butler as Alex (yum) who appears to both and becomes the source of courage and strength.
If you have kids, I would highly recommend this fun movie.
***
Books - I read Sex, Straight Up by Kathleen O'Reilly. A Harlequin Blaze, I was able to finish it off in one sitting. A very satisfied one-sitting! It had the requisite amount of passion, pain, and sex. I saw that Smart Bitches gave it and A- and though it was enjoyable, there were a few things that bugged me about it so I'd go for a sold B.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Plight of the MANcold
There's nothing as cleansing as a spring rain! It's pouring down in my neck of the woods today and I'm glad because it's washing away all remnants of the nasty winter -- including the salt and sand they had to spread all over our roads after the countless snowfalls we *ahem* enjoyed this season.
But with spring comes the change-of-weather illnesses. My youngest, Sweetness (aka 3 yr old) has been struggling with a cold all week. Despite being a tad more tired than usual, he's not letting it bring him down -- he's still riding his bike, going to school, and being the little whirlwind of activity he normally is.
Hubby, on the other hand, has a *MANcold. This isn't your typical cold virus... it only affects grown men. In order to combat this tough Y-seeking strain of the common cold, one must take extra MANhealing measures, such as... leaning back in the chair and closing eyes after coughing. This position needs to be held for no less than five minutes and is essential in recovering from a MANcough. Gravitating to the couch at frequent intervals, especially when helping your wife put groceries away, is essential for restoring one's MANergy.
In order to combat MANaches associated with the MANcold, a scolding hot bath is recommended. My own hubby made his MANbath so MANhot that he was only able to sit in it for 2.4 minutes, and really, it doesn't matter than an entire soaker-tub of water was wasted because it was for a very good cause. MANaches are a serious thing, requiring doses of NyQuil and couchnaps whenever possible.
All other activities - playing with children, helping with dishes, fixing the lock on the front door, putting a new roll of toilet paper out - should be suspended for the duration of the MANcold.
*MANcold post inspired by my friend Tracey V whose man has experienced this horrible debilitating malady ... Video link sent by Suzanne H. Thanks ladies ;)
Have a great weekend everyone! I'm going to my RWA chapter meeting -- yes, the same one that I THOUGHT was last week, but I had the date wrong. On Sunday I'm going to take my 8 year old to see Nim's Island. I'm pretending to take him because it's a good kid's movie, but really, I'm going for Gerard Butler ;)
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Second Life
Second Life. Have you heard of it?
Last night, Jon Stewart was 'heckling' a new senate committee on virtual worlds -- that's right, the US Gov't has a committee for this... and they feel that the virtual world, Second Life, may be used as a recruitment ground for terrorist organizations.
WTF??????
So me, being me, immediately opened Laptop to check out this virtual world.
**TIME SUCK ALERT**
I made it as far as orientation, where my virtual ME, Wylie Pudles (you can chose your own first name but you must pick from a list of pre-made lastnames -- they all sucked) learned to walk, drive a car, and pick up objects. I got to alter my avatar face - the degrees to which you can change features is phenominal, - change my avatar clothes and shoes, and pick a body shape. Finally, the inner tall-muscular-endowed-fashionable beauty in me emerged from my dowdy housefrau self.
By this time my LOW Battery icon started flashing so I had to shut down. Yes... it took me 2 1/2 hours to do all that I mentioned above. And I hadn't even made it off Orientation Island. I still must learn to communicate and do a few other things before I can get to the 'real' virtual world. And then, presumably, go in search of terrorist recruiters?? I'm still shaking my head over this one. What are they going to do? Blow up a virtual building?
It's a pretty complex world... both of them.
I'd be interested to know if any of you have tried it and what your thoughts are. The entire time I was in it, I had this creepy Matrix feel... or that if I was in it too long I'd magically get sucked into it.
Last night, Jon Stewart was 'heckling' a new senate committee on virtual worlds -- that's right, the US Gov't has a committee for this... and they feel that the virtual world, Second Life, may be used as a recruitment ground for terrorist organizations.
WTF??????
So me, being me, immediately opened Laptop to check out this virtual world.
**TIME SUCK ALERT**
I made it as far as orientation, where my virtual ME, Wylie Pudles (you can chose your own first name but you must pick from a list of pre-made lastnames -- they all sucked) learned to walk, drive a car, and pick up objects. I got to alter my avatar face - the degrees to which you can change features is phenominal, - change my avatar clothes and shoes, and pick a body shape. Finally, the inner tall-muscular-endowed-fashionable beauty in me emerged from my dowdy housefrau self.
By this time my LOW Battery icon started flashing so I had to shut down. Yes... it took me 2 1/2 hours to do all that I mentioned above. And I hadn't even made it off Orientation Island. I still must learn to communicate and do a few other things before I can get to the 'real' virtual world. And then, presumably, go in search of terrorist recruiters?? I'm still shaking my head over this one. What are they going to do? Blow up a virtual building?
It's a pretty complex world... both of them.
I'd be interested to know if any of you have tried it and what your thoughts are. The entire time I was in it, I had this creepy Matrix feel... or that if I was in it too long I'd magically get sucked into it.
Monday, April 07, 2008
The Duke of Shadows at Six Degrees of Sexy
I'm blogging about Meredith Duran's debut novel, The Duke of Shadows, today over at Six Degrees of Sexy. Come on over...
Friday, April 04, 2008
It's official... I have a moustache.
It's FRIDAY - woo! I'm in a rockin' good mood because tomorrow I get to see Amy, Christine, Leah, Bonnie, and all the other smiling and talented faces at my RWA chapter meeting.
In case you missed it, I've got a contest going (see sticky post above). It's called 'My Date with and Angel' and I bet you're wondering why...
The hero in Law of Averages is a British rock star who's been dubbed by the media, the 'Dark Angel of Rock'.
Ah... it's all making sense now, eh? Cause who wouldn't want to date a gorgeous hunky talented musician with an accent? YUM-MY.
I hope y'all will have some fun and enter. Please? Pretty please? Imagine a photo contest with NO entries? Yup, that would be rather devastating...
I'd have to blame Bonnie, who inspired this (unknowingly) with her recent entry into a contest for a trip to Iceland. After the horrific winter we had in Ontario, I'm not sure what possessed her to enter, except maybe the lure of an active volcano? ;)
Hey, remember awhile back I blogged about going for an eyebrow wax and the spa-demon aggressively hinted that I needed my upper-lip done as well (you can read about it HERE)-- and the devasting after effects it had on my psyche despite the reassurance from my peeps, my homies, my buds, that there was no evidence of such a beast on my lip??
Well it happended again!
Same story, different spa...
I went to have my unibrow divided (just kidding... my eyebrows aren't tooooo bad) and the spa-woman-child (she was an infant, really -- all of 22) said,
"And are we doing the upper lip today?"
AAHH!!
"Um,... no?" says I.
"Oh." she says, with the same LOOK as the OTHER spa-demon.
Crap.
"Okay... if you think I need it, go ahead."
RIIIPPPPP
AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!! F^*King HELL that hurts!
Writing progress - yeah... no. Wrote, deleted, wrote deleted, deleted, deleted. Monday I had 37,000 words and Friday I'm down to 35,200. Sven is hanging his head in shame.
Have a GREAT weekend everyone. Don't forget to grab a camera and an angel ;)
In case you missed it, I've got a contest going (see sticky post above). It's called 'My Date with and Angel' and I bet you're wondering why...
The hero in Law of Averages is a British rock star who's been dubbed by the media, the 'Dark Angel of Rock'.
Ah... it's all making sense now, eh? Cause who wouldn't want to date a gorgeous hunky talented musician with an accent? YUM-MY.
I hope y'all will have some fun and enter. Please? Pretty please? Imagine a photo contest with NO entries? Yup, that would be rather devastating...
I'd have to blame Bonnie, who inspired this (unknowingly) with her recent entry into a contest for a trip to Iceland. After the horrific winter we had in Ontario, I'm not sure what possessed her to enter, except maybe the lure of an active volcano? ;)
Hey, remember awhile back I blogged about going for an eyebrow wax and the spa-demon aggressively hinted that I needed my upper-lip done as well (you can read about it HERE)-- and the devasting after effects it had on my psyche despite the reassurance from my peeps, my homies, my buds, that there was no evidence of such a beast on my lip??
Well it happended again!
Same story, different spa...
I went to have my unibrow divided (just kidding... my eyebrows aren't tooooo bad) and the spa-woman-child (she was an infant, really -- all of 22) said,
"And are we doing the upper lip today?"
AAHH!!
"Um,... no?" says I.
"Oh." she says, with the same LOOK as the OTHER spa-demon.
Crap.
"Okay... if you think I need it, go ahead."
RIIIPPPPP
AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!! F^*King HELL that hurts!
Writing progress - yeah... no. Wrote, deleted, wrote deleted, deleted, deleted. Monday I had 37,000 words and Friday I'm down to 35,200. Sven is hanging his head in shame.
Have a GREAT weekend everyone. Don't forget to grab a camera and an angel ;)
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Crazy Eights Meme
BEWARE - it's April Fool's Day! Watch your back ;)
I was tagged by Julia AGES ago (sorry, Julia!) for this CRAZY EIGHTS MEME and I'm FINALLY gittin' er dun...
8 things I’m passionate about
1 - Sweetness (aka 3 yr old) and Light (aka 8 yr old)
2 - Darling Hubby
3 - Writing
4 - JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood (yes, I do need a life)
5 - helping others through charitable giving, etc
6 - nature, our planet (though I'm not as 'green' as I'd like to be)
7 - LOST
8 - movies that move me
8 things I want to do before I die
1 - write a best-selling novel
2 - dance at my sons' weddings
3 - cruise the Mediterranean
4 - visit northern Europe, including St. Petersburg Russia, and Skandinavia
5 - attend the Oscars (doubly sweet if my novel was turned into an award winning movie!)
6 - win a Rita
7 - own/live on a big piece of forested land on a lake
8 - have the means to give away a LOT of money, at least a million dollars, to charity
8 things I often say
1 - Where are we going for dinner?
2 - Hello Mom (I call her every night)
3- One, two, three... (if my kids don't do as they're told by the time I get to 5, they get a timeout)
4 - I love you (to my kids, everyday, multiple times)
5 - 6 days 'til Lost, 5 days 'til lost, 4 days 'til Lost...
6 - In my next life...
7 - What are we doing today, family?
8 - Damn computer!
8 books I’ve recently read or am reading or planning to read
1 - Fancy Free by Shelley Munro (read)
2 - The Other Boleyn Girl (read)
3 - Night Swimming by Rebecca James (I've been planning on this one for AGES, since Mrs. Giggles gave it a 95 - a 95!! - but just haven't got to it yet. Sorry Rebecca!)
4 - Fox's Bride by Amy Ruttan (planning)
5 - Bitten by Kelley Armstrong (planning)
6 - A Man Worth Keeping by Molly O'Keefe (planning)
7 - Seven Sinners by Red Garnier (planning)
8 - The Bond That Heals Us by Christine d'Abo (planning)
8 songs I could listen to over and over
1 - Phantom of the Opera soundtrack
2 - Stronger - Kanye West
3 - No One - Alicia Keyes
4 - Hotel California - The Eagles
5 - Savin' Me - Nickelback
6 - My Immortal - Evanescence
7 - Come What May - from Moulin Rouge
8 - Four Seasons - Vivaldi
8 things that attract me to my best friends
1 - sense of humor (must be able to take my sarcasm!)
2 - good conversationalist
3 - savvy, intellectual, well read
4 - compassionate
5 - variety of interests
6 - strong personalities
7 - passionate about something, whether it be family, career or hobby
8 - appreciate the arts
I think EVERYONE in blogland has probably done this one already so I'm not sure who's left to tag... Anyone who wants to play, leave a comment and I'll visit you.
I was tagged by Julia AGES ago (sorry, Julia!) for this CRAZY EIGHTS MEME and I'm FINALLY gittin' er dun...
8 things I’m passionate about
1 - Sweetness (aka 3 yr old) and Light (aka 8 yr old)
2 - Darling Hubby
3 - Writing
4 - JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood (yes, I do need a life)
5 - helping others through charitable giving, etc
6 - nature, our planet (though I'm not as 'green' as I'd like to be)
7 - LOST
8 - movies that move me
8 things I want to do before I die
1 - write a best-selling novel
2 - dance at my sons' weddings
3 - cruise the Mediterranean
4 - visit northern Europe, including St. Petersburg Russia, and Skandinavia
5 - attend the Oscars (doubly sweet if my novel was turned into an award winning movie!)
6 - win a Rita
7 - own/live on a big piece of forested land on a lake
8 - have the means to give away a LOT of money, at least a million dollars, to charity
8 things I often say
1 - Where are we going for dinner?
2 - Hello Mom (I call her every night)
3- One, two, three... (if my kids don't do as they're told by the time I get to 5, they get a timeout)
4 - I love you (to my kids, everyday, multiple times)
5 - 6 days 'til Lost, 5 days 'til lost, 4 days 'til Lost...
6 - In my next life...
7 - What are we doing today, family?
8 - Damn computer!
8 books I’ve recently read or am reading or planning to read
1 - Fancy Free by Shelley Munro (read)
2 - The Other Boleyn Girl (read)
3 - Night Swimming by Rebecca James (I've been planning on this one for AGES, since Mrs. Giggles gave it a 95 - a 95!! - but just haven't got to it yet. Sorry Rebecca!)
4 - Fox's Bride by Amy Ruttan (planning)
5 - Bitten by Kelley Armstrong (planning)
6 - A Man Worth Keeping by Molly O'Keefe (planning)
7 - Seven Sinners by Red Garnier (planning)
8 - The Bond That Heals Us by Christine d'Abo (planning)
8 songs I could listen to over and over
1 - Phantom of the Opera soundtrack
2 - Stronger - Kanye West
3 - No One - Alicia Keyes
4 - Hotel California - The Eagles
5 - Savin' Me - Nickelback
6 - My Immortal - Evanescence
7 - Come What May - from Moulin Rouge
8 - Four Seasons - Vivaldi
8 things that attract me to my best friends
1 - sense of humor (must be able to take my sarcasm!)
2 - good conversationalist
3 - savvy, intellectual, well read
4 - compassionate
5 - variety of interests
6 - strong personalities
7 - passionate about something, whether it be family, career or hobby
8 - appreciate the arts
I think EVERYONE in blogland has probably done this one already so I'm not sure who's left to tag... Anyone who wants to play, leave a comment and I'll visit you.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Smart One, Smart Ass One
Yay, it's Friday... Blogday!
Before I blather about the movies I watched last weekend, and how they will ultimately make me a better writer, I must share some kid stuff.
As you know - I have two: Sweetness, aka 3 yr old, and Light, aka 8 yr old.
The SMART One:
I got a telephone call from the school principal today informing me that Light has been identified as 'gifted'. My first instinct was ' woo hoo!! I have a smart kid!! ' but that was quickly replaced by ' Shit! I can't fake this parenting thing for much longer. Soon he's going to figure out I have no clue what I'm doing... '
The SMARTASS One:
Daddy and Sweetness are doing crafts at the kitchen table - making aliens (I'm in the other room, but can hear every word) and Daddy says: "Oh, this is a fat one." to which Sweetness replies "Just like Mommy."
Daddy says, "Sweetness, don't say that."
Sweetness, "But it's true, Mommy is fat." (he does have a point)
Daddy, "It's not polite to say things like that."
After a 5 second pause, Sweetness says, "Well then, I can't call you Stupid."
ba da DAH...
And now, the movies...
I Am Legend - starring Will Smith and a dog.
This movie wasn't what I expected! Will's character is a lone survivor living in NYC years after a virus has infected and/or wiped out the entire population. He talks to his dog, hunts wild deer, and tries to find a cure for the virus. Except he's not really alone. Hemocrits (infected people who can't tolerate sunlight) come out after dark looking for blood. Think vampire-zombie hybrid. Will obviously must avoid them.
This movie was like a cross between 28 Days Later (virus, blood sucking zombies, barren city) and Castaway (instead of Tom Hanks talking to a ball and slowly loosing his mind we have Will Smith talking to a dog and slowly loosing his mind).
The Secret Life of Words - starring Sarah Polley and Tim Robbins
A quiet, deep film. Notice I called it a film not a movie. This one has amazingly subtle narrative, rich characters, disturbing content and an interesting setting (an oil platform in the north sea). The kind of film you must pay close attention to in order to experience every nuance.
The plot, in a nutshell: Instead of taking a 'real' vacation from her factory job, Sarah Polley's Hannah chooses to play nurse to a burn victim, Josef (Tim Robbins) who is stuck on a drilling platform until he's well enough to be moved. Josef wants to unburden himself by revealing his secrets while Hannah, a victim of the brutality of war, is desperate to keep hers.
How can I apply what I saw to writing romance?
I Am Legend was a lesson in how to move a plot forward when you don't have the benefit of a secondary character to react to the hero. Samantha may have been a dog, but she was a perfect companion/mentor and his love for her (his need to protect her) provided a critical turning point and, ironically, the black moment.
Lesson: Your heroine CAN be a bitch.
In The Secret Life of Words the two main characters couldn't be more opposite; she's a shy, emotionally-unstable introvert and he's an obnoxiously rude extrovert, but through careful, measured dialogue, they not only come to understand each other, but trust themselves again. Sublety was key. The message was in what the characters didn't say!
Lesson: As a writer, I shouldn't spell everything out -- I should actually trust the reader to read between the lines.
What movies ('scuse me... or films) have positively effected your writing? Please share.
Before I blather about the movies I watched last weekend, and how they will ultimately make me a better writer, I must share some kid stuff.
As you know - I have two: Sweetness, aka 3 yr old, and Light, aka 8 yr old.
The SMART One:
I got a telephone call from the school principal today informing me that Light has been identified as 'gifted'. My first instinct was ' woo hoo!! I have a smart kid!! ' but that was quickly replaced by ' Shit! I can't fake this parenting thing for much longer. Soon he's going to figure out I have no clue what I'm doing... '
The SMARTASS One:
Daddy and Sweetness are doing crafts at the kitchen table - making aliens (I'm in the other room, but can hear every word) and Daddy says: "Oh, this is a fat one." to which Sweetness replies "Just like Mommy."
Daddy says, "Sweetness, don't say that."
Sweetness, "But it's true, Mommy is fat." (he does have a point)
Daddy, "It's not polite to say things like that."
After a 5 second pause, Sweetness says, "Well then, I can't call you Stupid."
ba da DAH...
And now, the movies...
I Am Legend - starring Will Smith and a dog.
This movie wasn't what I expected! Will's character is a lone survivor living in NYC years after a virus has infected and/or wiped out the entire population. He talks to his dog, hunts wild deer, and tries to find a cure for the virus. Except he's not really alone. Hemocrits (infected people who can't tolerate sunlight) come out after dark looking for blood. Think vampire-zombie hybrid. Will obviously must avoid them.
This movie was like a cross between 28 Days Later (virus, blood sucking zombies, barren city) and Castaway (instead of Tom Hanks talking to a ball and slowly loosing his mind we have Will Smith talking to a dog and slowly loosing his mind).
The Secret Life of Words - starring Sarah Polley and Tim Robbins
A quiet, deep film. Notice I called it a film not a movie. This one has amazingly subtle narrative, rich characters, disturbing content and an interesting setting (an oil platform in the north sea). The kind of film you must pay close attention to in order to experience every nuance.
The plot, in a nutshell: Instead of taking a 'real' vacation from her factory job, Sarah Polley's Hannah chooses to play nurse to a burn victim, Josef (Tim Robbins) who is stuck on a drilling platform until he's well enough to be moved. Josef wants to unburden himself by revealing his secrets while Hannah, a victim of the brutality of war, is desperate to keep hers.
How can I apply what I saw to writing romance?
I Am Legend was a lesson in how to move a plot forward when you don't have the benefit of a secondary character to react to the hero. Samantha may have been a dog, but she was a perfect companion/mentor and his love for her (his need to protect her) provided a critical turning point and, ironically, the black moment.
Lesson: Your heroine CAN be a bitch.
In The Secret Life of Words the two main characters couldn't be more opposite; she's a shy, emotionally-unstable introvert and he's an obnoxiously rude extrovert, but through careful, measured dialogue, they not only come to understand each other, but trust themselves again. Sublety was key. The message was in what the characters didn't say!
Lesson: As a writer, I shouldn't spell everything out -- I should actually trust the reader to read between the lines.
What movies ('scuse me... or films) have positively effected your writing? Please share.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Oops!! Forgot to mention...
Already breaking my own rule! But I forgot to mention yesterday that sensational Eve Powers has a MUST-READ novella out from Samhain entitled Six and Sexy.
Even the title sounds yummy...
Buy it here!!
Even the title sounds yummy...
Death has never been so tempting.
As a reaper, Six is a right hand to Death
herself. It’s his job to end a cycle so a new one can begin. Now the feared Lady
has given him a new assignment…and reaping has never been more difficult. His
beautiful new target calls to him, not as a reaper, but as a man. But no one’s
ever defied Death before, and Six must stay focused on the task-to kill Shelby
Morrison-before another reaper gets to her first.
At first, Shelby thinks
she dreamed up the dark, handsome stranger who’s following her. Yet slowly she
realizes he’s very real-and so are the sparks between them. Though the only
thing she knows about him is his name, Six is too sexy to resist. She aches for
his touch.
And no one’s ever died from a few little kisses…
Buy it here!!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
No cuttie, no happy
I was supposed to have That Surgery yesterday but they postponed me until the end of April. I think they're trying to kill me by stressful anticipation...
Sweetness (aka 3 yr old) starts back at nursery school tomorrow WOOOO HOOOO (did I say that outloud?) after a 3 week March break. He only attends for 2 hours in the afternoon, but honestly, my sanity depends on those 120 minutes per day.
I hope y'all had a lovely Easter weekend, for those who celebrate. We have more chocolate in the house than Britney has Frappes. My kids are vibrating from the sugar intake *cough me too cough cough*.
I haven't been as productive on my writing projects as I was hoping... but hanging with two very active boys all day every day sort of wore me out so all I wanted to do most evenings was sit in front of the television and lose myself in mindless entertainment. Gah - there really is SHITE on most of the time. I pretty much LIVE for Thursday nights... LOST. House will be back at the end of April, so that's another night to look forward to. And though I haven't been consistantly watching American Idol, the few performances I've managed to catch were amazing. The little David Archuletta (sp?) has some serious talent...
Back to writing.... my current wip, The Elements of Attraction, is coming along slowly. I've cut out huge swaths of text that I'd written earlier because I decided to change the nature of one of my characters. The story is becoming quite clear in my mind, though (this is a good thing!) and the characters are definitely speaking to me. Mostly in the middle of the night ;)
Leah Braemel has a new website and it's absolutely DIVINE!! Go see.
Okay - so here's the deal. I'm only going to blog twice/week (she says, *snort*) on Tuesdays and Fridays. That's the goal, anyway.
Upcoming:
details on the Law of Averages contest
website update (about time!)
latest reads
my mini-movie marathon
Thanks for stopping by and I'll be making rounds soon!
Sweetness (aka 3 yr old) starts back at nursery school tomorrow WOOOO HOOOO (did I say that outloud?) after a 3 week March break. He only attends for 2 hours in the afternoon, but honestly, my sanity depends on those 120 minutes per day.
I hope y'all had a lovely Easter weekend, for those who celebrate. We have more chocolate in the house than Britney has Frappes. My kids are vibrating from the sugar intake *cough me too cough cough*.
I haven't been as productive on my writing projects as I was hoping... but hanging with two very active boys all day every day sort of wore me out so all I wanted to do most evenings was sit in front of the television and lose myself in mindless entertainment. Gah - there really is SHITE on most of the time. I pretty much LIVE for Thursday nights... LOST. House will be back at the end of April, so that's another night to look forward to. And though I haven't been consistantly watching American Idol, the few performances I've managed to catch were amazing. The little David Archuletta (sp?) has some serious talent...
Back to writing.... my current wip, The Elements of Attraction, is coming along slowly. I've cut out huge swaths of text that I'd written earlier because I decided to change the nature of one of my characters. The story is becoming quite clear in my mind, though (this is a good thing!) and the characters are definitely speaking to me. Mostly in the middle of the night ;)
Leah Braemel has a new website and it's absolutely DIVINE!! Go see.
Okay - so here's the deal. I'm only going to blog twice/week (she says, *snort*) on Tuesdays and Fridays. That's the goal, anyway.
Upcoming:
details on the Law of Averages contest
website update (about time!)
latest reads
my mini-movie marathon
Thanks for stopping by and I'll be making rounds soon!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Law of Averages, coming May 16th from Ellora's Cave
Yes, yes, I know I'm on blogatus (blog + hiatus) but I just wanted to SHOUT about an upcoming contest to promote the May 16th release of Law of Averags. The action starts on April 1st and there are loads of prizes:- 8 Bermuda Calanders
- 2 Bermuda beach bags
- 1 Discover the Wylie side of romance T-shirt
- a free download of Law of Averages
Why all the Bermuda pimpage? The blurb explains:
Megan Frost, an up-and-coming restaurateur, knows everything there is to know about the culinary arts, but when it comes to pop culture, she’s been living under a rock. During a vacation to the sunny island of Bermuda, the yummiest
dish she’s ever laid eyes on brings her out of hiding.
British musician Gabriel Law, the famous Dark Angel of Rock, regrets putting his
songwriting on the back burner. Tired and creatively simmered out, he retreats
to the peace and solitude of Bermuda in order to cook up some original sounds
for his new album. But when he finds a naked woman in his holiday cottage, he
happily exchanges solitude for a sizzling duet.
The ingredients for a sexy, scorching relationship are in place, but the mix isn’t complete without a romantic legend, a mysterious taxi driver and a surprise symbol of destiny from the aquamarine sea…
--------------------
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Not Goodbye, Just So Long
I was a week without internet. A WEEK!!!! I had no idea what was happening in blogland, and I get all my current news from cyberspace so didn't know what was going on in the Dem leadership race, or who went to rehab this week.
I felt so lost...
And speaking of LOST, was that not the BEST episode of the past two years last Thursday? I had no less than 17 "OMG!! WTF??" moments, everyone one of them making my heart pound a little faster... and come on, you wouldn't be human if you didn't have a little tightness in your chest waiting for Penny to pick up that phone. That show makes owning a television worth-while.
Back to my good-bye...
March is going to be CRAZAZY so I'm going on blog hiatus for the next 4 (possible 6) weeks. My kids, who go to different schools, are off for March break beginning this Friday (like they couldn't keep them until the end of the freaking week... NO, they get the Friday off too!!) and between them, have three weeks off. Then Easter, then I'm having minor surgery (remember the gall bladder post from last October? Yeah, that's coming out) AND I'm doing the Seventy Days of Sweat, for which I'm already 5 days behind.
So Long, sweet blog buddies... Catch y'all in the spring!
I felt so lost...
And speaking of LOST, was that not the BEST episode of the past two years last Thursday? I had no less than 17 "OMG!! WTF??" moments, everyone one of them making my heart pound a little faster... and come on, you wouldn't be human if you didn't have a little tightness in your chest waiting for Penny to pick up that phone. That show makes owning a television worth-while.
Back to my good-bye...
March is going to be CRAZAZY so I'm going on blog hiatus for the next 4 (possible 6) weeks. My kids, who go to different schools, are off for March break beginning this Friday (like they couldn't keep them until the end of the freaking week... NO, they get the Friday off too!!) and between them, have three weeks off. Then Easter, then I'm having minor surgery (remember the gall bladder post from last October? Yeah, that's coming out) AND I'm doing the Seventy Days of Sweat, for which I'm already 5 days behind.
So Long, sweet blog buddies... Catch y'all in the spring!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Wizard's Thief released!
Christine d'Abo's Wizard's Thief is out today *cue cheering section*
I just started reading it and so far, so-throroughly-enjoyable!
Here's the skinny:
I just started reading it and so far, so-throroughly-enjoyable!
Here's the skinny:
WIZARD’S THIEF by CHRISTINE D’ABO
As Callie is sent into the Warren to steal the wizard’s binding stone, she enters a world she doesn’t understand. Stumbling into the arms of Raine, she learns that she is his connection to a powerful magic, and is bound to him for life. Raine, once the most powerful of the Warren’s wizards, has had his magic lost to him for years. He must learn to trust Callie, not only with the secrets of the Warren, but with his heart. Each passing moment brings the flare of passion between them higher as the control over his magic returns. When an old enemy threatens a member of the Warren, Raine must overcome his fears and trust Callie not only to save a friend, but to return the love he wants to give.
Buy it now at Ellora's Cave!
I'm F@cking Matt Damon, I'm F@cking Ben Affleck
I'm going away for a week and won't have handy access to the internet, so incase you don't hear from me, I leave you with Sarah Silverman's hilarious video gift to her boyfriend Jimmy Kimmel, "I'm F#CKING Matt Damon", and Kimmel's panty-wetting response, "I'm F#CKING Ben Affleck".
You may want to do a few stretches first, cause I guarantee your sides will be hurting from laughing so hard...
You may want to do a few stretches first, cause I guarantee your sides will be hurting from laughing so hard...
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Shelley Munro's FANCY FREE
Blog buddy and Ellora's Cave author extraordinaire, Shelley Munro, has a new book releasing soon *cue fanfare* and I'm delighted to offer this little teaser...
Responsible Romantic Heroes Use Condoms 
Some readers prefer heroes to use condoms while others say the dose of reality kills all the spontaneity and romance. It’s a debate that repeats all over romance land—to use condoms or not to use condoms—since, after all, it is only fiction…
New Zealand erotic romance author, Shelley Munro took this a step further in her upcoming release Fancy Free, the story of an accountant who inherits a condom company. When Ms. Munro caught an Air New Zealand flight from San Francisco, she came across an advertising article about a new condom on the market. The ideas flowed and by the time she landed in Auckland, she’d outlined her plot for Fancy Free.
It’s not every day a girl inherits a condom company, and to say accountant, Alice Beasley is astonished and out of her depth is putting it mildly. For an almost virgin, she needs a quick education in all things condom because her inheritance is in danger. Someone is intent on sabotage and playing nasty, trying to destroy her new company.
Alice is suddenly getting down and dirty with charismatic James, the factory manager, all in the name of business, testing new condom designs. The sex is hot. Mind-blowing. It’s a dark thrill and an erotic journey. Yeah, it’s a hard job but a girl’s got to do what a girl’s gotta do.
The testing turns personal. Alice wants James. She craves his talented touch and sultry kisses, she desires passion and physical pleasure on a permanent basis but first she must convince bad boy James to give up his fancy free ways.
Note: condoms were tested and a few harmed during the writing of this story.
Fancy Free releases on 7 March 2008 from Ellora’s Cave http://www.ellorascave.com/ and is Ms. Munro’s eighteenth release from the pioneer erotic romance publisher.
Some readers prefer heroes to use condoms while others say the dose of reality kills all the spontaneity and romance. It’s a debate that repeats all over romance land—to use condoms or not to use condoms—since, after all, it is only fiction…
New Zealand erotic romance author, Shelley Munro took this a step further in her upcoming release Fancy Free, the story of an accountant who inherits a condom company. When Ms. Munro caught an Air New Zealand flight from San Francisco, she came across an advertising article about a new condom on the market. The ideas flowed and by the time she landed in Auckland, she’d outlined her plot for Fancy Free.
It’s not every day a girl inherits a condom company, and to say accountant, Alice Beasley is astonished and out of her depth is putting it mildly. For an almost virgin, she needs a quick education in all things condom because her inheritance is in danger. Someone is intent on sabotage and playing nasty, trying to destroy her new company.
Alice is suddenly getting down and dirty with charismatic James, the factory manager, all in the name of business, testing new condom designs. The sex is hot. Mind-blowing. It’s a dark thrill and an erotic journey. Yeah, it’s a hard job but a girl’s got to do what a girl’s gotta do.
The testing turns personal. Alice wants James. She craves his talented touch and sultry kisses, she desires passion and physical pleasure on a permanent basis but first she must convince bad boy James to give up his fancy free ways.
Note: condoms were tested and a few harmed during the writing of this story.
Fancy Free releases on 7 March 2008 from Ellora’s Cave http://www.ellorascave.com/ and is Ms. Munro’s eighteenth release from the pioneer erotic romance publisher.
_________________________
We look forward to your latest, Ms Munro!
Check back later in the week for more interesting facts about condoms ;)
Monday, February 25, 2008
laptops, Oscars, writing, espionage?
Computers & such.
I'm the proud owner of a sleek new Compaq Presario. I should be over the moon with my new toy, but honestly, I miss my old baby. She wasn't fancy -- in fact it was a cheap old Gateway refurb that was heavier than my television -- but I loved her. She was small and compact, but felt solid, ready to go to work.
Like anything, I'm sure I'll grow to love this new puppy once I break her in.
As for Windows Vista - I'm loving it! It's ALMOST as cool as the MAC O/S. Almost.
OSCARS. Boring.
Except when that folksy pair won best song from the movie 'ONCE' - which I saw and enjoyed, but acknowledge it's probably not for everybody. Certainly not anyone looking for Hollywood polish, special effects or good dental hygeine.
Definitely the best moment of the night was when Jon Stewart let the girl come back on stage to finish her thank you speech. Class.
Migraines.
I had THREE of them last week. I've gone years without one and forgot how horrible they can be. Any migraine sufferers out there? You have my sympathies.
Writing.
None. Well -- this past week I did work on the next chapter of this children's writing course I started last year, but I don't know that it's doing much good. Every assignment I receive back from my instructor is full of compliments and praise - which is fine, but if I'm so damn good, how come I can't get any of my children's stories published??
I'm the proud owner of a sleek new Compaq Presario. I should be over the moon with my new toy, but honestly, I miss my old baby. She wasn't fancy -- in fact it was a cheap old Gateway refurb that was heavier than my television -- but I loved her. She was small and compact, but felt solid, ready to go to work.
Like anything, I'm sure I'll grow to love this new puppy once I break her in.
As for Windows Vista - I'm loving it! It's ALMOST as cool as the MAC O/S. Almost.
OSCARS. Boring.
Except when that folksy pair won best song from the movie 'ONCE' - which I saw and enjoyed, but acknowledge it's probably not for everybody. Certainly not anyone looking for Hollywood polish, special effects or good dental hygeine.
Definitely the best moment of the night was when Jon Stewart let the girl come back on stage to finish her thank you speech. Class.
Migraines.
I had THREE of them last week. I've gone years without one and forgot how horrible they can be. Any migraine sufferers out there? You have my sympathies.
Writing.
None. Well -- this past week I did work on the next chapter of this children's writing course I started last year, but I don't know that it's doing much good. Every assignment I receive back from my instructor is full of compliments and praise - which is fine, but if I'm so damn good, how come I can't get any of my children's stories published??
spy
(My 3 year old just typed that. It's the only word he can spell, aside from his name.)
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Happy Family Day?
Canada, but not all provinces(?!) has declared February 18th FAMILY DAY.
Everything was closed - banks, schools, malls (yes, malls!!), and even the bowling alley...
I hate to sound cynical, but isn't that what the weekends are for? All 52 of them? I'm no mathematician but that's a whopping 104 days I already devote to my family.
I'm a stay-at-home mom (fitting writing in where I can - like on stat holidays) so I also get Family Days during endless summer holidays, Christmas holidays, March break, Easter break, and at least one teacher's 'Professional Day' a month...
I understand that some folks have to work on weekends, but for those M-F 9-5ers, do you think we need an extra Family Day? Really?? And for many of you, isn't more work just piling up while you're home spending time watching your children sit in front of the television playing Wii thereby causing you further stress? Because really - it's February, in Canada... so the family picnic bbq and baseball game is out, right?
What about people who have no intention of spending time with their families or those with no families... Do they get the day off too? Why should they?
They should just call it "Sit Around and Relax" day instead. Or "Destress Day". That way everyone could take part.
In our house it was "Take Son and Son's Friend to Movies Day" which got me thinking about those poor shlubs who had to scoop popcorn -- why couldn't they be home with their families?
Makes no sense...
Edited to add: STILL no laptop :( I'm absolutely crippled without it.
Everything was closed - banks, schools, malls (yes, malls!!), and even the bowling alley...
I hate to sound cynical, but isn't that what the weekends are for? All 52 of them? I'm no mathematician but that's a whopping 104 days I already devote to my family.
I'm a stay-at-home mom (fitting writing in where I can - like on stat holidays) so I also get Family Days during endless summer holidays, Christmas holidays, March break, Easter break, and at least one teacher's 'Professional Day' a month...
I understand that some folks have to work on weekends, but for those M-F 9-5ers, do you think we need an extra Family Day? Really?? And for many of you, isn't more work just piling up while you're home spending time watching your children sit in front of the television playing Wii thereby causing you further stress? Because really - it's February, in Canada... so the family picnic bbq and baseball game is out, right?
What about people who have no intention of spending time with their families or those with no families... Do they get the day off too? Why should they?
They should just call it "Sit Around and Relax" day instead. Or "Destress Day". That way everyone could take part.
In our house it was "Take Son and Son's Friend to Movies Day" which got me thinking about those poor shlubs who had to scoop popcorn -- why couldn't they be home with their families?
Makes no sense...
Edited to add: STILL no laptop :( I'm absolutely crippled without it.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Laptop update
Update:
My laptop is still in the hands of the PC doctor... No, House wasn't available, damn it. Apparently he's fictional?!?!
Anyway, I haven't heard any news yet and I probably won't until Tuesday because Monday is a new statutory holiday in Canada. Family Day. Because apparently, seven days a week isn't enough.
I'm SO lost with out it. How did I ever cope before?
Thanks, everyone, for your hugs and 'OMG-WORST-THING-EVER!!' support. :(
My laptop is still in the hands of the PC doctor... No, House wasn't available, damn it. Apparently he's fictional?!?!
Anyway, I haven't heard any news yet and I probably won't until Tuesday because Monday is a new statutory holiday in Canada. Family Day. Because apparently, seven days a week isn't enough.
I'm SO lost with out it. How did I ever cope before?
Thanks, everyone, for your hugs and 'OMG-WORST-THING-EVER!!' support. :(
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Monopoly World Vote, No Wylie this Week
I may have forgot to mention that I have family visiting this week -- two sisters-in-law, mother-in-law and nephew, so I'll be noticably absent from blogland. Hope you all have a terrific week, get lots of writing and/or reading done, hopefully by a warm fire...
See you next week!
Oh, and don't forget to vote for TORONTO in the Monopoly World Vote, or any other city you fancy.
See you next week!
Oh, and don't forget to vote for TORONTO in the Monopoly World Vote, or any other city you fancy.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Poetry Train, 2008 Grammy Award musings, Writer's Strike OVER!!
Oi, if you're looking for Poetry Train, I posted it HERE It's a beautiful little one by Emily Dickinson. Go. It's short -- take you about 20 seconds... I'll wait...
The Writer's Strike is OVER!! Woot woot woot.
Now the question is whether or not they can get the scripts written for the existing shows to let them finish the season or if they'll say Frig It and just forward them all to next season (which would really blow). I want my LOST!
Grammy Awards -- I missed the beginning (Hubby just HAD to watch Extreme Home Makeover) and it's not over yet, but so far, so WOW!
Kanye West performed Stronger (I totally dig that song) and he the funkiest stage and his jacket lit up and it was just COOL. Made me want to dance around the living room.
Aw jeez... I might as well confess... I DID dance around the living room ;)
Tina Turner is 68. I only know this because she looked so freaking amazing during her performance that I had to google her for info. SIXTY-EIGHT!! My God, that woman looks hot. No wrinkles, toned body (she was wearing a sleeveless silver spandex-like jumpsuit) and danced her ass off. Beyonce came out to perform with her a bit and it really was a stunning performance.
Alicia Keyes was wonderful and Amy Winehouse (live via satellite) looked clean. I mean hygiene-wise AND sober. No dirty ballet slippers and grimy appearance. Beehive was neat and her skin looked lovely. She was a bit shaky when she sang Rehab, but her other song (the name escapes me) was excellent.
Back to Kanye West -- he won a couple of awards so that should prevent a temper tantrum or two. But his acceptance speech didn't contain even a smidge of humble. That man is the cockiest creature on Earth!
The best line of the night was given by Vince Gill when he went up for an award that had been announced/given by Ringo Starr. He said (something to the effect of) "Wow, I've just been given an award by a Beatle. Has that happened to you yet, Kanye?" woo-hoo! ROTFLMAO
And because I'm an old woman (heee) I was tickled when Andre Boccelli came out to perform with Josh Groban. *sigh*
This being the big 50 for the Grammys, they threw some nostalgia at us with Fogerty, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Keelie somebody (oops, forgot her already). I'm going to shut up about this except to say I believe that Little Richard alone is keeping Maybelline in business.
Overall, a very enjoyable show. No outrageousness, which may cause critics to call it boring (God forbid) but I loved it.
And now that the writer's strike is over (WOO HOO!!) I look forward to the Oscars. What can I say -- I'm an award show junkie.
The Writer's Strike is OVER!! Woot woot woot.
Now the question is whether or not they can get the scripts written for the existing shows to let them finish the season or if they'll say Frig It and just forward them all to next season (which would really blow). I want my LOST!
Grammy Awards -- I missed the beginning (Hubby just HAD to watch Extreme Home Makeover) and it's not over yet, but so far, so WOW!
Kanye West performed Stronger (I totally dig that song) and he the funkiest stage and his jacket lit up and it was just COOL. Made me want to dance around the living room.
Aw jeez... I might as well confess... I DID dance around the living room ;)
Tina Turner is 68. I only know this because she looked so freaking amazing during her performance that I had to google her for info. SIXTY-EIGHT!! My God, that woman looks hot. No wrinkles, toned body (she was wearing a sleeveless silver spandex-like jumpsuit) and danced her ass off. Beyonce came out to perform with her a bit and it really was a stunning performance.
Alicia Keyes was wonderful and Amy Winehouse (live via satellite) looked clean. I mean hygiene-wise AND sober. No dirty ballet slippers and grimy appearance. Beehive was neat and her skin looked lovely. She was a bit shaky when she sang Rehab, but her other song (the name escapes me) was excellent.
Back to Kanye West -- he won a couple of awards so that should prevent a temper tantrum or two. But his acceptance speech didn't contain even a smidge of humble. That man is the cockiest creature on Earth!
The best line of the night was given by Vince Gill when he went up for an award that had been announced/given by Ringo Starr. He said (something to the effect of) "Wow, I've just been given an award by a Beatle. Has that happened to you yet, Kanye?" woo-hoo! ROTFLMAO
And because I'm an old woman (heee) I was tickled when Andre Boccelli came out to perform with Josh Groban. *sigh*
This being the big 50 for the Grammys, they threw some nostalgia at us with Fogerty, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Keelie somebody (oops, forgot her already). I'm going to shut up about this except to say I believe that Little Richard alone is keeping Maybelline in business.
Overall, a very enjoyable show. No outrageousness, which may cause critics to call it boring (God forbid) but I loved it.
And now that the writer's strike is over (WOO HOO!!) I look forward to the Oscars. What can I say -- I'm an award show junkie.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
And it shall have a cover...
Drumroll please...
For the record, the hero of this book, sexy rock star Gabriel Law (the REAL Gabriel Law, not the representing model on the cover) wouldn't be caught dead in a turquoise Speedo.
N.E.V.E.R.
But I suppose the art department couldn't leave the model naked ;)
MAY 16!! SQUEEEE
Friday, February 08, 2008
Hawaii Chair
If you need a good laugh - go check out the Hawaii Chair post at Six Degrees of Sexy. Every writer should have one.
The trouble with HER
Today was full of revelations.
Hubby doesn't read my blog anymore. (Revelation I) He said he stopped reading when I started drifting, when I stopped writing anything interesting and began posting fluff - comics, jokes, drivel.
I suppose he's right. When I started this blog back in the fall of '06, I wasn't afraid to ramble on about my opinions - books, weird thoughts, politics, television, writing...
Back then I wasn't afraid of sharing a piece of my soul or going on a rant. Somewhere along the line I started censoring myself.
Fear? Probably. I really hate offending people and because my audience is much bigger now (there's 5 or 6 who read regularly rather than just TL and hubby *snort!*) I guess I'm more conscious of my subject matter.
Will I remedy this?
I dunno... I'll think on it. I've got My Public, My Fans, to consider *double snort*!
At least I haven't lost my sense of humour ;)
On Writing (Revelation II):
I managed to squeak out 1000 words this afternoon but a few hours later, as I was mulling the next scene during a coffee run to Tim Hortons (aka LIFEBLOOD) came to the realization that everything that went on in scene one would have been better presented in the next scene. Wow - that probably made NO sense...
What I mean is, instead of two scenes to get two points across, I could get both points across in one scene, that being scene two. Follow?
So after banging my head into the steering wheel a few times (don't worry, I was at a red) I knew I'd have to delete and begin again.
C'est la vie. This is the life of a writer, n'est pas?
How did I come to this conclusion - albiet a few hours too late? Something I read earlier in the day triggered Revelation III - on how an author decided to combine two scenes...
Which segues nicely into:
Are you having trouble with your heroine? I am! Margaret Moore's blog post, Heroines on a Tight Rope was definitely enlightening (Revelation IV). It not only triggered the earlier revelation about combining the scenes, but also gave me the strength to eliminate the wishy-washy from my gal, Lucy Logan. Gah - she even has a wishy-washy name, doesn't she? I think I'm going to change it to something stronger.
Lucy Lonergan - meh
Lucy Lawless - crap, already taken
Lucy Lofty - Carrie's cousin? ... heh hehe
Lucy Langstaff - too soap opera
Okay blogland - give me a stong surname for my Lucy! Suggestions welcomed. There may even be a prize. Oh - and her sister's name is Penny, so it has to suit both gals.
Hubby doesn't read my blog anymore. (Revelation I) He said he stopped reading when I started drifting, when I stopped writing anything interesting and began posting fluff - comics, jokes, drivel.
I suppose he's right. When I started this blog back in the fall of '06, I wasn't afraid to ramble on about my opinions - books, weird thoughts, politics, television, writing...
Back then I wasn't afraid of sharing a piece of my soul or going on a rant. Somewhere along the line I started censoring myself.
Fear? Probably. I really hate offending people and because my audience is much bigger now (there's 5 or 6 who read regularly rather than just TL and hubby *snort!*) I guess I'm more conscious of my subject matter.
Will I remedy this?
I dunno... I'll think on it. I've got My Public, My Fans, to consider *double snort*!
At least I haven't lost my sense of humour ;)
On Writing (Revelation II):
I managed to squeak out 1000 words this afternoon but a few hours later, as I was mulling the next scene during a coffee run to Tim Hortons (aka LIFEBLOOD) came to the realization that everything that went on in scene one would have been better presented in the next scene. Wow - that probably made NO sense...
What I mean is, instead of two scenes to get two points across, I could get both points across in one scene, that being scene two. Follow?
So after banging my head into the steering wheel a few times (don't worry, I was at a red) I knew I'd have to delete and begin again.
C'est la vie. This is the life of a writer, n'est pas?
How did I come to this conclusion - albiet a few hours too late? Something I read earlier in the day triggered Revelation III - on how an author decided to combine two scenes...
Which segues nicely into:
Are you having trouble with your heroine? I am! Margaret Moore's blog post, Heroines on a Tight Rope was definitely enlightening (Revelation IV). It not only triggered the earlier revelation about combining the scenes, but also gave me the strength to eliminate the wishy-washy from my gal, Lucy Logan. Gah - she even has a wishy-washy name, doesn't she? I think I'm going to change it to something stronger.
Lucy Lonergan - meh
Lucy Lawless - crap, already taken
Lucy Lofty - Carrie's cousin? ... heh hehe
Lucy Langstaff - too soap opera
Okay blogland - give me a stong surname for my Lucy! Suggestions welcomed. There may even be a prize. Oh - and her sister's name is Penny, so it has to suit both gals.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
And it shall be released...
SQUEEE - Law of Averages finally has a release date!MAY 16, 2008
Here's the new official unofficial blurb:
Megan Frost, an up-and-coming restaurateur, knows everything there is to know about the culinary arts, but when it comes to pop culture, she’s been living under a rock. During a vacation to the sunny island of Bermuda, the yummiest dish she’s ever laid eyes on brings her out of hiding.
British musician Gabriel Law, the famous Dark Angel of Rock, regrets putting his songwriting on the back burner. Tired and creatively simmered out, he retreats to the peace and solitude of Bermuda in order to cook up some original sounds for his new album. But when he finds a naked girl in his holiday cottage, he happily exchanges solitude for a sizzling duet.
The ingredients for a sexy, scorching relationship are in place, but the mix isn’t complete without a romantic legend, a mysterious taxi driver and a surprise symbol of destiny from the aquamarine sea…
***
Can't post the cover yet because I requested a few little tweaks -- and I'll spare y'all the major pimpage for now, but be warned, come April/May it will be relentless ;)
The pics are to whet your appetite...
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
It's alive, ALIVE!!
Good news is - I feel somewhat human today, after two days of total BLECH.
Bad news - my house is a nasty mess. Nothing gets done when mommy's lost in blechland.
Have you been keeping up with US politics? Hubby and I were popping on to CNN yesterday to follow the Super Tuesday drama during the commercial breaks in House. Very interesting race between Obama and Clinton.
In the spirit of the moment, and as I still have nothing writing-relevant to share with the blogworld, I'm posting a humorous political joke - this one sent to me by my friend Chris in Edmonton. I have the best network of joke senders and it always makes me laugh when I get the same joke on the same day sent from Bermuda and my aunt in California. *cue Small World music*
One day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut. After the cut he asked about his bill, and the barber replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.'
The florist was pleased, and left the shop.
When the barber goes to open his shop the next morning, there is a 'thank you' card, and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.
Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.'
The cop is happy and leaves the shop.
The next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a 'thank you' card, and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.
Later that day, a college professor comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The professor is very happy and leaves the shop.
The next morning when the barber opens his shop, there is a 'thank you' card, & a dozen different books, such as 'How to Improve Your Business' & 'Becoming More Successful.
Then,a Politician comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.'
The MP is very happy and leaves the shop.
The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen Members of Parliament lined up waiting for a free haircut.
And that, my friends, illustrates the Fundamental difference between the Citizens of our country and the members of our Government.
Bad news - my house is a nasty mess. Nothing gets done when mommy's lost in blechland.
Have you been keeping up with US politics? Hubby and I were popping on to CNN yesterday to follow the Super Tuesday drama during the commercial breaks in House. Very interesting race between Obama and Clinton.
In the spirit of the moment, and as I still have nothing writing-relevant to share with the blogworld, I'm posting a humorous political joke - this one sent to me by my friend Chris in Edmonton. I have the best network of joke senders and it always makes me laugh when I get the same joke on the same day sent from Bermuda and my aunt in California. *cue Small World music*
One day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut. After the cut he asked about his bill, and the barber replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.'
The florist was pleased, and left the shop.
When the barber goes to open his shop the next morning, there is a 'thank you' card, and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.
Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.'
The cop is happy and leaves the shop.
The next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a 'thank you' card, and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.
Later that day, a college professor comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The professor is very happy and leaves the shop.
The next morning when the barber opens his shop, there is a 'thank you' card, & a dozen different books, such as 'How to Improve Your Business' & 'Becoming More Successful.
Then,a Politician comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.'
The MP is very happy and leaves the shop.
The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen Members of Parliament lined up waiting for a free haircut.
And that, my friends, illustrates the Fundamental difference between the Citizens of our country and the members of our Government.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
The Sensitive Man
I've had two pajama days in a row. Yup - I haven't been feeling like my ol' chipper self. Sore throat, stuffy head, snotty nose and overall malaise. Icky.
Needless to say, I don't have much to say blog-wise so I thought I'd share this funny little tale, sent to me by my friend Donna from Bermuda *waving to Donna* I'm pretty much guaranteed to get a daily smile or laugh from her! Enjoy....
The Sensitive Man
A woman meets a man in a bar. They talk; they connect; they endup leaving together.
They get back to his place, and as he shows her around his apartment. She notices that one wall of his bedroom is completely filled with soft, sweet, cuddly teddy bears.
There are three shelves in the bedroom, with hundreds and hundreds of cute, cuddly teddy bears carefully placed in rows, covering the entire wall! It was obvious that he had taken quite some time to lovingly arrange them and she was immediately touched by the amount of thought he had put into organizing the display.
There were small bears all along the bottom shelf, medium-sized bears covering thelength of the middle shelf, and huge, enormous bears running all the way along the top shelf.
They get back to his place, and as he shows her around his apartment. She notices that one wall of his bedroom is completely filled with soft, sweet, cuddly teddy bears.
There are three shelves in the bedroom, with hundreds and hundreds of cute, cuddly teddy bears carefully placed in rows, covering the entire wall! It was obvious that he had taken quite some time to lovingly arrange them and she was immediately touched by the amount of thought he had put into organizing the display.
There were small bears all along the bottom shelf, medium-sized bears covering thelength of the middle shelf, and huge, enormous bears running all the way along the top shelf.
She found it strange for an obviously masculine guy to have such a large collection of Teddy Bears. She is quite impressed by his sensitive side, but doesn't mention this to him.
They share a bottle of wine and continue talking and, after awhile, she finds herselfthinking, 'Oh my God! Maybe, this guy could be the one! Maybe he could be the future father of my children?'
She turns to him and kisses him lightly on the lips.
He responds warmly. They continue to kiss, the passion builds, and he romantically lifts her in his arms and carries her into his bedroom where they rip off each other's clothes and make hot, steamy love. She is so overwhelmed that she responds with more passion,
more creativity, more heat than she has ever known. After an intense, explosive nightof raw passion with this sensitive guy, they are lying there together in the afterglow. The woman rolls over, gently strokes his chest and asks coyly,
“Well,how was it?”
The guy gently smiles at her, strokes her cheek, looks deeply into her eyes, and says:
“Help yourself to any prize from the middle shelf.”
They share a bottle of wine and continue talking and, after awhile, she finds herselfthinking, 'Oh my God! Maybe, this guy could be the one! Maybe he could be the future father of my children?'
She turns to him and kisses him lightly on the lips.
He responds warmly. They continue to kiss, the passion builds, and he romantically lifts her in his arms and carries her into his bedroom where they rip off each other's clothes and make hot, steamy love. She is so overwhelmed that she responds with more passion,
more creativity, more heat than she has ever known. After an intense, explosive nightof raw passion with this sensitive guy, they are lying there together in the afterglow. The woman rolls over, gently strokes his chest and asks coyly,
“Well,how was it?”
The guy gently smiles at her, strokes her cheek, looks deeply into her eyes, and says:
“Help yourself to any prize from the middle shelf.”
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Waiting for the end.
Four more minutes of Superbowl (which really means 30, at least!) Not a highscoring game tonight -- NY Giants currently in the lead with10 to New England's 7. I'm not really into football these days, but here I sit with hubby, eating chips and making the appropriate grunts and cheers. Hey - it's not all bad. They have tight ends ;)
Okay - LOST was brilliant. I know many disagree, but it totally did it for me. The sad part? They were intending to run the entire season between now and May - but due to the writer's strike, they only have 8 episodes. ARG!
After LOST, I decided to give the new 'Eli Stone' a chance and I was pleasantly surprised. I'm going to give it a few more episodes...
SCORE!!! New England just got a TD - so it's now 14-10 for them! WOOT!! (whatever)
Red Garnier's AMATISTA comes out on Wednesday (6th) as part of Ellora's Cave's Jewel of the Nile series. Red has an amazing knack for packing an incredible amount of emotion in the hotness. And Amatista IS EXXXTREMELY hot. Spit on your fingers before turning the page HOT. Buy it on Wednesday!
Red also has another book out from Liquid Silver, called I Take Thee. I got a sneak peek at this awhile back and it's really the cat's meow! *wink wink*
And a big shout out to Amy Ruttan, who got the most gorgeous cover for her novel Fox's Bride, due out this July from Cerridwen, and a quadruple shout out to Christine d'Abo who's also got a Jewel of the Nile book this month - Wizard's Thief, got a smoking hot cover for her next release (which she'll share on her blog sometime this week) AND, she sold ANOTHER TWO BOOKS to EC!!
Way to go, my sistah-friends!
WHOA - What a catch by NYG David Tyree!!! Amazing.
And to round out my weekend, I won an ebook! Yes - I've got Beth Kery's Exorcising Sean's Ghost - which I look forward to reading this week.
OMG - :39 seconds left and the Giants just got a touch down!!!! OMG OMG. They barely made it into the Superbowl and POOF! They're beating the UNDEFEATED Patriots!!! Hubby is having an orgasm (kind of) and I'm strangely excited.
Looks like the final score will be 17-14 for the Giants. Yeah Eli Manning!!!
Okay - LOST was brilliant. I know many disagree, but it totally did it for me. The sad part? They were intending to run the entire season between now and May - but due to the writer's strike, they only have 8 episodes. ARG!
After LOST, I decided to give the new 'Eli Stone' a chance and I was pleasantly surprised. I'm going to give it a few more episodes...
SCORE!!! New England just got a TD - so it's now 14-10 for them! WOOT!! (whatever)
Red Garnier's AMATISTA comes out on Wednesday (6th) as part of Ellora's Cave's Jewel of the Nile series. Red has an amazing knack for packing an incredible amount of emotion in the hotness. And Amatista IS EXXXTREMELY hot. Spit on your fingers before turning the page HOT. Buy it on Wednesday!
Red also has another book out from Liquid Silver, called I Take Thee. I got a sneak peek at this awhile back and it's really the cat's meow! *wink wink*
And a big shout out to Amy Ruttan, who got the most gorgeous cover for her novel Fox's Bride, due out this July from Cerridwen, and a quadruple shout out to Christine d'Abo who's also got a Jewel of the Nile book this month - Wizard's Thief, got a smoking hot cover for her next release (which she'll share on her blog sometime this week) AND, she sold ANOTHER TWO BOOKS to EC!!
Way to go, my sistah-friends!
WHOA - What a catch by NYG David Tyree!!! Amazing.
And to round out my weekend, I won an ebook! Yes - I've got Beth Kery's Exorcising Sean's Ghost - which I look forward to reading this week.
OMG - :39 seconds left and the Giants just got a touch down!!!! OMG OMG. They barely made it into the Superbowl and POOF! They're beating the UNDEFEATED Patriots!!! Hubby is having an orgasm (kind of) and I'm strangely excited.
Looks like the final score will be 17-14 for the Giants. Yeah Eli Manning!!!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
I'm LOST again!
Ah - tonight is the night I've been waiting some 8 months for... LOST is back. My only t.v. obsession.
Last night they rebroadcast the season finale from way way back when, complete with running explanations that came up in a bar along the bottom, which was very clever - and ingenious way to remind us all of about the plots and subplots without interrupting the action or making us sit through a retrospective.
I'm glad I tuned in because I'd forgotten so many details...
Like how John Locke was shot and left to die by Ben (who will always be Henry Gale to me). I really hope he figures out a way to redeem himself because I've always had a soft-spot for Locke -- but his actions of late are bit 'out there'. But it's interesting to see the faith/science undercurrent between him and Jack.
That Charlie 'sacrificed' himself. I'm probably the only person in the world who was happy to see the ex-hobbit kick it. My husband was quiet disgusted at my glee when Charlie Pace took his last annoying little breathe, until I reminded him that
A) he's just a t.v. character and
B) in real life, he's still living in Hawaii banging Evangeline Lily.
That shut him up.
That Hurly saved Sayid, Bernard and Jin -- making me think that perhaps this really is all in Hurley's mind - a la John Cusack in 'Identity'.
And the James 'Sawyer' Ford is so damn sexy! Perfect example of the alpha male.
I'd stay happily stranded on that guy's island ;)
Last night they rebroadcast the season finale from way way back when, complete with running explanations that came up in a bar along the bottom, which was very clever - and ingenious way to remind us all of about the plots and subplots without interrupting the action or making us sit through a retrospective.
I'm glad I tuned in because I'd forgotten so many details...
Like how John Locke was shot and left to die by Ben (who will always be Henry Gale to me). I really hope he figures out a way to redeem himself because I've always had a soft-spot for Locke -- but his actions of late are bit 'out there'. But it's interesting to see the faith/science undercurrent between him and Jack.
That Charlie 'sacrificed' himself. I'm probably the only person in the world who was happy to see the ex-hobbit kick it. My husband was quiet disgusted at my glee when Charlie Pace took his last annoying little breathe, until I reminded him that
A) he's just a t.v. character and
B) in real life, he's still living in Hawaii banging Evangeline Lily.
That shut him up.
That Hurly saved Sayid, Bernard and Jin -- making me think that perhaps this really is all in Hurley's mind - a la John Cusack in 'Identity'.
And the James 'Sawyer' Ford is so damn sexy! Perfect example of the alpha male.
I'd stay happily stranded on that guy's island ;)
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Writer's ANXIETY??
You may have noticed a distinct lack of writing-related posts lately and though I'm a bit embarrassed about this, I need to share...
I've got a bad case of Writer's Anxiety. Never heard of it before? Me neither!! But I have it, and it's not to be confused with Writer's Block. No... the ideas are there (too many, in fact) and the storyboard for my intended wip (a novel to pitch at Nationals) is 80% complete and posted next to my desk.
Problem is, every time I open the document my heart races, my hands go all sweaty and they even start shaking a little. My head goes fuzzy and I feel all panicky.
WTF is wrong with me???
Is it because I've never written a full-length 75,000 word novel before -- Is it the size or the complicated-ness of the project that has me panicky?
Is it because I want/need it for Nationals- - Too much pressure? Maybe I should delete the count-down clock on my sidebar...
Perhaps it's the subject matter. I chose a paranormal - a genre I've never tackled or dabbled in before... but it's all there in my head, and the characters are talking...
I'm so upset about this that it's keeping me up at night. Have you ever experienced this before? Any advice/suggestions?
I've got a bad case of Writer's Anxiety. Never heard of it before? Me neither!! But I have it, and it's not to be confused with Writer's Block. No... the ideas are there (too many, in fact) and the storyboard for my intended wip (a novel to pitch at Nationals) is 80% complete and posted next to my desk.
Problem is, every time I open the document my heart races, my hands go all sweaty and they even start shaking a little. My head goes fuzzy and I feel all panicky.
WTF is wrong with me???
Is it because I've never written a full-length 75,000 word novel before -- Is it the size or the complicated-ness of the project that has me panicky?
Is it because I want/need it for Nationals- - Too much pressure? Maybe I should delete the count-down clock on my sidebar...
Perhaps it's the subject matter. I chose a paranormal - a genre I've never tackled or dabbled in before... but it's all there in my head, and the characters are talking...
I'm so upset about this that it's keeping me up at night. Have you ever experienced this before? Any advice/suggestions?
Monday, January 28, 2008
Monopoly - World, vote for Toronto!!!
Did you know that Parker Bros is coming out with a WORLD version of Monopoly? And they're letting The People (that's us!) vote for which cities will make the board. I, of course, am pimping votes for Toronto (which is currently at #19, behind Vancouver and Montreal) - so please go to this link and vote for the Big Smoke. You have to sign up and log on, but it's not hard - and you can vote daily for up to 10 cities.
Go HERE: http://www.monopolyworldvote.com
Go HERE: http://www.monopolyworldvote.com
Only funny if you're over 30!
I missed posting a Friday Funny cartoon, so I'm posting a Monday laugh instead. My friend Chris K. *waving to you all the way in Edmonton, AB* sent this to me and I held my sides from laughing so hard.
************************************************************************
When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were when they were growing up? What, with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning…uphill BOTH ways yadda, yadda, yadda! But now that I'm over the ripe old age of thirty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today? You've got it so easy!
I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have The Internet! If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the damn library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalogue!!
There was no e-mail! We had to actually write somebody a letter…with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox and it would take like a week to get there!
There were no MP3's or Napsters! You wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the record store and shoplift it yourself! Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio and the DJ'd usually talk over the beginning and @#*% it all up!
We didn't have fancy crap like “call waiting”! If you were on the phone and somebody else called they got a busy signal, that's it!
And we didn't have fancy “caller ID “, either!? When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your mom, your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, a collections agent – you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances!
We didn't have any fancy Sony Playstation video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics. We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Asteroids' and the graphics sucked!
Your guy was a little square!
You actually had to use your imagination! And there were no multiple levels or screens; it was just one screen forever! And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!
When you went to the movie theater there no such thing as stadium seating! All the seats were the same height! If a tall guy or some old broad with a hat sat in front of you and you couldn't see, you were just screwed!
Sure, we had cable television, but back then that was only like 15 channels and there was no onscreen menu and no remote control! You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on!
You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your a$$ and walk over to the TV to change the channel.
And there was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday morning. Do you hear what I'm saying? We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little bastards!
And we didn't have microwaves, if we wanted to heat something up we had to use the stove or go build a fire . . . imagine that!
If we wanted popcorn, we had to use that stupid Jiffy Pop thing and shake it over the stove forever like an idiot.
You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled!!!
You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in 1980! Oh yeah, and a seatbelt was Mom throwing her arm across your chest every time she hit the brakes.
Regards,The Over 30 Crowd
************************************************
I have no idea who wrote that gem, but I hope you got a good chuckle.
Happy Monday kids!
************************************************************************
When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were when they were growing up? What, with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning…uphill BOTH ways yadda, yadda, yadda! But now that I'm over the ripe old age of thirty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today? You've got it so easy!
I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have The Internet! If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the damn library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalogue!!
There was no e-mail! We had to actually write somebody a letter…with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox and it would take like a week to get there!
There were no MP3's or Napsters! You wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the record store and shoplift it yourself! Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio and the DJ'd usually talk over the beginning and @#*% it all up!
We didn't have fancy crap like “call waiting”! If you were on the phone and somebody else called they got a busy signal, that's it!
And we didn't have fancy “caller ID “, either!? When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your mom, your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, a collections agent – you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances!
We didn't have any fancy Sony Playstation video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics. We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Asteroids' and the graphics sucked!
Your guy was a little square!
You actually had to use your imagination! And there were no multiple levels or screens; it was just one screen forever! And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!
When you went to the movie theater there no such thing as stadium seating! All the seats were the same height! If a tall guy or some old broad with a hat sat in front of you and you couldn't see, you were just screwed!
Sure, we had cable television, but back then that was only like 15 channels and there was no onscreen menu and no remote control! You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on!
You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your a$$ and walk over to the TV to change the channel.
And there was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday morning. Do you hear what I'm saying? We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little bastards!
And we didn't have microwaves, if we wanted to heat something up we had to use the stove or go build a fire . . . imagine that!
If we wanted popcorn, we had to use that stupid Jiffy Pop thing and shake it over the stove forever like an idiot.
You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled!!!
You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in 1980! Oh yeah, and a seatbelt was Mom throwing her arm across your chest every time she hit the brakes.
Regards,The Over 30 Crowd
************************************************
I have no idea who wrote that gem, but I hope you got a good chuckle.
Happy Monday kids!
Friday, January 25, 2008
...because I'm a nerd
... a very enthusiastic nerd!
I'm SO darned excited that I'm going RWA's National Conference in July that I put a countdown widget on my sidebar. To the right. At the top. Go look...
Cool, eh?
You can now remove your thumb and forefinger from your forehead -- I know I am! ;)
I'm SO darned excited that I'm going RWA's National Conference in July that I put a countdown widget on my sidebar. To the right. At the top. Go look...
Cool, eh?
You can now remove your thumb and forefinger from your forehead -- I know I am! ;)
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
ROAR for Powerful Words
SQUEE! My BBBF (Best Blog-Bud Friend) T.L., whose writing ability I both admire and aspire to, honored me with this writing award. I'm tickled as pink as the lion ;)
As part of the award, recipients are asked to cite three elements of powerful writing. Here are three things that make a book a keeper in my world:
Characters
They have to be fully-developed (flaws, quirks, and all) and relate-able on some level. No cookie-cutter two-dimensional creatures for me please. TSTL heroines and OTT villains need not apply.
Story and/or story-telling
One of these two things must happen for me -- either the story must be so good I don't pay attention to the writing (Brown's The DaVinci Code) or the prose must be so excellent that I could care less if there's little movement in story(Frasier's Cold Mountain). Rarely, an author pulls off both (The Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner, Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald, Middlesex by Jeffrey Euginides), so I'm good with either.
The Power to Illuminate
I stole this right from TL because I couldn't say it any better - "I like fiction which illuminates, with honesty and authenticity, an aspect or aspects of human life, emotion, or endeavor -- whether serious, humorous, or provocative, whether in a realistic or a fantastic fashion."
Passing this award on is going to be hard, only because I know SO MANY amazing authors - all of whom make me think, smile, and shake my head (usually in awe). Narrowing it down to just a few is cruel!! I'm going to think outside the box a bit on this one...
Bonnie Staring - who makes me laugh every day. I urge you to visit her blog. You'll find her quirky brand of humour infectious!
Candy Minx - a blogger, a writer, an artist, a film-maker -- a true Renaissance woman. I'll be honest... I mostly don't comment on her blog because she intimidates the hell out of me. People - she's really really smart. Savvy. In-the-know. Go there. You might learn something.
Red Garnier - Red writes the sexiest, funniest erotic romance on the planet. What an amazing talent to make you giggle out loud while getting hot and bothered! If you want proof, start with Bona Fide Liar and Divine Assistant. She also writes dark and paranormal if that's more your style, but honestly, she's brilliant at funny. AND lucky us, she has a new book Amatista, coming out on Feb 6th. :)
Nicholas Temple-Smith - if you're not a regular visitor to Nicholas' Thursday Thirteen, then you should be. His book lists are thought provoking and informative, but he's another one that makes me laugh out loud when he ventures to the quirky side. (and 85+ visitors a week can't be wrong!) He also has a very enjoyable book out on Lulu entitled The Story of Elijah. A very enjoyable read!
Thanks again TL!!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
R.I.P. Heath Ledger
Very sad news...According to CNN.com and TMZ, Heath Ledger died this afternoon. He was found unconscious and was later pronounced dead. Apparent cause is overdose. He was only 28...
Monday, January 21, 2008
Life at the Kinsons, Mid-Winter Kick in the Pants Challenge
I like to read. Yeah, big surprise :) But my fave place to read is soaking in a tub of hot bubbly water, probably because it's the quietest place in the house.The other night, armed with two issues of TIME and the latest Reader's Digest, into the tub I sunk...
My two cats, sadly no longer kittens at 8 months old, like to sit on the edge of my big corner soaking tub - can you picture it? - the kind of bath with a shelf-like ledge? I used to have a beautiful plant in that corner, but the cats practically sat in it (not practically - they DID sit in it!) so I moved it to make room for 'the girls'.
But I digress...
So there we were, the cats in a sitting-doze, me up to the chin in water, well into the second magazine, the room awash in a mist of steam, when my black cat, Licorice, decided to walk along the rim.
I jokingly said, "Don't fall in!" and you know those little back paws started to slide. Into the water she went, taking the Reader's Digest (that I'd put on the edge by my feet) with her.
In all the frantic clawing to climb out, she scared her sister, Lady Grey, who made a dash down the other side, slipped on the TIME I'd put behind my head rest (yes, I have a bath pillow) sending both herself and the magazine into the water too.
As I was scrambling to get the cats out, I dropped the other issue of TIME I was reading!
THEN... as I pushed Licorice out, she vaulted onto the vanity next to the tub knocking down two pullover sweaters and my bra -- INTO THE TUB.
Have I lost you? That was TWO cats, THREE magazines, TWO sweaters, ONE bra, and ME in the tub.
Ah... good times. Wish I had it on video tape just so I could see it all happen in slow motion - cause in real-time, it all went down in about 2.3 seconds.
The bad news? I won't be up on news and the latest in US politics.
The good news? I have the sweetest smelling pussy cats in Canada :)
* * *
If you're still with me (it was a wordy post, eh?) head on over to Christine D'Abo's blog. She's started a MID-WINTER KICK IN THE PANTS for writers. Join us as we try and get our productivity levels back onto the charts this winter. Lots of fun, a supportive network of writers -- woo hoo!! What more can you ask for?
Saturday, January 19, 2008
What Wylie means...
Theived (or teefed, as we say in Bermudian) this from Christine's blog.
What WYLIE Means |
 You are influential and persuasive. You tend to have a lot of power over people. Generally, you use your powers for good. You excel at solving other people's problems. Occasionally, you do get a little selfish and persuade people to do things that are only in your interest. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are a very lucky person. Things just always seem to go your way. And because you're so lucky, you don't really have a lot of worries. You just hope for the best in life. You're sometimes a little guilty of being greedy. Spread your luck around a little to people who need it. You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. |
Friday, January 18, 2008
Friday Funnies #2
These cartoons sure come in handy when I'm too busy (read: lazy) to blather on.
Hope you have a warm weekend! It's chilly, blowy and snowy in my neck of the woods...
Any plans?
Hope you have a warm weekend! It's chilly, blowy and snowy in my neck of the woods...
Any plans?
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Seven Random Things meme
Christine d'Abo tagged me for a 7 Random Things About Me Meme. I was actually tagged last week for a birth month meme (Leah and Julia - check out theirs!), but it's a long one, so I'll put it off until I have some time to really think about it. In the meantime, here are
SEVEN RANDOM THINGS ABOUT MOI
1. When I was a kid, my uncle nicknamed me Peeler. Thankfully, it didn't stick - though he continues to use it.
2. I was adopted when I was six months old. Explains the 'black sheep' thing :)
3. I played keyboards in a rock band in highschool. We sucked. Our 15 year old lead singer (who was AWESOME) went on to become a stripper.
4. In addition to piano, I learned to play the French horn and the clarinet. Sadly, I haven't kept up with any of it.
5. I lost a very dear childhood friend to MS. He was 33. I now fundraise for the MS Society of Canada.
6. I dined with HRH Prince Philip. He's very short.
7. Both my knees have 4 inch scars from operations when I was a teenager. I have no clue what was wrong with them! At 16, I never thought to ask.
I think that everyone in the world has been tagged already so I'll leave it open. Play along if you'd like!
SEVEN RANDOM THINGS ABOUT MOI
1. When I was a kid, my uncle nicknamed me Peeler. Thankfully, it didn't stick - though he continues to use it.
2. I was adopted when I was six months old. Explains the 'black sheep' thing :)
3. I played keyboards in a rock band in highschool. We sucked. Our 15 year old lead singer (who was AWESOME) went on to become a stripper.
4. In addition to piano, I learned to play the French horn and the clarinet. Sadly, I haven't kept up with any of it.
5. I lost a very dear childhood friend to MS. He was 33. I now fundraise for the MS Society of Canada.
6. I dined with HRH Prince Philip. He's very short.
7. Both my knees have 4 inch scars from operations when I was a teenager. I have no clue what was wrong with them! At 16, I never thought to ask.
I think that everyone in the world has been tagged already so I'll leave it open. Play along if you'd like!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
BBC Planet Earth
I got my hubby, who loves documentaries, the complete BBC Planet Earth series for Christmas. I, too, enjoy the odd documentary, but I won't drop everything to watch one. In fact, part of me bought the series for him to ease my guilt over ditching him and the television every night in favor of reading or writing.Well - this series has totally captivated all of us - my eight year, too. Before I go any further, let me start by saying - WOW - GO BUY THIS. It's hands-down the best $54.00 I ever spent. Hours and hours of the most incredible footage I've ever seen. Simply stunning.
I've been subscribing to National Geographic for over 15 years and can't help feeling cheated!
This 5-disc compilation, narrated by the venerable David Attenborough, has shown me more about the world, introduced me to animals I'd never before seen or heard of (and I used to work in a zoo!!) and environments I never knew existed.
According to the back blurb, it was 5 years in the making, with over 2000 hours in the field. Each 'segment' (jungles, shallow ocean, seasonal forests, caves - my personal fave, pole-to-pole, rivers, etc...) is one hour long, followed by a 10 minute segment called Planet Earth Diaries, where they give you some insight into how they got some of the amazing footage. What these people go through for a single stunning shot is really incredible.
Days and days and days of sitting in bird blinds in a hot sticky rainforest for a 30 second shot of a bird-of-paradise displaying for a female (totally worth it, btw) makes me shake my head in awe at these dedicated crews. Or trekking for 10 days into a cave system to film the stunning Lecheguilla (sp?) with its white crystals - I'm still breathless over that one.
I really could go on and on about it -- just ask my sister who had to listen to me wax endless on the phone last night -- but I'll spare you and just say again - GO BUY THIS SERIES. NOW.
You will not be disappointed, in fact, you will be sending me accolades! ;)
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Bags and bags of pine needles
Pop over to Six Degrees of Sexy, where Christine d'Abo, who, btw, was just awarded a JERR 5 Star Silver Star Award for her latest short story Chasing Phoenix (woot woot), is chatting about story arcs.
And under that post, you'll see Red Garnier's HOT-HOT HOLY SMOKIN' HOT new cover for I Take Thee, which is coming soon from Liquid Silver Books.
HELLO to Victoria Krain (who commented on the cartoon below) who we haven't seen for months and months and months -- her last blogpost was May 2007!! She recently gave birth to a gorgeous little girl, so we graciously excused her from the blog world, but now that she's back, we expect her blog to get up and running again!!
How many needles are on a Christmas tree?
I can now answer this with some authority: A 7 foot tree has exactly 4 1/2 plastic grocery bags of needles.
How do I know this?
I took down my tree last week and every time I touched an ornament, the branch supporting it shed every single one of its sharp pointy leaves.
Why?
Because *SOMEONE neglected to water it since Christmas, and *SOMEONE forgot to close the heating vent behind the tree -- so for 2 weeks that poor little evergreen was blasted by warm air, sat in direct sunlight in the living room window, and thirsted.
And yes, the *SOMEONE was me *blush*
So that same *SOMEONE, after dragging out the naked tree, was left with a mountain of needles on the living room floor-- hardwood (thank GOD it wasn't carpet) -- to clean up. The cats thought it was hilarious -- like two kids jumping in leaves, those cats took running leaps through the mountain until it was scattered far and wide -- while I yelled, chased and swept as fast as I could.
The tree then sat on the side of the road waiting for pick-up. What the neighbors must have thought, I can't imagine. Their still-green trees, the occasional piece of tinsel shining in the sunlight, next to my brown heap of leafless twigs.
I may have to move.
I still have some Christmasy bits and bobs about - a few candle holders, some of the kid's artwork - that I MUST get to this week.
How about you? All un-decorated?
*but I will blame my hubby for reasons of self-preservation :)
Friday, January 11, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Any sweating?
Does anyone know when the next Seventy Days of Sweat session will be? I'm currently plotting out a novel and would consider joining if the timing is right.
I think I'd benefit from the vibes of the collective conscious,... share the pain! And glory?
Comment if you do! Thanks :)
I think I'd benefit from the vibes of the collective conscious,... share the pain! And glory?
Comment if you do! Thanks :)
Holla!
Thank You Graphic Comments
Big shout-out to all who took time to give me feedback on the blurb I posted yesterday. You, my writerly blog-buds, are AWESOME and I thank you sincerely for the honest and inventive suggestions/analysis/critique.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Law of Averages - unofficial blurb, opinions wanted
The storyboarding course had to be set aside yesterday so I could complete edits on Law of Averages. They've been sitting on my laptop since Christmas Eve but I couldn't face rechoreagraphing steamy sex scenes while my kids were watching The Backyardigans or Spy Kids next to me on the couch. Ewww!
In addition, I had to come up with a blurb - that nugget of story meant to entice the reader to buy. I did up a very short punchy paragraph and sent it off to Kelli, aka editor-extraordinaire, then went to bed. Alas,... sleep was short. The blurb sucked on deep subconscious level and I must have come to that realization sometime around 1am, because I was out of bed and rewriting.
I NEED YOU, PEOPLE!! Please, your honest opinions on the following would be greatly appreciated. Would YOU be enticed to buy?
Let me know: is it hokey, jokey or okey-dokey? Thanks blog-buds!
In addition, I had to come up with a blurb - that nugget of story meant to entice the reader to buy. I did up a very short punchy paragraph and sent it off to Kelli, aka editor-extraordinaire, then went to bed. Alas,... sleep was short. The blurb sucked on deep subconscious level and I must have come to that realization sometime around 1am, because I was out of bed and rewriting.
I NEED YOU, PEOPLE!! Please, your honest opinions on the following would be greatly appreciated. Would YOU be enticed to buy?
LAW OF AVERAGES
Megan Frost, an up and coming restaurateur, knows everything there is to know
about the culinary arts, but when it comes to pop culture, she’s been living
under a rock. During a vacation to the sunny island of Bermuda, the yummiest
dish she’s ever laid eyes on rolls that rock right off her.
British musician, Gabriel Law, the famous Dark Angel of Rock, regrets putting his song writing on the back burner. Tired and creatively simmered out, he retreats to
the peace and solitude of Bermuda in order to cook up some original sounds for
his new album. But when he finds a naked, sunburned and self-proclaimed average
girl in his holiday cottage, he happily exchanges seclusion for sizzling
passion.
The ingredients for a sexy, scorching relationship are in place, but the recipe isn’t complete with out a legend, a mysterious taxi driver and a shimmering aquamarine…
Let me know: is it hokey, jokey or okey-dokey? Thanks blog-buds!
Monday, January 07, 2008
Storyboarding Day 1 and Shopping 101
Between last evening and this morning, all the storyboard students had the opportunity to introduce themselves. I was very happy to see some familiar faces on the loop (Hi Red, Linda and Joan!!) as well as some amazing talented multi-pubbed writers and even a striking screen writer.
Armed with my shopping list, my 3 year old helper and I hit Staples for a foam poster board and a basket full of multi-colored post-it notes.
I love office supply stores and couldn't help going a bit nuts. Instead of ONE foam board, I got a 3 pack. Hey- you never know when you're going to need a foam core board, am I right?? And in addition to the 3x3 post-its, I got 4x4 lined post-its in blue, yellow, gold and orange so I can organize all my other to-do and project lists - yipee!!
AND some new pens, despite the fact that Santa had put some in my stocking,
AND another giant calculator because I misplaced the one I had (ironically, I found it when I got home in the place I'd decided to keep my *new* giant calculator... go figure),
a duotang to keep my course notes in,
some new print cartridges for my printer, in case I should run out of ink while printing course notes for my new duo-tang
AND, *deep breath* a 2 GB flash drive because it was purple with swirls and looked totally cute (even my 3 year old thought so!!) - and it even came with a lanyard so I can wear it around my neck (though why I'd want to do that I don't know - but I did,... all afternoon),
AND - yes, there's more - little colorful tab-sized post-its in case I want to mark a specific page in my course notes in my new duotang.
You should see me in a hardware store :D
Fess up - what's your weakness???
Armed with my shopping list, my 3 year old helper and I hit Staples for a foam poster board and a basket full of multi-colored post-it notes.
I love office supply stores and couldn't help going a bit nuts. Instead of ONE foam board, I got a 3 pack. Hey- you never know when you're going to need a foam core board, am I right?? And in addition to the 3x3 post-its, I got 4x4 lined post-its in blue, yellow, gold and orange so I can organize all my other to-do and project lists - yipee!!
AND some new pens, despite the fact that Santa had put some in my stocking,
AND another giant calculator because I misplaced the one I had (ironically, I found it when I got home in the place I'd decided to keep my *new* giant calculator... go figure),
a duotang to keep my course notes in,
some new print cartridges for my printer, in case I should run out of ink while printing course notes for my new duo-tang
AND, *deep breath* a 2 GB flash drive because it was purple with swirls and looked totally cute (even my 3 year old thought so!!) - and it even came with a lanyard so I can wear it around my neck (though why I'd want to do that I don't know - but I did,... all afternoon),
AND - yes, there's more - little colorful tab-sized post-its in case I want to mark a specific page in my course notes in my new duotang.
You should see me in a hardware store :D
Fess up - what's your weakness???
Sunday, January 06, 2008
New Year, New Look
I was getting tired of the orange, but too lazy to change the entire format, ... just the THOUGHT of entering all the info in my sidebar was just too daunting!
I was aiming for a calmer, more relaxed look. What do you think of the blue? Easier/harder to read? Your comments are always appreciated ;)
* * *
The Wii tourney was a blast. Between chatting, noshing and drinking, the Wii play went on for about 6 hours! And I managed to not look like too big a fool - in fact, I scored a record high (for me) in bowling and managed to smoke everyone in target shooting.
Tennis and cow racing,... not so good.
I can't recommend this gaming system highly enough -- and this is coming from a person that SUCKS at everything SPORTS and video-gamish. I'm hooked ;)
* * *
Before the insanity of Christmas started, I signed up for a course on Storyboarding. I don't regret signing up, but regret the timing. I'm so geared up to begin my novel tomorrow - but the course starts today!! Again, so little time, so much to do/learn...
I was aiming for a calmer, more relaxed look. What do you think of the blue? Easier/harder to read? Your comments are always appreciated ;)
* * *
The Wii tourney was a blast. Between chatting, noshing and drinking, the Wii play went on for about 6 hours! And I managed to not look like too big a fool - in fact, I scored a record high (for me) in bowling and managed to smoke everyone in target shooting.
Tennis and cow racing,... not so good.
I can't recommend this gaming system highly enough -- and this is coming from a person that SUCKS at everything SPORTS and video-gamish. I'm hooked ;)
* * *
Before the insanity of Christmas started, I signed up for a course on Storyboarding. I don't regret signing up, but regret the timing. I'm so geared up to begin my novel tomorrow - but the course starts today!! Again, so little time, so much to do/learn...
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Otter Love
This clip was picked as one of the best on YouTube in 2007. It's been watched over 9,000,000 times!! Only three of those by me ;) so far...
Enjoy:
Enjoy:
Friday, January 04, 2008
Monday's Coming! and Reading Goals for 2008
Is it wrong of me to be counting down the hours until Monday?
As much as I enjoy sleeping in until 8 (or 9, as was the case this morning), I crave the routine of the regular 'work' week. I've blogged about this before, so I don't want to beat a dead horse, but dayum, Monday can not come soon enough.
We're having some friends over tonight for a Wii tournment of fun. *place thumb and forefinger against forehead to form L-shape*
I've been brushing up on golf, but I'm a total loser at tennis, and the fact that you have to get out of you seat and simulate the action of swinging a racket makes me look like a fool AND loser. There's a mental image that will have you cringing tonight!
This weekend, the goal list begins with work on edits for Law of Averages, followed by undecorate the Christmas tree and shovel the heap of fallen needles off the floor. And if I can find a few moments of solitude, I'd like to begin the first book of 2008 - a Susan Elizabeth Philips, whom I've never read before - Breathing Room.
I was going to do another 50 book challenge for 2008, but I'm a little worried that writing a novel and novella and reading 50 books may be too lofty a goal. Perhaps I'll target 25 (2 books/month) and hope for more. Meanwhile, the TBR pile continues to increase at a rate far higher than 2/month! In fact, my Six Degree of Sexy sisters, with their prolificiousness (made up word alert) may grab everyone of those slots!!
What are YOUR reading goals for 2008??
As much as I enjoy sleeping in until 8 (or 9, as was the case this morning), I crave the routine of the regular 'work' week. I've blogged about this before, so I don't want to beat a dead horse, but dayum, Monday can not come soon enough.
We're having some friends over tonight for a Wii tournment of fun. *place thumb and forefinger against forehead to form L-shape*
I've been brushing up on golf, but I'm a total loser at tennis, and the fact that you have to get out of you seat and simulate the action of swinging a racket makes me look like a fool AND loser. There's a mental image that will have you cringing tonight!
This weekend, the goal list begins with work on edits for Law of Averages, followed by undecorate the Christmas tree and shovel the heap of fallen needles off the floor. And if I can find a few moments of solitude, I'd like to begin the first book of 2008 - a Susan Elizabeth Philips, whom I've never read before - Breathing Room.
I was going to do another 50 book challenge for 2008, but I'm a little worried that writing a novel and novella and reading 50 books may be too lofty a goal. Perhaps I'll target 25 (2 books/month) and hope for more. Meanwhile, the TBR pile continues to increase at a rate far higher than 2/month! In fact, my Six Degree of Sexy sisters, with their prolificiousness (made up word alert) may grab everyone of those slots!!
What are YOUR reading goals for 2008??
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Happy New Year and all the best in 2008 to my blog-buddies, met and pre-met :D
It's been awhile since I blogged and blog-hopped, but I've been having fun hanging out with friends and family these past weeks. I love this time of year because of that -- catching up and socializing with people -- there never seems to be enough time for this during the year. Why is that, I wonder? I think I should add 'more socializing' to the resolutions list.
And speaking of resolutions, do YOU have any? Come on, I want to hear them. At least one. And don't give me the 'I don't do resolutions' business because that's admitting that there's nothing about you that you're willing to change, so if you aren't already perfect, you're in denial. Or lazy - LOL
I have a few. And no, I rarely keep them (see 'lazy' above) but at least I'm willing to try :)
Personal Me:
Professional Me:
If you have a Wii, here's were I ask you to recommend games. Thanks!
I'm blogging at Six Degrees of Sexy tomorrow (Wednesday) on writing about exotic locales. Please stop by and holla.
It's been awhile since I blogged and blog-hopped, but I've been having fun hanging out with friends and family these past weeks. I love this time of year because of that -- catching up and socializing with people -- there never seems to be enough time for this during the year. Why is that, I wonder? I think I should add 'more socializing' to the resolutions list.
And speaking of resolutions, do YOU have any? Come on, I want to hear them. At least one. And don't give me the 'I don't do resolutions' business because that's admitting that there's nothing about you that you're willing to change, so if you aren't already perfect, you're in denial. Or lazy - LOL
I have a few. And no, I rarely keep them (see 'lazy' above) but at least I'm willing to try :)
Personal Me:
- lose weight (pretty much a yearly resolution)
- socialize more
- go to the gym or do some kind of exerise EVERY DAY (that include's Wii golf!!)
- get more sleep (not sure how I'm going to pull this one off, but I'll try)
Professional Me:
- 2008 is the Year of the Novel. I'm going to write one. YEAH! Target - 75,000 words by July, so I have something to pitch at RWA Nationals.
- write another novella for EC
If you have a Wii, here's were I ask you to recommend games. Thanks!
I'm blogging at Six Degrees of Sexy tomorrow (Wednesday) on writing about exotic locales. Please stop by and holla.
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