The Name Game (Not officially tagged...)

No one actually officially tagged me, but I took the idea from SciFiChick.

1. YOUR REAL NAME:
Alyssa

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (first three letters of your name, plus izzle)
Alyzzle. Sounds like a slurred 'a little'

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three of your last)
Agoo. Being in the middle of the cold season...yuck.

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (fav color and fav animal)
Red Penguin

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, Street you live on):
Kate Winding Springs. Maybe I'm playing a Native American...

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name, first 3 letters of mom’s maiden name)
Gooal Arm. Sounds like a soccer foul.

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (favorite color, favorite drink)
Red Izze. That could be my Gangsta name... I would have put Coke, but I'm not supposed to be drinking it...and cocoa is seasonal.

8. YOUR IRAQI NAME: (2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, any letter of your middle name, 2nd letter of your moms maiden name, 3rd letter of your dad’s middle name, 1st letter of a sibling’s first name, last letter of your moms middle name)
Loergke. Huh.

9. YOUR STRIPPER NAME: (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/body spray)
Happy. Hahahahaha

10. YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother & father’s middle name)
Anne Eugene. Don't like it.

I'm tagging Stacy, Sara (come on, Sara, you can't pass this one up...), and Beck

24 Confusion

Can someone please tell me what happened with Karen Hayes last night on 24? During that blackmail confrontation with Tom Lennox, she seemed totally unthreatened, ready to take whatever he was dishing out. And then in the next scene, she's offering her resignation. I don't get it...have I missed something, or are we not supposed to know what's going on yet?

Also...where were the guards in the detention center when Walid was getting beaten up?!

Usually I can suspend my disbelief pretty well for this show...how Jack's cell phone works absolutely anywhere and can do absolutely anything, and how he can be anywhere in the city of LA in less than an hour... We can't even do that in Houston...

But last night stumped me.

Some Exciting News...I Think

I don't want to jinx anything, but I think that I've got myself a critique partner! I'm very excited! I've been waffling over whether to try to look for someone for a while now, and I just sort of tripped over this opportunity.

We've exchanged pages...quite a few of them actually...and we both have similar writing styles and enjoy each other's writing. She gave me some really good comments on my work, and I hope that my comments on hers prove useful. We've both expressed interest in continuing to 'try each other out', so we'll see.

She's got three little kids, I've got two, so our exchanges may be a little infrequent, but once we work out a system, I think this will be really helpful for me. It's so useful to get a second opinion--I've been writing 'alone' for so very long now that this will be a very big change. I'm crossing my fingers, hoping it works out...

P.S. For those of you I haven't visited in a little bit...so sorry...I've been busy, and blogger has fallen through the cracks. I'll catch up soon!

Birthday Boy #2

Today is a little sentimental for me...my youngest son is turning five. Even though he seems to be growing up fast, this is a definite milestone. In the fall he'll be going to kindergarten...he's gone from toddler to big boy really, really quick. Admittedly it didn't seem quick at the time...

Today is just a fun day for him (sort of). I had planned to go get new tires put on the car, but he told me a perfect birthday would be a day without errands, so we're not going. The bad news is we're going to the doctor's office this afternoon for physicals. How could I, you ask? Particularly as there will almost certainly be chicken pox shots for both my boys. It's a long story, but we'll try to get past it with Sonic milkshakes afterwards. Then later they'll be presents and cake: chocolate cake with vanilla frosting, so I think it'll turn out okay.

Birthday boy wanted to sit on my lap today to watch a movie, so maybe he'll still be my baby for a little while yet.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Authors Who Make Reading to My Children An Absolute Pleasure

1. Sandra Boynton...the rhymes, the simplicity, the fun...and the music is awesome!

2. Rosemary Wells...Max is incorrigible and Ruby is such a sympathetic character

3. Barbara Park...Junie B. Jones is quirky and loveable

4. Arnold Lobel...Frog and Toad are charming

5. Russell Hoban...I adore Francis

6. Theodor Geseil (a.k.a Dr. Seuss)...I love a good rhymer.

7. Maurice Sendak...my favorite is Chicken Soup with Rice

8. Judy Schachner...Skippyjon Jones is a hoot!

9. Richard Scarry...the detail and the silliness and the amazing versatility

10. James Marshall...George and Martha are adorable...

11. Kevin Henkes...Lily and Chester and Owen and Chrysanthemum

12. Leo Lionni...such creative illustrations and such wonderful messages

13. Ian Falconner...Olivia, need I say more?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

TBR Stack in Limbo

I confess that I'm not doing too well with sticking to my resolutions. Well, that's not completely true...the writing ones are coming along very nicely, in my opinion (although I'm not writing everyday). It's the reading ones I'm having a problem with. Lately I can't seem to find a chance to read at all. For a while I was reading while my sons were playing on the playground, and that was working great, but for the past week and a half, it's been too cold and wet for them to play, so we come home, I spend some time with them, then they go off to play on the computer, and I write. I suppose I could read, but I can't bring myself to pass up the writing time.

Then, in the evenings, my husband has me watching all our Tivo'd TV shows...Lost, 24, Numbers, How I Met Your Mother...and now Heros is back. By the time we get done with that, I'm tired--my eyes are tired--and reading two pages or so just doesn't seem to make sense. And weekends have been hard. Two weeks ago was RWA Meeting/Headache weekend. Last weekend was Sick Husband/Celebrate B.D.'s with Family Weekend. And this weekend is the Rock-climbing Birthday Party.

I know, I know. Excuses, excuses.

So my TBR stack is still chock-full of books I'm just dying to get my hands on, but no progress is being made. On the flip side, I am reading a lot of tips on writing craft, info on market trends, advice on landing an agent, etc. So, I suppose that all fits the bill of 'good stuff', but I miss the fiction. I'm so busy writing a romance (or two), I can't find the time to read one...

My husband tells me to relax...no one is pushing me but me. (And my MIL). And those treasured fans of my first book who are looking for a second. But yeah, I guess it's just me. I want to finish this book--the sooner the better!

It's Done.

Finally...I'm done. Everyone else lost interest, but I finished it! Seven hundred Lego pieces went into the building of Jabba's Sail Barge... Now it's just a matter of time before it gets dismantled...

Birthday Boy #1

Today is my older son's seventh birthday, and I suppose I'm a bit of a slacker, particularly compared to Beck. I didn't make cookies for his class...I bought M&M cookies at the grocery store. And today I bought birthday cupcakes from Target. For any of you who haven't ever had a Super Target white cupcake with buttercream (lard) frosting, you don't know what you're missing. My from-a-mix cupcakes are probably just as good, but the frosting doesn't even compare. So maybe I really did him a favor... That's the birthday spirit!

I wished him Happy Birthday this morning, and he told me, 'Wait! Three more hours!' Evidently he still remembers what time he was born. He was so excited for his birthday to be on a Friday..."What happens on Friday, Mom?" (ticking things off on his fingers) "Spelling test, sight word test, computer time, playdough!" Whoo-hoo! Birthday spelling test! Bring it on! Funnily enough, 'birthday' was one of the spelling words.

So tonight, after my husband gets home, we'll do Target cupcakes and presents. Then we'll have a week off before we do the little one's birthday. I wonder whether Target will once again beat out homemade. Stay tuned...

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Up-and-Coming Historical Romance Authors

1. Sophie Jordan

2. Shana Galen

3. Samantha Saxon

4. Tasha Alexander

5. Lauren Willig (well, I guess she's pretty much made it...)


6. Jennifer St. Giles

7. Colleen Gleason

8. Adele Ashworth

9. Shirley Karr



10. Lydia Joyce

11. Hope Tarr

and a couple I haven't read yet but plan to:

12. Moraq McKendrick Pippin

13. Anne Mallory

Sorry for the wonky formatting...I don't have the patience to try and fix it!
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

A Few Tidbits...

Kat-kat tagged me...

1. If you had to choose one vice in exclusion of all others what would it be?Desserts! I can't not have one. (I don't consider an obsession with books to be a vice).

2. If you could change one specific thing about the world what would it be?That people everywhere could just live harmoniously, without a need to judge, criticize, attack, or worse.

3. Name the cartoon character you identify with the most.
Lisa Simpson.

4. If you could live one day in your life over again which one would it be?
No way I'm picking the day either of my sons was born--ick!
Looking into the future, I'd say the day both my boys are in elementary school. And I will be living it over and over every week!

5. If you could go back in history and spend a day with one person who would it be?Jane Austen. I think I could totally relate to her. Every other famous person would probably inspire a fit of nerves, shyness, and mumbling.

6. What is the one thing you lost, sold or threw away that you wish you could have back?
I can't really think of anything.

7. What is your one most important contribution to this world?
Common sense.


8. What is your one hidden talent that nearly no one knows about?I'm a master at cell-phone setup--nothing special, I know. I suppose I could also say writing, because that fits the anonymity bill too.

9. What is your most cherished possession?
My scrapbooks. (I'm assuming people are not considered possessions).

10. What one person influenced your life the most when growing up?
I guess I'd say my mom--I was a total rule follower. And she set a good example.

11. What one word describes you better than any other?Sarcastic

The blogosphere seems sort of uninhabited lately, so I don't know who to tag (or even if they'd want to be tagged). So I'm putting this meme out there with no pressure. You decide...

Vegging All Day

It's chilly here in the land of sun and humidity. We're poised for one of those very rare cold snaps. There's the possibility of sleet over night, and the city is collectively biting its nails. But for now, I'm inside, and the electricity is still running.

Today we braved the cold and chilly rain (my little one kept asking when it was going to sleet already) to go see Arthur and the Invisibles, movie #1 from my Kid Movie List. We all liked it; it was very cute. After coming home, I spent probably close to an hour trying to get my Alyssa Goodnight quarterly newsletter out. (It hasn't come out for six months now). The pickle of the matter is that I really don't have much to say that readers of my first book (released two years ago now) will want to hear. They've been hearing, 'I'm working on it' for several newsletters now. I suppose it's a really good thing I don't actually have a publishing contract, because the way things have been going lately, I don't know how I'd manage to meet its terms.

So anyway, the newsletter should put everyone off for a few more months, at which time I can hopefully say that I have something to tell them. Although, if I go the traditional publishing route, assuming (extraordinarily optimistically) that I could get an agent lickety-split, my next book wouldn't come out until 2008, 2009, somewhere in there. No one is going to be pleased to hear that. My other choice is making another stab at self-publishing. And that, my friends, is a LOT of work!

After the newsletter went out, I played Omagles with my little one. Those things (a Christmas gift) are COOL! I even finished our chosen project (a mini jungle gym) after the little one disappeared. Alas, I'm too heavy to climb on it, so he reaps all the rewards.

A Day of RWA

Had to get up at the crack of dawn today to get to the RWA meeting across town in time for the early morning presentation. It was all about finding an agent, and I came away with a handout full of questions, offered up by pubbed authors, on what to ask a prospective agent. The chapter is bringing in two literary agents for the February meeting, and members are getting the chance to pitch. If I do it, it'll be my first time, and I'll probably spend countless minutes (hours) figuring out exactly what to say and then stumble over it when the time comes. But despite that six-seven minutes of excrutiating awkwardness/nervousness/weirdness, it'll be a good experience. I just know it.

The second presentation was by Deanne Gist, who is a chapter member. Her debut, A Bride Most Begrudging has done extraordinarily well, and it seems she's somewhat of a darling with her publisher, Bethany House. She had the most unique, interesting, fascinating presentation on how a book goes from a manuscript to a bound, printed book...complete with plenty of visual aids. It was great.

Now I have a headache and will shortly be falling onto my bed. A nap is very possible.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Favorite Books From 2006 Idea stolen from SciFi Chick 1. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer 2. The Little Lady Agency by Hester Browne 3. And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander 4. Cheating at Solitaire by Ally Carter 5. Fashionably Late by Beth Kendrick 6. Amazing Grace by Megan Shull 7. Secret Society Girl by Diana Peterfreund 8. North by Northanger by Carrie Bebris 9. Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares 10. The Man Who Loved Jane Austen by Sally Smith O’ Rourke 11. Going Coastal by Wendy French 12. Rumble on the Bayou by Jana Deleon 13. Incognito by Suzanne Allain

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Kid's Movies 2007

Continuing on from last year, my son and I have put together a list of upcoming movie theater movies for kids. Very likely, this is not an exhaustive list. Some spots are empty, waiting to be filled by more knowledgeable bloggers...(that'd be you).

January
Arthur and The Invisibles
Happily N'Ever After
(both open this Friday, Jan 12)

February
Bridge to Terabithia
Opening Feb. 16

March
Meet the Robinsons
Opening Mar. 30

April
???

May
Shrek the Third
Opening May 18
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Opening May 25

June
Surf's Up
Opening Jun. 8
Nancy Drew
Opening Jun. 15
Ratatouille
Opening Jun. 24

July
Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix
Opening Jul. 13

August
Underdog
Opening Aug. 3

September
???

October
???

November
Bee Movie
Opening Nov. 2
Foodfight!
Opening Nov. 16
Enchanted
Opening Nov. 21

December
The Waterhorse
Opening Dec. 7


Anyone have any to add?

Nothing and yet Something

I hate to say it, but nothing really exciting has happened to me in the last, oh 48 hours. The conclusion you may draw from this is that I have nothing to blog about.

In writing I'm really, really trying to keep the big picture of my story in mind as I work (plow, really) through revisions. I'm trying to think in terms of 'Does this advance the story?', 'Is this in keeping with the theme of the book?', 'Do I really need this?' And that's hard. Usually I just go my merry way, which is probably why I've written the equivalent of two books now with only one story idea. But at the urging of Bob Mayer, I've written down my one-line story idea and posted it on my computer monitor to keep me focused. We shall see...

In reading, I'm still gradually making progress on The Deception novel and have taken to bringing Flirting with Pride & Prejudice to the playground to read it while my kids are playing after school. Very interesting reading.

In family life, my little one, after eating one conversation heart of each color (six colors) and one spare, which was his allotment, realized that he'd forgotten to savor the last one. So he asked if he and I could split one, which we did--a pink one. He totally savored it. Talk about the sweet life!

See? What'd I tell you? Nothing.
But I am working on my WIP, so that's something!

It's What's for Dinner...

I'm just not motivated to write too much today (which is a little ironic because yesterday I wrote my PRO column about how to get motivated to write!) But I'm anxious to get back to reading The Deception of the Emerald Ring. I haven't been giving myself too much time to read for pleasure and since this is a 'new' release at the library, I have to have it back in two weeks. You'd think I could read a book in two weeks no problem...but it can be a very big problem. I'm post-poning my writing for the day until later today...when I'm better motivated.

But I had to share...
Friday in the car, my older son asked if there were any animals made out of tortillas. Assuming he was joking, I decided to play along and told him, 'Yes, the tortilleria.' Of course, he didn't believe me and asked repeated questions, things like, 'No, I mean completely made of tortillas.' I held firm until finally I asked, 'If you didn't think there was one, why did you ask?' Thought I'd catch him at his joke. So then he says, "Okay, are there any animals not made out of meat."

!!!!

He was serious! And he thinks animals are 'made out of meat'! I repeated this conversation to my husband, and he thought nothing of that last comment. I had to slowly remind him that animals are not 'made out of meat'. They are made out of bone, muscle, cartilage, and an array of other parts. They're only meat because other animals happen to eat them.

Along those same lines...I was playing Outburst with my family on Christmas Eve and got the clue 'Baby Animals'. So we had to list names for baby animals, trying to get the ones on the card. 'Veal' was on the list.

Does everyone think in terms of meat??

We're All Winners!! *

Since yesterday was Thursday Thirteen, I delayed in mentioning the Hallmark moment we had in our family on Wednesday.

My six-year-old came into the office while I was writing (with the little one on my lap) and asked if he could play video games. When I told him he could, he gave me a big hug and told me I was the 'Best Mommy in the World'. Almost immediately, the four-year-old says, 'Gimme a break.' Big brother and I sat for two seconds in stunned silence before laughing it up.

On to other news...I got my contest scores back! I visited the post office twice yesterday, just hoping for that big return envelope. The second time was a charm, and with my heart racing, I hurried back the car and ripped open the envelope.

Not too bad. Pretty good actually. My average score was 105/115, so I'm happy with that. A couple of the judges didn't really 'get' the conflict in my story, which I think is a little strange, given the nature of the plot line. I even asked my husband, who has read the first few chapters if he thought it was clear. He assured me that it really should be. I don't know...maybe I need to spell it out better. The difficulty is that then some readers tell me, 'You're dwelling on this too much.' 'You've said it already...here...here...and here.'

Somehow, I have got to figure this out...

But I'm relieved and happy with my scores. I got some good, insightful comments too which I will be incorporating. I must say though that the 'contest experience' wouldn't have ended so sweetly if they didn't have a three judge policy. The scores from the first two judges were more than twenty points apart, with one being 85% or more of the 115. So another judge read and scored me, the lowest score was dropped, and thus I got my respectable score. My low-scoring judge wasn't able to get past one part of one scene--it affected her scoring across the board. And so maybe I'll take from that that I need to tighten that scene up, maybe edit some things out...who knows. I'll really have to consider that carefully.

But until then, I'm plugging along...on day three in a row writing! Yay!
Have a great weekend!

* This quote is from Seinfeld and not necessarily something I would say...

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Exciting Things 2007 Will Bring 1. My contest results. I didn't final, and while it's true I'm disappointed, I'm not gonna let it get me down. I'm waiting for my scores/critiques in the mail and hoping they're worth the aggravation. 2. The completion of my second novel. This will happen (one way or another). 3. A family vacation to San Diego (the zoo, the beaches, LegoLand, and maybe Sea World). 4. A possible second visit to Sanibel, Florida. We went last year it was lovely. 5. A Poisoned Season by Tasha Alexander, April 1, 2007. Highly, highly anticipated. 6. Shrek, the Third, this summer. And then, of course, the video game. (I don't really know what other movies I should be getting excited about). 7. My little one will be in kindergarten!!! That means both boys will be in school for seven hours, five days a week!! Woo-hoo! 8. Possibly another 'Girl's Trip' with my sister (maybe my mom, if she can muster the enthusiasm for it). Also, my husband is trying to get me to take scuba lessons with him. I'm balking a little--I think that being that far under water will have me totally freaked and claustrophobic. 9. Little Lady, Big Apple by Hester Browne, February 6, 2007 10. A clean, organized office (see 2007 Resolutions in previous post) 11. My first face-to-face agent pitch. (again see 2007 Resolutions) 12. Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares, January 9, 2007 13. A Disney Christmas? Actually, this one is waaay out there. I just considered the possibility recently, but the idea has sunk its teeth in. We shall see...

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Hmmm...

Well, I'm not sure I'm off to that great a start. I didn't write yesterday--didn't really even consider it...but wait! I did say only six days a week, so if I write for six days straight, I'm still on target, right? Okay, we'll try for that, even though I have my boys home today and tomorrow and maybe the little one on Thursday and Friday. Maybe, because I'm actually not sure when he goes back. Don't get me wrong, we're getting all dressed and back-packed up on Thursday and heading over there just on the possibility that he might have school. I could call someone, but since I'm the one that people tend to call, that probably won't work too well. We'll just cross our fingers. Because if he is in school...that's like four full hours of potential Revision Magic time. (This is me being optimistic). I haven't had that time in almost a month!

Please don't let them ask me to substitute...please don't let them call me. I'll sit very still and not make any noises if they just don't notice me here, poised on the brink of productivity....


Today I'm thinking for favor ideas for my sons' rock-climbing birthday party later this month. So far I have bouncy balls that look like rocks, rope bracelets, and carabiners with compasses on the end. None of this is definite...I'm still scoping out ideas, so feel free to send yours over.

Oh, and be sure to check out the He Wrote, She Wrote blog. Bob Mayer and Jenny Crusie have turned it into a writing workshop blog, so it should be very good reading.