!!!!!!!!

I have to admit to being a little bit giddy. My husband is coming home today, after having been gone since Sunday afternoon, and yesterday I picked up several books the library had on hold for me!!! Exciting! Trouble is...I'm still reading Little Lady, Big Apple, and I've sort of made an online committment to ship out my agent requested material by Monday. Hmmm. Plus, I have an article due to our RWA chapter newsletter by Friday. (To most people, that would be a Thursday evening/Friday evening activity, but I need more time to mull over things like subject matter and word choice. Who knows...this article could be my big break!)

So...I'm going to have so sort of hide from people this weekend to get some reading and writing in. The other books I have in store are The Spellman Files, which I blogged about last week, and Tantalize, by Cynthia Leitich Smith, which sounds fabulous and actually has started off quite wonderfully. I couldn't help it...I wanted to read the first page last night and am now on chapter five. If I were one of those people who couldn't put a book down, I'd likely be done with it, but I like my sleep.

So...I'm sorry to say, I'm constrained by outside influences, and I really don't have the time to blog more right now...must read and write!!! Have a good weekend!

Writing...and Distractions

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Due to popular opinion, Peter Pan is now on my must-see list of movies
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Last Saturday was supposed to be the first meeting of our new, 'only fun books' bookclub, but due to personal issues, it's postponed indefinitely. I'm a little disappointed by this since I picked the book, it was our first meeting, I reread the book (loved it again), and was nervy with anticipation to see how it would go. But some things in life hit unexpectedly. So...while waiting, I'm actually reading the sequel to the bookclub book: Little Lady, Big Apple, and really enjoying this one too. I think Hester Browne has a fabulous, addictive writing voice.

In other news, I haven't been keeping up so well with my blogging. I'm trying to finally wrap up my submission to the agent who requested the synopsis and first three chapters back in February. I really didn't want to be one of those people who blew a chance for a 'Requested' read-through with an agent, but it's starting to look that way. Really, though, I'm getting it sent. Monday at the latest.

That little project is in turn making it difficult for another goal I've set for myself. One of my RWA chapter mates Jessica Trapp has started up this Yahoo loop to motivate writers to write a little everyday. The challenge is to write 100 words per day for 100 consecutive days. (Doesn't sound so bad, huh?) But if you miss a day, you have to start over. You post your daily accomplishment to the loop to maintain accountability. So...while I really like the idea, it's hard to muster 100 words of new material when you're solidly focused on a query letter, synopsis, and revisions. But I'm on Day 6, still going...

Tomorrow I'm meeting a different chapter member for a fresh critique on chapter one, and I'm a little frazzled about it. Wish me luck!

My Birthday

I was tagged by Stacy to do the following

Go to Wikipedia and type in your Birthday month and day only.
December 27

List 3 Events that occurred that day.
1. 1932 - 'The Radio City Music Hall in New York City opens.
And they're still kickin'!
2. 1904 - 'James Barrie's play Peter Pan premieres in London.'
Never seen the play, and I'm pretty sure I've not seen any version of the movie.
3. 1831 - 'Charles Darwin embarks on his journey aboard the HMS Beagle, where he will formulate the theory of evolution'
...and inspire the great Jesus fish controversy being waged on the back of automobiles all over the country.

List 2 Important Birthdays
Louis Pasteur, French scientist--got milk? We do, and it's not sour because of him!
Emilie de Ravin, Australian actress--she's Claire in LOST

List 1 Death.
Being from Texas and having lived in the state capital for eight years, I had to list
1836 - Stephen F. Austin, American pioneer (b. 1793)

List a Holiday or Observance. (if any):
If it happens to fall on a Monday, it's Boxing Day in Britain

That was actually fun! I tag anyone who's curious or looking for a post topic.

The Saga

Well the root canal went off, but not without its share of hitches. Really I guess it went fine, but I wasn't prepared...

I went in, mostly concerned about the shots, since last time they had to give me extra ones because my mouth refused to numb up. I told the doctor this and he responded by giving me greater doses and more shots. (I only felt the first two, and they weren't as bad as I remembered). So then he started explaining everything he was going to do. And I suppose that's good, but it sort of icked me out. Last time I was shielded behind video glasses watching that Sandra Bullock Christmas movie (which I can't now think of the name) during the whole thing--it was fantastic. This time, I had to keep closing my eyes because I could see that enormous needle going in and out of my mouth, not to mention all those little files. And also I was getting sprayed a little in the face by all the drilling and water spray. Still, that all went fine.

During the procedure the dentist mentioned that he'd invited his son (a dental student) to come in and watch the procedure. This was considerably less offensive than having a whole class come trooping into the delivery room while I was trying to give birth to my second son, however, I couldn't imagine where this guy would find a place to stand. Between me, the dentist, and the hygenist (assistant/whatever), every inch of space around me was already occupied. Well, he never showed.

Anyway, so I was all done and ready to go, had seen my x-rays, gotten my prescriptions (just in case), and walked up to the reception desk to pay when I started feeling woozy. So, I asked if I could sit down, did, and got back up a couple of minutes later. I managed to write out my check before feeling it really come on again, and went stumbling back to my chair. Now I was woozy and sweaty and I just couldn't get cool enough. So I slumped all around in the dentist's chair (looking lovely, I'm sure) trying to feel better. I considered for a moment taking off my sandals and putting my bare feet on the tile floor but figured they wouldn't appreciate that very much.

The hygenist eventually found me, adjusted the chair to recline position, brought me some water (which I proceeded to dribble all over my shirt) and a wet towel. She then took my blood pressure (76/43) and was alarmed. Soon I started to feel better and she took it again (85/54). Then she stared pressing me to go to the doctor, insisted I call her when I got home, and finally let me go. I felt icky when I got home, for a little while, then got better. Then again last night I felt icky. But today, so far so good.

I do have an itemized listing of all the dental work I still need and my dentist's number at his lakehouse. I told my husband this and his response was, 'Since you're paying for a good portion of that lakehouse, you should have his number!'
So this is just the beginning of the saga!

Thursday Thirteen

Tomorrow I very much fear that I'm going to have to have a root canal. This will be my second. Nothing can be done about it now, but I thought I'd make a list of Thirteen Foods That Probably Contributed To My Impending Root Canal

1. Caramel Corn

2. Kettle Corn

3. Buttered Popcorn (see a pattern developing here?)

4. Coke/Dr. Pepper

5. Mellowcreme pumpkins at Halloween time

6. Conversation hearts at Valentine's

7. Caramel apples (I've only had a few, but they really wreak havoc on your teeth)

8. Brownies (I'm addicted)

9. Chocolate chip cookies (ditto)

10. Ice cream (particularly the kind with mix-in's like chocolate chunks)

11. Snowcones (in Texas, they're a must)

12. Soft peppermints

13. Hot tamales (the candy)


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

Survey

Since I don't really have time to post anything much today, I thought I'd open the blog up to anyone's opinions on what gets you to pick up/buy/read a book. I mentioned in yesterday's post that I totally read the author quotes. I don't have much time to read the blurbs at the store--I'm always toting one or more children. I find my mind wandering if I try to read them, and besides, I sort of want to be surprised.

Anyway, Catherine Avril-Morris was surprised by this admission, commented on this blog, and posted about it herself. I not only replied to her comment on my blog, but commented on hers as well. So I won't rehash any of that here.

What I would like to know is...what gets to you?

The blurb? The cover? The quotes? The hype? The reviews? The recommendations?
This is good marketing info.


Kid Humor:
My little one has a favorite pair of navy blue underwear. It was actually in the first pack I ever bought him when he was two and starting to potty-train. They're still a little large (he has a tiny hiney), but he wants them as soon as I do a wash. He got them out last night and pulled them on to wear for a school day. So this morning, I'm blow-drying my hair, and he comes in and peeks over the counter, hopping up and down, admiring himself front and back in his undies. It was adorable.

Book & Movie

I've been slowly sifting through email since I got back (most of it Yahoo digests) and in reading the Publisher's Lunch emails found a book I'm now very eager to read. It's called The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz. The author quotes are awesome and any book that's billed as laugh-out-loud funny, I feel the need to look into. The last book I think I laughed out loud at was Going Coastal by Wendy French. Although I could be overlooking something. Since it's hardback, I immediately surfed over to my library's website and placed a hold on it. I think I'm number 6. But I also checked it out on Amazon...six reviews, all five stars. We shall see...

While on our trip, we purchased an in-room movie: The Night at the Museum for $12.99 plus tax, figuring it would be cheaper than all of us going to the movie, but still entertain the boys (i.e. keep them hotel-quiet). It was cute. I love Ben Stiller. Even my husband (who had pre-conceived notions that it would be all fluff) liked it. So, two thumbs up.

Oh, and I'm still catching up on everyone else's blog...

Home Sweet Home

Well, we're back! One week (minus the gazillion hours of driving time) to take in San Diego, and I'd say we did pretty well. We hit the San Diego Zoo, the Wild Animal Park, Legoland, the aquarium and the beach. We went on a whale-watching expedition (3 1/2 hours!) and hit a couple of museums too. And now we're back. And I see hours and hours of unpacking and laundry ahead of me. I am looking forward to downloading all our pictures though...I think I got some good ones. I, however, am a rare sight on this vacation (that's pretty typical since I take all the picures). I definitely recommend San Diego as a prime tourist spot though--it's beautiful there, with so much to do!




And It's All LEGO's!


I did greatly appreciate all those words of encouragement from everyone on my editing doldrums. After a week of barely thinking about my WIP, now I'm anxious to get back to it. I just wish I were one of those writers who churned out fabulous stuff the first time instead of 'it's getting there' stuff the twelfth time.

A Writing Update

I used to post all the time about writing but now I hardly ever do. There's a two-part reason for that. One part is the obvious...I'm not getting nearly as much time to write as I used to. Some of that is my fault, and some of it is out of my hands. The other part is that the writing I am doing is sort of in an infinite loop of sorts. I'm just redoing and fixing and tweaking and tightening the beginning over and over and over again.

Sure, the advice to move on and come back to it is good, but eventually, I have to really iron this out, and--believe it or not--I've still not sent those first three chapters to the agent who asked for them back at the beginning of February. That seems just a tad unprofessional to me, but again, I have an excuse: I thought those chapters were ready to go. And maybe they were. But then I got a critique partner, and she read those first three chapters.

Like a good critique partner, she suggested some changes. And so I've been trying to make them. Not that I trust her implicitly after only a handful of emails, but what she's saying makes a lot of sense, and judging by what I've heard from contest judges and others, it's probably what I need to do. Not everyone is an easy reader like me...I've found most authors/agents/editors to be pretty impatient when they read. Sort of like toddlers...they want everything and they want it right now...in the first chapter...the first page...even the first line. That's pretty darn hard to do, and it doesn't fit everyone's voice. So I'm working on it: trying to keep my voice and hook the reader.

I'll blog more about writing when I have something interesting to say. Until then, assume I'm still working on those first three chapters.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Very British Words I'm just finished reading and sighing over The Little Lady Agency...again And I'm waaay late with this one...

1. knickers...how is that not better than 'undies'?

2. biscuits...so much more posh than 'cookies'

3. take-away...more cosmopolitan than 'take-out'

4. on holiday...sounds so much more festive than 'on vacation'

5. loads...as in plenty

6. knackered...it's just fun to say...saying tired is actually a little tiring

7. cheeky...it makes rude seem just charmingly mischievous

8. bloody...okay, actually sort of a curse word...it sounds very sophisticated

9. nicked...another of those charmingly mischievous words

10. the loo...seems to make a fun little excursion of going to the ladies room

11. proper...ah, those by-the-book Brits

12. nip...as in hurry

13. Mummy...so cozy and comforting sounding


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

I Think I've Been Officially Adopted

As a substitute teacher. I honestly can't remember the last time I had the full five hours of my Mother's Day Out time to write. I think the director is kinda using me as a fallback girl--she even asked me today if I was available to work Thursday. I told her I could. Why, you might ask, did I tell her that? Because I can work. I don't have a pressing commitment--I just want to write. I figure I'm doing the program a favor--they do need someone after all. Besides, I have trouble saying no.

Favorite quote of the day from my time with the 2 yr olds:
Me (after seeing some groping action): Do you need to go potty?
Him: No, I've just got a fire in my hiney.
Uh-huh.

The Prestige

This weekend, I saw The Prestige...one of three hundred and some DVD's my in-laws happen to own (hard to believe, huh?). I have a vague memory of seeing a couple of previews for this movie but really knew nothing about it. I didn't even read the little blurb. (Side note: lately I can't be bothered to read the blurb. I used to devour them and base my purchases on the cover and the blurb. Now, I buy based on recommendations or hype I've read...and of course the cover). So, I had absolutely no idea what the movie was about or where it was going.)

Turns out I really enjoyed it. It was extremely well done, with lots of twists and turns. There was one part though that bothered me, and I just couldn't get over it. Having gotten the idea from Diana Peterfreund to white out spoiler info, I'm doing that here:

I was just unable to get past the part about the electricity machine that effectively cloned one of the magicians. It was simply unbelievable for me and skewed the whole movie. Anyone else have this reaction?

I would still recommend the movie. Just know going into it that there's a little bit of quirkiness at work here. The movie was based on the book by Christopher Priest, which I suspect was really quite wonderful.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Books in my TBR Stack

1. On Winding Hill Road by Diane Tyrell (A Gothic Novel)

2. A Bride Most Begrudging by Deeanne Gist (a huge debut for a fellow Houston romance writer)

3. Weekend in Paris by Robyn Sisman (a birthday gift from my parents)

4. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer (sequel to the unbelievably fabulous Twilight)

5. A Dangerous Dress by Julia Holden (I've heard very good things)

6. Nearlyweds by Beth Kendrick (I loved Fashionably Late)

7. Whale Season by N.M. Kelby ("A Really Good Story"...if it does say so itself)

8. The Invasion of Falgannon Isle by Deborah MacGillivray (LOVE the cover)

9. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (I know, I should have read it by now)

10. The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason (I was just starting it when I figured I need to reread The Little Lady Agency for my book club--I'm trying to sneak it in anyway)

11. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery (not actually physically there yet, but definitely on the list)

12. Morrigan's Cross by Nora Roberts (I haven't read any in her latest series)

13. Dead and Dateless by Kimberly Raye (Recent Acquisition)

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