Close encounters of the best kind
On New Year’s Eve, we dined at The Milky Way, a kosher dairy restaurant in West
The décor is a visual homage to Hollywood luminaries, from chalky autographs in the exposed brick entryway to Sharpie-signed glossies on the stucco walls. The hallways give special tribute to Spielberg's movie accomplishments, E.T. to Schindler’s List.
But make no mistake: Leah's the star of this establishment. She driftes between the kitchen and the cozy banquettes, hovering over her guests like the Jewish mother she is.
“Everyone loves my pistachio pasta,” she said, as she passed out copies of her eclectic menu. “Try it—you’ll want to take the recipe home.” My family ordered chimichangas, Asian stir-fry, spinach crepes, and cheese blintzes. But who was I to argue with Spielberg’s mama?
Everything was tasty, but oh, that pistachio pasta was out of this world! I complimented her, of course, and as predicted, I asked her for the recipe.
“Oh, it’s so simple,” she said, “You chop up your pistachios, and then you saute them with olive oil and garlic. Next, you add your shallots and soy sauce…”
“Wait, wait, wait,” I said. “I’m so not a cook! Could you help me by writing this down?”
“If you’re not a confident cook,” she said with twinkle in her eyes, “invite someone with decent taste buds to join you.” She grabbed my son's arm, pulling him into our conversation. “Pretend you’re in Betty Crocker’s test kitchen.” Then she whispered a secret behind her hand, “If it doesn’t taste quite right, you probably need more soy sauce.”
As we made our way toward the door, I admired her photographic memorabilia. "That one's my favorite," I said, pointing to a candid shot, in which Leah's beaming face is cuddled up close to her smiling son's. "I can tell that you love being a mama."
She nodded. "Oh yes!"
We exchanged knowing glances. "Yeah, me, too,” I said.
We kvelled about our kids, of course, but we also talked about the joys of being our own true selves. "I love your spunky attitude," I said, giving her studio portrait as an example. Inside the milky white frame, Leah is sprawled in a snow-white chaise lounge. She's wearing white from head to toe, save for black-rimmed eyeglasses and a Groucho Marx moustache. “That picture," I said, "has happiness written all over it."
“That’s why it's hanging outside the bathrooms," she said with a wink. "People rush past Stephen's posters in a blur, but while they’re waiting for the toilet, I’ve got a captive audience.”
We cozied up for a few pictures of our own, and as we hugged good-bye, I thanked her for a delicious meal—and more than that, for all the ways she'd fed my spirit.
She caressed my arm. “You nourished me."
And then I got all misty-eyed. "And you, me," I said. 
Sitting up for a few minutes. Still very weak and in a lot of pain, but the meds have kicked in and I haven't been sick once (major shocker...hooray). Everyone at USA Children's and Women's Hospital was super nice. They took all of my risks into sincere consideration, and this is the best I've ever done post-surgery. They said that the surgery went much more smoothly than they expected. I'm so relieved and so, so thankful for everyone's thoughts and prayers.
Welcome to The Secret Year online launch party!
The Secret Year is my debut YA novel, coming out January 7 from Viking (Penguin). Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Colt has been sneaking out at night to meet Julia, a girl from an upper-class neighborhood unlike his own. They’ve never told anyone else about their relationship: not their family or friends, and especially not Julia’s boyfriend. When Julia dies suddenly, Colt tries to cope with her death while pretending that he never even knew her. He discovers a journal Julia left behind. But Colt is not prepared for the truths he discovers about their intense relationship, nor to pay the price for the secrets he’s kept.
To join the party, I invite you to leave a comment on this blog post between now and Thursday, Jan. 7, at 7 PM EST. That will set several wonderful things in motion:
For every unique comment (unique=one comment per person), I will donate 50 cents to my local libraries (Cheltenham Township libraries, PA). I will either add this amount to whatever I raise in the upcoming reprise of the Library-Lovin' Blog Challenge later this spring, or, if I raise enough, I'll send the check now. I'm going to set a cap at $50 for now, but if I reach that goal with time to spare, I may be persuaded to set a new goal. (I'm unpredictable like that.) Spreading the word is welcome and appreciated, and if you want to join the big multi-blog library challenge later this spring, please email me at jennifer[at]jenniferhubbard[dot]com about that.
Your comment also enters you in the giveaway. I will pick a commenter at random to receive a Secret Year prize pack. The prize pack contains a signed copy of The Secret Year and assorted TSY swag. But that's not all! Because I am honored to have my book come out during the same week as a lot of other awesome books, you will also get to choose one book from the list below. (You don't have to tell me yet which book you want; you'll definitely need some time to think about it! I'll just ask the winner.)
***Bonus for library folks: If you work at a library, send an email from your institutional library email account to jennifer[at]jenniferhubbard[dot]com by noon EST on January 31, because I will randomly select three libraries to receive copies of The Secret Year.***
As I was saying, I'm in excellent company this week, because the books coming out now include:
CHASING BROOKLYN by Lisa Schroeder: A story about two teens, Brooklyn and Nico, the ghosts who are haunting them, and how they must learn to let each other in, or not one soul will be able to rest.
BLEEDING VIOLET by Dia Reeves: A mentally ill sixteen-year-old girl reunites with her estranged mother in an East Texas town that is haunted with doors to other dimensions and protected by demon hunters called Mortmaine.
GETTING REVENGE ON LAUREN WOOD by Eileen Cook: Helen was betrayed by her best friend three years ago. Now she's back to even the score, if only she could figure out the perfect revenge.
CAPTIVATE by Carrie Jones: In the sequel to NEED, Zara and her friends knew that they hadn’t solved the pixie problem but when a new, younger pixie king shows up, there is war in the air. When he tells Zara she is fated to be his queen, the stakes get even higher.
THE TOTAL TRAGEDY OF A GIRL NAMED HAMLET by Erin Dionne: What do you get when you have parents who dress and talk straight from the 1600s, a genius seven year old sister, and mysterious origami pigs left in your locker? Hamlet Kennedy's totally tragic life.
LEAVING GEE'S BEND by Irene Latham: Ludelphia Bennett, a determined, ten-year-old African-American girl in 1932 Gee's Bend, Alabama, leaves home in an effort to find medical help for her sick mother, and she recounts her ensuiing adventures in a quilt she is making.
BEDEVILED: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY DRESS by Shani Petroff: Angel's devil powers are going out of control--especially around her crush, Cole. But how do you stay away from someone and still get him to ask you to the big dance?
ISLAND STING by Bonnie Doerr: Far from her former New York City home Kenzie Ryan falls under the spell of savvy island native, Angelo Sanchez, and experiences electrifying danger and discord as they join forces to end the slaughter of an endangered species.
( RULES OF THE GIVEAWAY )
If you're still looking for more partying, here are some other festive activities:
Watch the trailers for the Tenners and the Class of 2k10.
Participate in Nathan Bransford's writing contest, where you must write a diary entry (as I had to do in The Secret Year).
So go forth, comment, email, and win some free stuff!
The Secret Year is my debut YA novel, coming out January 7 from Viking (Penguin). Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Colt has been sneaking out at night to meet Julia, a girl from an upper-class neighborhood unlike his own. They’ve never told anyone else about their relationship: not their family or friends, and especially not Julia’s boyfriend. When Julia dies suddenly, Colt tries to cope with her death while pretending that he never even knew her. He discovers a journal Julia left behind. But Colt is not prepared for the truths he discovers about their intense relationship, nor to pay the price for the secrets he’s kept.
To join the party, I invite you to leave a comment on this blog post between now and Thursday, Jan. 7, at 7 PM EST. That will set several wonderful things in motion:
For every unique comment (unique=one comment per person), I will donate 50 cents to my local libraries (Cheltenham Township libraries, PA). I will either add this amount to whatever I raise in the upcoming reprise of the Library-Lovin' Blog Challenge later this spring, or, if I raise enough, I'll send the check now. I'm going to set a cap at $50 for now, but if I reach that goal with time to spare, I may be persuaded to set a new goal. (I'm unpredictable like that.) Spreading the word is welcome and appreciated, and if you want to join the big multi-blog library challenge later this spring, please email me at jennifer[at]jenniferhubbard[dot]com about that.
Your comment also enters you in the giveaway. I will pick a commenter at random to receive a Secret Year prize pack. The prize pack contains a signed copy of The Secret Year and assorted TSY swag. But that's not all! Because I am honored to have my book come out during the same week as a lot of other awesome books, you will also get to choose one book from the list below. (You don't have to tell me yet which book you want; you'll definitely need some time to think about it! I'll just ask the winner.)
***Bonus for library folks: If you work at a library, send an email from your institutional library email account to jennifer[at]jenniferhubbard[dot]com by noon EST on January 31, because I will randomly select three libraries to receive copies of The Secret Year.***
As I was saying, I'm in excellent company this week, because the books coming out now include:
CHASING BROOKLYN by Lisa Schroeder: A story about two teens, Brooklyn and Nico, the ghosts who are haunting them, and how they must learn to let each other in, or not one soul will be able to rest.
BLEEDING VIOLET by Dia Reeves: A mentally ill sixteen-year-old girl reunites with her estranged mother in an East Texas town that is haunted with doors to other dimensions and protected by demon hunters called Mortmaine.
GETTING REVENGE ON LAUREN WOOD by Eileen Cook: Helen was betrayed by her best friend three years ago. Now she's back to even the score, if only she could figure out the perfect revenge.
CAPTIVATE by Carrie Jones: In the sequel to NEED, Zara and her friends knew that they hadn’t solved the pixie problem but when a new, younger pixie king shows up, there is war in the air. When he tells Zara she is fated to be his queen, the stakes get even higher.
THE TOTAL TRAGEDY OF A GIRL NAMED HAMLET by Erin Dionne: What do you get when you have parents who dress and talk straight from the 1600s, a genius seven year old sister, and mysterious origami pigs left in your locker? Hamlet Kennedy's totally tragic life.
LEAVING GEE'S BEND by Irene Latham: Ludelphia Bennett, a determined, ten-year-old African-American girl in 1932 Gee's Bend, Alabama, leaves home in an effort to find medical help for her sick mother, and she recounts her ensuiing adventures in a quilt she is making.
BEDEVILED: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY DRESS by Shani Petroff: Angel's devil powers are going out of control--especially around her crush, Cole. But how do you stay away from someone and still get him to ask you to the big dance?
ISLAND STING by Bonnie Doerr: Far from her former New York City home Kenzie Ryan falls under the spell of savvy island native, Angelo Sanchez, and experiences electrifying danger and discord as they join forces to end the slaughter of an endangered species.
( RULES OF THE GIVEAWAY )
If you're still looking for more partying, here are some other festive activities:
Watch the trailers for the Tenners and the Class of 2k10.
Participate in Nathan Bransford's writing contest, where you must write a diary entry (as I had to do in The Secret Year).
So go forth, comment, email, and win some free stuff!
This morning I came across
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
lorrainemt 's post about trying new things.Then I read
jbknowles 's post in which she invited us to be brave in our lives.And the wheels in my brain started to turn,
which, in turn, caused my heart to pound.
Because I knew what new thing I'd like to try.
It's something that would require a great amount of bravery.
In fact, my heart's pounding again as I write this.
I want to take hooping lessons.
There, I said it!
But just the thought of demonstrating
my clunky, flow-less hooping to a pro
causes me great panic.
I mean, look at her:
This woman lives in my area and offers private lessons.
(Group lessons would totally overwhelm me, I think).
On the one hand, my new year's resolutions included
learning to Beam Me Up (a cool hooping trick) and improving my flow.
But YIKES.
She is so very good and I'm so very, um, what's the word I'm looking for?
Stiff?
Frankenstein-esque?
Scared?
If you'd like to win a signed ARC of Angie Frazier's EVERLASTING as badly as I would, then follow this link and enter http://angie-frazier.livejournal.com/715Well, I had a choice.
My sister-in-law told me over the weekend that if I were to get a new car (which was up until then a dead issue for the time being), they would want my Saturn for my elder niece, who is about to get her driver's license. She just turned 18, you see, so many of the restrictions that affect 15-17 year olds don't apply to her anymore, although she would still get a "special" license that would be in effect only until her 21st birthday -- and then only if she stays out of trouble on the road. (Illinois is now so strict that high-school kids can really only get the equivalent of learner's permits even though they are called "driver's licenses," and older kids like my nephew and niece also have pretty sharp restrictions on what they can do although they can get "real" licenses.)
So I was thinking about that, although Saturn is now just about out of business. They are selling their cars for up to 2/3'rds off sticker, which was what brought this whole thing up. Whatever. I think Lisa is going to have to wait.
However, I did finally go and spend the money for the course to become an Alexander painting instructor. This was the guy who taught Bob Ross how to do the wet-on-wet style of painting, you see. What's been stopping me was the expense, but this morning I decided what the hell...I'm not getting any younger and it's not as if it is as expensive as a college degree..or even a car.
Next my work will be evaluated by their lead instructor, and depending on what he thinks, I'll either be doing remedial work for a while or go straight into the program.
If I go straight into the program, I'll need students. My work-buddy here has volunteered to be one, lol. She's very brave and patient.
My sister-in-law told me over the weekend that if I were to get a new car (which was up until then a dead issue for the time being), they would want my Saturn for my elder niece, who is about to get her driver's license. She just turned 18, you see, so many of the restrictions that affect 15-17 year olds don't apply to her anymore, although she would still get a "special" license that would be in effect only until her 21st birthday -- and then only if she stays out of trouble on the road. (Illinois is now so strict that high-school kids can really only get the equivalent of learner's permits even though they are called "driver's licenses," and older kids like my nephew and niece also have pretty sharp restrictions on what they can do although they can get "real" licenses.)
So I was thinking about that, although Saturn is now just about out of business. They are selling their cars for up to 2/3'rds off sticker, which was what brought this whole thing up. Whatever. I think Lisa is going to have to wait.
However, I did finally go and spend the money for the course to become an Alexander painting instructor. This was the guy who taught Bob Ross how to do the wet-on-wet style of painting, you see. What's been stopping me was the expense, but this morning I decided what the hell...I'm not getting any younger and it's not as if it is as expensive as a college degree..or even a car.
Next my work will be evaluated by their lead instructor, and depending on what he thinks, I'll either be doing remedial work for a while or go straight into the program.
If I go straight into the program, I'll need students. My work-buddy here has volunteered to be one, lol. She's very brave and patient.
- Mood:
nervous
Close encounters & tight deadlines
First and foremost, I appreciate so much your anniversary wishes! You deserve bouquets much larger and more fragrant than this blog could ever hold....
And now, I ask for your indulgence.
My computer's been abducted by an alien life force*, so please forgive the short delay in posting my Close Encounters story. It should be up in another day or two.
*A project with an impossibly short timeline
And now, I ask for your indulgence.
My computer's been abducted by an alien life force*, so please forgive the short delay in posting my Close Encounters story. It should be up in another day or two.
*A project with an impossibly short timeline
Yes, I have taken the plunge into social networking. Finally. And it is not as easy as y’all have been telling me it is...
First of all, how does one separate a personal Facebook life from a professional Facebook life? My high school friends and work colleagues certainly don’t want to hear about my books and writing life constantly … and perfect strangers who happen to read my books (Facebook calls them fans!) don’t need to hear me chit-chat with my high school prom date. Right? Right.
So, what to do? I decided to set up an author page, ingeniously called “Loree Griffin Burns, Author” that is expressly for people interested in my books. You can find it here. (Feel free to visit and become a fan. Feel free to send your friends and neighbors and parents and children and spouses and coworkers to become fans, too. At the moment, I am my only fan. Seriously.)
I set up a personal page too, because who can resist re-connecting with the girl you raced Mexican jumping beans with when you were ten? Or the guy who broke your heart in high school? Or Auntie Mary? I can’t.
So, how do the rest of you handle Facebook? Personal and professional pages both? One or the other? Does it matter? I’d love to know.
Finally, do I really have to include this line every time I mention Facebook here?
“Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc.”
Oi.
Some people do resolutions or pick a word for the year or maybe a theme or a theme song. Since I am playing with art now I decided to go one step beyond my vision board I created and try a vision journal, well, what I am calling visual affirmations.
You know, I could have really picked an easier first art journal project. But this was a good way for me to learn about the various materials, what I like and don't like about the different ones and just try things out. I learned a lot in the process. Like backgrounds for these things are hard for me. Mine kept going dark which wasn't the look I wanted and made it hard to paint over it with anything but black or my trusty white watercolor pencil. I learned there's a reason that Golden gel medium is the most popular and am only going to use the other brands I have as glue, not top coat. I learned that you can write on mulberry paper with a Sharpie but not a watercolor marker. Oops. I learned that sometimes the vision in your head for a page never quite makes it down on the page in the same way. (hmmm...that sounds a lot like writing.) I learned that I can think outside the box but that it doesn't come easily for me. (Which means, of course, I just need to do more of it.) I learned that I am not a natural doodler and those little swirly things that look so simple and easy AREN'T! There are some pages I like a lot and some that are just so so but I love the book as a whole.
My intention is to keep it next to my bed and look through each night before bed and first thing each morning. I learned a lot about myself as I worked on the book, thinking about the pictures and words I chose and why they had meaning for me. By the time I got to the end, I had my theme for 2010 worked out. For years my friends and family tell me how talented I am, how wonderful I am, how much I am loved but when it goes through the translator in my head, the message gets screwed up. I want to stop that. I want to align the person I see in the mirror with the person the rest of the world sees.
I want to see the me that everyone else in the world sees. So that's my theme for the year 2010. Here are the pages from the journal. You can click through to see the larger ones or go to my Flickr page and see the whole album in a larger size.
Edited to add: based on the wise advice of my dear friend Eileen akahulabunny I am going back through these pictures to tell you something I love about each one.
Front cover. I picked these pictures for the front because they all make me feel happy about myself. I can remember where I was and what I was doing when each of these was taken and I can recover those wonderful feelings by looking at the pictures. I love the way the border came out here.
Torn paper collage that was too glossy. I was going for a mountain but it came out too much like a triangle. Tissue paper over the torn paper to tone down the glossy. I had so much fun doing the torn paper collage and I love the row of pics of me down each side border.
I really wanted to try the punchiella effect but didn't have any of that kind of paper yet. So I found a mesh bag that had garlic in it and colored on it with the watercolors then stamped the page. I love how that turned out. I also challenged myself to use a color I don't normally go toward, a peach, and ended up loving it.
I was really happy with the border on this page.
I adore this page. Love the colors. Love the mesh of beautiful things. One of my favorite pages.
I love my zentangle on this page. It's a fun and easy one to do.
This page looked so different in my head. :) I love being surrounded by the word CONTENT. This was an experiment in printing on tracing paper. I love the transparent effect without having to wait to do a transfer technique.
I like the placement of the food on these pages, especially the one on the right.
I adore this page. I love the words on the left and I love the me peekint out from behind the plants.
On this page I love the pens pointing to the typing fingers. It came out just like I hoped it would.
I love this page! At first it was just a place to play with my new stamps and I figured if I didn't like the look I could just paint over them. Then I went looking for images that spoke to me and it all came together.
Although you might not see the detail, the big heart is all torn paper and I love it. It adds a depth and strength to the heart, much like my marriage adds to my life.
This page makes me smile.
I had fun with this page.
I love the kind of hazy feeling this page has.
The energy on this page makes me feel happy, like the way you feel after a good workout.
Another favorite page of mine. I love the hummingbird. I love the dog fairy. I love the wishbone "hat"
I love the intentions on this page and the way the yellow outlines call attention to the words.
This page absolutely captures how I feel about my marriage and how it has enriched my life. I love the quote from Pat Schneider that says, "You can write as powerfully as you want, if you feel safe enough." My marriage has made me feel safe enough to write to the depths of my emotions. I love the wings on the girl jumping.
I love seeing all the smiling faces of my friends staring back at me here.
I love the crowns...and what you can't see well in the picture is that the pic of me, on the page on the right at the top of the page, has a little bit of clear glitter around it, as though I have that reflection bouncing back from the world.
Back cover. I love how the border came out....amazing what you can do with the letter "C"
You know, I could have really picked an easier first art journal project. But this was a good way for me to learn about the various materials, what I like and don't like about the different ones and just try things out. I learned a lot in the process. Like backgrounds for these things are hard for me. Mine kept going dark which wasn't the look I wanted and made it hard to paint over it with anything but black or my trusty white watercolor pencil. I learned there's a reason that Golden gel medium is the most popular and am only going to use the other brands I have as glue, not top coat. I learned that you can write on mulberry paper with a Sharpie but not a watercolor marker. Oops. I learned that sometimes the vision in your head for a page never quite makes it down on the page in the same way. (hmmm...that sounds a lot like writing.) I learned that I can think outside the box but that it doesn't come easily for me. (Which means, of course, I just need to do more of it.) I learned that I am not a natural doodler and those little swirly things that look so simple and easy AREN'T! There are some pages I like a lot and some that are just so so but I love the book as a whole.
My intention is to keep it next to my bed and look through each night before bed and first thing each morning. I learned a lot about myself as I worked on the book, thinking about the pictures and words I chose and why they had meaning for me. By the time I got to the end, I had my theme for 2010 worked out. For years my friends and family tell me how talented I am, how wonderful I am, how much I am loved but when it goes through the translator in my head, the message gets screwed up. I want to stop that. I want to align the person I see in the mirror with the person the rest of the world sees.
I want to see the me that everyone else in the world sees. So that's my theme for the year 2010. Here are the pages from the journal. You can click through to see the larger ones or go to my Flickr page and see the whole album in a larger size.
Edited to add: based on the wise advice of my dear friend Eileen aka
hulabunny I am going back through these pictures to tell you something I love about each one. |
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Bucket List and 101 in 1001 updated.
It's surgery day. Not sure if I'll get any sleep...have to be up in 4.5 hours.
Will be glad when it's over with so I can move on.
I have so much to do.
It's surgery day. Not sure if I'll get any sleep...have to be up in 4.5 hours.
Will be glad when it's over with so I can move on.
I have so much to do.
Get back down to my ideal weight, and STAY THERE.
(SLIGHTLY EDITED) Obtain three certifications/degrees. (I have two certifications so far...Office Administration and Bob Ross Instruction...working on the college degree now!)
Become a published author.
Be financially independent someday.
Collect postcards from all over the world.
Travel to as many places as my health and finances will allow.
Traveling will require me to get on an airplane, so flying has to be on my list too. (which will require someone to fly with me and hold my hand, no doubt) :-)
Create a fabulous portfolio of photographs, and not let a hurricane destroy them. (Darn you, Katrina)
Learn to draw.
Qualify to be a foster or adoptive mom.
Increase my charity and volunteer work.
Tour the Food Network Studios in New York.
Go to Disney World and Universal Studios.
Go to Mall of America in Minnesota.
Invest in Real Estate (or an RV…it’s a coin toss at this point).
Learn to sew with a sewing machine, and make pillows and blankets for charity.
Go to a spa, and let them pamper me like I've never been pampered before.
Learn how to DJ and do at least one show.
Learn to play a musical instrument.
Re-learn French.
Visit the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
See real snow, and play in it.
Ride on the back of a Harley Davidson (just a couple times around the block would be sufficient, thank you) :-)
Kidnap my brother Layton and attend an Alabama Crimson Tide game at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The one that I get to cross off of my list: Have a booth at an Arts & Crafts Festival
Yaaaaaaaay! :D
So which one (or more) will I complete this year?
I'm hoping to have the money to treat myself to some spa pampering for my birthday in March. I've never been to a spa in my life because I'm so limited on funds as well as what I can physically handle - no massages allowed due to my neuromuscular disease, and I have extremely sensitive feet that I don't let anybody touch. I would like to go and maybe get a facial as well as hand treatment. I would consider paraffin and hot stone therapy on my feet, but would have to turn down the foot massage because my feet depolarize at the drop of a hat. I'd also consider a manicure but not a pedicure. I have a hard time justifying this splurge because it can get rather pricey, and I'm capable of doing most of this stuff myself at home, but I think I'm going to make this one exception for my birfday. :)
I obviously want to get back down to my ideal weight, and stay there. I figure that will stay on my bucket list forever...it's just one of those continuous goals.
I'd love to learn to play a musical instrument, but time is a huge factor. Between college and work, I don't know if I'll have time to really pursue this. Maybe during the summer, perhaps?
Same with learning to sew, although I'm really only wanting to learn how to make VERY simple stitches. Pillowcases and baby blankets...that's it. Should be a no-brainer, really, but I don't have the machine nor the time to invest in this right now. It IS on my agenda, though, so it WILL happen eventually.
I will be diving back into French this fall, and hope to redeem myself from the fiasco that was 9th grade French class. Freaking nightmare and I HATED it. Love the language, though, and want to learn it the RIGHT way this time around.
I'll continue drawing this year but I don't know when I will be comfortable enough to remove it from my list. I think it will be quite a while, honestly.
I would love some postcards from my peeps!!! If you can send me one, shoot me a message and I'll reply with my snail mail address. :) I lost all of my postcards in Hurricane Katrina, so I've had to start a new collection. I love postcards!
And finally...anybody gotta 2-seater Harley? :D
(SLIGHTLY EDITED) Obtain three certifications/degrees. (I have two certifications so far...Office Administration and Bob Ross Instruction...working on the college degree now!)
Become a published author.
Be financially independent someday.
Collect postcards from all over the world.
Travel to as many places as my health and finances will allow.
Traveling will require me to get on an airplane, so flying has to be on my list too. (which will require someone to fly with me and hold my hand, no doubt) :-)
Create a fabulous portfolio of photographs, and not let a hurricane destroy them. (Darn you, Katrina)
Learn to draw.
Qualify to be a foster or adoptive mom.
Increase my charity and volunteer work.
Tour the Food Network Studios in New York.
Go to Disney World and Universal Studios.
Go to Mall of America in Minnesota.
Invest in Real Estate (or an RV…it’s a coin toss at this point).
Learn to sew with a sewing machine, and make pillows and blankets for charity.
Go to a spa, and let them pamper me like I've never been pampered before.
Learn how to DJ and do at least one show.
Learn to play a musical instrument.
Re-learn French.
Visit the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
See real snow, and play in it.
Ride on the back of a Harley Davidson (just a couple times around the block would be sufficient, thank you) :-)
Kidnap my brother Layton and attend an Alabama Crimson Tide game at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The one that I get to cross off of my list: Have a booth at an Arts & Crafts Festival
Yaaaaaaaay! :D
So which one (or more) will I complete this year?
I'm hoping to have the money to treat myself to some spa pampering for my birthday in March. I've never been to a spa in my life because I'm so limited on funds as well as what I can physically handle - no massages allowed due to my neuromuscular disease, and I have extremely sensitive feet that I don't let anybody touch. I would like to go and maybe get a facial as well as hand treatment. I would consider paraffin and hot stone therapy on my feet, but would have to turn down the foot massage because my feet depolarize at the drop of a hat. I'd also consider a manicure but not a pedicure. I have a hard time justifying this splurge because it can get rather pricey, and I'm capable of doing most of this stuff myself at home, but I think I'm going to make this one exception for my birfday. :)
I obviously want to get back down to my ideal weight, and stay there. I figure that will stay on my bucket list forever...it's just one of those continuous goals.
I'd love to learn to play a musical instrument, but time is a huge factor. Between college and work, I don't know if I'll have time to really pursue this. Maybe during the summer, perhaps?
Same with learning to sew, although I'm really only wanting to learn how to make VERY simple stitches. Pillowcases and baby blankets...that's it. Should be a no-brainer, really, but I don't have the machine nor the time to invest in this right now. It IS on my agenda, though, so it WILL happen eventually.
I will be diving back into French this fall, and hope to redeem myself from the fiasco that was 9th grade French class. Freaking nightmare and I HATED it. Love the language, though, and want to learn it the RIGHT way this time around.
I'll continue drawing this year but I don't know when I will be comfortable enough to remove it from my list. I think it will be quite a while, honestly.
I would love some postcards from my peeps!!! If you can send me one, shoot me a message and I'll reply with my snail mail address. :) I lost all of my postcards in Hurricane Katrina, so I've had to start a new collection. I love postcards!
And finally...anybody gotta 2-seater Harley? :D
My first order of business here is to direct you to a post by macaronipants , which addresses the all-important question: Writing is great, and we're working hard here, but where are all the hamsters?
I have found one of my hamsters, and I'm celebrating it this week.
Here at the blog, I’ll be having an online party for the release of my first book, The Secret Year. You're invited.
But I don’t want this party to be just about me. I’ll be giving stuff away, celebrating other launches that are happening this week, and raising some money for my local library. I hope you’ll join in the fun!
Here’s the schedule:
Next post – The party begins: giveaways, a blog challenge to benefit my local library, and a discussion of other books launching this week.
Mid-week – A Very Special Guest Post. I had to pull major strings to get this guest! I’m still hoping he won’t go prima donna on me and cancel at the last minute, but I will appeal to his pride and sense of duty--or bribery, if all else fails.
Late in the week – Giveaway winners and library challenge totals announced!
The official sale date is Thursday, January 7. Sale dates are generally a bit flexible in either direction (unless your name is JK Rowling or Stephenie Meyer and you have legions of fans lining up at midnight on the release date), but I believe the book will be appearing in stores this week.
macaronipants , which addresses the all-important question: Writing is great, and we're working hard here, but where are all the hamsters?I have found one of my hamsters, and I'm celebrating it this week.
Here at the blog, I’ll be having an online party for the release of my first book, The Secret Year. You're invited.
But I don’t want this party to be just about me. I’ll be giving stuff away, celebrating other launches that are happening this week, and raising some money for my local library. I hope you’ll join in the fun!
Here’s the schedule:
Next post – The party begins: giveaways, a blog challenge to benefit my local library, and a discussion of other books launching this week.
Mid-week – A Very Special Guest Post. I had to pull major strings to get this guest! I’m still hoping he won’t go prima donna on me and cancel at the last minute, but I will appeal to his pride and sense of duty--or bribery, if all else fails.
Late in the week – Giveaway winners and library challenge totals announced!
The official sale date is Thursday, January 7. Sale dates are generally a bit flexible in either direction (unless your name is JK Rowling or Stephenie Meyer and you have legions of fans lining up at midnight on the release date), but I believe the book will be appearing in stores this week.
Endings and Beginnings
It was nearly 80 degrees yesterday--nothing but blue skies from the Santa Ana mountains to the Pacific. And so it was that we decided to celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary in nearby San Juan Capistrano. The citrus trees were laden with fruit, and cottage gardens were coming into bloom. I honestly can't picture a more perfect afternoon, nor can I imagine a better companion with whom to share the rest of my life.
I brought you this bouquet from my travels. And if you come back tomorrow, I'll tell you about my Close Encounter of the Spielberg kind....
There are about a hundred debut novels I'll be featuring in 2010. My "Books of 2010" launch announcements will usually include the book cover and a brief synopsis. For a few authors, I've arranged online interviews as well.
The Books of 2010 began to sneak out at the end of 2009, and here's the first crop!
OF ALL THE STUPID THINGS, by Alexandra Diaz (Egmont US, December 22, 2009). Young adult. Tara, Whitney Blaire, and Pinkie were the best of friends—until the new girl Riley came to town and changed all the rules.
SCONES AND SENSIBILITY, by Lindsay Eland (Egmont US, December 22, 2009). Middle-grade. Twelve-year-old Polly decides her purpose in life is to help along lonely hearts in search of love, but she quickly discovers the pitfalls of playing matchmaker.
MAGIC UNDER GLASS, by Jaclyn Dolamore (Bloomsbury, December 22, 2009). Young adult. Nimira is a foreign music-hall girl who discovers the spirit of a fairy gentleman trapped inside a clockwork automaton, waiting for someone to break his curse. Breaking the curse becomes a race against time, as not just their love, but the fate of the entire magical world may be in peril.
THE DARK DIVINE, by Bree Despain (Egmont US, December 22, 2009). Young adult. Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared. Grace must discover the truly monstrous secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But it may cost her her soul.
EIGHTH GRADE SUPERZERO, by Olugbemisola Rhuday Perkovich (Arthur A. Levine, January 1, 2010). Tween. Reginald "Pukey" McKnight wants to turn his image around, but he has other things on his mind as well: his father, who's out of a job; his former best friend, who's now become a jerk; a beautiful girl he'd like to know better; the residents of the local homeless shelter where he volunteers; and the upcoming class elections--if only he can find the courage to make a difference.
The Books of 2010 began to sneak out at the end of 2009, and here's the first crop!
OF ALL THE STUPID THINGS, by Alexandra Diaz (Egmont US, December 22, 2009). Young adult. Tara, Whitney Blaire, and Pinkie were the best of friends—until the new girl Riley came to town and changed all the rules.
SCONES AND SENSIBILITY, by Lindsay Eland (Egmont US, December 22, 2009). Middle-grade. Twelve-year-old Polly decides her purpose in life is to help along lonely hearts in search of love, but she quickly discovers the pitfalls of playing matchmaker.
MAGIC UNDER GLASS, by Jaclyn Dolamore (Bloomsbury, December 22, 2009). Young adult. Nimira is a foreign music-hall girl who discovers the spirit of a fairy gentleman trapped inside a clockwork automaton, waiting for someone to break his curse. Breaking the curse becomes a race against time, as not just their love, but the fate of the entire magical world may be in peril.
THE DARK DIVINE, by Bree Despain (Egmont US, December 22, 2009). Young adult. Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared. Grace must discover the truly monstrous secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But it may cost her her soul.
EIGHTH GRADE SUPERZERO, by Olugbemisola Rhuday Perkovich (Arthur A. Levine, January 1, 2010). Tween. Reginald "Pukey" McKnight wants to turn his image around, but he has other things on his mind as well: his father, who's out of a job; his former best friend, who's now become a jerk; a beautiful girl he'd like to know better; the residents of the local homeless shelter where he volunteers; and the upcoming class elections--if only he can find the courage to make a difference.
Northern Flicker
camped out in the feeder
filled with seeds he can't eat.
Is he confused?
Wasting time?
Or is it maybe that he needs
to take a load off?
Catch his breath
and look around.
Maybe that bird appreciates what's there
rather than bemoaning what's not.
Then again,
maybe this is just another
ugly case of anthropomorphism.
How do you attack focused revision? Any tricks or hints about doing it?
(Yeah, I did catch a couple of other things that need fixing, but I mostly stuck to my plan)
- Mood:
pensive
Last January, on a bit of a whim, I started recording the books I read. And while I stumbled here and there with the rest of my 2009 resolutions, I was amazingly dutiful about this list. And so it was that I was able to relive a year of literary adventures this afternoon. This was pure book geek fun, folks, and I plan to keep my “Books Read” list going in 2010.
First, the numbers ...
I read 117 books in 2009: 59 works of fiction, 56 non-fiction and 2 poetry. Broken down by genre, the count is: 47 picture books, 31 middle-grade books, 8 young adult books, and 28 adult books.
Books that truly thrilled me got a star next to their entry, and I gave many of them as Christmas gifts this year. Only one book had two stars next to its name. Which book was that, you ask? ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, MIRACLE, by Barbara Kingsolver, known around here as the book that changed the way I live. If you haven’t already read it, you really should.
The number that gave me most to think about was this one: 21 That’s the number of books on my 2009 reading list that I managed to blog about during year. Interesting. I started this blog as a place to talk about books—books I love, books I write, books that find their way into my hands in mostly random and always interesting ways. But blogging about books has gotten harder for me over the past three years. Part of the problem is time, as in: I don’t have enough. The other part, though, is my personal struggle with what blogging about a book means … and what not blogging about a book means. Today’s exercise has got me thinking even harder about books and my blog and how the two fit together.
In case you are worried that my New Year’s Day was all book geekery, check out the image behind the cut. My husband, kids, and I started 2010 with a hike in the woods behind our house, and what we found there had one of us screaming.
( ”Ahhhhhhhhhhh!” )
First, the numbers ...
I read 117 books in 2009: 59 works of fiction, 56 non-fiction and 2 poetry. Broken down by genre, the count is: 47 picture books, 31 middle-grade books, 8 young adult books, and 28 adult books.
Books that truly thrilled me got a star next to their entry, and I gave many of them as Christmas gifts this year. Only one book had two stars next to its name. Which book was that, you ask? ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, MIRACLE, by Barbara Kingsolver, known around here as the book that changed the way I live. If you haven’t already read it, you really should.
The number that gave me most to think about was this one: 21 That’s the number of books on my 2009 reading list that I managed to blog about during year. Interesting. I started this blog as a place to talk about books—books I love, books I write, books that find their way into my hands in mostly random and always interesting ways. But blogging about books has gotten harder for me over the past three years. Part of the problem is time, as in: I don’t have enough. The other part, though, is my personal struggle with what blogging about a book means … and what not blogging about a book means. Today’s exercise has got me thinking even harder about books and my blog and how the two fit together.
In case you are worried that my New Year’s Day was all book geekery, check out the image behind the cut. My husband, kids, and I started 2010 with a hike in the woods behind our house, and what we found there had one of us screaming.
( ”Ahhhhhhhhhhh!” )
Definitely frustrating, but it did give me a shot of synopsis love. Better to find it and fix it now than miss it.
Here’s a link to my favorite how to post on synopsis writing. It’s the one I always end up falling back on. http://www.bethanderson-hotclue.com/work
- Mood:
energetic
Joy in the Morning
We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.
~Joseph Campbell
In 2009, 'twas Grace that led me up the highest peaks, that guided me through the narrows. And for this upcoming year, I'm choosing JOY as my traveling companion. I'll try to approach each moment as "the observer," with an open mind and grateful heart. And even when I'm traversing life's darkest passageways, I'll look for a sliver of sunlight in which to dance.
Maya Angelou said, "When you wish someone joy, you wish them peace, love, prosperity, happiness...all good things." This, then, is also my New Year's wish for you: a life richly blessed by an abundance of JOY.
Page Summary
- newport2newport : Close encounters of the best kind [+18]
- ugottafriend : (no subject) [+1]
- writerjenn : Party time [+98]
- tracyworld : New kind of bravery [+12]
- patesden : Contest: win a signed ARC [+0]
- memyself2008 : New Year's Sticker Shock [+2]
- annemariepace : (no subject) [+13]
- newport2newport : Close encounters & tight deadlines [+0]
- lgburns : Facebook ... Finally [+15]
- susanwrites : My vision for 2010 [+34]
- ugottafriend : (no subject) [+1]
- ugottafriend : MY 2010 BUCKET LIST [+0]
- writerjenn : You are invited [+16]
- newport2newport : Endings and Beginnings [+21]
- writerjenn : First debut books of 2010 [+2]
- tracyworld : What say you? [+16]
- patesden : Focused Revision: What do you do? [+9]
- lgburns : Happy New Year! [+14]
- patesden : Warts on a Snake's Butt and Synopsis Love [+2]
- newport2newport : Joy in the Morning [+25]