So, I know I shouldn’t be thinking about this now, not when I still need to get Hot Shot to Emily and I want to get Surface to her by the first of the year, but I’ve been thinking about a story I started last winter and never finished because…well, it wasn’t coming out the way I wanted.

Part of my problem, I’ve decided, is my heroine. She’s a waif. It’s an action adventure novel. She has no place in that book.

But….here’s her story. Her father ruined the family name scientifically speaking. She’s a biologist trying to rebuild her reputation. She’s very knowledgeable about nature, but she’s not particularly assertive.

So the question is, how to make a waif heroic?

Wait! Where are you going?? This won't be scary, I promise.

I clearly missed out on the housecleaning gene. My mother is compulsive about it. The other morning before we went shopping she wanted to use my restroom. I'd cleaned everything but the floors, thank God, but she walked past the guest room where things were piled on the queen sized bed - so many you couldn't see the quilt. Oh, dear.

So I spent a good part of last week cleaning house. And you know what? Yesterday when I came home from work, it was so nice to walk into a clean house. Okay, don't get me wrong, it's not CLEAN. I don't think I'll ever keep up with the cat hair and my husband's pile o' stuff has been in the same position for weeks and of course there's the computer mess, but the clothes are hung and put away, the kitchen and bathroom counters are clean, the washer, dryer and hall leading to them are clean.

I used to be a Fly Lady - any of you familiar with her? She said to clean for 15 minutes a day. Well, over vacation I cleaned an hour. I spent three days on the bedroom, three on the guest room, three on the mud room (okay, I cheated on that one a bit. They have all their music equipment in there, and what am I supposed to do about that?) But I cleaned out my closet, got out my winter clothes, swept and mopped the floor, dusted the windowsills. It could probably use three more days, but it'll have to wait till its rotation comes around. The next two days are the kitchen, then the living room and the sunroom.

It only took me six and a half years, but I have a laundry method now. I have three baskets, one for towels, one for whites and one for darks. I sort the clothes from the hampers at one end of the house, then haul the hampers to the laundry room in the garage. After the clothes are dry, I hang up the hang-up-ables on the pole that has been there all six and a half years, and everyone has to come get their own. The rest of the clothes go back in their baskets and sit beside the couch till I sit down to watch TV. It has defeated Mt. Laundry (otherwise known as the quilt rack in the bedroom.)

I also tried some new cleaning supplies. I already love Swiffers for quick stuff, especially going under the couch. I bought Magic Rub Erasers. I cannot believe how wonderful these things are. They remove soap scum. And believe me, in my shower, I needed it. They remove rust stains. They are quite remarkable.

I like those toilet scrubbers that you can flush, too.

Any household cleaning hints you'd like to share?

And here, for enduring this punishing post, have a picture.

Back to work after a week off. It was a lovely, restful week, I got a lot done, and thoroughly messed up my sleep patterns. At least I have two inservices this week, so I can sleep in those days.

The other night we were watching Stealth and I mentioned something about the conflict set up between the female pilot and the male pilot who wasn’t Jamie Foxx as being nicely done. The dh turned to me and told me (in a nice way) that I couldn’t stop analyzing movies and shows.

Only I don’t think that’s true. The other night we were watching The Skeleton Key and he was the one who worked out what the twist was. I was happy to go along for the ride.

I don’t submit theories about Lost or Alias, but I listen to them. I’m just as happy to let JJ tell me a story.

Then again, I use some movies to teach my kids the elements of story telling. I love using Shark Tale for cause and effect. I use Pirates and The Mummy for character goals. I tried to use Harry Potter as a characterization thing, but there are too blasted many characters.

Maybe it's only when I am being hit over the head with something that I am even able to analyze it. What about you? Do you dive after hidden meanings, or do you prefer to stay on the surface?

Surface is an all right show, but it is masterful when it comes to black moments. Last week and this, the doctor lady and Louisiana boy were in a submersible to study the new life forms, and the cable snapped, leaving the adrift, before the cable dropped below them, dragging them into an abyss. For two shows we were left wondering how they could possibly get out of this predicament, and I truly didn’t think they would.

It led me thinking to some good black moments in movies.

My absolute favorite is a Hugh Grant movie Extreme Measures, where he’s a doctor, and Gene Hackman is a doctor trying out a dangerous drug on paralyzed people (okay, I don’t remember the plot exactly) but Hugh Grant was trying to stop him. Except Hugh Grant finds himself paralyzed and you have to wonder – is he going to be so against the testing now?

There’s Two Towers, where they’re at Helm’s Deep, and all appears lost until Gandalf comes riding over the ridge.

Serenity. Holy cow, what a black moment. Once you-know-who was you-know-what, you believed any of them could be next. And you’d already seen what the Operator could do with that little grab.

Lost (I know, not a movie) but when Sawyer is shot and Walt is taken – and we were left all summer to wonder how they’d get out of it!

X-Men (the first one) where Rogue is dead despite Wolverine’s every effort to save her. Turns out she’s only mostly dead, like Wesley in Princess Bride.

Alias – Who WAS Michael, anyway???

What are your favorite black moments?

I cannot buy any more Christmas decorations. Ever.

Before





No one should have this much Christmas stuff. And this isn't even all the dishes - I have more Christmas dishes and glasses than everyday wear.

But it came out mostly nice.

You should have seen the food yesterday. Holy cow. Two turkeys, two hams, three kinds of dressing, three things of mashed potatoes, three pumpkin pies, two sweet potato casseroles, three cranberries, green bean casserole, cherry cheesecake, cookies, jello salad, six bottles of wine. And….twenty six people. All of my sister in law’s family came, except her brother and his wife. One of her sisters brought two young soldiers from Fort Sam. We had a blast. And I snagged enough leftovers so I don’t have to cook tomorrow, which is good since tomorrow is my decorating day. I’ll put up the tree, take down everything that isn’t Christmas-related and put up all my Christmas decorations, get out my Christmas plates/glasses/silverware (yes, silverware.) I worry about the kitten – it’s his first Christmas and he’s kinda rambunctious, so I hope he doesn’t mess with the tree. The other cats have all been good with it.

I’ll go to the grocery store, but none of the Black Friday specials were good enough to tempt me. Okay, Target has $30 microwaves and two portable DVD players for $100. But the crowds – ugh!

It’s going to be rainy today, and cooler, and I’m expecting a call from my agent, so it’s a good day.

How was your Thanksgiving, and did you get any good bargains today?

26 Things I Learned From the Movies from Cool Movie Quotes

I didn't want to do a "what I'm thankful for" post, because, well, how different is that?

But ya know? I gotta. The least I can do is not make it 10!

12) I'm thankful for good romance novels and romantic movies.

11) I'm thankful for online shopping, Blockbuster.com and paperbackswap.com.

10) I'm thankful I don't have to cook Thanksgiving dinner. Or pay for it!

9) I'm thankful I got my GH entries out of the house. Just in time for more revisions on Hot Shot!

8) I'm thankful we have the money for the house repairs that have been piling up.

7) I'm thankful we have a week off because now my house looks halfway decent and most of my errands are run.

6) I'm thankful for cozy pjs and socks and kitties and popcorn and hot chocolate and laying on the couch watching good TV.

5) I'm thankful for my class and my good work environment. It makes every bit of difference.

4) I'm thankful I got the most enthusiastic understanding agent on the planet.

3) I'm thankful I have patient, understanding friends like you guys! You listen to me whine, you celebrate with me, you boost me up.

2) I'm thankful for my family, even though my mom did keep me in Payless for an hour looking for a second pair of shoes, then she didn't buy the first pair AND NOW SHE WANTS TO GO BACK.

1) I'm thankful for my fellas. (The ones I live with, not Gerry. Though him too. Only not here. Something higher than #1) You think you guys hear whining? You should live with me. And they put up with it. And the occasional Gerry movie. They're the best.

Yes, it’s that time again – time for the “things I’m looking forward to” blog.

I’ll be honest, I love the preparations for the holidays, but I’ve become a bit of a hermit in my old age, so the actual holidays stress me out. BUT, I am looking forward to sweet potatoes tomorrow. And looking at the bargains in the newspaper, maybe even formulating a shopping plan I’m not likely to use because of the whole hermit thing.

I look forward to getting my house decorated for the holidays. I look forward in some small way to baking for the holidays. It was always my thing in December, but every year it gets harder.

I look forward to being DONE with Christmas shopping and Christmas cards (haven’t bought those yet, either.)

I look forward to decorating my classroom. My kids get such a kick out of it.

The next three weeks at school will FLY, with testing and Secret Santa and parties and inservices. I look forward to that.

I look forward to March of the Penguins on DVD, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Serenity.

I look forward to Narnia and King Kong on the big screen.

I look forward to word on the Emily, Launching a Star and Duel on the Delta, my last three contests, outside the GH.

I look forward to being DONE with my stories for awhile ;)

Once I'm done with Surface, I'll switch to another hunk. For now, I need Gerry.

The other day I took my notebook to school so I could write while the kids were testing. (SH!)

Well, of course it didn’t turn out that way. What I discovered was it was my notebook where I’d recorded two of our vacations. Our favorite ones, as it turned out.

The first was in 2002. We went to the Grand Canyon.



The dh had wanted to go to the Grand Canyon for years, but every year we didn’t have enough money or we went to see family. We decided during the Christmas of 2001 that we would go. We’d gone to New Orleans the previous year, hadn’t had a lot of fun, so I didn’t hold high hopes, especially since me and the outdoors are not the best of friends.

We left the day after Josh got out of school for the summer. We left at something like 5 AM, stopped in Kerrville for breakfast as the sun was rising in the hill country. The plan was to stop at Carlsbad on the way, go through the caverns, spend the night in the resort there. The dh had planned this all, I was just along for the ride. We drove through miles and miles of Texas, just like the Ernest Tubbs song, saw towns long abandoned (and for good reason.) We got to Carlsbad at 1:30 ish. We checked into the hotel (resort, yeah, right) and went out to the caverns, did the tour and were surprised by people who proclaimed it HUMID, ate the godawful food there, went to see the bats (this was really cool.) We went back to the hotel, played on the water slides, took baths in the very nice tub and hit the sack early, so we could get an early start.

We were astounded that the sun rose so early in New Mexico. By the time we got to Roswell at 6 AM, it was full bright, and all that was open was Albertson’s and WalMart. Got my Roswell souvenirs at WalMart, you bet I did. Ate breakfast at McDonald’s. Drove on through a not-too-pretty part of NM, saw my first reservations as the day progressed, ate lunch at McDonald’s just before the Arizona border. The land was really gorgeous out that way.

Once we crossed the Arizona border, it was like we’d driven into a wind tunnel. The whole way across Arizona, we battled wind. We stopped at the meteor crater, but I balked at spending the money. Of course, I still haven’t lived that down. We got to the Grand Canyon itself at 5 PM their time, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the little village there, complete with Laundromat and grocery store. We checked in, put our stuff in our room (which wasn’t pretty, but was very clean and functional) and headed to the canyon.

All I can say is, wow. The pictures you’ve seen can’t do it justice. If you’ve never been there, you MUST GO. All I could think was, “How can one little river have done so much?” We scoped it out, walking the trails that were very nicely paved, heard languages from all over the world, stopped again and again for the breathtaking view before we went back to the village to eat in the cafeteria (very reasonably priced, too.) I saw some honest-to-God Hot Shots there and was very excited. We went back out to the rim for sundown, then, miracle of miracles, they had a star party. One week a year, a group of amateur astronomers go to the Grand Canyon, and we hit that same week. My dh, also an amateur astronomer (albeit a poor one) was in heaven. The boy and I, while we enjoyed it, were freezing to death in our shorts and t-shirts. We got blankets out of the car and wrapped up in them before the dh finally called it a night.



We slept like rocks.

We woke at sunrise to see the, well, sunrise, again wrapped in our blankets. We went to breakfast, then back to bed, then back to the rim and walked around to El Tovar. Now, the place where we stayed was on the park property and was very nice, but if you’re going to the Grand Canyon, you want to stay at the El Tovar. See, every time we wanted to go to the rim, we had to drive or take a shuttle. At the El Tovar, you just have to walk out the front door. Even cooler, there was a raven on the edge of the path, “talking” to the people who passed. It was so determined that we understand him!

The best thing about the Grand Canyon was that there was no timetable to keep. The only schedule was to be at the rim for sunrise and sunset, and then be in the parking lot for the star party. That was it. For someone who lives by a timetable, it was glorious.



While we were there, we scoped out a flat rock that extended into the canyon and that was where we would sit when we weren’t hiking (we didn’t go into the canyon, though. I was a little nervous about that.) It was just the most relaxing place. I was so sad to leave.



While the Grand Canyon was a relaxing vacation, New York was high energy. I’d debated going to the conference in 2003 way before I knew I was a finalist, and a friend advised against it. She said I’d hate NY.

Boy, was she wrong.

We flew into La Guardia, took a cab into the city, and looked like hicks as we leaned our heads back as far as they could go, mouths open. Wow. We checked into the hotel, and hit the streets as fast as we could. We walked all the way up Fifth Avenue from the park,



got as far as the Empire State building before turning west, toward the river where the Circle Line tours meet. We walked through Times Square and past to the boats. We’d prepurchased our tickets and were so excited. The tourguide was excellent, pointing out everything, talking about 9/11, just really putting us in NYC. We were still on the boats as the lights came on.

Unfortunately, we didn’t plan how to get back to the hotel once the tour was over, and ended up walking (alone, yes, hello, we’re tourists) through Hell’s Kitchen. GULP. I was so scared.

Except we emerged in Times Square. At night. It was like sunrise. It was the most breathtaking manmade thing I’d ever seen. So energizing. So by the time we got back to the hotel, I couldn’t sleep.

The next morning, I joined the other RWA ladies at the Today Show, only I didn’t know they’d changed the times, so I was an hour late. Met Eileen Rendahl, who had just sold her first novel to Pocket. Now she’s a Rita finalist! Did some RWA stuff while the boys saw the sights.



Met up with my NJ cousin and did the museums, learned to ride the subway, was very tired with all the walking. Pooped out in the middle of the Egyptian exhibit of the Met – and I love the Egyptian stuff! Did the lit signing, but was so so tired.

Did more RWA stuff, went to the zoo with fellow SARA (who I’d only just met in NY), had a blast. Came home and met up with the Hive Mind, ladies from AOL who I’ve become good friends with. We had so much fun.

Saturday night was the awards, and I was so nervous, but the Hive bought me lovely silver heart jewelry which I still wear when I feel the need, and I enjoyed the rest of the evening.

Sunday, NJ cousin came again and we went downtown, to the WTC, but she wouldn’t go to Ground Zero. Went to Chinatown and Little Italy, fell in love with Battery Park, saw the Washington Square arch (all under construction) before we had to catch the subway back to the hotel, check out and get to the airport. A hectic trip, but one I’d take again tomorrow.

Yes, this is my favorite subject. Why do you ask?

I’ve been reading inspirational books by some friends this week. I mean, men who have faith have always fascinated me, because it always seemed like a woman thing (except me, I hate to say mine is not strong.) So I should be thrilled to get this peek inside the heads of men with faith. Only all I can think about is that I don’t know any men like that.

Then, duh, I write firefighters and spec ops and cops who sacrifice themselves for others, and while I am sure they are out there, I don’t know any men like that either.

Why am I more fascinated with the rough and tumble risk takers than with the boy next door? Do we write romance to try to figure out the male psyche? Or do we write to create the ideal man?

It’s that time again, time to start thinking about Christmas shopping. (And if you’re done, don’t even tell me. I’m usually much farther ahead than this, but the three books have killed me. I don’t even know WHAT to get.)

So I’m making my list. Mom, brother and I have agreed to give each other gift cards to restaurants, because going out to eat is always such a treat. Okay, that’s them.

Still need little brother, MIL (prolly another gift card), Dad and stepmom, son, best friend Cindi (who I also picked as my Secret Santa at school, AND who has a birthday the 23rd) and her baby (I did get a gift for her older boy already) and my husband. Please let that be all.

Little brother loves music and books, but never has time to read. He loves computers and IM and all that jazz. He’ll start driving in January, loves languages and ancient Egypt. Usually have a ton of ideas of what to get him, but not this year.

Dad loves the great outdoors, is building a lakehouse, drives a Corvette, works a billion hours a week. No idea what to get him.

Stepmom occasionally visits here, so I am saying NOTHING ;) I do have some ideas in this arena.

Cindi. Oy. Loves music and movies, but not the same as me. Has two boys under 5. Loves Elvis. Loves teaching. Loves the Spurs. Should be easy. Not. (I did pick her up some Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer slippers at Burlington last night. The noses light up! Still two gifts to go.) I'm thinking about getting her really tacky Secret Santa gifts so she won't guess it's me.

Baby should be easy, right? He’s 15 months old, something like a stuffed animal or something.

Boy. My husband has ideas, like a new guitar or cash toward the amplifier he wants. Why would he need a new guitar, is what I want to know. He has two. I think I don’t get it.

Husband. Heaven knows. He loves music and computers, sci fi….oh, maybe Battlestar Galactica on DVD, the new one….

All I want is someone to come clean my house. ;) Or this...

I just had a three hour nap....I'm on vacaaaaaaation.

Woke up to news that Hot Shot finalled in the Hot Prospects contest long contemp and is going to Brenda Chin. (I know. All I can think is that I entered this one without knowing the final judge.) But still, yay, Hot Shot!

I slept late…..I’m on vaaaaacaaaaation!!! Hope to see Harry Potter today and Zorro tomorrow (hey, that rhymes!) Annnd, finished DLB, ready to mail. Now, onto Surface!

This isn’t a post about changing point of view, or staying in one point of view, it’s about becoming your character and looking through their eyes. Deep POV, I guess.

When I started writing Don’t Look Back, one of my cps told me to make sure my hero and heroine’s voice sounded different from each other. What a concept, right? But a lot of books don’t have this. You can read one paragraph and go to the next and though you KNOW it’s changed POV, you can’t TELL. The hero and heroine sound the same. I hadn’t thought about it. I think mine do, but I’m not sure – Trish, JoAnn?

I think the hero’s POV is usually the one with the most trouble. Men are not as wordy as women, they are more direct, and they don’t use words like “flaxen” and such to describe women’s hair. I think it’s word choice more than length of sentence that draws me out. I wanted this scene in Hot Shot where he sees her with a French pedicure, only I knew he wouldn’t call it a French pedicure. We had a speaker at school who had a pedicure, and I went to the men asking them how they would describe her nails. “Tiny,” “Sexy” and “Pink” were my answers. Sigh. I went with pink.

Then there are the sensibilities. Some characters have “old” ideas, or know things they shouldn’t at their age. Now, I was born to a young mother, but she was born to an old mother (Gigi was an old maid, had my mom when she was 35 – old in the 40s). So I know a lot of things my peers don’t know. Sometimes I read about a character and think, but how do they know about that? They’re 15 years younger than me! I even read part of a YA where the character sounded more like a kid from the 80s than a kid from today.

In Surface, I had to cut a bit about video games that I loved, but I couldn't use it. My heroine had grown up traveling the world with her parents, and my hero had grown up spending all his time studying to get out of his home situation. Neither of them were video game freaks. A way that I kind of avoid age gaffes is to look at my younger brother (not the baby, the one coming over today to fix my heater). Would he say or do it? Then neither would my characters.

I’ve been listening to a lot of workshops – a LOT. Trish and I have proposed one for next conference, and I’ve been thinking about the dos and don’ts of speaking at conference.

Here are some of my observations:

1) A cute title does not a good workshop make. I’ve listened to several with intriguing titles that say the same thing over and over again. Please. It’s the hero’s journey/writer’s block/point of view. Don’t try to fool me. (Also, those long titles are really hard to write on a CD.)
2) Writers like to read. But DON’T read to us. ESPECIALLY if you’re reading the handout that’s in the book. I could have gone to a different workshop and read what’s in the book. (Hint: if you want people to come to your workshop, don’t put all the info in the book!)
3) Have a sense of humor. I listened to two by authors I didn’t know, but they were so charming, I’m getting their books now.
4) Be polite. I listened to another where someone asked a question (yes, a long drawn out question, but…) and the speaker interrupted and snapped, “So what’s your question?” Yikes!
5) Get people involved. We had a speaker at SARA who had us acting out a scene so she could illustrate misuse of backstory. It was hilarious, and everyone was paying attention.
6) Have something new to say. I know, not easy to do, but if you say it in a way I’ve never heard before, it may click with me. The one I listened to today that set wheels in motion was How to Revise with Anna DeStefano and Johanna Raisenen. Another one that had me perking up was How to Structure a Bestselling Novel. Give me ONE thing that I can use and I’ll love you forever.

Any other advice you can think of to offer a speaker?

Field trip today to the zoo - going to be gorgeous (though I hate field trips) then off for a week!! Yippee!

I work with a girl a year older than me, another 3 years younger, and two girls in their twenties. The one 3 years younger wanted to have some 80s music to listen to at lunch time, so I burned a mix CD.

They don’t know any of the songs.

I tried to get the most popular song off each CD, but I admit I had off-the-wall taste in the 80s. No A-ha or Kajagoogoo, no Van Halen or Bon Jovi (sorry, Trish). I loved loved loved The Ramones. Loved Billy Idol – hey, my Billy Idol CD is missing! The boy must have it. Loved Psychedelic Furs – boy must have that one, too. Loved the Thompson Twins and Madonna and Cyndi Lauper and the GoGos and Prince. Loved Duran Duran for the music. I swear. I won’t say who I had a crush on in the 80s. No, I won’t. But it was my first concert.

There are some I like now that I didn’t like then, like Bruce Springsteen and Bryan Adams (though I saw him in concert.)

Here was the CD I made:

We Belong Pat Benatar
Save A Prayer Duran Duran (love, love, love this song)
Need You Tonight INXS
No Myth Michael Penn (love this one, too)
In Your Eyes Peter Gabriel (dh and my song)
How Soon Is Now? The Smiths (love this song)
We Can Get Together Icehouse (not my favorite, but most popular from this album)
Goody Two Shoes Adam Ant (not my favorite song – I liked Ant Music and Stand and Deliver)
Peek-A-Boo Siouxsie & The Banshees
Rudi, A Message To You The Specials
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding? Elvis Costello & The Attractions
I Wanna Be Sedated The Ramones (hard to choose)
Blue Sky Mine Midnight Oil (I loved this whole album)
One Step Beyond Madness
Get It On (Bang A Gong) The Power Station
The One I Love R.E.M.
Let's Go Crazy Prince And The Revolution
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic The Police
Lovesong The Cure (another hard to choose – also loved Pictures of You.)
Blue Jean David Bowie
Love Shack The B-52's (also like Rock Lobster)
Hazy Shade Of Winter The Bangles (love this song – almost hurt myself trying to sing harmony)
Two Tribes Frankie Goes To Hollywood (another hard to choose)
Shadows of the Night Pat Benatar
Nothing Compares 2 U Sinéad O'Connor (loved this whole album)
Shattered The Rolling Stones (had a best friend in love with Keith Richards)
Dancing In The Dark Bruce Springsteen (didn’t listen to him much in HS)

Any of these ring bells?

5:30 wake without benefit of alarm - good! More time to write. No nap time today, either.
Surf internet while eating breakfast, and a little beyond.

6:40 wake the boy, dh suggests I take him to school (he has to go early to finish an art project), that I might actually get some conversation out of him. Use time between now and taking him to school to clean house

7:45 take boy to school (he wakes up as we turn onto the street his school is on), run to grocery store, buy cleaning supplies, as I'm out (how this can be when I rarely clean house, I do not know). As long as I am BICHOKing by 8:30, I will be happy.

8:25 in my chair, in front of computer, 5 minutes early. Answer email till 8:30.

8:30 open word document

8:31 call ortho to reschedule boy's appt, since boy has a field trip he failed to tell me about, and won't be back at school till 1:30 - appt is at 1:15.

8:36 Reeses break

8:40 Cruise internet looking for Gerry pics - need inspiration for final love scene. Save a few for blog.

8:49 Right, back to writing

9:03 laundry!

9:07 back to writing

9:20 maybe that black cherry Fresca isn't so bad

9:22 back to writing

9:40 check counter on blog - awfully close to 10,000 hits

10:20 Whew! done with love scene. Pant pant. My "cut scenes" file is now somewhat bigger, though. Go back through ms, looking for scenes to beef up, as love scene wasn't as long as I'd hoped.

11:00 ortho calls back, appt rescheduled for 3:00. I have to pick my brother up from school at 3:05 - yikes. Call MIL to pick up son from ortho at 3:30.

11:25 get off the phone, decide it's time for lunch, go to McD. No cool front yet.

11:45 sit in front of TV with Big Mac and watch an episode of Tilt with my new boyfriend Eddie Cibrian

12:30 check counter, blog hop for a bit, reopen word document

1:15 leave to pick boy up from school, can see cool front (what we call a blue norther, with leading clouds) but can't feel it

1:30 leave HS with boy, cool front blasting through

1:35 boy gets on computer, I watch another episode of Tilt, laying on couch

2:40 take boy to ortho, run to get brother, take him downtown to the arts and crafts show on Broadway, only spend $16.

5:00 get home, check email and counter, open word document

6:00 call dh wondering where he's at. Decide to go get Chick Fil A for supper.

6:35 get HOME from Chick Fil A (15 minute round trip at the MOST) because traffic is bad, and they didn't have the food ready. Um, dinnertime, most popular item on menu - why not ready?

6:55 get in cozy pjs, curl up on couch to crochet and watch Bones. Favorite episode so far. Watch Earl, too, laugh my head off.

8:30 get up to work on book again, only son is on computer doing homework, blasted kid.

9:00 get computer back, check counter

9:25 get phone call

9:42 get computer back, check counter

9:45 "Mom, I need to check ONE thing." Blasted kid should be in bed.

9:55 get computer back, check counter

10:40 finish scene, go to bed

Fruits of my labor....

Gerard Butler - Just 4 Fun - Gerard Butler

yes, yes, back to writing now...

I love my class, I really do. I miss them over the weekend (next week we're off for TG and I will miss them a lot!) And gone are the guilt-free days off from when I was music teacher.

But last week and this, I've hated going to school because I NEED TO WRITE. I need to. I know what's going to happen (important plot point hit me on the drive to school yesterday), I love the story and the characters, I'm excited about it, I have to get it on paper! (not to mention that looming GH deadline....) Of course, doubt demons are rising, making me wonder just how logical this story is. And I love it so much, I don't want to hear anything bad about it.

So today I'm taking the day off (ds has an ortho appt) and I'm writing all morning. Yay, me!

Also, a cool front is coming in, so cozy pjs tonight instead of AC!

Fresca report - black cherry is a touch too sweet for me.

Since we're getting ready for the shopping season, I thought I'd share this with you. I don't remember where I found it.

Things to do at Wal-Mart while your spouse is taking his/her sweet time or even if you're just bored:

1. Pick up packages of condoms and randomly put them in people's carts when they aren't looking.

2. Set all the alarm clocks in housewares to go off in 5-minute intervals.

3. Make a trail of tomato juice on the floor to the rest rooms.

4. Walk up to an employee and tell him/her in an official tone, "Code 3 in housewares," . . . and see what happens.

5. Go to the service desk and ask to put a bag of M&Ms on layaway.

6. Move a 'CAUTION ? WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.

7. When a clerk asks if they can help you, begin to cry and ask, "Why can't you people just leave me alone?"

8. Look right into the security camera and use it as a mirror while you pick your nose.

9. While handling guns in the sporting goods department, ask the clerk if he knows where the anti-depressants are.

10. Hide in the clothing racks and when people browse through say, 'PICK ME! PICK ME!'

11. When an announcement comes over the loud speaker, assume the fetal position and scream, "NO! It's those voices again!"

And last, but not least,
12. Go into a fitting room and yell real loud, "We're out of toilet paper in here!"

Why is this sexy to me? I just don't know.

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alt="Malevolent Abomination Roused by Yuckiness"
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When we were young, my mother didn’t let us watch Three’s Company. She said it was risqué, and we weren’t allowed to see it. Now, my mother is verrrrrry strait-laced (she took back an Indiana Jones DVD because he said goddamn and she thought The Odd Couple was risqué) and I don’t want to go to that extreme, but there are some days when I see her point.

Before Halloween, I sent home a letter about the Halloween party, and asked that the kids not wear costumes from R rated movies. (I teach 3rd grade – these kids are 8 and 9 years old.) You would not believe the firestorm of complaints. The principal said to let them wear what they want. I was appalled – we’d just finished Red Ribbon Week, where we say no to drugs and violence. I was avenged by a girl in another 3rd grade class who cried when she saw the other kids’ masks, so they couldn’t wear them around her.

These kids giggle at words I didn’t know till I was in high school. Puss in Boots is a particular favorite, and don’t get me started about balls.

My ds was pretty old, around 12, before I stopped caring if he saw Friends. I don’t watch R rated movies or my Sex and the City DVDs when he’s in the house (and let me tell you, the first time I saw that show, I was stunned. I’d never heard women say those words.) He’s never seen South Park or certain Simpsons episodes. I winced when the preview for The 40 Year Old Virgin came on when we were at the theater, and there have been a couple of lines in My Name is Earl that I hope went over his head. (I know, I know, too much to hope.)

Last night I was going to let him watch Old School because it was on ABC and has Vince Vaughn, who he admires (I dunno why) and then let him watch SNL because Jason Lee and Foo Fighters were on. I had to send him to the shower during the second Jason Lee skit. I just didn’t feel like I could let him watch it. And he’s 14.

But it’s getting harder and harder to shield kids from this. My son is growing up, and I don’t have to protect him as much (though, hello, teenaged boys NEED to be reminded of sex?) but what about my students, whose parents may not care what they’re exposed to? (I know, I know, not the television’s responsibility.) My husband says they can only go “as far as the market will bear.” But who will protect the kids if their parents won’t? And how can knowing this be good for them?

And am I a hypocrite for writing romance with love scenes and complaining about what's on TV?

I remember seeing this before I knew who he was, and thinking what beautiful eyes he has. See, Trish J? GREEN.

Today is his birthday, too. He's 36.

And I'd almost forgotten.

I love arts and crafts fairs. LOVE them. And in Texas, November is the month for them. Today is the first one in town, at Madison High School, two days, cramped high school hallways, hopefully something neat and unique at a good price.

Next week is the BEST one, though. It's at an old, historical (some say haunted) house on Broadway, put on by a church. It's all day for a week, from 9-6, every room of the house filled with goodies, one central location to check out. I usually spend at least $50 every year (I'm a cheapskate, guys. I get a LOT for my money.) The VERY best part is that the church ladies make cookies and spiced tea and lay them out for free for the shoppers. I've gotten the best recipes that way. The bad thing is, it's usually REALLY hot (this is Texas) and the house isn't air conditioned, so you get a bit overwhelmed drinking spiced tea and shopping ;) Still, it's a way lot of fun, and my mom and I usually take a half day off to meet down there. This year, I'm taking the whole day because the boy has an ortho appt, so more time to shop!

The following week is Christmas in Comfort, which is the weekend after Thanksgiving, and very old fashioned. The food is definitely not free, though. We've been two years in a row.

I'll have to take a picture of my house after I decorate for Christmas. I really go all out.

I know, this doesn't go, but mmmmmmm.

Please say a little prayer for my cousin Suzanne and her five year old daughter Michelle. Michelle was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia last spring, and she's going in for her marrow transplant today. Both have been really strong through all this.

A cheat. I have to GIVE an inservice today, on computer programs we're using in the district. Gulp!

1 . Your houseplants are alive, and you can't smoke any of them.
2 . Having sex in a twin bed is out of the question.
3. You keep more food than beer in the fridge.
4. 6:00 AM is when you get up, not when you go to bed.
5. You hear your favorite song on an elevator.
6 . You watch the Weather Channel.
7. Your friends marry and divorce instead of hook up and break up.
8. You go from 130 days of vacation time to 14. (HA! Not me!)
9. Jeans and a sweater no longer qualify as "dressed up."
10. You're the one calling the police because those damn kids next door won't turn down the stereo.
11. Older relatives feel comfortable telling sex jokes around you.
12. You don't know what time Taco Bell closes anymore.
13. Your car insurance goes down and your payments go up.
14. You feed your dog Science Diet instead of McDonalds leftovers.
15. Sleeping on the couch makes your back hurt.
16. You no longer take naps from noon to 6 PM
17. Dinner and a movie is the whole date instead of the beginning of one.
18. Eating a basket of chicken wings at 3 AM would severely upset, rather than settle, your stomach.
19. You go to the drug store for ibuprofen and antacid, not condoms and pregnancy tests.
20. A $4.00 bottle of wine is no longer "pretty good stuff."
21. You actually eat breakfast food at breakfast time.
22. "I just can't drink the way I used to," replaces, I 'm never going drink that much again."
23. 90% of the time you spend in front of a computer is for real work.
24. You no longer drink at home to save money before going to a bar.
25 . You read this entire list looking desperately for one sign that doesn't apply to you.

My dh and i were having an argument the other night over the first time I was attracted to him (we went to high school together and I dated one of his friends). He asked if it was when he asked if I was all right (after a fight with another boyfriend) or another time (I forget now.) I was surprised, because I don't remember either of those things. I remember eating lunch with Alan (the boyfriend that was his friend) and my dh coming over and being all cool and aloof and well dressed (Did you ever see the Sinbad special where he talks about not being able to dress himself anymore? That's my dh - what happened???) and thinking, hmmmm. And seeing him in the choir fashion show whe the choir director was trying to get the parents to pony up for new choir uniforms (baby blue - bleh!). I leaned over and told my mom, "Him." And then there was the time we saw the one-act play and he was in it playing guitar, and I thought, "HIM." It took a long time after that - he graduated before we went on our first date (set up by Alan, as it were) and another few months before I asked him out, and 3 more years before we got married, but we remember these things differently.

What about you? How did you meet your SO? And how did you KNOW?

(Never did find a digital pic of young dh and me, and don't feel right putting one in of Gerry.)

And came across these from last Halloween.

Here's my brother the host.



And his wife. I have no idea why this picture is so much smaller than the others.....I swear I love her!



Their best friends.



Me and my knight.



Me and my brothers.

I have a bad case of baby blues. It wouldn't be so terrible, but I'd be 40 when I had the baby if I got pregnant right now. And that's so unlikely to happen, since it hasn't happened in 14 years. The dh would love a little girl, would be so awesome with her, but while I would be happy if it happened, I don't know if I could deal with a teenaged girl when I'm approaching 60. Still, I ache to hold a little body, to cuddle, to have someone who needs me.

Worse, there's a book in the teacher's lounge for sale about "the last time" a mom holds her boy, the last time she tucks him in, the last time they cuddle together on the couch, and she talks about how she never knew those were going to be the last times. Y'all, I was standing in the teacher's lounge BAWLING. Even now, thinking about it, I'm crying.

My son is 14. He's bigger than I am, and he's very close to his dad, but very distant from me nowadays, and it hurts. I feel like I let him down in some ways. So in part, I guess my baby blues are a desire to revisit the time we used to spend together, a chance to make up for however I failed him.

Do you remember the play "Our Town?" The main character died, and got to revisit special days in her life, and (it's been a long time since I've seen it, so forgive me if I don't remember it right) one of the days she chose was a day with her kids. Right now I would give anything to go back and have one day with my boy, a day when I didn't have to worry about anything else, like money, or work, or writing. When it could just be the two of us and he would love me like he used to.

I have always wondered why I didn't have another child. God probably knew me best (I'm a tad high-strung), but I've always wondered if it was because we got this perfect, smart, healthy boy the first time. My cousin's daughter is suffering through aplastic anemia (she's having a marrow transplant on Friday) and I don't know if I could survive that. So maybe it's a blessing I just have the one kid. Still, I have drawers full of baby clothes, maternity clothes, baby toys that have been waiting 14 years. In my everyday life, I don't really think about them, but if I gave them away, it would be like giving up, like saying there's no more chance, ever.

It doesn't help that my friend, who will be 41 next month and had her first child at 36 just thinks about getting pregnant and there she goes. The other day she told me she was going off the pill so she could try for a little girl. She'll probably be pregnant in January. I love her to death, but that just rips at me.

Okay, enough with the maudlin. Let's have some Gerry.

As promised, the answers!

1) Kate Seaver was a Dorchester editor. Where is she now?

A) Avon
B) BERKLEY
C) St. Martin’s Press
D) Kensington

2) Lucia Macro is the editor for which best-selling author?

A) Janet Evanovich
B) Jennifer Crusie
C) Sherrilyn Kenyon
D) ELOISA JAMES

3) Which bestselling author runs the Scarlet Boa contest?

A) Debbie Macomber
B) Suzanne Brockmann
C) STELLA CAMERON
D) JoAnn Ross


4) This agent left Avon to become an agent with Jane Rotrosen Agency.

A) KELLY HARMS
B) Johanna Raisanen
C) Kate Seaver
D) Paige Wheeler

5) Krista Stoever is with which publishing house?

A) Avon
B) St. Martin’s Press
C) STEEPLE HILL
D) Intimate Moments

6) This Tor editor loves paranormals with well-built worlds.

A) Mary Theresa Hussey
B) Erika Tsang
C) ANNA GENOESE
D) Chris Keesler

7) These HQ editors are big proponents of paranormal and fantasy stories.

A) Patience Smith and Susan Litman
B) Kathryn Lye and Brenda Chin
C) Natashya Wilson and Julie Barrett
D) MARY THERESA HUSSEY AND LESLIE WAINGER

8) Who is Nora Roberts’s agent?

A) Ethan Ellenburg
B) AMY BERKOWER
C) Richard Curtis
D) Jenny Bent

9) What house is Charlotte Herscher editing for?

A) Avon
B) Dorchester
C) Kensington
D) BALLANTINE

10) Diane Dietz heads what H/S line?

A) Intimate Moments
B) Desire
C) Superromance
D) LOVE INSPIRED

11) Tova Sachs is with which publishing house?

A) BERKLEY
B) Ivy
C) St. Martin’s Press
D) Pocket

12) Emily Sylvan Kim is with which agency?

A) PROSPECT AGENCY
B) Three Seas Agency
C) Trident Agency
D) Firebrand Literary

13) Editor or agent – Lucienne Diver? AGENT

14) Which agency is Miriam Kriss with?

A) Prospect Agency
B) IRENE GOODMAN AGENCY
C) Richard Curtis Agency
D) Trident Agency

15) Editor or agent – Kristin Nelson? AGENT

16) Michelle Grajkowski is with which agency?

A) Prospect Agency
B) THREE SEAS AGENCY
C) Trident Agency
D) Firebrand Literary

17) Which H/S line does Laura Shin edit for?

A) SUPERROMANCE
B) Presents
C) Desire
D) Special Edition

18) Editor or agent – Amy Pierpont. EDITOR

19) This famous writer has given us archetypes for heroes, heroines and villains.

A) Carolyn Green
B) Cindi Myers
C) Sabrina Jeffries
D) TAMI COWDEN

20) This author gives a weekly market report.

A) Carolyn Green
B) CINDI MYERS
C) Sabrina Jeffries
D) Tami Cowden


18-20 You get an A! You know your stuff! You get around – you must read your RWR cover to cover.

16-17 You get a B. You’re very knowledgeable – you must hang out in the right places.

14-15 That’s a C. You could be more up to date, but you can get by.

11-13 Urk! A D! Are you writing category??

Less than 10 – Time to get in the game! Whip out that RWR, baby! Hop on some blogs, join some email loops.

I’ve spent the better part of the weekend burning conference workshops to CDs and writing the titles and names on them in Sharpies (a misnomer, BTW – long titles are cute, but they’re a bitch to fit on a CD.) As I’m writing last names only, I’m wondering how helpful that is to a new writer, or even one who doesn’t know the market.

So I’ve designed this little quiz (hey, I’m a teacher, indulge me. Wish I had Scantrons.)

1) Kate Seaver was a Dorchester editor. Where is she now?

A) Avon
B) Berkley
C) St. Martin’s Press
D) Kensington

2) Lucia Macro is the editor for which best-selling author?

A) Janet Evanovich
B) Jennifer Crusie
C) Sherrilyn Kenyon
D) Eloisa James

3) Which bestselling author runs the Scarlet Boa contest?

A) Debbie Macomber
B) Suzanne Brockmann
C) Stella Cameron
D) JoAnn Ross


4) This agent left Avon to become an agent with Jane Rotrosen Agency.

A) Kelly Harms
B) Johanna Raisanen
C) Kate Seaver
D) Paige Wheeler

5) Krista Stoever is with which publishing house?

A) Avon
B) St. Martin’s Press
C) Steeple Hill
D) Intimate Moments

6) This Tor editor loves paranormals with well-built worlds.

A) Mary Theresa Hussey
B) Erika Tsang
C) Anna Genoese
D) Chris Keesler

7) These HQ editors are big proponents of paranormal and fantasy stories.

A) Patience Smith and Susan Litman
B) Kathryn Lye and Brenda Chin
C) Natashya Wilson and Julie Barrett
D) Mary Theresa Hussey and Leslie Wainger

8) Who is Nora Roberts’s agent?

A) Ethan Ellenburg
B) Amy Berkower
C) Richard Curtis
D) Jenny Bent

9) What house is Charlotte Herscher editing for?

A) Avon
B) Dorchester
C) Kensington
D) Ballantine

10) Diane Dietz heads what H/S line?

A) Intimate Moments
B) Desire
C) Superromance
D) Love Inspired

11) Tova Sachs is with which publishing house?

A) Berkley
B) Ivy
C) St. Martin’s Press
D) Pocket

12) Emily Sylvan Kim is with which agency?

A) Prospect Agency
B) Three Seas Agency
C) Trident Agency
D) Firebrand Literary

13) Editor or agent – Lucienne Diver?

14) Which agency is Miriam Kriss with?

A) Prospect Agency
B) Irene Goodman Agency
C) Richard Curtis Agency
D) Trident Agency

15) Editor or agent – Kristin Nelson?

16) Michelle Grajkowski is with which agency?

A) Prospect Agency
B) Three Seas Agency
C) Trident Agency
D) Firebrand Literary

17) Which H/S line does Laura Shin edit for?

A) Superromance
B) Presents
C) Desire
D) Special Edition

18) Editor or agent – Amy Pierpont.

19) This famous writer has given us archetypes for heroes, heroines and villains.

A) Carolyn Green
B) Cindi Myers
C) Sabrina Jeffries
D) Tami Cowden

20) This author gives a weekly market report.

A) Carolyn Green
B) Cindi Myers
C) Sabrina Jeffries
D) Tami Cowden


Answers tomorrow!

I’ve been postponing entering the GH (I know, I know) because I wasn’t sure which category to enter. I know I want to enter DLB, because it’s my best, and while it’s currently 301 pages, I feel it’s more ST than category. Beneath the Surface is at 333 pages, but when Abby Zidle judged it in Where the Magic Begins, she said she thought it was too category.

So I’ve been torn.

I listened to the category vs. single title workshop from National, and was intrigued by the analogy that category is like a tight close up on the couple, while ST is more of a wide angle lens. When I started writing, I had a wide angle lens. As I continued writing, I developed more of a tight shot, and both these books have that, even with the length.

Then yesterday my friend Chris told me the word limit on ST is only 70,000 words. That’s not much. And she also suggested that since ESK plans to market them as ST, that’s where I should enter them.

So I’m entering them in ST.

Right now.

Here I go.

I’m doing it.

Wish me luck!

I dreamed that my sister in law (who actually works in the main office of my school district) worked for Harlequin and came to San Antonio with Brenda Chin and another editor whose name I knew in the dream. Neither editor looked like they really do. They were here for a conference, but I ended up taking Brenda Chin to my house for some reason. The house was in the right neighborhood, but was in the wrong location, and was literally falling down, and I brought Brenda Chin to it! Worse, when we were driving, we saw moose grazing in the alley. Moose! I live in South Texas!!

What the heck does this mean?

And no, I didn't drink before bed.

Yesterday the observer for the new reading program came. She missed me, thank God, but she went to this one teacher and told him he was a little stiff. After school he was telling us he doesn't feel comfortable in his rapport with the kids when it comes to reading. He can expand on math and science, but reading, not so much. My take is, he's not a reader. (Okay, yeah, he's also never taught younger than 4th grade, too, but I'm sticking to my theory.)

My grandmother was a great reader. My grandfather, too. My mother would read TO us, but never would read for her own pleasure. (This is a bit reassuring, since I'm pretty sure she'll never read one of my novels.) My younger brother didn't read when he was younger, but he devours books now, as does his wife. My son used to devour books, but now would rather noodle on his guitar. My husband used to read but now prefers audio books.

But really, outside of writing circles, I don't know many that read for pleasure, which is a shock, especially in the field of education! Here we're trying to teach kids the lifelong joy of reading, showing them what they can learn outside their own worlds, and we're not reading ourselves?

I used to love when we'd have D.E.A.R. time (Drop Everything And Read). Everyone in the school read for 15 minutes. No one wandered the halls, no one went to the restroom, everyone read. There's no time for that anymore, unfortunately, but I have been reading to my kids, hoping that will fire them up.

Maybe I should start reading to the teachers, too.

Okay, I'm going to lay it all out in the open here.

I wrote my first "book" when I was 9, on a road trip to California. It was kind of "One on One" meets "Grease." I let my step mother, my uncle and my mom read it. My mom's only comment was that people don't line up to go to lunch in high school. So I learned, write what you know.

My second book was more mature. It was about a rodeo cowboy who had a different woman in every town, but came back to the first one at the end. This one was much more mature in subject matter, so no one read it. But I learned how to end a book!

During high school, my writing was just for pleasure, stories about my friends and I - our aliases were Cora Q. Cool and Ramona Ramone (it was the 80s.) These were serialized, updated with whoever we had crushes on that week. I learned to take feedback.

In college, I started a story about a hero whose parents are killed by the IRA and he infiltrates the organization to avenge them, all the while falling in love again with the mother of his child. I learned romantic suspense and how to research. (Never did finish that book, though.)

I wrote a U2 fanfic. Just sayin'.

I started a story about an older pharmacist (I used to work at Eckerds, and NO, Bob, if you're out there, it wasn't about you.) who falls in love with the store manager, who's young enough to be his daughter. His son is also attracted to her. I learned about love triangles.

Most of those stories I don't have anymore, though I wish I did, just to see.

I finished Hot Shot, printed it out, boxed it up - it's ready for New York. Cat woke me three minutes before the alarm.

And because I can't think of anything to write about, here's a cheat.

The Washington Post's Style Invitational once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition. Here are this year's (2003) winners:

Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.

Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

Foreploy: Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.

Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.

Giraffiti: Vandalism spray painted very, very high.

Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.

Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.

Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease.

Karmageddon: It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.

Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

Glibido: All talk and no action.

Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.

Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a grub in the fruit you're eating.

Have you ever written a love triangle? I have, on a few occasions, but never well. It’s so hard to create two deserving heroes.

I recently got an R on Surface, saying that my heroine’s less than flattering comparisons between the hero and her fiancé made it clear that the heroine would never marry her fiancé.

There have been some well done triangles. I loved the Pacey/Joey/Dawson triangle on Dawson’s Creek. I always rooted for Pacey. There’s the Sawyer/Kate/Jack triangle on Lost. Again, I’m rooting for the underdog.

The triangle in Sex and the City, between Big, Carrie and Aidan broke my heart. I wanted her with Big, but Aidan was just so great. How to choose?

I liked the triangle between Wolverine, Cyclops and Jean Gray in X-Men. Cyclops was the super good guy, very heroic, but the bad boy in Wolverine appealed to Jean. She stayed with the good boy till the end, though.

Then there’s the one in the Lord of the Rings trilogies. Arwen the ethereal beauty, Eowyn the warrior both in love with heroic Aragorn.

So, two things. What are some other well done love triangles, where you have equally worthy heroes or heroines jostling for the heroine or hero’s attention?

AND, most importantly, how do you create these worthy characters without diluting the main romance?



I also want to announce the launch of The Wet Noodle Posse Blog. Come check us out!