Victoria Krain

Procrastination at its finest...

2009-03-26T06:55:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been over a year since my last post. Shouldn't I get an A+ for procrastination?

I still don't know how all of you with kids out there do this everyday. I know I've said that before, but I guarantee I'll probably say it again.

I could have sworn I used to be an organized individual, now I'm have some serious doubts. For one, shouldn't I have been able to find 5 minutes in my day to post something? *Sigh*

But the past is in the past. Munchkin starts school full time on Monday, and I must be a terrible person, because inside I'm doing the happy dance. What is it going to be like to have time to myself again? No idea. Not even an inkling. Go figure I have a child that is born as obsessed about my laptop as I am. I can't even open the damn thing in front of her, without her shrieking and screaming until its under her little hands and she's hitting every button. I've never seen someone shut the computer down so fast! I'm not sure I even knew it was possible.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

2008-02-14T06:27:00.000-08:00

Happy Love Day!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

... now I'm going to go finish those edits so that tonight I can enjoy my Valentine's instead of working! ;)

Ahhhh.... that time of year again.

2008-02-11T18:10:00.000-08:00

Oh yeah baby! It's that time of year again... Judging!!!

I judge 2 contest in the year:

Yellow Rose unpubed and Daphne Du Maurier Pubbed. I love them both. I know what a trator I am to TRW, but maybe I'll even judge for that this year... maybe.

So I'm sitting here surrounded in contest pages for the yellow rose contests and I must tell you I am so impressed with this years submissions - some serious talent out there. It also makes me wonder why some of these great authors aren't published yet.

Is anyone judging some good contests out there? Are you finding that writers are getting better and better? Lots of competition out there!

A day in the life of a Harlequin publisher

2008-02-09T21:20:00.000-08:00

I have to say that I found todays meeting quite interesting. The one thing I took away from it is that there was no way I could publish with Harlequin category romances - at least not what I've written in the past. And for some reason I only realized this NOW. Today.

I read category romances, the fact that I hadn't realized this until now amazes me. I go into some major detail in the sex scenes and I guess I always assumed that the heat level could just be, well, not ignored, but maybe... I don't know. All I know is that there is no way that 4 of my manuscripts (which were intended for category) will ever be able to fall into Harlequin guidelines.

My husband says - why not just remove the heat - lower it somehow... but that would no longer be my story. Plus, it's my favourite part to write - and we do, after all, write because we love it. So why would I ever try to squeeze my manuscript into a little box? I wouldn't. But clearly I need to rethink my future goals, at least my short term ones. Maybe I'll find use for the manuscripst sooner or later elsewhere. Maybe.

Research... hehehehe!

2008-02-05T18:21:00.000-08:00

Since I finished my first draft of my WIP - I'm adding in a new project, I know stick to one thing, but at this point the things I'm changing are pretty much grammar and spelling/wording - so not a big deal. Plus the project I'm starting is for a contest - I though it would be a nice change and it needs to be short and sweet - something I can totally handle.

I'm in the research phase *giggling* I love research. ;)

The contest winner will have their short erotic story published in Best Women's Erotica 2009. Details are on the Passionate Ink website.

It sounds like a lot of fun if anyone else wants to join. :)

Out of service today.

2008-02-03T20:21:00.001-08:00

Today we have a wonderful doctors appointment. Most of the time I really couldn't care less about them. I go because they have to get done and I don't argue with doctors. But I am absolutely dreading the doctors appointment today. It's for her hearing because we have hearing loss in the family.

Anyways, I don't know if any of you have ever done one of these, but from the time she wakes up (usually around 7ish)I'm not allowed to let her eat or sleep until her appointment at 10:30am. At which point I feed her there and she should fall asleep for the test (yeah, I'll let you know if that happens). Anyways, this wouldn't bug me so much if they didn't suggest putting ice chips on her to keep her awake. Ice chips on my baby? WTF is wrong with people? Doesn't this sound like some serious torture method? Is it just me? It's making me sick to my stomach just knowing that she's going to be in the hands of these "professionals" for an hour.

Okay... I'm going to walk away from this subject, because I seriously feel a meldown coming along.

Last night I finished round one edits... YAY!!! For godssakes it's taken me forever! Hopefully round 2 won't take too long. I hope to have it done by the end of the week (although I have to confess the first time I wrote this sentence I wrote mid-week). In a perfect world it will be. :D

I can't wait to hear all the good news tomorrow. I hate being kept in suspense! I'm okay with it, sort of. Well, I'm okay with it if I don't know I'm being kept in suspense! :D

I hope you all have a productive day!

Spell f#@%ing check still doesn't work! And why did it underline and highlight the word? I swear Blogger has it out for me!

One of those weeks...

2008-02-03T16:24:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday I posted a hump day hunky hero... the one that inspired my current WIP... and then I accidently deleted my post! Retard moment. (I wish I could at least blame it on someone other than myself, but I can't)

On Thursday I tried posting - wrote a whole shpiel about what I was working on... couldn't friggin post because Blogger was doing some maintenance. And I learned I also can't select all or cut to paste somewhere else.. no that would be too easy.

By Friday I was so sick and tired with Blogger that I couldn't even log on without wanted to.... well lets just say it wasn't pretty.

On Saturday my husbands godfather had a heartattack, and had to have Quintuple bypass surgery. Which sucked. He's fine now... well as fine as someone with bypass surgery could be.

So I'm just now winding down from the week. All my writing since Wednesday will have to happen tonight, because so far I don't think I've written more than 400 words.

We'll have to see how it goes.

F#@& what the hell happened to spellcheck? I want to bleep bleep bleep this blogger bleeeeeppppp!!!! :D

I don't know...

2008-02-02T06:42:00.000-08:00

I stole this from Amy again! :D

In a Past Life...

You Were: A Gorgeous Fortune Teller.
Where You Lived: Japan.
How You Died: Typhoid fever.

Who Were You In a Past Life?

Life gave me lemons...

2008-01-29T18:16:00.000-08:00

I totally stole this one from Amy! I'm just too tired to post anything. I'm a frickin' lemon! I love lemons! Let's make some lemonade!

You Are a Lemon

You have a very distinct personality. And if you're not being sweet, you're a little hard to take.You're a bit overpowering, especially in one on one situations.
And while you are very dominant, sometimes your power is needed and appreciated.You can liven up a dull situation, and you definitely bring a fresh outlook.
You are a bit of an acquired taste, and you tend to grow on people over time.People feel refreshed and rejuvenated after spending time with you.

What Type of Fruit Are You?

I love me some Jenny Crusie...

2008-01-28T18:03:00.000-08:00

Okay, most of you know that Jenny Crusie is one of my fave authors (hello!!! - check out that side bar!) Anyways... I've been stalling on my edits and headed over there to see what's new...

I know we're all completely over the 'Did Cassie Edwards really plagiarize?' crap. Well, at least I know I'm over it, but when I read Gennita Low's blog (which was linked from Jenny Crusie's) posting about the subject I couldn't stop laughing! :D She is sooo funny! Anyways if you have some time on your hands - or are like me and procrastinating... check them both out. Gennita Low's was Hilarious! And Meljean Brook's (also linked from Jenny Crusie) reference to 'her red shoes' was awesome!

Wow, things sure can change in one day.

2008-01-27T05:22:00.001-08:00

A couple of things on my mind today:

First off; while I was deep into editing yesterday - somehow the story veered off in a different direction. I can't even tell you how different it is... actually I can. It will no longer fit into the category I was going to submit it for - woopsies! I wasn't bummed for long because I just absolutely love this story. Plus, believe it or not... once I veered off into this direction, a title just jumped off the pages! :)

Secondly; I visited Amazon today and got a kick out of this... because of valentine's day they have two places to shop on their site - For Lovers and For Haters. Of course curiosity got the better of me and I had to see what kind of gifts they had for "Haters". I mean seriously what could you get for them... well... apparently Amazon has figured it out! Movies such as Unfaithful, Fatal Attraction, The Breakup, The Black Widow and The Crush - hehehe! I thought this was a hoot! And to top off the hate... at the top (and I quote) is this "Not excited by all the hype? Giving up on romance? We also offer selected soundtracks, movies, and books to match your more cynical (or realistic?) mood." Hehehe! I don't know why I'm totally amused by this - but apparently it doesn't take much now a days.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone! I can't wait to stop off and see the progress you all made this week - See you at Christine's!!! :)

Hate editing...

2008-01-25T17:51:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have moments when your editing and think to yourself....

Man oh man... what the hell was I thinking?

Well, I've had lots of those in the last couple of days. Sometimes I would read a sentence and find myself completely confused... what was I trying to say? Why would she do that? Who's Bob? :)

I'm still editing, and tonight as I was working away I slipped up onto this baby...

'Lina looked up from the bracelet, speechless. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”'

I almost threw my laptop against the wall! Seriously! She wasn't speechless for long was she now? Anyways, I know what I meant to say, but clearly I did a pretty poor ass job. So here is why I'm sitting here now - blogging. I'm in need of some therapist (completely out of chocolate) and blogging seems to do the trick when I find myself ready to pull my hair out - which wouldn't be so bad if I had any left to pull out!

Can't wait to hear how everyone is doing with their goals! Have a wonderful weekend guys!

Still going at it....

2008-01-24T20:39:00.000-08:00

I'm still writing... but I have decided that from now on I only want to write sex scenes! I'm suffering through the story telling right now... can't they just get on with it? I find it soooo much easier to edit the naughty than the nice.

I'll keep visiting to see what everyone is up to (it's a wonderful stalling tactic - which might explain why I feel like I've been editing for so long!)

Happy Writing!

Thursday Personal Deadline...

2008-01-23T17:21:00.000-08:00

Okay... I'm hiding out for the next couple of days. Me and my trusty million page Writer's Thesaurus - yes I use a Thesaurus! And I thank God I have it, because while reading my current WIP I realized that wow... I sure like to use certain words... I won't mention them here, but man, pregnancy has sucked my brain dry. And I have no time to let it find it's way back to me, so for now my Thesaurus is my guide!

Thursday night is my personal deadline for first round edits to meet this February 1st deadline... although, I'm starting to think I was slightly delusional when I thought throwing myself back into writing was the answer. Maybe I should have taken it slower, but it's too late now and I love this story too much to let it just sit collecting dust - like my other 4 - yes 4!!! WIP's (I want to say waiting neatly on a desk somewhere, but I'd be lying! Their somewhere in a box in the basement. And one day, I swear they will be complete - I just don't see that day in the near future.)

Can you tell I'm stalling? Anyways, I hope all of you are having great success with your writing goals. I'll check in on your posts, while munchkin is taking her morning nap tomorrow! (Yet another stalling tactic!)

Ahhh yes, what a lovely day to stay in doors and write.

2008-01-22T06:01:00.001-08:00

It's snowing, and I'm pretty sure it's -20 outside... what a great day to NOT have to leave the house! :) If you can use a snow day as an excuse - I encourage you to do it! ;) I'm such a bad influence... or at least I try to be.

Anyways... getting on with it. This kick in the butt is fabulous! Last night I finished my WIP with everything plus the cheezy-cheeze sappy ending. It's only a skeleton so far and the next two days will be all about adding some substance, let's see if I remember what that is! LOL! Overall I'm happy with it. Still no title, but who knows maybe it will come to me in a dream.

Happy writing everyone!

Christine's Mid Winter Kick In The Butt.

2008-01-21T05:48:00.000-08:00

Okay... you all know about the 'Kick in The Butt'. Nice and early this morning I went to Zokutou to bring up a word meter - because as small as a word meter is I find it incredibly motivating. Zokutou is not working - at least not for me, and now I have this ugly (sorry NaNo people - but it really is ugly!) meter on my site.

Of course, it's all good and I'm sure it will be JUST as motivating as the really nice ones from Zokutou, but it goes to show you why a book cover needs to grab me in order for me to even pick it up to read the blurb! LOL!!! I am such a snob!!! I'm know there is a better fitting word that would suit me right now, but I'm trying to stay motivated! :) *Sigh* You learn something new about yourself every day!

Anyways.... I'm re-posting my goals to hold myself accountable:

BIG GOAL: Finish the current WIP and send it out for February 1st deadline for submission - so I know I need to accomplish this goal! And then (and this is going to be why I need this) try not to think about if my sent in WIP is going to the crap pile or not and still continue writing…. I would like to have another 15,000 story completely polished or have a 30,000 word first draft.

THIS WEEKS GOALS: 5000 words and completing edits.

CHALLENGES: A baby that is recovering not only from being sick (from some mysterious illness - I might add) but also from all the guests that have hugged, squeezed and just plain out traumatized her this weekend. Oh yeah... and a husband who thinks because I'm home all day, I should have enough time to make dinner! MEN!!! :)

Have a wonderful day guys! And good luck with all your goals!

AWAL until Monday!!!

2008-01-19T20:17:00.001-08:00

Okay... so I have to apologize... I won't be here until Monday!

We have family coming over on the weekend and my sister-in-law is staying with us until Sunday - as if that wasn't enough... munchkin has been sick since Friday and has officially thrown up on everything that she owns (a couple of times)... so I've been doing laundry. It wouldn't be so bad if it was just little people clothes, but as all you mommy's know - someone has to hold the baby, so there's usually another victim (me!!!) :) Anyways, I can't wait until everyone goes back to work and it's nice and quiet again.

If you read Christine's blog - then you know she's having a little inspirational writing challenge... you should check it out and join!

I hope everyone has a great weekend (or at least the rest of it... as I sneakily type this while my guests are downstairs! Mwahahahahah!)

7 things about me...

2008-01-17T12:33:00.001-08:00

Michelle tagged me to do a "7 things about me" meme so here goes... I've read everyone's and seriously I have nothing that interesting... I don't leave the house much anymore.

1. Until exactly 2 and a half months ago, I didn't do my own groceries! I absolutely despise grocery shopping and love Grocery Gateway! Unfortunately, they don't deliver in Oshawa... so I've had to venture out and be an adult. (Poooey!!!) I still hate it!!! I pray to the Grocery Gods every night to bring me a delivery man! :)

2. Up until this week I hated Elmo... passionately! I know... your thinking how can anyone hate Elmo, but you need to understand that I have worked in a children's and baby store for the past 10 years! I work at Gymboree... we have a TV on the entire day... and guess who sings over and over and over again! You guessed it! Elmo!!! But, this week had been really cold in the 'Shwa and munchkin and I couldn't go out for our regular walks... I think I would have gone crazy if it wasn't for Elmo. So yeah, he's my hero (until the weather gets nice again or I have to go back to work - at which time I reserve the right to hate him once more!)

3. In order for me to write sex scenes (yeah, I know... what a topic after Elmo!) I need to be in bed with the lights off and I need perfect quiet... then the scenes just start flowing.

4. I love craft projects... or at least beginning them, however to date I don't think I can actually claim to have ever completed one! I can probably make you a list of at least 50 projects sitting around the house that I had begun (excitedly I might add) and never finished! :)

5. Until I was 16 (Yeah... 16!) I thought I had the power to perform love spells! :) I received a book from God knows where and it had the directions... all I remember is engraving the persons name into a candle and lighting it and chanting something... Dear God help me!!! I was so gullible! I still am! My husband though, is convinced I cast one on him - no joke.

6. I am the messiest person at home, but at work everything is pristine! I tell myself that it's because I use up all my cleaning energy at work - I've almost convinced myself!

7. I go to bed with lullabies and songs still replaying in my head! My sister got "this is the song that doesn't end" into my brain and I sang it for 2 weeks straight!

Just about everyone has been tagged... but anyone who hasn't done this one feel free... and let me know so I can stop by and read it! Thanks Michelle - this one was a lot of fun! ;)

What a glorious day!!!

2008-01-16T06:30:00.000-08:00

My muse is back! My brain is somewhat on track... and other than the fact that the day is going a little too quickly for my liking, I'm quite content!

I have missed so many things in the last 9 months... all of which I'm slowly catching up on. Can I just say... holy smokes.... there have been SOOOO many of you that have written not only one book, but multiple! I can't even tell you how impressed I am! Well, today I'm cutting the post short so I can actually continue writing. I noticed that Thursday Thirteening is out? Yet another thing I've missed! Doesn't matter though... tomorrow I'm going to post 10 things I missed in the last 9 months! :)

Have a great day guys!

Can I get a muse in isle six please!!!

2008-01-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

I was all gung-ho yesterday... couldn't wait to get writing. Sat in front of my laptop with my fingers itching... but what the hell do I write about? I mean I haven't even said a coherent sentence since I left and I'm afraid everything that comes out of my mouth sounds like it wasn't thought through! I still have many of these moments... so if you every read something I write and think to yourself... "Self, what is that Vicky talking about?" Well let me assure you that I probably wouldn't be able to answer that question... but enough about my excuses. I was ready to go! Sitting in front of my laptop yesterday... hmmm... how can I explain the moment I had. Well, something like this. It felt like I was sitting in a car, keys in the ignition, foot on the gas - reving the engine full speed... but there aren't any tires on the car and for that matter the car is raised on blocks. Going nowhere. No matter how badly I want to get there! Does that make sense? In the end, I wrote a measly 100 something words... yeah... and the sad part is when this WIP is actually complete not even one of those words might exist! But I'm going to push through... I just wish this one was one of those WIP's that wrote itself... I wish I could say that in all my time off that I have been saving idea after idea - waiting to get them all on paper, but I just haven't. If anyone knows where to get a Genie in a bottle or knows where I can get me some wishes.... please let me know! ;) If only!

Does anyone know if I can buy a muse on e-bay?

Happy (14 days late) New Year!!!

2008-01-14T18:48:00.000-08:00

Happy (14 days late) New Year!!!

I think (crossing my fingers) I might be back... I finally have munchkin on a schedule that I can live with and since I'm at home I'm taking this perfect opportunity to write... write... write! Well, at least when she's napping.

I also wanted you all to know how much I've missed the adult world. I've been throwing myself into reading so that I'm not so bored while my brain (hopefully) starts to rev up again. I'm really looking forward to catching up with everyone and getting back into the writing groove... which has dwindled down to grocery lists! So I'm going to get me some chocolate and planting my previously big - now huge - butt down in front of my laptop... and I'm going to write! I'll keep you posted on how my evening turns out!

When it rains it... well... when it rains eventually it has to stop and the sun has to come back out!

2007-05-23T17:05:00.001-07:00

Isn't that the way the saying goes? Well, that's how I remember it anyways! :)

Today was one of those days...

I haven't been feeling all that right for the past couple of days so my doctor sent away for some tests... which of course takes DAYS - which doesn't sound like a long time... but this morning I woke up thinking I was going to die! Just die! I can laugh about how fast my wonderful husband bolted out of bed and rushed me to the hospital NOW... but in the morning it was not that funny! Anyways... it turns out that somehow I have a severe kidney infection... how, when, and how can not be explained by me at all... apparently I missed that memo! Anyways, it wasn't the ideal way of waking up... but after some great doses of antibiotics and making sure that everyone was good at work to cover some of my next couple of days... oh yeah... and lots of sleep... I planted my ass in my bed with Wylie's book! :) See where my sun is coming out to shine!!!

I read it from front to back... no interruptions... in complete silence. I was SOOOO engrossed with the book I actually forgot about how shitty I felt! Wylie - it was AWESOME! I loved the characters... well... Simon and Ellis! Hated Cynthia from the start... bitch! :) It was such a wonderful story! Absolutely loved it! If you haven't already read it... you don't know what your missing and seriously need to devote yourself to some reading. Check out the book at Ellora's Cave or just go visit Wylie on her blog... but seriously do yourself a favour and read this book!

I'll be hanging around here for the next couple of days, so I think I might work backwards and dig into Bella Fiore... I read your little excerpt... and was hooked at... that's right my lovers with an S! :) Ummm... yeah... I think I need these next couple of days to myself.

Anyways, I hope everyone is having a wonderful day, and I'll be catching up on my blogger reading in the next couple of days... hopefully... I won't be conked out from the meds! :)

1 Word meme...

2007-05-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

I found this meme on Michelle's site and thought it was a great - short and sweet!

Answer all questions using only 1 word:

1. Where is your cell phone? Purse?
2. Relationship? Yup.
3. Your hair? Scary!!!
4. Work? Sometimes.
5. Your sister? Younger.
6. Your favorite thing? Reading
7. Your dream last night? Dirty.
8. Your favorite drink? Pepsi... :(
9. Your dream car? Mustang.
10. The room you’re in? Living
11. Your shoes? Shoes?
12. Your fears? Cleaning.
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? Younger.
14. Who did you hang out with this weekend? Co-workers. :(
15. What you’re not good at? Cleaning!
16. Muffin? Icing?
17. One of your wish list items? Maid.
18. Where you grew up? Europe.
19. The last thing you did? Eat! :)
20. What are you wearing? tshirt.
21. What aren’t you wearing? pants! :)
22. Your pet? Sasha
23. Your computer? HP.
24. Your life? Life?
25. Your mood? Bitchy.
26. Missing? House.
27. What are you thinking about right now? Cleaning.
28. Your car? Intrepid. :(
29. Your kitchen? Dirty.
30. Your summer? Hot.
31. Your favorite color? Blue
32. When is the last time you laughed? Yesterday.
33. Last time you cried? Yesterday.... :(
34. School? Done.
35. Love? Family.

See, nice and sweet! Thanks Michelle! I see a trend about hating cleaning and needing a maid! :) Anyone who wants to do this meme - go for it... can't wait to read them! :) Have a Happy long weekend everyone! I'm going to go clean now. Maybe.

Oh... Quizes... you gotta love them.

2007-05-15T07:02:00.000-07:00

I had some extra time this morning and stumbled upon Amy's post... I love these little quizes!!! There's always something that rings true when you read it about yourself... then again it's sometimes way off! LOL!!! :)

You are The Empress

Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.

The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents,
beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home
decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.

The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

No picture today... I'm too tired to even look!

2007-05-11T14:56:00.000-07:00

So I had to show my face since I've been hiding out at work! I'm sorry about the memes I've missed and the one's I should have posted... I can't believe how quickly time flies when you're working. Today was my first day off in a very long time and I've been at one doctor's appointment to the next all day and then real estate agent, houses, houses, and some more houses after that... now it's 6pm and I'm seriously wondering what happened to the day. Hopefully when my assistant manager gets back I'll at least feel like I have a life again.

House hunting continues... and all my goals have been shoved aside. Yet again. Finished all the books and judging... Yay! But haven't done much else... even this post as short as it is took me two days to write... :) The top half was written on my last day off - Friday... and this part I'm continuing today! So sad!!!

Anyways... enough of me boring you. Just wanted to show myself and say Happy Mother's Day to all! Oh wait... just thought of a picture!

Hope you all have a wonderful Mommy's Day!!!

Hanging on!

2007-05-02T08:42:00.000-07:00

So just hanging in... checking out your blogs whenever I can. Missing you all SO much that it's depressing! I have tomorrow off, so I will be getting back to my writing, or rather editing then. I hope my brain wakes up along with my body!

I was touched to be nominated by TL for the thinking blogger award. Thanks TL!!! Touched, and shocked. Quite honestly, I don't feel like I have said one smart thing in 4 months.... and I don't remember anything prior to that! My memory has been washed away! :) I'll definitely do the whole entire selecting 5 other bloggers, but I have to do it tomorrow - I need to think about this. ;) Until then I will try to live up to the title... okay... that can start tomorrow too. :)

As for the judging... just finishing off. I have to tell you that the last book I read was the first one in a very long time that I wasn't able to predict the ending to. Actually, I don't think I was anywhere near predicting it! Hell, I was playing ball in a completely different ball park - you know what I'm saying? That being said. I enjoyed it immensely! Adding it to my great books I've read mental pile. :)

All right... heading off to worky... by the way the house hunt is not as fun as I remembered it! Probably because we're looking for houses in Oshawa and we live in Toronto... so every time we go off to see one it's a couple of hours of a drive. I know it will be worth it in the end. I just know it will!

Happy Bunny always has the best quotes! So inappropriate that it always brightens my day!

2007-04-27T08:22:00.000-07:00

:) I liked this picture... I'm such a kid. Everyone always has all these beautiful pictures and here I am putting on the happy bunny. But I like this one!

So I started reading the second book... which is taking me forever! I find that I read hard core mystery books much slower, taking in all the facts so that in my head I can put all the pieces together. So yeah, not even half way through! I'm working on it though. And between the reading, the working and the house hunting my weekends is packed!

I'll keep you guys posted on everything. Next day off is Thursday - by which time I should be done with these books and back to my second edits. Yup, my goal... and sticking to it! (Yes Christine! You are a great influence ;)

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Psycho dog... meet psycho cat. :)

2007-04-25T05:31:00.000-07:00

All right... I just started reading the next book in the competition. Yay! But, I have a serious bone to pick with the last one. Have you ever read a book and thought to yourself 'Self, where have I read this before?' Well... I can officially say it was my first, and hopefully (I might add) my last!

You all know Janet Evanovich is one of my favourite authors... well... lets just say I love the Plum Series, in all honesty I could do without the rest of them. Anyways, the first book I read for the competition was shockingly the same type of Plum character (different name of course) who had a side kick type (Hero ;) whose name... drumroll please... was Ranger Rick! If you've read the Plum series... you know why I was screaming in my living room when I first read this. The main character is the same ditsy blonde who screws up just about everything she touches and finds dead bodies as if they fell out of the sky.

Every time I forced myself to get over it... I would stumble upon yet another similarity! And I won't lie to you, at one point it just began to piss me off! I don't mean to be rude (okay, maybe just a tinge) but was there an original thought in this persons brain? And didn't she have the, "Wow, this is a great story, I must be brilliant to come up with it - I wonder where I could have come up with such cool idea' moment?

It would have been such a great story if it weren't for those damn similarities that kept throwing me off and getting my panties in a bunch. So, author A from book A... psycho dog is in your honour!

Have a great day everyone!

Setting me some goals... maybe Christine's organizational and goal setting skills are finally rubbing off on me! :)

2007-04-21T04:08:00.000-07:00

Okay... enough stalling! I woke up determined today... with voices yelling in my head! I have to finish the second round of edits! Then I thought... holy _____ (fill in the blanks) I still have the competition to judge - which by the way I still have only read the first two pages (many times - because I keep starting over!) I love the Kiss of Death competitions! I get introduced to so many wonderful new authors - yet... I'm in no rush to get started! WHY?!!

So I decided today on three damn commitments for May. Three! I figured I should take baby steps since I haven't been keeping any of them for the past three months! Okay so here they are...

1. Come hell or high water I will be at the May meeting! Seriously! I feel like it's been ages since I've seen all of you! Wait - it has been! I haven't seen you guys since the Test The Nation taping. Which by the way, does anyone know the airing date? Anyways I was looking up the meeting details, and noticed that this meeting is being hosted by a screenwriter... hmmm... interesting. Does anyone know this Nika person? Is she part of TRW? It will definitely be interesting hearing someone other than book authors talk about characterization. I'm intrigued. Who's going to be there? Tell me you all will!

2. I will finish (and start) reading these damn books by the end of next week! April 28. There! I will then give myself 2 days to get my comments on paper... and then that's it! I'm sending the suckers off!

3. I know the above goal was technically for April, but if I can finish it by then I can concentrate on my real May goal! TRYING (yes Amy it's that important, and in all honesty I don't know how well I'll succeed with my concentration level ;) to finish the second round edits on Mafia Blood. It's killing me that I don't even know where I stashed the 300 some odd pages of print outs and edits for the book (and yes... before anyone starts with me... I know I kill trees!) I cleaned my house for the real estate agent thinking that I probably wouldn't even be touching them until October... I hid them so well I don't even know where to begin! So step one is finding them. Cross your fingers I can concentrate for more than five minutes without wanting to scream and pull my hair out!

Now you see me... now you don't! Sorry... not funny!

2007-04-17T04:54:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry I haven't been posting! I totally suck - I know! :) But between the Daphne competition - which in all honesty I haven't even opened the first book to judge - :( Yeah... have been meaning to do that! But I have been so busy trying to get my house spotless so that we can put it out on the market! Yay! (Can I just say - for very selfish reasons, I am so glad we're selling the house now when I'm preggers because my husband has to do the painting! :) I always paint... and never abuse his services... paybacks a... well you know. :)

So right now I'm working, cleaning, dealing with real estate agents and of course trying to find a house for all of us to live in... yeah, that would be nice if we all had a home. I'm so excited to be adopting my sister... we're very close and since my parents won't live in Ontario anymore it'll be great to have my only other family member with us... so close. Remind me of this post... when I'm crying 6 months from now because we're going to kill each other living under the same roof! :) (Love you Editor Jen!)

So once my life gets somewhat settled I'll be back posting all the time again, until then it might be off and on... hopefully more on than off!

I have been reading everyone elses post because I can't even pull myself away from you guys for more than a day... I miss you all too much! Speaking of which, I'm so upset I wasn't able to go to the TRW meeting this month... but I'm living vicariously through your stories! :)

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week!

Opening my e-mail today... Hello Sex!!!

2007-04-13T02:41:00.000-07:00

So today at around 5ish in the morning I slowly get out of bed... half asleep, but unfortunately too awake (you all know what I'm talking about) and stumble to my laptop for something to do at this ungodly hour. Check my e-mails... yeah!

I see an e-mail from Christine (you all know where this is going now don't you?) I open the e-mail to find an excited 'Got the cover.' So slowly but surely I wait until the file uploads and opens... and... Holy Sex! Seriously... you need contraception to just look at the picture! (We'll not me... but you! :D) I seriously don't know what to say... it is so amazingly sexy you need to turn on the air conditioning... or maybe a swim in the lake... yeah... that would cool you off at this time of the year. Except you know you'd look at the picture again... you can't help yourself from looking again and again... and then you're back at square one. Gee... what I'm trying to say is it is truly hot!

Congratulations Christine! And if you haven't already seen the cover... where have you been? Check it out on Christine's blog. Can't wait to read it! Between Wylie's and Christine's books this is going to be one HOT summer! Congrats to both of you. Did I mention that I can't wait?

Oh, and by the way... I'm awake now! :) Better than coffee!

You're all sooooo amazing!

2007-04-07T21:17:00.000-07:00

:) You guys are all so amazing!!! Your comments have absolutely made my day! :)

Michelle - Thank you! And I'm counting on getting some of those brain cells back... I have to! I need them! I feel bad when I forget peoples names - which tends to be all the time! :)

Thomma Lyn - Thank you! We'll see if the kitty is as excited as we are... she's a jealous little girl, and in all honesty she's slightly psycho - I think she was abused or something before we adopted her and she gets evil sometimes. I'm slightly afraid of her reaction to a baby, but I guess all we can do is cross our fingers and hope for the best. :)

Amy - :) Yes... I was pregnant at TTN. Which is also why A) I was late, B) I forgot my makeup (how the hell does someone forget makeup when they're going to be on TV?) C) Why I yelled at my husband all the way there to step on it! :) I'm really looking forward to your psychic ability in telling me if it's a boy or girl. I remember you telling me that you have a 100% accuracy rate! :) And yeah, I really am hoping that some brain cells come back. At least I'm starting to get some more energy. I swear to you... this was the first time since being a child that I was conked out every night by 8! :)

Wylie - You so funny! Yeah... I swear to you I work 12 hour days - which is normal... the problem was I slept the other 12 hours! There was no time to do anything else! ;) And yeah... the mommy brain - My doctor laughed at me when my answer to her - What symptoms have you been seeing - I said "I'm getting stupid! Help me!" :) I blame my TTN score on this :) Plus... my eyes are getting bad (which in my opinion is just about the oddest pregnancy symptom I have ever heard of) I'm friggin' going blind! And everyone just says... it will go away. I won't be at the next TRW meeting. :( I still haven't found a friggin' part time assistant manager and unless I leave my full time assistant in the store on a Saturday by herself - which I would never do because somewhere inside my body there is a heart. :) But I'm hoping to have one by the May meeting... I need a Saturday off! As for how far... not far... just a little over 3 months... but for some reason, I swear it's not my eating since I haven't had an appetite, I already feel like I'm the size of a mac truck! ;)

Thank you guys for everything! We're really happy and excited, and I was really happy to finally let this secret out of the bag! Amy - you sent out a meme in late February - the 50 things about me... which I will do tomorrow... because I really wanted to do it and I couldn't honestly do it when you sent it out! I stopped drinking coffee and diet Pepsi - which in all honesty were my lifelines and I couldn't write it because if anyone read this who knew me would have totally known right away! That's kind of how my sister found out... we went to Starbucks together and I ordered a hot chocolate... now picture a huge line behind us... a huge line of people waiting for their drinks in front... my sister turns to me and YELLS - Am I going to be an aunt? :)

Okay... now I'm going to sleep... although I have to proudly say it's 12:58am! :) Yay! I'll talk to you all tomorrow and thanks again for all your kind and supportive words everyone!

Confessions...

2007-04-06T19:50:00.000-07:00

So as always I wanted to start off with a picture... but in all honesty I'm too tired physically and emotionally drained to even bother. So here are some confessions.

A little while ago my husband and I found out that we were expecting our first. So excited! So emotional. (me mostly.) Which is also why I can't concentrate on my writing. I feel like I dropped down a hundred notches in the brain cells department and I find myself only getting frustrated and irritated. Did anyone else ever feel like this? And how the heck do I get over it? Any suggestions and secrets would be much appreciate because although I've accepted it... it upsets me that I can't concentrate long enough.

Clearly knowing that my mom was not just pulling an April fools on us kills me the most... because it turns out that they did buy a house in Alberta. Which, in all honesty makes me happy if it turns out to make them happy, but I'm sooooooo crushed that although my mom told me that they weren't thinking about moving until October/November (after the baby's due.) Turns out the house they bought will be theirs in August so they'll probably end up leaving then or earlier. :(

This is the last (hopefully) I'll talk about this house/ Alberta thing because it's just too depressing, and I promise to work on some happy posts for the next little while. For you poor guys who actually read my ramblings and for me because my wonderful sister - nurse Jenny - informs me that it's bad for the baby. :)

On a happy note... Wylie... the cover of your book looks amazing! And I can't wait to read it. If you haven't already checked it out do it! What are you waiting for?

Taking me some couple of days off!

2007-04-04T01:41:00.000-07:00

So I'm abandoning the blogging world for a couple of days... I'll be back around Friday - just about the time everyone else will be abandoning it for the Easter holidays! :) Yeah, I know, I got great timing.

As for the 'prank', so far it turns out it isn't one so I'm just a smidgen sad. Just a smidgen! *wailing* :)

If you'll be off for some Easter time - I'll miss you and hope you have a great Easter and a wonderful weekend. I'll see you all next week!

My obsessions...

2007-04-02T18:59:00.000-07:00

Christine tagged me to reveal five things I obsess over. And although right now my main focus is to find a way to get even with my mom... I still had a list of 5 to put in here... a list that sadly I didn't even need to think about. :)

1.... Facebook. I don't know when I became such a loser... but it feels like it happened over night. One day I was telling my friend that the only reason I signed up to the damn thing was so that I could have yet another way to publicly traumatize him... now I open my e-mail a thousand times just to see if there's an e-mail from facebook. I'm sooooo embarrassed!

2.... Work. I hate travelling to and from work, but when I'm there good luck getting me to leave! An 8 hour day turns into a 9 hour day... turns into a 12 hour day... and yet I still have a million things to do!

3.... Blogging. Something I have once again got back into... although if you notice I have nothing writery to say... nothing writing related. I apologize for this, but lately (for the past 2 months) I haven't been able to concentrate on my writing. It's so sad... and I know some of you might tell me to get back into it... I can't. My brain no longer functions the same way... and I'm not even going to fight it! More of this on Friday.

4.... Sleeping. Obsession? Can't be... right? Wrong! The way I treat my sleep lately can only fall into the obsession department... NOTHING can keep me from my sleep... not my afternoon naps on my days off and not my nightly sleep... wake me and die!

5.... Baking... I hate store bought crap... it never tastes as good as what your craving. Take for instance that damn chocolate cupcake at TTN... I'm still trying to perfect one that's just as good! I'm making a cake version on Friday for Easter. I'm crossing my fingers that it tastes the same... I've been craving it since licking the icing off my fingers!

So that's it! Thanks Christine, for this it was a lot of fun. Now everyone knows how slightly and just slightly :) crazy I am!

April Fu@%in' Fools Day!

2007-04-02T05:10:00.000-07:00

Remember how I told you all that my mom is notorious for being flat out EVIL on April Fools? Well... my parents are in Alberta right now. They wanted to go down for a week and see if they want to move down later on in the year. :( Which I wasn't even going to complain about... but last night my mom e-mails me a house that they are going to buy today!

I want my parents to be happy... no matter where they are. So last night I'm crying to my husband about how I can't believe they are planning it sooooo quickly and he looks at me and says... and I quote 'Honey, I wouldn't believe anything your mom has to say today. Remember that it's April fools.'

How did I forget? And if that was a practical joke it's going to be one friggin' quiet Easter because I sure as HELL am not talking to her! Please tell me that all mom's aren't this cruel on this damn day. Please tell me that the rest of you are all normal! And lastly, please tell me how to get even! ;)

My Visual DNA - Thanks Christine! :)

2007-03-30T06:38:00.000-07:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Is it Easter Yet?

2007-03-30T05:35:00.000-07:00

I won't lie to you - I love Easter for purely selfish reasons - I get an extra day off of work and get to spend it with family. So today I woke up thinking is it Easter yet? I'll be counting down the days! The only thing that always scares me is the day before and the day after Easter... people run into my store in a panic! It's okay I want to reassure them... it was only one day! We will open again... believe me!

Do you guys remember that summer when we had that major power outage - everyone was told not to go to work - it just wasn't worth it because there was no power. And to stay home where it was safe because there were no traffic lights and it just wasn't safe driving in those conditions? Well.... I HAD to go to work, trek my way down to Yorkdale - Ick! We sat outside waiting until Security told us that we wouldn't be able to open. Do you know how many cars drove up to us to ask when we were opening? Holy cow! Maybe it's because I work in retail... but on my days off the last place I want to be is the mall! And when I actually went home I played Scrabble (TTN buddies - I didn't score anything past 150 for the game! :)) with my husband. Nice, relaxing - no mall! :)

Sorry... I don't know where that came from!

So this weekend I'm going to be reading book 'A'... so excited! It looks sooooo good! What are guys up to this weekend?

Thursday Thirteen #8

2007-03-29T06:34:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Things I find interesting about April fools day (or rather pranks that were played on April fools day) All found at http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/... Oh... and can I just admit right now that I am one of the most gullible person ever!

1…. Internet Spring Cleaning In 1997 an email message spread throughout the world announcing that the Internet would be shut down for cleaning for twenty-four hours from March 31 until April 2. This cleaning was said to be necessary to clear out the "electronic flotsam and jetsam" that had accumulated in the network. Dead email and inactive ftp, www, and gopher sites would be purged. The cleaning would be done by "five very powerful Japanese-built multi-lingual Internet-crawling robots (Toshiba ML-2274) situated around the world." During this period, users were warned to disconnect all devices from the Internet. The message supposedly originated from the "Interconnected Network Maintenance Staff, Main Branch, Massachusetts Institute of Technology." This joke was an updated version of an old joke that used to be told about the phone system. For many years, gullible phone customers had been warned that the phone systems would be cleaned on April Fool's Day. They were cautioned to place plastic bags over the ends of the phone to catch the dust that might be blown out of the phone lines during this period.

2.... Arm the Homeless In 1999 the Phoenix New Times ran a story announcing the formation of a new charity to benefit the homeless. There was just one catch. Instead of providing the homeless with food and shelter, this charity would provide them with guns and ammunition. It was named 'The Arm the Homeless Coalition.' The story received coverage from 60 Minutes II, the Associated Press, and numerous local radio stations before everyone realized it was a joke. The Phoenix New Times's joke was actually a reprise of a 1993 prank perpetrated by students at Ohio State University.

3.... The Eruption of Mount Edgecumbe In 1974 residents of Sitka, Alaska were alarmed when the long-dormant volcano neighboring them, Mount Edgecumbe, suddenly began to belch out billows of black smoke. People spilled out of their homes onto the streets to gaze up at the volcano, terrified that it was active again and might soon erupt. Luckily it turned out that man, not nature, was responsible for the smoke. A local practical joker named Porky Bickar had flown hundreds of old tires into the volcano's crater and then lit them on fire, all in a (successful) attempt to fool the city dwellers into believing that the volcano was stirring to life. According to local legend, when Mount St. Helens erupted six years later, a Sitka resident wrote to Bickar to tell him, "This time you've gone too far!"

4.... Instant Color TV In 1962 there was only one TV channel in Sweden, and it broadcast in black and white. The station's technical expert, Kjell Stensson, appeared on the news to announce that thanks to a newly developed technology, all viewers could now quickly and easily convert their existing sets to display color reception. All they had to do was pull a nylon stocking over their TV screen, and they would begin to see their favorite shows in color. Stensson then proceeded to demonstrate the process. Reportedly, hundreds of thousands of people, out of the population of seven million, were taken in. Actual color TV transmission only commenced in Sweden on April 1, 1970.

5.... The Taco Liberty Bell In 1996 the Taco Bell Corporation announced that it had bought the Liberty Bell from the federal government and was renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell. Hundreds of outraged citizens called up the National Historic Park in Philadelphia where the bell is housed to express their anger. Their nerves were only calmed when Taco Bell revealed that it was all a practical joke a few hours later. The best line inspired by the affair came when White House press secretary Mike McCurry was asked about the sale, and he responded that the Lincoln Memorial had also been sold, though to a different corporation, and would now be known as the Ford Lincoln Mercury Memorial.

6.... The Left-Handed Whopper In 1998 Burger King published a full page advertisement in USA Today announcing the introduction of a new item to their menu: a "Left-Handed Whopper" specially designed for the 32 million left-handed Americans. According to the advertisement, the new whopper included the same ingredients as the original Whopper (lettuce, tomato, hamburger patty, etc.), but all the condiments were rotated 180 degrees for the benefit of their left-handed customers. The following day Burger King issued a follow-up release revealing that although the Left-Handed Whopper was a hoax, thousands of customers had gone into restaurants to request the new sandwich. Simultaneously, according to the press release, "many others requested their own 'right handed' version."

7.... MITkey Mouse On April 1, 1998 the homepage of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced some startling news: the prestigious university was to be sold to Walt Disney Co. for $6.9 billion. A photograph of the university's famous dome outfitted with a pair of mouse ears accompanied the news. The press release explained that the university was to be dismantled and transported to Orlando where new schools would be added to the campus including the School of Imagineering, the Scrooge McDuck School of Management, and the Donald Duck Department of Linguistics. The fact that the announcement appeared on MIT's homepage added official credibility to it. But in fact, the announcement was the work of students who had hacked into the school's central server and replaced the school's real web page with a phony one.

8.... PETA’s Tournament of Sleeping Fish In 2000 the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) warned that it planned to sabotage the bass fishing tournament in East Texas's Lake Palestine by releasing tranquilizers into the lake before the tournament. Their announcement stated that "this year, the fish will be napping, not nibbling." State officials took the threat seriously and stationed rangers around the lake in order to stop any tranquilizer-toting PETA activists from drugging the fish, and numerous newspapers reported the threat. Eventually PETA admitted that it had been joking.

9.... Kokomo Police Cut Costs In 1959 the Kokomo Tribune, based in Indiana, announced that the city police had devised a plan to cut costs and save money. According to this plan, the police station would close each night from 6 pm to 6 am An answering machine would record all calls made to the station during this time, and these calls would be screened by an officer in the morning. The police reportedly anticipated that the screening process would save the city a great deal of money, since many of the calls would be old by the morning and would not need to be answered. A spokesman for the police admitted that "there will be a problem on what to do in the case of a woman who calls in and says her husband has threatened to shoot her or some member of the family." But in such a situation, the spokesman explained, "We will check the hospitals and the coroner, and if they don't have any record of any trouble, then we will know that nothing happened."

10.... Eiffel Tower Moves The Parisien stunned French citizens in 1986 when it reported that an agreement had been signed to dismantle the Eiffel Tower. The international symbol of French culture would then be reconstructed in the new Euro Disney theme park going up east of Paris. In the space where the Tower used to stand, a 35,000 seat stadium would be built for use during the 1992 Olympic Games.

11.... Virgin Cola’s Blue Cans In 1996 Virgin Cola announced that in the interest of consumer safety it had integrated a new technology into its cans. When the cola passed its sell-by date, the liquid would react with the metal in the can, turning the can itself bright blue. Virgin warned that consumers should therefore avoid purchasing all blue cans. The joke was that Pepsi had recently unveiled its newly designed cans. They were bright blue.

This next one is from my mom! My mom is the cruelest April Fools prankster ever! She looks so small, cute and sweet... but April 1st brings out the devil in her. Ever single year she would pull something... and I always fell/fall for it. For the past couple of years I have instructed my husband that we will no longer pick up the phone on this day!

12.... One year my mom woke me up at 6am... I was like 18 - 6am is not a time you see much at that age. She stormed into my room screaming "Honey, oh my God! Why did you park your car that way - so close to the end of the driveway? Someone just hit your NEW car and drove off!" Of course I leap out of bed in a panic... running outside to the driveway wearing only my pajama's... already near tears! But of course when I get there my car is fine... my mother however can't stop laughing! Not funny mom!

This one is from one of my co-workers - who was my boss a couple of years ago. You would think that a boss wouldn't pull a prank... yeah right!

13.... I worked for The Gap for a while and one of the coolest perks working there was that each time you celebrated an anniversary you received a gift from Tiffany's - yeah, cool huh? Anyways, one April fools my boss comes storming out of the office frantically shaking her head. Of course, me being the fool and caring person say "Oh my God! What's wrong?" She, still shaking her head throws a memo in my direction and says "We're no longer going to get a Tiffany gift. They say it's too expensive, and that they are changing companies. Now were going to get gifts from Oliver Jewelers!" - Everyone in Canada knows who this is... the guy on TV that says I pay you for your used gold! Yeah, I was upset by the news the entire day... storming around in disbelief, before she finally confessed that it was a joke. Yeah, real funny!

Have any good April fools to share?

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Daphne Contest

2007-03-27T19:58:00.000-07:00

I got my books today! Yay!

These are the books that I need to judge for the Daphne Du Maurier Competition, and I am soooooo excited to say I don't recognize the authors! :)

I think two of the books are from the UK and one from the US... no Canadian authors. :(

I'm not sure how much I'm allowed to say about these books, I don't think there's really a rule, but just in case lets call them book A, B, and C. I know... I'm original right?

Anyways if their good I guess I can name them right? Based on just the covers (and yes - that's how I judge books - not people!) To me I won't pick up a book with a boring cover... doesn't matter how good it is! Does that make me shallow or something? All I know is I need a sexy, intriguing cover to draw me... Fabio does nothing to me thankyouverymuch... but a sexy pose of even a woman or lipstick smeared across the page gets me excited. ;)

As for my day... it was fabulous. I worked on some stuff at home and talked to Amy. Amy was so friggin' entertaining it was tooooo cute! Her and her alcohol induced writing! :) I haven't laughed so hard in such a long time! Thank you Amy!!! :) Anytime you have any alcohol in hand - find me on facebook! ;)

Interview Me Part II

2007-03-25T20:00:00.000-07:00

Alright a quick post... because I'm going straight to bed and then back to work tomorrow - nice and early! :)

The weekend was crazy at work! It always shocks me how crazy/ bitchy people can get when they don't get what they want on the weekend... I always want to scream at them... I'm sorry you have no time - I don't either! Shut up and get over it! And by the way - if your in a hurry maybe you shouldn't come out during the busiest day of the week! Oh, yeah... and you can't always have what you want! :) Okay, I'm feeling better now.

Anyways... getting back to the post. Angela and Carly here are your questions:

Angela -
1. Why SciFi?
2. You read a bazillion books (I don't exaggerate) what one has been your absolute favourite and why?
3. What inspires you to draw? (Other than people paying you fist fulls of money? ;) )
4. Have you ever considered a job other than what you do - for example - off the top of my head... a writer maybe? Hint. Hint.
5. What is your favourite (secret) indulgence. We won't tell!

Carly -
1. What is your favourite movie?
2. What food/treat can you never say no to, even though you know you should? :)
3. Are you a cat or a dog person?
4. Is there a hobby that you have always wanted to claim to do, but have never had the time or skill to achieve? (Mine would have to be knitting... not a skill I was clearly ever meant to learn!)
5. What was the most embarrassing thing you've ever done?

Thanks for participating guys! Have a great day and I'll talk to you all tomorrow. :) Looking forward to reading your answers.

Interview Me Post from Thomma Lyn

2007-03-22T07:29:00.000-07:00

So here's my Interview Post from Thomma Lyn - Thanks TL! This was fun! If anyone wants to play along, leave me an 'Interview me' in your comments and I'll think up 5 interview questions for you!

1. Tell me about a movie that's special to you, which you could watch again and again.
I hate watching movies over and over again. I'm a watch it once kind of girl... however I do make exceptions to 3 movies... Dirty Dancing - I think it's all because of the music and the sweep you off your feet - Nobody puts Baby in the corner romance. And don't laugh... but I can watch Spider Man 1 and 2 on repeat until the cows come home. My husband always laughs at me, because I know the words to the entire movies... but come on... I can't help it! The entire I love you, but I can't love you because if I admit to loving you, someone might hurt you - which would kill me - romance... I don't know, it's just something that always draws me. And that kissing scene where Spidey kisses her (which one right? You know which one I'm talking about! - The upside down, dirty, dingy, empty alley kiss) well that's just... *Sigh* I'm naturally a cheesy romantic.

2. What kind of music do you like?
I'm easy. Whatever is playing on the radio. ;) And I know that a lot of you play music while you write, I need perfect silence!

3. Tell me about an author you consider an influence in your own writing.
I think we all take little bits and pieces of things we admire, respect and love about another author. So I'm not sure if I could pick just one... but If I had to I would have to say Lori Foster. I will be happy if I can be half the writer that she is - okay three quarters. ;)

4. Do you like to cook?
I would prefer if someone else did it, but I don't hate it. I just always compare it to my moms... and we all know nobody does it like mom! But give me some flour for baking and get out of my way, because I swear to you I was born a baker! I think it's that my grandfather was a baker and my mom ate a lot of his goodies while pregnant with me... because I swear to you... if I crave it I can bake it. And I hate the boxed stuff!

5. When did you first think you would like to be an author?
A couple of years ago when I read this terribly written book and thought... no friggin' way was this published and all the ideas in my head just float around without a reader! :) It also helps to think that you could kill someone and get away with it! (By the way - I think this is the only profession that you can admit to that!) I truly believe you have to think this if you're a suspense author. If you can't convince yourself - what makes you think you can convince your readers? Nothing worse than a book you know the conclusion to on page 5! :)

Happy Writing!

Thursday Thirteen #7

2007-03-22T05:29:00.000-07:00

At two I have a conference call - other than that... I have the entire day to myself! At home, all alone... just me and my thoughts... or my bed, whichever is more inviting! :) So to celebrate I'm writing a TT on the Thirteen things that I want to do today.

Thirteen Things I want to do today...

1…. Having a huge breakfast without any rushing! That's right... I'm going to take my own sweet time! Doesn't sound like a big deal, but if you eat on the run every day, you know how great this is.

2.... I'm going to stroll through the blogging world and catch up on all the things I missed in the last couple of weeks. Yeah, looking at the dishes in front of me says I should be doing something else - but since the dishes can't talk I figure nobody will ever know if they get done now or later! Heeeeeheeeee! :)

3.... Finish my critique partners edits. Yeah. I'm seriously committing myself to getting this done today! Before she fires me! :)

4.... The edits should take me till about... 12. Which just coincidentally takes us to NewsRadio - Dave tries to stay calm when Lisa's ex-boyfriend comes to town. :) I bought some chips and popcorn yesterday, and I plan on planting my big butt in front of the TV and enjoying every moment of the show.

5.... 12:30ish... taking an afternoon nap. Yeah, that's right! :) Nothing better than an afternoon nap. Especially knowing that I'm working Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. So yeah, I'm definitely going to appreciate that nap. :)

6.... Huh... this is getting hard... I guess this was a bad idea... I really don't plan on doing 13 things today.

7.... The dishes are still staring at me... and I'm still ignoring them, because instead I could reading a book. I don't even know what that's like. I wonder if I can still read.

8.... Go pick up the mail waiting for me at the post office... but that requires me getting dressed out of my pajama's and getting in my car and driving down to the post office. I don't know if that's going to happen, because in all honesty I don't see myself getting dressed today. It feels like an all pajama day!

9.... On that note... I hope they never invent (which, wait a minute they have) the camera phones. God forbid everyone in Canada and the US can see into my house and stare at my dirty dishes and pajama's during my conference call! As long as I can hear them... it should be good enough!

10.... Pretend to take notes while I'm on my call... maybe even say a word here or there. Maybe. Maybe not.

11.... After the call... sit back, relax, and try to forget everything that I learned or was said... at least until I need it on Friday. As far as I'm concerned my brain does not need to be turned on today. Hopefully, my boss will agree with me when I make this same excuse for not knowing the answers to her questions. :)

12.... Maybe make something for dinner.... maybe just order something. Depends on how much energy I wasted on doing nothing all day. ;)

13.... Yeah, so the one thing I should be doing is writing, but what's the point if tomorrow I go back to 13 hour work days? Yeah, I'll get a break soon... but not worth me catching up to where I am because by then there won't even be any time to do any edits... So I apologize to all the writer's shaking their heads, but instead I'm just going to slack off and relax... maybe even get to those dishes. Probably not. :)

Happy TT everyone! What are you doing today?

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Test The Nation Follow-up!

2007-03-21T08:12:00.000-07:00

So... I contacted Eleisha (I'm sorry if I spelled it wrong) to find out how I scored at Test The Nation. I know it's only been since Sunday since I e-mailed her but she hasn't responded! :)

Makes me wonder - was my score that bad? :)

How did everyone else do? Did you find out? All I know is that I couldn't see the screen! I could never see the last damn option... so 'D' didn't get pushed too often! :)

And did you guys watch it on Sunday? Because I did, however, anyone I spoke to said they missed it. Which also makes me wonder if the ratings were good. Huh... okay, enough of my talking. I have to get my butt back to work!

I don't want to learn how to say no, but I might have to start.

2007-03-19T18:05:00.000-07:00

First off... Wylie - Thank you soooooo much for the wonderful pictures of Test The Nation! They came out great! And, again, thank you for cropping that other picture out! I super duper really appreciate it! I think I've been spending to much time around the kids in my store. ;)

As for how my writing is going... well it's not. Too much on my plate - hence the 'I need to learn to say no' title. I have five full books to read for Daphne Published Writing Competition - which, at least I can add to my 50 books reading list - so there is a positive side. Then I STILL haven't finished my CP edits - I wouldn't be surprised or blame her if she fired me! :) And to top off all of that I promised my best friend last week that I would edit her school paper. Yay!

So all that... it's nine o'clock... I've been conking out around 10ish (so sad!) and I'm working in the wee hours of the morning. Yeah, I don't stand a chance at accomplishing even the edits - but I sure as heck will try! I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Test The Nation was Excellent!

2007-03-18T13:03:00.000-07:00

I knew it would be great, but in truth the best part was seeing everyone and spending time with them! I'm so glad that Christine was able to fly down, and that I got to see Wylie and Amy - I've missed you guys sooooooo much! I even got to talk to some people that I've been meaning to meet for a long time, but haven't had the opportunity to - until now. :)

Overall TTN will definitely go down in the history of memorable events. Looking forward to seeing the pictures!

Okay... I'm going to get back to doing my work - at least I was smart enough to bring it home with me so that I don't have to lug my big butt in to finish it off. My motivation is to get it all done before Test the Nation tonight - I'm very excited to see how the LIVE taping will turn out - I wonder if the Mayors will cheer or if they'll be like the Ad Writers. I guess we'll have to see!

Hopefully this will be my returning post into the blogging world. Again... I've missed you all so much. It's so good to be back.

Thursday Thirteen #7

2007-03-08T07:36:00.000-08:00

Thirteen Things I'd rather be doing instead of sleeping...

1…. Reading one of the many good books sitting on my book shelf!

2.... Finish editing my current WIP! Even if it's just a chapter!

3.... Watching a good movie with my husband.

4.... Actually, watching anything good on TV with my husband.

5.... Heck, now that I think about it... I would rather just have more time with him rather than sleeping!

6.... Catch up on some of my laundry! Cause I sure as heck can think of doing something a lot more interesting during the day.

7.... Clean my house! Oh my... I can't even tell you how my house looks right now. I hope nobody shows up for any surprise visits... not unless it's a maid offering her services for free. That would be great! :)

8.... Get some groceries... yeah, it's sad. But my fridge is empty, which is fine by me because I've been at work at all hours of the day so I always eat out. But my husband told me this morning that he lost 2 lbs. in the last couple of days. ;) I think he's trying to tell me something.

9.... I've put on a little bit of weight in the last little while... wish I had the time to go out and buy a pair of pants I can breathe in! :) Yeah, that would be great.

10.... Baking a cake, or pie, or cookies.... oh! Maybe even brownies! Mm mm. Yum.

11.... Actually having time to make a meal instead of eating out or having it made by M & M Meatshops... yeah, a lot of my dinners have been made by them! Swiss Chalet also knows us very well. Another thing I'm not proud of... if my parents knew they would pass out.

12.... Studying for Test The Nation! I have had the hardest time lately remembering anything... so maybe it's already too late to start... but I'll still give it a shot! Studying is something I definitely need to do.

13.... I'd rather be sleeping. In truth as much as I want to do all these things, I really need my sleep. Desperately! Nobody wants to talk to me when I haven't slept at least 8 hours. It's not pretty!

Happy TT everyone! What would you do if you could go without sleep?

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24 hours in a day.

2007-03-07T06:40:00.000-08:00

I haven't been here since Saturday and I might not again for the next couple of days... :(

I have so much to do right now I don't even have time to read let alone write. I have so much work that I won't even be able to come to the critique session this week! I'll be busy AT work... and I don't even know when I'll get my next day off yet - definitely won't be until well past this weekend. :( I'm exhausted just thinking about working so many days straight!

I haven't checked my e-mails since Monday, and to be perfectly honest - I'm too scared to check them now!

Okay that's enough of my complaining. I hope everyone has a great week. Hopefully I'll get a chance to post my TT this week... maybe it should be about what I could accomplish if I didn't sleep. :) Unless someone has another method of getting some extra time in a day. I'm all ears! :)

Please... no more power outages!

2007-03-03T09:22:00.000-08:00

I love Winter. Love it. Love the snow. Love the chill in the air... love it all!

But who the hell was the idiot who set the fire to the power plant? Sound familiar? Yeah, because somebody set fire to the plant on Thursday. Well... let me just re-phrase the question.. Who the hell was the idiot who set fire to the power plant AGAIN?!?

All of our power was out. Again. Kill me know! 5 minutes before, apparently, one of the best episodes of Las Vegas ever... and didn't come back on until this morning.

I missed Las Vegas! And it's not playing again this week - which is as far in advance as I can check! *sob*

Take the power... and my TV... fine! But don't even think about taking my damn Internet! My husband and I had to entertain ourselves! :)

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

And... welcome back Christine! You were missed!

And I miss you Wylie - where are you? I hope you're feeling better or at least someone wonderful is taking care of you! :)

Thursday Thirteen #7

2007-02-28T19:05:00.000-08:00

Everyone has been talking about their kitties... my doggie dog love makes me want to do this TT on my puppy just to even things out! :)

Her picture was taken at the Vet's a couple of years ago, and I had to scan it so it's a little scanned looking, but it's one of my favorite photos.

Thirteen Things about My Puppy (not so puppy - 12 years old.)
1…. Her name is Sammy - Samantha when she's in trouble, like when she steals socks from open drawers.

2.... She's a mix breed - Bijon and Spaniel, but we got her before the owner's chopped her tail - Thank God! Why do people cut their dogs tails? I just don't get it! That's my favorite thing... I always know how happy and excited she is!

3.... She hates water. :) Odd for a dog, but my father traumatized her when she was young by throwing her in the lake so she wouldn't be afraid of the water - which you can imagine only made things a hundred times worse. Funny how wrong parents can be sometimes, even when I was only 14 I knew how bad it was!

4.... She will not, under any circumstances, leave the house when it's raining. She'll stare dreamily out the windows, but won't budge. :)

5.... She's 12, yet she looks like a puppy - people always ask when we got her! :)

6.... She loves the snow. She hides in it and waits to be found! After half a year of sun bathing her fur is usually very white. She somehow knows this and takes advantage of it.

7.... Speaking of sun... She loves the sun! With as much fur as she has going on I'm shocked sometimes, nothing like a fur coat to keep me out of the sun, but it doesn't deter her.

8.... She always has her tongue sticking out. :) I adore this. Probably because she doesn't have bad breath and she doesn't drool.

9.... When the luggage gets pulled out she gets sad and depressed, moping around the house like if it's the last time she will ever see us.

10.... If someone were ever to break into the house she would probably lick them and kiss them until they fell on their butts, but we couldn't count on her to be our security guard.

11.... She doesn't bark! Which kind of falls in with 10. :) I didn't know there even were dogs that didn't bark. All I know is that by the time we got her she was broken. Truthfully, I like her better this way.

12.... She will do ANYTHING for cheese! We didn't have to teach her to roll over, sit or do anything else... stick a piece of cheese in front of her and you don't even have to say a word. I swear to you... she will show you EVERY trick she knows to get that cheese. Shake your hand, meow (my dad taught her that - believe it or not, it's a little dog like, but it is clearly a meow,) or roll over... a hundred times!

13.... I can never get any work done around her. She follows me around and if I open a book or notes to study from she comes and plops down directly onto my work with a loud sigh. :) As if she's the entire 30 seconds that she had to entertain herself was extremely painful and excruciating! ;) God, I love her!

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

I want to rant... but I'm actually too angry to do it!

2007-02-27T14:19:00.000-08:00

Okay so maybe you're more aware of this than me... but I had no idea that this even existed!

Everyone knows about Kazaa and every other online free music provider. I use Napster. I use it because I can count on downloading what I want without a virus or any extra crap that will load itself onto my laptop... I also use it because I have to pay for it. That's right. I prefer paying for it, although most people don't understand this. They always ask me why I would pay 1.19 per song, when I can download it for free from Kazaa or some other place. I always tell them that anyone who wants others to respect their work in terms of copyright laws, originality and all the hard work that went into it need to respect other peoples as well. To me, it's as simple as that.

So yesterday I got an e-mail from Clues-N-News, one of the Kiss of Death Chapter Yahoo groups. Anyways they sent out an e-mail letting us know that well... actually I don't even know if I'm allowed to say. But holy cow! Did you guys know about http://www.esnips.com/ ? Maybe I'm just a little behind... or maybe I'm a lot, but I can't believe that this place exists! If you have ever been able to buy a book online, you can steal it here. WTF! I can't even tell you how pissed I am.

I know I'm wasting my breath, but I can't help myself. In my perfect world everyone is honest and sincere. I saddens me that I'm even talking about this, I just can't believe it. I don't know why, it shouldn't surprise me. I mean, you can pretty much steal anything online now a days. I'm just soooo incredibly disappointed by the people that take part in supporting this that I can't even rant about it. It's just so sad! :( Is it such an inconvenience to go to the library? This just makes me so sad. :(

There's a great article about this at IPcentral Weblog if you want to read about it with less emotion and more factual information. :)

Soap Opera Fan?

2007-02-26T12:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday someone asked me whether I get my ideas for writing from soap opera's. Well, since I seriously despise soap opera's, you can probably imagine the look of disgust on my face that I couldn't keep from showing. :)

I told him that good writer's have people who tell them what to write - the little people in their heads! HA! Yeah, okay so I'm not that funny. I tried!

So later on I began to wonder... do any of you get any inspiration from soap opera's? I'm also curious to know how? Does anything actually ever happen on them? You can miss a couple of weeks of the stuff and still not have missed anything.

Is there another place you get inspiration from? I know that I love to create characters that have some quirky personality traits that I have found in my friends - yeah, I do that. So far none of them have complained or sued me so... knock on wood. :) Thank God I change the names! ;) As for inspiration for my evil villains... well I have a t-shirt that says... Caution! Mystery Romance Writer - I research ways to kill people for a living. Try to remember that before you make me angry.

Two words... so true! Muwahahahaha! ;)

Catching up on some work.

2007-02-26T06:13:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I'm a little behind. A little. Okay, maybe a touch more than that.

I still have friends that go to school and this tends to be a paper submitting week or something, because I spent my weekend going over 3 papers for spelling and grammar. Huh, trust me with that? I don't recommend it, but hey! :)

Then, we have four days worth of fire alarm tests (our yearly test) that are being done in the building... which should have been almost done. So while it should be quiet we have the fire department walking through the place like they own it. Obviously, only a crazy woman can't appreciate a good fireman, but I might just go crazy if I have to hear any more of the alarm!

To add to that, on Friday we had a major power outage most of the day, some other power supply place had a fire, so there was no electricity. That was fun. So again, I got nothing accomplished. And that's also why the fire department have to return today. YAY!!! :( Apparently they can't do their work in the dark. Jeez! :)

So today, I have to finish 2 1/2 chapters and send them off to my CP. Yeah. No problem! :)

What did everyone else do on the weekend?

Motivated

2007-02-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

So this morning I'm looking around the blogging world... seeing what's new. Yeah, I know I do this every day, but during the week I don't give myself time to look around all of them... there just wouldn't be enough time in the day!

I haven't been to visit the PlotMonkeys in at least two weeks, so today I wandered over. This blogging group is probably one of my favourite's. I'm a huge fan of Carly Phillips, who is a member of the PM and with her in the group are three other amazing and inspirational authors, (Leslie Kelly, Janelle Denison, and Julie Leto,) so what's not to love?!

Anyways - I'm getting to my point, I swear - Today Carly posted a story on her road to publication. I read it and thought it was such a motivating story for anyone who needs to get their writing done or is struggling with publication or even has enough rejection letter's to wallpaper a room! (Ever since you said this line to me - you know who you are - I can't get it out of my head! I love it!)

So if you have time, go over to the PlotMonkeys and read Carly's story. It's nothing new... author struggle... author doesn't give up... author gets published. And maybe it's just me because I'm such a fan of her work, but reading this I kept thinking who the heck would send Carly a rejection? ;) And holy cow... maybe you could even say a rejection is normal?

Have a great weekend everyone!

Yay! I have a CP!

2007-02-23T06:37:00.000-08:00

Okay, so through my wonderful RWA OL Chapter I found a CP! I've talked to her and she seems wonderful. She lives a bazillion miles away, which sucks... but you can't have everything. And as long as she doesn't hate my work, I'll accept the distance.

So... now comes giving her my work... Um... I'm anxious, nervous, and flat out scared. Which actually I find hilarious because over the years at my job I've grown thick skin and taught others to grow it too!

I take feedback very well (or at least I think I do.) I take it and learn from it. What was done in the past can't be changed, but the future can. I know it's not the most profound saying, but it is true. So there it is.

As for having a CP, I have to tell you... so far I feel like I can't slack off. We have expectations of each other, and in order to make them happen and work with each other to our full potential I need to get my butt into gear and finish editing! After all, I actually need to have something finished to give her to critique.

Okay, back to work. This time for real! ;)

Thursday Thirteen #6

2007-02-21T06:37:00.000-08:00

Since I've been slacking off for over two weeks now, I figured I would post my 13 favourite shows - Yup! Because that's all I've been doing while I should have been writing! :)

Thirteen of my Favourite - for my American friends - favorite ;) shows:

1…. Crossing Jordan. I almost couldn't decide what to start with, but Crossing Jordan doesn't come on DVD - so if you miss an episode you miss it. That's why it made it to number one!

2.... CSI Las Vegas. I don't care how many new versions they come up with. Nobody replaces the original team. I love Grissom and hate Fellatio (That's what my husband and I call Horacio) We both equally hate him.

3.... Gilmore Girls. I love that they never stop talking - the same reason that my husband can't stand the show. Did you know that a regular script for GG is twice as long as any other script for any other 1 hour show? And the maid is different in every single episode? I'm filled with useless facts about GG.

4.... NCIS. Love it! I don't know what it is... I think it might just be that the characters are depicted so relaxed and normal, I would even say unprofessional... which in any other company would be a no no.

5.... News Radio. Does anyone remember this show? I have a deep down dirty secret love for Joe Rogan - don't ask! I don't know what it is! When my husband watches UFC and I just hear Joe's voice I smile. Can't help it.

6.... Criminal Minds. Shemar Moore... yum! I have loved him since YR. I hate soap opera's... but I would watch it just for him. Did I say yum?

7.... Bones. Oh my God! I almost forgot this show! HOW? It's one of the one's I never forget to watch. I hated David Boreanaz in Angel. But now on Bones, as an agent.... well, lets just say a lot of my characters that are agents start with him in my mind.

8.... House. This and CSI are probably the only show that my husband and I agree on, so it had to make it on my list.

9.... Law and Order. Dear God... how long have I been watching this show?

10.... Law and Order - Criminal Intent. I can't help it! I'm a forever fan of all Law and Order's!

11.... Law and Order - Special Victims Unit. I usually hate spin off or continued type shows, but Special Victims I probably like better than the original show and Criminal Intent.

12.... Las Vegas. I don't know why! I think it has a little to do with the character's being so beautiful - it's mesmerizing!

13.... The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. This one's a twofer, because although I watch it because I love the Colbert Report, I like John Stewart too. I can't stand Canadian politics! But give me American politics and I'm glued to the screen. Plus, I find Stephen Colbert hilarious in the most stupid, yet brilliant ways!

Wow! I thought it would be hard to think up of 13 shows that I watch since I tend to replace the TV with a good book... but clearly I was true to my word about getting nothing accomplished in the last two weeks! Yikes... that's a lot of TV! What are some of your favourite shows?

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

I DEMAND my procrastinating to end!

2007-02-21T04:16:00.000-08:00

Love the cartoon!

Okay, so today I'm going to force myself to get my big culo off the couch and far away from the TV! Plant it in front of my laptop and write! For the love of God - I haven't written a word for two weeks! Longer then that actually! *Groan*

Okay...

By Sunday I will have completed revisions on at least 3 chapters! That shouldn't be so hard! Right? Yeah, too bad I only write skeleton chapters the first time around! :)

Just my b%t@#ing fest! Sorry!

2007-02-20T11:40:00.000-08:00

Oh Amy! Once again, I can't get over it! So I have to b!%@# a little to get this off my chest.

Okay... I know a writer's voice is very important! Very important, in most (if not all) cases determining whether someone buys your book or not. Is anyone entered in a competition that specifically looks at the writer's voice?

I judge two competitions, Winter Rose and Daphne DuMaurier - neither of them says anything about the writer's voice being a perticular way. Am I missing something? Is there something I just don't understand? How can someone comment on a writer's voice - or God forbid make suggestions on changes that should happen for no good reason except that the judge would prefer it.

I can't even begin to tell you how pissed off I am about this! Contests are such a great opportunity for any author to get feedback from an audience - not to get ripped apart for being unique.

ANYONE who can't get over their jealous attitude and judge a competition fairly need not apply for the job of judge! When you become a judge you are volunteering to provide authors with feedback that will HELP them with their writing goals - NOT make them want to quit writing and hide under a rock! Shame on anyone who makes another person feel less of a writer! Shame! It's hard enough without A$$#oles like them running around to make it in this industry! Find another way to take out your frustrations - one that will be more productive!

Looking for a critique partner!

2007-02-18T09:03:00.000-08:00

Okay, so for the past year I've had some great victims to abuse for critiquing my writing... the same writing that I haven't been doing right now! :) Can you tell I'm disappointed in myself? :( But I'm just not into it right now, and I'm not going to force it!

So now I'm looking for a CP at one of my chapters (RWAOnline) thinking that it would be great to have someone look at my stuff and tell me truthfully - not that my other reading victims weren't evil bi%#es that set me straight anytime they thought I was mad - it's just that I need to hear it from another writer! You know what I mean? By the way I love my reading victims - they always know when to challenge me... That's to make sure that if one of them is reading they don't kill me! Or write 'Reject' right across my next ms... Covering my butt. ;)

I would love to find a CP in the area... but what are the chance? Does anyone have more than on CP? And where did you guys find your CP's? Any advice would be great!

Thursday Thirteen #5

2007-02-15T07:14:00.000-08:00

Thirteen reasons I Love Winter

1…. Well, if you have the day off today because of a snowstorm then you know what I'm talking about for number 1... Day off school or work!!! Yay!

2.... You can go out and build snowmen!

3.... Helloooo..... snow angels!

4.... Hot chocolate has no calories and no fat when you drink it because it's ssooooo cold outside.

5.... I can watch the cat try to catch snowflakes through the window all day long! ;) Six years later she still thinks that by some miracle she'll actually be able to catch one!

6.... Any excuse for an extra cup of coffee I will support any day!

7.... In the winter you can always layer. In the summer, there's only so much you can take off!

8.... If you're having problems starting your car, you can always ask a hunky neighbour for help! :)

9.... If you have kids, this is a perfect opportunity to go out and play with them.

10.... I can watch my dog play in the snow all day long! She has light coloured blonde-white fur, and she knows it's hard to find her in the snow... she loves trying to hide... and I love trying to find her. Just the thought puts a smile on my face!

11.... I don't have to wear a bathing suit in the winter - hello! That means I want dessert!

12.... I have more time to relax... because seriously who's in a rush to leave the house?

13.... Did I mention I don't have to wear a bathing suit? :)

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

2007-02-14T07:19:00.000-08:00

Oh my! It's already here... I'm not even sure how time passes by so quickly. Next thing you know it will be Christmas. Again.

I haven't been blogging... my husbands is still pretty sick so I'm paying more attention to him then anything else... like the course with that Molly is teaching! Yikes! 147 messages... and the more that pile up the more I dread looking at them!

My goals for the week have quickly gone down the toilet, but still have a chance of possibly being salvaged if I can manage to focus on my writing on the weekend.

Then there's our snowstorm! :) If you're currently burried in 11 feet of snow you might not want to read this... so move on... As for the rest... :) :) I love snow!!! It is sooooo gorgeous outside! And even though I have to go out and somehow make my way from Scarborough to Pickering in a couple of hours... I'm still happy! Could it be a more beautiful Valentine's Day? :)

So hopefully I'll get through my messages, get my crap together and get back to my writing. Hopefully. ;) No rush though, not while there's snow on the ground. :) Okay, I'll stop smiling, for fear that one of you might want to kick my ass... all the Winter haters! ;)

Tagged!

2007-02-11T18:06:00.000-08:00

Okay, I got tagged by Amy for this meme. You have to write about 10 odd facts or habits about yourself. Then tag 10 other people to do the meme.

Okay, so here is mine... warning in advance... I have a lot of food habits, so a lot of these are based on food. :)

1. I love steak! And since I've tried it at every restaurant known to man, I have found my favourite - Ruby Tuesday's in Buffalo New York. Now every time I want a good steak I get in my car - drag someone with me of course - and go to NY! :) I'm stubborn... if I want steak then it's worth the two and a half hour drive to Ruby Tuesday's to me! Mmmmmm.... craving.

2. I only eat the middle of perogies. Filling, yum... dough, not so much! Just for those of you who don't know me... no I am not six years old, but yes I don't like my food touching! Not unless it's gravy on my mashed potatoes.

3. Whenever I'm craving a chocolate bar, instead of going out to buy one, I reproduce it in my handy dandy kitchen! Yeah! My latest creations... turtles and when I had that done, turtles brownies! Mmmmm!!! Up side, they were great! Down side, usually I have to avoid the scale!

4. Whenever eating Russell Stover Mint Dreams (they only sell these in the U.S.) it's like a big chocolate ball that's hollow and filled in with the lightest fluffiest mint cream stuff, (Wylie - that's the chocolate!) Anyways... I dig a small hole a scoop out the mint cream, eat it first and then eat the chocolate. If I didn't drive down for the steak, I would drive down only for the mint dreams! Oh soooooo worth it!

5. I love eating dinner for breakfast! I'm not an eggs and bacon girl. Actually I'm not big on breakfast foods. But give me mashed potatoes and steak or whatever else I made for dinner the night before and I can eat at 6am! Yum! Sometimes I get excited about what I'm going to have for breakfast! Did I mention I love food?

6. I don't drink any alcohol! None. I can't stand the smell, it makes me sick! Never had a beer, never had a drink, just tasted them (well, I guess that can be argued here.) My Tiramisu has to have rum though, no fake imitation tasking crap! I mean mind numbing yum, yum good rum, that all Tiramisu's should taste of! :) Alcoholic at heart right?

7. Okay, not a foodie.... I hate watching reruns! There are only three movies that I can stand watching over and over again... Spider Man 1, Spider Man 2, and Dirty Dancing. That's it! If it's a horror movie I feel even more strongly, and tend to get slightly upset when someone suggests it. I do not need to watch Saw again... I know what happens! And Sixth Sense... great movie! The one film that actually surprised me at the end! Loved it! Will I sit down to watch it again? Hell no!

8. I love talking in crowds! I managed a high volume retail store, where I had over two-hundred fifty staff during the holidays... I love the attention! I love having a good time! I love talking to them all! The interaction, the conversation, just over all the crowd! Loved it all! But put me in a room of ten people that I don't know... hell, make it five! And all I want to do is sink into my chair or stick my head in the sand! I'm sooooo shy when I have to talk to groups of people that don't know me! Weird huh?

9. Oooooh... these are getting harder! I bite my lip when I get nervous, or watching a scary movie. Yeah, yeah, I know a lot of people in books do it. But I don't actually know anyone else who does it. After talking about food for so long, I'm sorry I'm talking about this, but sometimes (okay, I won't lie - a lot of times) I end up picking at my lip to blood! Ewwwwwe! I know! But I've been doing it my entire life and can't stop! My mom and husband always slap my hand away when they see me doing it! :)

10. I'm absolutely terrified of downtown! I will never go by myself! Ever! I will never get a job downtown and I sure as hell will never go for an interview there. No idea why! Well, okay I have some idea... but it's not perfectly clear to even me. I've probably been to Eaton Center a whopping 4 times in my entire life! And the only time I ever force myself to go is for charity... like the aids walks and all that stuff, and I always go in groups of people. I won't go to restaurants, won't go ice skating, won't go anywhere! No thanks! The only thing I miss is street meat! :) But you can get that in the Yorkdale area, so not much to miss! Wait till the TRW March meeting... Dundas sounds downtownie to me! Shaking in my boots! :)

Okay so I don't even have 10 people I can tag... so whoever wants to play along please do! :)

My Red Lobster

2007-02-11T13:43:00.000-08:00

What? I'm posting pictures of a lobster now? ;)

Okay, so I haven't written anything since Thursday. First I wasn't feeling well, then my husband got sick. We ended up going to the doctor's together, and both got some medicine.

On Saturday, we had a great Toronto Romance Writer's Meeting. I got to meet Wylie! Which was fabulous because now I can put a face to the name! :) I also got to see Amy again, and to meet a couple of other new member of TRW.

It was a great meeting. Molly O'Keefe spoke about Great beginnings, rules that we've heard, and things we (as readers) didn't like seeing in other author's books. Molly was hillarious! She made me think about a lot of rules that I have heard about writing over the years, and I'm so glad she stomped all over them, because I'm breaking a lot! ;) What do you mean a book can't open at a funeral and with your characters in conversation?

So all was well, a wonderful meeting with lots of take aways. I came home giddy and excited to get back to my writing and accentuate how my WIP begins... I want everyone to know their at a funeral! :) Screw the rules! And I'm thinking all of this as I open my door....

To my poor red lobster! My husband had an allergic reaction to the medication he was on and is completely red, like a sunburn, and sick out of his mind. :(

My sister, who is a nurse, came over to help me with him, and after some Benadryl, Tylenol and serious recoup he looks a little better today. :) He actually made a joke... "You think it will turn into a tan?"

I can laugh a little bit about the lobster thing today... a little, but I have a feeling a year from now it will be a much funnier moment. :)

Thursday Thirteen #4

2007-02-07T16:11:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I was looking for something Valentinesy to do for this weeks TT... only while looking for a topic, I somehow stumbled upon an article about 4 Things Men Should Know About Valentine's Day (I posted it below.) Anyways, when I read this article I got so pissed off... I don't know if I'm just being sensitive but just something or rather a lot of things got to me. So keeping this article in mind I decided that my TT was going to be about 13 Delusions that Men have about VDay. Maybe it will make me feel better. :)

Thirteen Delusions men have about Valentine's Day....

1…. Single women everywhere are desperate on Valentine's Day! What are you kidding me? So many things wrong with this statement! Really, you think single women can get desperate and lonely because of a holiday? And, what kind of a man do you have to be to think that this is a positive aspect of Valentine's Day?

2.... Women think that if you take them out on a date on VDay you're very serious. Uggggghhhhhhh!!!! Women aren't stupid! Fudge!!! If men really think that women are like that they need way more than this article to get a date!

3.... VDay has been stacked against men. Okay, do I really need to go here? No offense, I'm not big on VDay, but seriously is it that stressful? Why is it more stressful then lets say Christmas or any other holiday for that matter?

4.... The only day you have to buy flowers, candy, or do anything sweet for your loved one is on VDay. Seriously if you agree with this statement then you're single. And I gotta say... Gee, wonder why?

5.... Buy your loved one jewelry - Sure, I won't deny it, women love jewelry. But for Goddsakes, you have to stop somewhere. If you've been married or dating for a long time I want you to ask yourselves... How many necklaces have you bought us? How many rings? We won't say no, and we won't say we hate it, but jewelry isn't all that special when you have a million things to choose from... Plus, men always complain when it takes us a while to get dressed for a date. Well if he had less choices it wouldn't take us so long! ;)

6.... You have to buy flowers on VDay... oh even better the dozen red roses. Gee, I feel special! You know what you don't have to buy me flowers on VDay. Buy me flowers every other day of the year, and I'll be more than happy. ;) Just kidding - sorta!

Okay, the rest of these are things men should do to win a woman's heart:

7.... Men, Please stop getting female advice from other men!!! What makes you think that one dumb ass can teach another dumb ass? I don't mean this to sound rude, but come on!!! What man can honestly say they know women. Heck! I'm a Gemini... I change my mind like a hundred times a day... I dare you to think you know what I'm thinking! Dare you!

8.... Treat women like it's Valentine's Day everyday. To be honest, it's more meaningful if you show up on our doorsteps on non-holiday day. Bring us flowers, (I dare you to be more creative that red roses) whatever is their favourite.

9.... Make us dinner. Hell, order dinner! Any day that we don't have to make dinner is great!

10.... Clear the snow off our cars when there's a huge snow storm (I know it's demanding but suck it up!) or just start it so it's warm when we get in. *sigh* I got this one from a fellow blogger, and I thought, it was the perfect way into my heart.

11.... When we come to bed with cold feet... don't shy away... come closer! Warm us up.

12.... Sit through Gilmore Girls with me (insert whatever show men absolutely hate, but women absolutely love)... even though you want to sanitize the TV just because you know I had the show on. I'm a GG addict, and although my husband cringes just as the sound of the GG song at the start of the show... let me tell you how great it is when he actually on the occasion sits through the painful hour and watches it with me. ;) Better than any flowers I have ever received!

13.... Call us! It's pretty simple. If you just started dating... what the hell is up with that 3 day/4 day rule? And what moron came up with it? We want to know that you can't wait to talk to us... it's just that simple. My husband calls me everyday at lunch, the phone rings at 12:30 and I smile before even picking it up, because I know it's him. I know even in his busy day he's thinking about me... and he found the time to call. Funny, chocolate doesn't put a smile on my face that fast - close, but his phone calls are fat free and calorie free! ;)

Obviously this list is more me... other women are less demanded, others are more. But the point is, if you listen to us you won't need to be desperate enough to read an article that can get you into a lot more trouble than you were in to begin with. :) I hope you all have a Happy Valentine's Day!

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

The Article that PISSED me off!

2007-02-07T16:06:00.000-08:00

Four Things Every Man Should Know About Valentine's Day

From Jeff Cohen,

Your Guide to Dating.

The following article is a guest submission by Joseph Matthews, author of Art of Approaching.
Love it or hate it, you can't avoid it. It occurs like clockwork on the 14th of February, every year. It's Valentine's Day.

The one day synonymous with love (and loneliness). And if you're a man facing the inevitability of this day, there are some things you simply need to know if you hope to have a V-Day that's maximum on the love and minimum on the bitterness.

Let's be clear about one thing...
You must forget about everything you think you know about Valentine's Day!
Valentine's Day, which was once a celebration of the sanctity and holiness of the marriage union, has been extended by big business and the media to cover all aspects of human courtship.
Should we go down the list?

Dating, the first kiss, true love, romance, unrequited love, chocolates, greeting cards, love poems, exotic vacations, beauty... they have all been incorporated into the modern idea of "Valentine's Day."

But here's a little secret that none of these businesses and media outlets will tell you (especially if you happen to be a man).

Valentine's Day has been stacked against you!
If you think about it, look at the role men have been placed in for this specific holiday.
We're the ones who are expected to buy the women expensive gifts.
We're the ones who are expected to take them out to expensive dinners.
We're the ones expected to initiate the courtship ritual.

And to top all that off, the women have such a high expectation of Valentine's Day, that when it comes down to it, most men simply can't live up to what the women really want.
So what does that mean? It means Valentine's Day is a day where men spend a lot of money and can disappoint a woman they care about, and get little benefit from in the long run.

(Okay, I know that's a cynical view, but bear with me here, I'm trying to make a point.)

That's the way Valentine’s Day is currently set up. And if you play into that set-up, you're going to get that rather undesirable result I've listed above.

But, if you're willing to "buck" the system and try something new, you can actually make Valentine's Day work for you instead of against you.

The first thing you need to realize about Valentine's Day is that you don't need to spend a lot of money!

If you're planning on buying your love a fancy necklace, or get reservations at that $200 a plate restaurant, you need to stop yourself right there.
Why?

Because you're shooting yourself in the foot, that's why!

When you start getting extravagant about your gifts and events, you play into the "courtship ritual" that has been pre-established for you by society. In this role, you're the one trying to gain (or in this case, buy) the woman's approval.

Let me ask you this: Has that ever worked out for you before? Didn't think so.
When you're trying to gain a woman's approval, you're putting yourself at a distinct disadvantage, because you're allowing her to judge your courtship efforts.

Instead of putting a dollar amount on what you want to do to woo her, you need to think a little differently. In the end, women don't really care about expensive gifts or dinners. They might enjoy them for a little bit, but it's not something that will win their hearts.

However, all women LOVE romance. So instead of an expensive gift or date, give her a romantic experience. Give her a gift that means something more than just dollar signs. Do something that might not cost a lot of money, but will bring you two closer together.

All women respond to romantic gestures like that. And it's not something they can readily judge, because it's an emotional experience you're offering, instead of something worth lots of money.
The second thing you need to know is about avoiding dates on Valentine's Day, at all cost.

Now, if you're married or in a long term relationship with a woman, then it's okay to make a special night of Valentine's Day and go out. But if you're a single guy and want to make your V-Day worth while, the worst thing you can do is set up a "traditional" date for the 14th.

The reason for this is that women will place way more importance on a date that occurs on Valentine's Day than a date that occurs any other day of the year.

So if you really like a girl and you want to get romantic with her, the worst thing you can do is ask her out on Valentine's Day.

Because then, you're signaling that you want something serious from her, and that might freak her out a bit.

Now, I'm not saying you should not date on V-Day. In fact, if you set it up right, a date on Valentine's Day can work out quite well. But you need to diffuse the "seriousness" factor of a date on the 14th as much as possible before you do it.

An example of this could be that you decide to throw a Valentine's Day party, and you invite your lady love to attend - along with a bunch of other people - so the pressure is now off and people can just have fun instead.

Or, you could invite her, along with a group of friends, to a special event that's taking place that night, like a concert.

Whatever it is, make it low pressure. This way, you avoid the restricting expectations that go along with a V-Day date.

The third thing is, if you don't have a date for Valentine's Day, and you don't have someone you really want to be with that day, you can really take advantage of the holiday to make meeting women extremely easy.

See, women who are single or lonely will tend to be very depressed about Valentine's Day. They'll be out searching for Mr. Right on and around that night. This means Valentine's Day is the best day to meet women!

It's true. Walk into any bar, club, bookstore, coffee shop, whatever from the 12th to the 15th of February, and you're going to find women just looking for the right guy to come along and sweep them off their feet!

Which brings us to the fourth thing every guy should know about Valentine's Day: How to romance a woman once you're with her.

Like I said before, true romance isn't created with gifts or activities. It's created via your words, actions, and intentions. If you want to become Mr. Casanova for V-Day, you have to know what you're doing, the right things to do, and most of all, the right things to say.

Nothing is more influential than words. And if you have the right words, you can woo any woman you desire, regardless of how you look, how old you are, your nationality, or even the size of your bank account.

All you need are the right words.
And remember: Stay the course, and you'll be sure to have the kind of Valentine's Day you always dreamed was possible.

Walking away from Mafia Blood! For now.

2007-02-07T08:18:00.000-08:00

Okay seriously, I'm dying here!!! :)

I've decided - just this minute - that my only hope to ever completing this ms is to walk away from it. I have some changes that I need to make to it, and I'm just not in the mood to rip apart the chapters and start from scratch. So instead, I just stare at the pages like if the problems are going to fix themselves! Arrrrrggggggghhhhhhh!!!!!

So... I'm moving on. In Mafia Blood I decided not to kill of a person, which from page one I thought for sure was going to die. So, somehow I fell in love with him and decided he was going to be in the next one... which is what I just decided I'm moving on to. It great, because I have these fresh ideas in my head. It sucks, because I have that incomplete feeling, which I hate!

Oh well, it's not like I'm helping the situation. At least writing the new ms, will get more accomplished than staring aimlessly at Mafia Blood. :)

Please don't judge me by my writing today! ;)

2007-02-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

Since it's soooooo cold outside, obviously everyone is heating their places like crazy. I'm getting so sick from all the hot and cold, hot and cold... I'm dying here! I'm sick, my brain hurts and it feels like it has been replaced with a cloud.

I'm going to force myself to think clearly for later on this evening so that I can edit another chapter, but even as I type this sentence I can hear my brain laughing at me!

So I guess we'll just have to see tomorrow. Other than that there's nothing new with me.

I did want to congratulate Christine on her new Website! Yay Christine! It looks awesome! Go visit her at http://www.christinedabo.com.

Don't judge a book by its cover!

2007-02-04T22:08:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I spent almost my entire Sunday devoted to judging a writing contest. I had five partial manuscripts 25 pages each. It's funny how, right at the beginning before even reading the first page, I had already selected what my favourites where going to be. Just based on the titles! I know... It's terrible! I'm ashamed!

So many people tell me that when they buy a book they open it and read the first page or pages, if they like it they buy it. Umm, not so much me. I get caught up with the title first, the cover second, (I know that's terrible but I can't help myself) and the back blurb third. I don't even crack the book open.

Two of the partials sounded so intriguing just by the title that I couldn't wait to start them... I was so disappointed I can't even begin to tell you. Maybe it's because I set my expectations high, I don't know, but seriously I was bummed.

Then there was an MS that had a religious title and I thought - Ugh! I really am not going to like this one. But what I thought it was going to be was totally not what it turned out to be. Does that make sense?

Then there were my last two MS', one had a holiday title - another yuck factor for me. The other had a Western title - I'm not so great with Westerns. So these two, were the one's that at the beginning I thought I would absolutely not be able to get into or relate to. Oh my God, was I ever wrong. I wanted these to go on forever... when will I know how they end?

Even though this was my first time judging an unpubbed author category, I was definitely not disappointed. The one difference that I really like is that unpubbed authors actually want feedback. It's sad to say, but to this day, I have never had one published author ask for their score sheets back from a contest. *sigh*

When you get published - if you submit an entry of an already published book - do you still not want feedback? Wouldn't you want to learn something from past mistakes? Or is it just something that you would all together just slip under the rug? What's done is done?

Reading Weekend

2007-02-03T17:30:00.000-08:00

I finished my last chapter on Friday! YAY!!! (You know for someone who hates caps lock, I sure write in capitals quite frequently.) Just an observation. :)

Anyways, I decided as a reward I would read Delicious by Susan Mallery. The problem is... I liked it, so then I picked up the next book in the line - Irresistible. Read it. Loved it, even cried a little. So now I'm going to start her third book, I can't not read it, because I know the last one is of the last brother in the series. So yeah, I'm a sucker for any books in a series.

I'm really hoping it doesn't disappoint me - even though someone *wink, wink* you know who you are, said it wasn't all that great. I want it to be... I'm hoping with the history of the past books the last story kind of ties everything up nicely. *Sigh* We'll see.

Other than that, until Monday I am not picking up my laptop to write. Or at least I'll try not to. I'm devoting my Sunday to reading the 5 partial manuscripts that I promised to judge, Judging doesn't have to be done until March, but I'd much rather work on it early.

Excited about all of it actually, this is my first unpublished authors category. So I'm curious to see the different styles of writing by unpubbed authors. The titles sound interesting so... well I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Guilty of sucking at last chapters!

2007-02-01T15:50:00.000-08:00

Oh these pictures!!! My little hit men kitties, I love them!!!

Okay so I have a confession, I absolutely suck at writing last chapters! I will stall till the cows come home.

I though that by Wednesday I would be done, yeah right. Not only have I not finished the last chapter, but you could pretty much say I skipped it. Well, actually not 'pretty much', I actually did skip it.

I went ahead and wrote the damn synopsis and I even wrote a damn Epilogue! Crap that last chapter!!! I don't know what it is!

So, I decided that I'm going to motivate myself a little. When I finish this chapter (or whats left of it - it's not even much,) I'll reward myself with reading a little. Sadly I haven't read a book in at least a couple of weeks... which for me is beyond unusual.

Great... now I get to go work on that chapter... Yay! :(

I wanted to join your 50 books in 2007 club... but there's a problem, kinda. I'm reading a lot of Harlequin Intrigue since that's where I want to send this one. Let's call it research, which it is. ;) Anyways I know HQI has really short books, like 200 pages... will you make me read more than one to make it count? ;)

Thursday Thirteen #3

2007-01-31T14:31:00.000-08:00

Okay, while watching TV on Tuesday night I decided that my TT for this week was going to be about commercials! Yup! You might hate them, but we still have to watch them...

1. Jessica Simpson in the Pizza Hut commercial - I'm usually not one for being offended much by commercials, but this one I find completely disturbing. I just think it's just WRONG! The kids like 12 years old!!!

2. Mr. Sub Chicken Souvlaki - Personally I don't each chicken's (too healthy.) I do eat cows, and yes... I know that probably isn't the best way for me to word it, but it's the truth. I'm a member of PETA (which most of you already know,) but I will never be asked to be a spokesperson... I don't like tofu. Yukk!

3. Head on - Holy sh**t! There's nothing better than a commercial that tells you how annoying it is and then goes on to repeat it like 5billion times! It gives me a headache just listing - which I guess is the idea. Don't watch this one while eating lunch, you'll be sick to your stomach.

4. Stupid.ca - I love these commercials. If you're a smoker you won't, but I'm not, so every time I watch these commercials I wonder why smokers just don't get it.

5. MADD - I love these commercials. Any commercial that hopefully makes someone think twice about doing something stupid... is a commercial I love.

6. Diet Pepsi commercials - I'm a diet Pepsi fan. Only if I was desperate would I pick up a coke - and I mean desperate. Anyways, I love the P-Ditty diet Pepsi commercial. It's funny and cute.

7. Cadbury Caramilk chocolate commercial - I couldn't find a link to this one for the life of me, but I hate it! The one where the woman sits on the couch, and her man comes home, she pops the last piece of chocolate in her mouth and he's disappointed. Then there's an older version of the couple, last piece, she eats it (still sitting on the couch I might add.) Then another older version of the couple, same thing. Then so old that he needs a walker (and is still coming home from work - he probably has to work to support her chocolate eating habits,) and she has almost half of the bar left, and before the man even makes it to the couch she gobbles down the rest. Grrrrrr! I hate this commercial. If my husband didn't share a chocolate bar with me... well, we don't even have to go there, he knows better! ;) The woman is just cruel.

8. Nicoderm Patch - I love this commercial!!! One of my absolute favourites!

9. Tag Body Spray - I like the commercial for the woman's body spray. ;)

10. Condoms - This commercial was banned, because, well... it's a tad wrong. But it's also exactly why I'm allergic to kids. Whenever I think of them this is what I picture. ;)

11. MasterCard - I love MasterCard commercials, some make me laugh, others make me cry. This one is just absolutely BANNED from TV. :)

12. Hansplast condoms - This kid is just hilarious! Wow... do you ever have to be careful around kids! :)

13. Last, but not least... The German Kfee car commercial. I have received this in e-mails and seen it on funny commercial shows. But each time somehow I just forget... until the end. Then I remember. Please do not watch this one if you have any heart problems. :)

Hope you enjoyed that... What are your favourite or least favourite commercials?

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

I'm addicted!

2007-01-31T09:59:00.000-08:00

Okay, so it's official, while I should be writing (which clearly I'm not doing.) I've been searching the Blogthings website for some fun quizzes. Thanks Wylie! I only have one more chapter to go and here I am surfing the web! Grrrrr! Anyways, this is my last addition, I promise, I am going to get back to the damn book after this.

Okay, so I found a What type of writer should you be quiz... thought you guys would like it. Turns out I should be a romance novelist... Who knew? ;)

You Should Be a Romance Novelist

You see the world as it should be, and this goes double for all matters of the heart.
You can find the romance in any situation, and you would make a talented romance story writer...
And while you may be a traditional romantic, you're just as likely to be drawn to quirky or dark love stories.
As long as it deals with infatuation, heartbreak, and soulmates - you could write it.

What Type of Writer Should You Be?

Melancholic Temperament?

2007-01-30T10:44:00.000-08:00

Okay, so in my hurry to finish my skeleton of a book I decided to post something light today. I got this Temperament thingy thing from Wylie, who was frustrated by her outcome (Maybe you should try it again today Wylie!)Have to say though, most of mine is true. All except, being patient! Hello! I have 0% patience in my blood. 0!!!

Oh yeah, it said nothing about me being loud, energized, and flat out annoying when I get excited about something... which I do! Loud! ;)

You Have a Melancholic Temperament

Introspective and reflective, you think about everything and anything.You are a soft-hearted daydreamer. You long for your ideal life.You love silence and solitude. Everyday life is usually too chaotic for you.
Given enough time alone, it's easy for you to find inner peace.You tend to be spiritual, having found your own meaning of life.Wise and patient, you can help people through difficult times.
At your worst, you brood and sulk. Your negative thoughts can trap you.You are reserved and withdrawn. This makes it hard to connect to others.You tend to over think small things, making decisions difficult.

What Temperament Are You?

Tag: The Name Game

2007-01-30T06:12:00.000-08:00

A little SciFi looking for Angela our SciFiChick that tagged me for this Name Game! :)

Oooh I really like this one! Gagsta name! Stripper Name! :)

Okay so here goes...

1. YOUR REAL NAME: Victoria - but I HATE (that's right Amy - that much) the name Victoria. Please, please, please... Vicky. I always feel like I'm either going to get into trouble, or 120 years old!

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (first three letters of your name, plus izzle) Vicizzle. Ah the gangsta in me thinks I'll get shot with a name like that.

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three of your last) Vcap. 10 virtual dollars if you can say that one, without looking like you coughed up a hair ball!

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (fav color and fav animal) Blue Tiger. Oooh sounds pretty.

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, Street you live on): I don't have a middle name! Greystone. Just Greystone. I'll be like Madonna!

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) Capvikraj. I don't know anything about Star Wars, but to me it sounds like some disease. Ewwy!

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (favorite color, favorite drink) Blue Diet Pepsi. Just call me BDP. I will swoop down and save anyone who is crazy enough to drink Coke. ;)

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) Iprj. Yeah, okay. No middle names for us little ole' Europeans - we got jipped!

9. YOUR STRIPPER NAME: (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/body spray) *Giggle* Bulgari Notte. Doesn't sound very stripperish... sounds like a high end exotic slut (can I use the word? Oh well, just did.)

10. YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother & father’s middle name) Well that would be a great name! I wouldn't have a name at all! :( Would be interesting meeting new people. ;)

Who’s turn is it now? I tag Wylie, Thomma Lyn and Klaudia... if they’d like to play.

New title

2007-01-29T09:58:00.000-08:00

Okay, so flying off the seat of my pants was a great idea. I zoomed through this WIP. Zoomed!

It was much easier for me without an outline, I didn't feel compelled to stick to only one thing.

Here's the kicker though, I started off with a police corruption story - hence Force of Corruption, and ended with a not so police corruption story. So... the title kind of didn't apply in the end.

So today, I e-mailed my wonderful sister and asked her based on what she's read from the WIP what should the new title be...

So... Mafia Blood it is. Sounds nasty I know. But it really isn't, well okay... maybe just a teensy bit.

Overall though, I gotta say I really like the direction the story had gone to, and the title is growing on me. :) So all in all I'm happy.

Got diddly squat done on Sunday, but by Wednesday I should have the entire first draft complete. Yay!

Blah! I'm even too lazy to think of a title.

2007-01-28T12:54:00.000-08:00

Yeah, that pretty much sums up my mood.

I'm slacking off today, for many reasons. All of which stem from... I'm just plain ass lazy!

Then my husband's home and he's talking to his buddies online (don't ask.) And then there's my cat, who makes it all too easy to sneak a nap when she comes and curls up on me.

Yup. I'm an absolute write off today. Sitting here watching first Hell's Kitchen - practicing my swear words for Thomma Lyn. ;)

Then Kansas City Swat, and then Dallas Swat... 5 hours later I'm still hooked. Actually, I'm going to choose to call this lazy action - research! ;) Hey, I need to know that my day isn't a total wash.

And I would turn the TV off after Dallas Swat, but Crossing Jordan is on tonight. Can't miss that.

Tomorrow I'll be back to my old self. Today my couch has perfectly molded to my butt, wouldn't want to ruin the perfect butt mold... so I'm probably not going to move.

*Yawn* I think a nap is in order. You know, to celebrate all of today's accomplishments. :)

Giving it all you've got.

2007-01-26T20:39:00.000-08:00

I thought this picture was appropriate for today. It's called Garden of Dreams. Ahh! How lovely.

On Monday I received a great offer to work for a company that would allow me to travel throughout the world... what else could I want right? Well... I'll tell you! I'd rather be a writer. Surprise! Surprise!

The new position would require me to work 70 hours in a week! 70 hours! When would I see my husband? When would I write? But I was still considering it. My husband said "Honey whatever makes you happy."

Sheesh! I need helping making decisions. I was given until next Monday to decide whether I wanted it or not.

You know what made my decision for me? Amy's request for a full manuscript. I am soooo excited for her... this is a huge thing! Then I thought of Christine, of course I had to add you in! :) Between the two of them I'm starting to believe more and more that the dream can be reached. As long as you work hard, never give up, and have great friends who support you throughout your journey.

So I turned down the offer. Yup. Figured, I have time. Writing is my dream... if I fail at it, that the job I turned down or something else like it will still be out there for me. Hopefully by then they will figure out a solution to 70 hour work weeks... jeez!

So Christine, Amy, and all other writer's out there that are striving and achieving their dreams, I propose a toast to all of you. May you not only achieve your goals and aspirations, may you also exceed them!

Whoopsies!

2007-01-25T16:04:00.000-08:00

Yeah... it's exactly what it looks like! :) I have a problem that I'm hoping you guys can help me with...

My characters didn't use a condom. They were both distraught over the shooting of a friend and one thing led to the other... *insert the little happy face guy that wiggles his eyebrows here.* I think that part is understandable. Right?

Anyways my question to you is... How long do you think is a reasonable amount of time for them before they realize the mistake that they had made?

My hero realizes in 2 days. My sister edits my work, and for about an hour yelled at me about how irresponsible my characters looked if they didn't notice it sooner. I kind of see her point, which is why I'm asking...

Passion? Irresponsibility? 2 days? 2 minutes? Help!

Thursday Thirteen #2

2007-01-25T07:45:00.000-08:00

I'm working on a bar seen right now where the heroine (the mob boss' daughter) is being picked up by men - who clearly don't know who she is... because if they did, I would assume they wouldn't be talking to her. :) Now I gotta warn you... some can be offensive... I tried to keep them all at least half decent... well, we still need to laugh!

Oh, and I would love to hear some good one's that you know of. :) Always in the mood for a good laugh! ;)

Thirteen pick up lines

Pick up lines for men to use...

1. You're so hot I could roast my meat on you, baby.

2. Are you a lumberjack? Because you just gave me wood!

3. I think I'm in heaven because you look like an angel. Can you take off your shirt so that I can check for wings?

4. If I were Peter Pan, you'd be my happy thought.

5. Let's do breakfast tomorrow. Should I call you or nudge you?

Pick up lines for women to use...

6. Hi. (trust me, it doesn't take much to pick up the average guy)

7. If you're naughty go to your room. If you wanna be naughty go to my room!

8. Can I have a picture of you so I can show Santa what I want for Christmas?

9. Do these look real?

These are just super cheesy...

10. We both know you're beautiful, but only one of us knows your phone number!

11. Excuse me, but does my tongue taste funny to you?

12. Do you believe in love at first sight? If not, I'll walk by again.

13. You're gonna have to apologize to your neighbors tomorrow. Why? 'Cause we're gonna keep them up all night!'

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

The letter E

2007-01-24T05:30:00.000-08:00

So this letter meme came from Angela, a.k.a. SciFiChick :) She picked the letter E for me. And even though just about every word has the letter in it - it was extremely challenging for me to come up with a list of 10 things I like beginning with this letter... but I did! So... on with the show...

1. Emergency Task Force Unit - *sigh* I don't know when it all started. I always loved my law enforcement in romance novels, but the first time I saw the ETF men tear up the streets of Toronto in their trucks, I stopped breathing. Wow! There's just something about the power and control they exude - Yummy!

2. Europe, Slovakia - another *sigh* Outside of my mom, dad and sister, my entire family is spread all over Europe - Slovakia, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Italy. You name it, I have someone that I dearly love living there. :( It wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't born there and didn't know anyone...but no. I lived there for eight years and love and miss everyone every single day.
Okay...so that was a little boo hoo for me.... so here's a mini story. My parent's just came back from Slovakia last week - they always go for New Years. Anyways, my wonderful 49 year old mom (16 on her birthday cakes - every year!) came home with a tattoo! :) My little cutesy short mom. A tattoo! Apparently we have some bad influences back home! :)

3. Eva - My aunt and Godmother - Sorry... *sigh* I love this woman like a second mom. When I was a kid, every day when my mom got off work we would go to see my aunt, who lived on the other side of town. One day, when I was four, my little sister got really sick, and my mom said "Not today honey. We have to stay home." So what does four year old me do? I decide I can go by myself. Somehow I managed to sneak out of the house and down the street, until guess what I had no idea where to go. So I started asking strangers "Do you know where my Aunt is?" Yup! That's what I did! Thank God we lived in a small town! So one of the strangers recognized me and new my family, he took me to my aunts house and she called my very upset parents. They still tell this story ALL the time when we're all together. :)

4. Espresso (two shots) mixed with skim milk :) - yeah that makes a latte, but I couldn't put latte - L is Christine's letter.... so I had to be creative!

5.Ernesto (Hurricane Ernesto to be exact) So last year Hurricane Ernesto hit, guess where I was? Cuba. Guess what I was doing? Getting married! Yup! I sure can pick a date. All my friends and family flew down to Cuba for the wedding. The weather was gorgeous, then two days before the event they start to board off all the windows and anything made from glass. They sent out warning letters and told us if the hurricane hit that the safest place for us is the bathtub! The bathtub! And they brought us all candles for when the power went out. So Ernesto hit - big whoop! It rained for a day! My best friend and I actually begged the guards to let us walk the beach - which they did after some serious begging and promising that we would not under any circumstances go into the water, or near it. We took these pictures - Aren't we creative? Don't laugh too hard! Anyways... the reason I love Ernesto is because well for one it was quite entertaining and two we had the most beautiful day on our wedding - there was even an actual breeze! In all the time I've been in Cuba I've never felt a breeze.

6. Erotica Romances. Enough said.

7. Eating. I had to find a way to say Chocolate with only using an E! :) But truthfully I'll eat anything! Ohh, except celery of course!

8. Easy Bake Oven *sigh* I love baking! My grandfather owned a bakery and when we left Slovakia I always dreamed of owning my own. When I was ten my parents bought me an Easy Bake Oven for my birthday. I was SO excited. My dad set it up for me and then something on the box caught his eye. "400 watts of power!" He yelled (I don't remember exactly how many watts but you get where I'm going here.) "This could kill you" he yelled, and then cut off the cord! Yup, I had an Oven that you couldn't bake in! It really isn't as much fun. I'm happy to say I have my own oven now... and I'm adding inches to everyones waist. Muhahhhaaaahhhaahhhaa!

9. Eyelash curlers. If I were stranded on a desert island I would take... most people say lipstick and mascara (as makeup choices). I would take lipstick and eye lash curlers. I don't need mascara if I don't have the curlers! Plus, how do you take off mascara on a desert island? Salt water - I don't think so!

10. E-mails! Has there been a greater invention? (Besides the Internet I mean) Could you imagine if we still wrote letters? Yes, letters have something whimsical about them, but they don't have spell check! And they don't get there instantly!

So there is my list. It was actually a lot of fun! Thanks Angela! And if you guys want a letter let me know, and I will pick one for you.

2007-01-23T14:07:00.000-08:00

Okay this one's going to be short and sweet... well... short.

My wrist is killing me (probably because I've been sitting in all the no-no positions - you know how there's pictures of how you shouldn't be sitting at the computer - yeah, well those!)

I'm at a place in my WIP where my characters need some serious therapy and attention... so I'm going straight back to them. I figure I should write until my brain is empty and then I can take a break - which is probably another no-no, but hey.

I know you're all excited about writing a meme about your chosen letter from Angela, because heck, so am I! I'm really interested to see what everyone comes up with so until then.

Ooh... and another thing... I'm going to just say this because I haven't really been leaving this in any of the comments I leave. Lately everyone has been posting pictures of their kids... Can I just say... I have never in all my life seen kids this adorable. And you have to take my word for it because I'm severely allergic to kids! :) So when I say this I mean it. Oh my gosh... writer's have beautiful children - must be something in the genes! :)

Meep! Meep!

2007-01-22T14:48:00.000-08:00

I don't want to jinx it... but I have to say it!

I am zooming through this ms! I don't know if it's because for the first time I'm not using an outline, or if it's just that I love the story... whatever it is I hope it happens with every ms after this one.

I know all the writer's are laughing at me because they know that it's rare, but I can hope! I can dream! And I can cross my fingers! Surely that has to count for something! :)

It could also have been that crayon thing. I don't sit around looking for the perfect word. Going through my bazillion page Writer's Thesaurus (If you have one, you know exactly what I'm talking about!) I just write. I'll fix my terribly chosen words later.

It's not perfect. I know that. Heck... I still don't know what to write in my synopsis because I still don't know how it's going to end. I've killed off character's I hadn't planned on killing. I made bad guys into good guys and vice versa. I pretty much have no idea what's going to happen - which is a first for me. But at least it's going, and will get done. Maybe even in the next month! :)

So just wanted to shout out to the writing god's - whoever you are - whatever I did to deserve this wonderful ms - I love you! :) Now if you could only get someone to buy it that would be great... you know... if you're not too busy and get a chance. :)

I have to add this too... it could be that I've been blogging. Maybe it's opened my mind or a creative worm hole that has been blocked by the nonsense that I clearly need to say daily. So on that note... thank you to all my blogging buddies. :)

2007-01-21T09:31:00.000-08:00

Okay... so this has nothing to do with my writing. That was a good first sentence dontcha think?

Wylie after reading your post today I had sooooo much pent up anger and energy that I had to continue my ranting. Could you tell from the book length comment I left?

Anyways, once again, I'm going to say this.... It astounds me when I hear people say...What is the world coming to? And where do our children learn this behaviour!

Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

I'm going to tell everyone a little story...

When I was younger, my sister, dad and I loved playing Nintendo. Loved it! My dad would play Super Mario Bros. with us until the wee hours of the morning. Whenever he died on a level he would toss the controller half way across the room and swear. :) He hated dying.

Anyways, we did this for... umm... I don't know, like two years. Almost every night we would all stay up (Yes - even on school nights) playing until we passed the level or game. Then one night I was at the last level in something or the other and died trying to kill the final bad guy. I threw the controller on the ground leaped out of my seat and swore out loud.

My dad turned to me and said. "Where the *bleep* did you learn that kind of language?"

I smiled.

"It must have been from mom." I told him. (For the record to this day, and I'm almost 27, I have never heard my mother utter so much as half of a swear word. Never!)

Get it? WE influence everything that happens around us. WE are our own bad teachers and leaders. WE picked the unattainable expectations that greet us on the cover of every magazine. WE decide whether a terrible show is aired on TV. WE are the ones who pick those magazines and buy them and we are the ones who watch those shows! It's not the media's fault. If we didn't support everything that they did they wouldn't exist.

Now I know... It's not WE like us, it's WE our society.

Wylie I'm glad you're boycotting American Idol. Your right - like they care. But what message are you sending to the people around you? Well... let me tell you... cuz this is my post... :) Your telling everyone that this behaviour is unacceptable and you are a wonderful person, who cares about other peoples feelings and you do not condone that type of behaviour. Guess what...American Idol might not care. But everyone around you will look at you in a different light. Kudos to you Wylie!

Sorry about my bit**ing guys... but I had to do it. I thought it would make me feel better, clearly this is a touchy subject for me. :) And for the record to this day, I have a terrible potty mouth. :)

Amy - I know I wrote WE in capitals... but Amy I had to! :)

Oh Amy!

2007-01-20T17:52:00.000-08:00

Oh Amy, Amy, Amy! :) I know you like the title of my post! ;)

This sounds so much like a chain letter. But, I'm game! The only thing is that I feel so sorry for the people that I'd have to tag ... If you look at my list of the people I read blogs from or chat with you'll notice that I only have three other people on my list that you didn't choose yourself Amy! Unless you count Margaret Moore or Molly O'Keefe, do you think they would mind? :)

So, obviously those people know who they are. -Christine, Angela and Klaudia :) - Sorry guys!

It's actually quite fun. Everything except for tagging the next group of people. So here are the rules, and below it are my 3 (okay - 5) sentences...

1. Grab the book closest to you.

2. Open to page 123, look down to the 5th sentence.

3. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog.

4. Include the title and the author's name.

5. Tag 3 people

With her bracketed in his arms, flush against him, all thoughts fled, replaced by a sizzling heat and a pounding of desire.

"You went to a lot of trouble for us, Gracie." He let his hands sweep into her hair, freeing the strands from confinement and luxuriating in their silken feel.

She smiled. "I'm glad you noticed."

Simply Sensual - by Carly Phillips.

For the record, I read this book a long time ago (and loved it)...but you said the one closest to me. :)

Emotional Gemini

2007-01-19T14:46:00.000-08:00

My super duper late post.

I spent the entire day completely engrossed in my characters. The story I'm working on right now is a suspense romance, in it my heroine's father dies. Today was his funeral.

So many things happen at the funeral I couldn't pull myself away. I got so into it I actually cried at one point. Not like boo hoo hoo! Just a couple of shed tears. But still. Maybe it's just me - I'm a Gemini - we get a little emotional. But does anyone else get so engrossed in their characters that they feel their pain? Or am I just crazy?

Thursday Thirteen #1

2007-01-17T21:06:00.000-08:00

Ooh, My first Thursday Thirteen! I'm so excited! And since it's my first one, I thought I would tell you more about myself.

Thirteen Things about me you won't find in my profile...

1. This had to be number 1... I hate celery!!! Can't stand it in anything you can think of that would contain it. Yuck! Just thinking about it, kind of makes me feel icky.

2. I love Ranger! If you ever read any of the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich you know who I'm talking about. Well, for the longest time I couldn't make up my mind. Morelli or Ranger? But for some reason over the years I fell in love with Ranger. Now every time I pick up a new Plum novel... I scream at Stephanie... Pick Ranger!!!

3. I'm a member of PETA, but I can eat a cow with the best of them. :) I hope nobody gets upset with me about this comment.

4. I have the worst memory. Worst. I forget people's names almost instantaneously, and I forget their faces just as quickly. Oops, my bad. But what can I do?

5. I have an absolutely sinful weakness for the caramel and chocolate covered pretzels at Starbucks. Mmm... just thinking about it makes me want to go out and get one. (Or two, or three - you know... for later.)

6. I CAN'T STAND IT WHEN PEOPLE TYPE IN CAPS LOCKS!!! IT DRIVES ME NUTS!

7. I hate cliff hanger endings in movies and in books. Why? I ask you. If there's going to be a part two, if I liked part one I'll probably read/see it. I don't need to be plagued for a year(s) because that's how long it takes for the next one to come out.

8. One of my best friends has up and left me to move to South Korea for over a year. Jerk! I miss you! And you better come back with some wicked-ass stories that I can write in a book and get published. No pressure!

9. I love Police Officers! Maybe not always in real life - but always in a romance novel. If it has a cop, I'll read it. You probably already new that about me, but I don't think I stressed the fact enough in my previous blog. My husband thinks it's about the power they have over normal civilians. Nope! He's wrong, I'm female. I don't care how much power they hold over someone. I just love how a heroine can make any huge alpha male cop - who doesn't put up with any bull**it from anyone - fall to his knees and fall in love with her. Yay for Heroines!

10. I say dude way too much.

11. Umm... I think every blog I write has the word Yay in it. If it doesn't it's because I removed it after catching it. So clearly, I say Yay way too much. I'm working on it, but to be honest I didn't even realize this was a problem until I started writing blogs.

12. Without coffee I am only a shell of a human. I not only get cranky, but my brain is foggy, and I can't think straight. My sentences are barely strung together, and sometimes I'm saying something but can't remember the word to use. It could be as simple as "I got out of... umm. what is that thing that you sleep on again?" I know you all think I'm joking, but it really is that scary. Good thing there's a Tim Horton's on every corner! :)

13. Ooh, I feel bad about writing this one... but it's the truth, so here goes... I have a dog and a cat. I love them both, but I love my dog a smidgen more. Does that make me a bad person? I hope not, and I hope my cat doesn't learn how to read because she has some mighty sharp claws. :)

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Leaping without a web! Or in this case a net. :)

2007-01-17T10:03:00.000-08:00

Any excuse to post a picture of Spider-Man! :)

During our TRW meeting on Saturday I learned some interesting things - and yes, I'm talking about the meeting again! Anyways, one of those things was that not having a complete outline in front of me as I tap away at the keyboard isn't necessarily going to kill me or my books.

I am notorious for writing 20-30 page outlines, detailing all the important facts and actions that I need to make happen. Pro: I always know what's going to happen next. Con: I change it all the time as I'm writing and feel as if all my hard work on the outline was a waste. Then I get all sad...Boo hoo! :(

So when Margaret told us at the meeting that she really doesn't write an outline - I thought - hey, I'm going to try that. Not that I didn't think I could write a book without one, it's just that I've read so many books that have said you should.

I swear I'm getting to my point... I started a new ms (Forces of Corruption) that has been playing out in my mind for quite a while. I decided that I was going to try it without an outline, and lo and behold - it's as if the character's speak louder and clearer. It's like allowing them to do what they would do without having their everything analyzed. Their actions flow naturally, seamlessly and are more believable.

So I'm loving this method! Then today I started to think about the synopsis... see where I'm going here? I haven't got the slightest clue as to what is going to happen, I really don't. So what do I do next? Do I try to figure out the end now? I wanted to submit it to a contest at the end of this month, but there's NO WAY I'll be close to the end. And, if I do make up an ending, what if it's not anything like the ending that I end up with? Can anyone help? Any suggestions?

I'm sort of in a panic - Hey, maybe the ending will come to me as I devour a box of chocolates!

I love good cops!

2007-01-16T07:20:00.000-08:00

Yay! - I spent my morning in court today, and as much as most people hate the police, I find myself extremely fascinated. Anyone that has been forced :) to read one of
my manuscripts knows I absolutely love them!

When I go to court for tickets I have received (at one time in my life I had a speeding problem - I have recovered since then) my police officer is ALWAYS a female with, apparently, a goal to achieve a record of most fines issued. Anyways, today I didn't go to court because I had a ticket. I went to court because my husband had 2.

The cop that pulled him over showed up and I got to meet him... he wasn't a traffic cop, but rather a cop-cop. He was so nice to my husband that I was tempted to ask him for an interview. This is the kind of cop that I love in books - the type that is tough on people who deserve it and nice to the people that don't. Not that I'm saying Danny didn't deserve to get the ticket, but it was nice that the cop recognized that it was clearly his first time in court and helped him understand what was going on (he sat behind us).

While I'm writing this I'm listening to the news about how the police shot someone driving in a car (I could be way off). I'm not quite sure what or why it happened, and I'm not saying anything about guilt in this case, but it does make me wonder who's good and bad, which is why I believe that there needs to be bad cops in books too. To this day, outside of the stories that I've written I have never read a romance book with bad cops - cops that are not the hero's - but I would absolutely love to! Does anyone have any suggestions?

Shh!!!

2007-01-15T17:46:00.000-08:00

I'm at home going crazy right now. My loving husband is off of work until Wednesday, and until then he's probably going to be slumming around the house making me crazy. He gets bored, watches tv. Gets antsy, walks around. Gets sick of that and goes and talks to some friends.

AHHHHHH!!!! I want to scream! I can't get anything done because I'm one of those - needs perfect silence kind of people. If there is so much as a peep I come out of my writing zone and have to start all over!

So now, here I am with great ideas and I can't even get them down because I can't think with all the noise. Where can I go? Starbucks? No. Starbucks is louder than my house. Plus, it always astounds me that people get any work done at all with all the noise.

Okay, so that's what I'm like. My sister is a nurse and is working on becoming a doctor, so school and studying are her middle name. She studies with the tv on mute, her headphones or cd player on her favourite station, while she not only types out notes, but also looks through her textbook. How? I can't answer that. She says it's because she's great at multi-tasking. Hey - I can walk and chew gum at the same time - that's multi-tasking! What she is is not normal.

I'm so tempted to grab my laptop and go write in the car... but apparently it's going to get cold tonight, so instead I'm going to watch tv with him. What else can I do? I'm going crazy!

Counting down the minutes till Wednesday morning.

Margaret Moore and two crayons - who knew I could learn so much?

2007-01-13T21:42:00.000-08:00

Today I attended my first TRW meeting and had a wonderful time. It was great to see the successes and - as I like to call them - opportunities celebrated, especially when they are celebrated with chocolate! How can you go wrong?

Not only was everyone amazing, but I was inspired to do things that I haven't tried before - like joining the Thursday Thirteen. Yup, I'm committing to it right now. Thursday I'm in!

Margaret Moore conducted our meeting - she did an amazing job and was just funny as hell. :) During our meeting I had a huge eye opener when we were asked to colour in a picture - yeah - that's right, we had to colour!

Anyways, we got two crayons to colour with, I got brown a blue. What can you do with brown and blue you ask? Well, sorry. I can't help you - I wondered the exact same thing! I sat there waiting. Ohhhkkkkay what's the catch? Do we get up and ask to borrow other members crayons? No, we colour in the picture with what we have.

Umm... brown and blue? I swear to you - as sad as this may be - I broke out in a cold sweat. Surely, Margaret did not want me to colour my moon in brown! Let me just set this up for you, I majored in art. It went against every single instinct in my body to colour that moon brown! But guess what? I survived! I won't lie to you, I still cringe at the thought of my brown moon, but I'll get over it. Clearly I need to practice stepping outside of my teeny, tiny box, and I need to relax. No kidding, right?

So, in the end I learned two things from my colouring project:

1. I think I need to stop taking things so seriously. Nothing needs to be perfect, and

2. Maybe I need to start seeing a therapist! :)

I'm buying a colouring book tomorrow.

Are you kidding me?

2007-01-10T18:08:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday Christie Ridgway wrote a blog about how she reads men's magazines before she begins a new book just so that she can understand the way men think.

You can click on the image to read her blog.

Anyways, today I went to go get an oil change. To my surprise my husband decided that he would go with me. Oookay. Weird, but whatever - it really doesn't take both of us waiting to get an oil change, but I smile and force the thought from my brain.

So we both head down to the dealership and wait... and wait... and wait. Of course I brought my laptop and notes for the revisions I'm making. Only problem is he didn't bring anything... and boredom slowly got the best of him, making him cranky and antsy. Yay! Just what I needed.

Obviously I couldn't get any work done. So I ask him to help me out a little, and start running off an outline for a mystery that I'm still in the thinking process of. He says - "You've done stalking crimes think of something else." So I throw it back to him. "You know what honey, since we have to wait anyways why don't you think of a good crime that I can put into my book."

He didn't even blink. "Murder and suicide - that's romance."

What the hell? Are you kidding me? Obviously I need him to clarify, because clearly I must be confused.

"It's like Romeo and Juliet." he said. "Even Grisom (From CSI) said it's the most romantic crime."

I have no idea if that's even true - the part about Grisom saying it... but I was still (and am still) stuck on the fact that he thinks that murder and suicide are a passionate crime. Seriously is he nuts?

I came to two conclusions from this conversation...

1. I will never ask my husband for advice again... well maybe if I want to kill off my characters.

2. And if this is how a guys mind works - I don't want a part of it. Seriously - their (or at least mine is) nuts!

It also got me wondering... as much as I love my fantasy men in books - they say all the right things because women create them. I would love to read a romance a man writes just to compare notes... oh... and it would have to be an honest guy who writes it... I don't want the character's to say what they do just because that's what would win the women over. I wonder if that would even sell? Would women want to read about a REAL average man? Or is it that we need the fantasy?

Pencil Please!

2007-01-09T17:39:00.000-08:00

I go to school full time and I just finished the last of my exams. Yay!

Something I noticed while writing the essays is that I can no longer write them... I mean I absolutely suck! Doesn't make sense right? You would think that the more writing you do - the better you get. Not so! At least with me and essays. I have to write all my essay questions in pencil so that I can erase the extra side notes that I'm so used to adding in. In essays everything is soooo formal. When I'm writing about one of the characters their often silly and speak their minds. It's hard to remember that my teachers really don't care about my opinion. They only want facts. I'll admit that I can probably talk my way out of any essay or paper... but I do slip occasionally and throw in a question to the reader - which my profs hate. Oh well. Hopefully I won't have to write an essay for a really, really long time. Yup - that would be great. I wonder if my profs thought I was crazy though...split personality or something.

And by the way...did I already say... YAY! I'm done my exams!

My First Blog

2007-01-07T17:19:00.000-08:00

Yay! My first blog.

I have finally decided to join my writer friends in the Blog craze. I'm not sure how often I will write - but I'm going to strive for at least once a week. There are so many wonderful people that I have met in some of the Romance Writers of America Chapters and it absolutely astounds me when I hear how often they write, while juggling kids, pets and their careers. If you're one of those people... Where do you find the time? No... seriously... I'll do anything. Okay not ANYTHING. No exercise... Please don't tell me you get energy from exercise! If I can still breathe in my jeans that I'm still driving to the corner store. Anyways... here's hoping that I can actually manage this Blogging thing and that there are many more to come.

Cheers!