The Versatile Blogger Award

I received an award. I've received this award in the past, but heck – I'll take it again. Who says you can't receive it more than once? If actors can receive more than one Oscar or Emmy, and musicians more than one Grammy, why can't bloggers receive more than one blogger award? Right?

As with all awards, this one comes with rules.

1. Thank and link to the person who nominates you – Thank you, Linda. Please visit her blog (she wouldn't mind you following, either). She usually posts some funny "groaners". You'll just have to visit her to see what I mean. You can find her here: http://ldmasterson-author.blogspot.com/

2. Share seven random facts about you

• I've got a crush on Alex O'Loughlin. Not the "I want to date him" kind, because – hello! – I’m happily married. No, this crush is because he resembles my character Jack VanAllen to a T – and I envisioned Jack long before I ever really paid attention to Alex. Now I want to watch everything he's acted in. I'm posting his picture here again, because I just like looking at him. It's sad, really, but I can't help it!
• I fight changes on my computer, or anything kind of technology change (Facebook and Yahoo! are starting to get on my nerves). I use my laptop to write and read blogs. If it ain't easy to use, I usually don't. But once I discover something cool, then I'm all over it. Unfortunately, I haven't found anything cool about Word 2010, so I'll stick with Word 2003 for as long as I can. If that means I keep Vista, I keep Vista. I pray my laptop NEVER breaks!
• I've always wanted to sky dive. Ever since I was a teenager. Maybe someday I will (on one of those tandem jumps – with an experienced jumper, of course). I think it would be the greatest thrill ever!
• I love roller coasters! Anything up and down and going fast – yea!! I want to experience it. I love the thrill. We'll be going to Kings Island next month (for a work related function). I hope to ride several of them numerous times (provided the lines aren't long). It better not rain!
• I hate twirling rides. They make me sick. Tea Cups at Disneyland? Please don't rotate the handle! Those rides where the floor drops out from under you? No way, not unless you want to clean up the mess.
• I hate to cook. Well, maybe I should clarify. I hate to cook meals that have more than one item (casseroles I can handle…usually). I have a sign in my kitchen that states "I only have a kitchen because it came with the house." So true, so true. I'll NEVER get rid of that sign.
• I'll probably jinx myself here – but I have NEVER received a speeding ticket. That's not to say I haven't been pulled over for speeding. That happened only once. I was late to school (college) and I had an out of state license (California driving in Alabama). I think she couldn't find the number, but she also saw my school books on the seat, and let me go with a warning. Whew!!

3. Pass this Award along to 15 recently discovered blogs and let them know about it! – Well, I got 7, and some of them aren't so new to me. If you've already received this award, you can repeat as I have, or ignore it. I will NOT be offended!

• Kristi – Random Daily Thoughts, a journey through life and writerdom   http://kristichestnutt.blogspot.com/
• Lizzie – Bttrfliesz Are Free http://bttrfly29.blogspot.com/
• Jennette Powell http://www.jenpowell.com/content/blog/
• Tonya Kappes http://tonyakappes.blogspot.com/
• Todd – The Verge http://the-verge-trm.blogspot.com/
• Natalie – Indulge Yourself http://nataliedamschroder.blogspot.com/
• Carey – My Own Brand of Madness http://careycorp.blogspot.com/

Go and visit these lovely blogs and maybe follow them if you're so inclined! I'm sure they would appreciate it. Now I'm off to notify them of their award.

100 Days to 2012

Can you believe there are only 100 days left in the year? Do you care?

Would you like to accomplish anything specific before 2012 arrives?

I do. I want to finish the first draft of Ghostly Liaison. It's doable if I quit fidgeting. Especially now that the book has formed in my head and scenes are starting to play out (Yay!). The writing is flowing once again, so I'm taking advantage. Well, I'm trying anyway!

I also want to get back to the gym. And I will as soon as I get the go-ahead from my doctor (2 more weeks!!). I've been away too long. It's time I went back. Now that my husband is serious about losing weight, I think it will be easier for me to start back up. We'll see if I can make it part of my routine before the year ends. At least the gym will be less crowded now compared to the beginning of the year.

That's about all I really care about accomplishing in the next 100 days. Wish me luck! And if you want to share what you'd like to accomplish before year-end, go ahead. I love comments!

Television and the Emmys

I used to be a TV junkie. The Emmys was the mark of the new TV season and I looked forward to it because that meant my shows were coming back or there were new ones I couldn't wait to discover.

When I watched the Emmys, I probably knew most of the shows up for an award because I had watched them. When the VCR was developed, I was in seventh heaven. I could watch more! What I wouldn't have given for a DVR back then.

Boy, how times have changed.

Don't get me wrong. I love my DVR and it gets full – really fast. And that's because I don't watch it every night. I'm losing interest. I have my favorites and will probably watch them until the series ends (i.e. Bones, NCIS, Castle, True Blood, Dexter, to name a few), but any new shows are scrutinized. They must be ENTERTAINING before I add them to the list. I'm not going to waste my precious time watching something that is just OKAY.

Why? Because I like to write too much.

There was a time when the cable went out, I'd feel lost. I'd be upset. Not anymore. I could write and read all day long and I'd be happy. So why don't I stop cold turkey? I'm tempted, let me tell you. Then a new show comes along and I want to watch (i.e. Being Human). I will probably always watch TV. I'm too weak to ignore it.

And the Emmys? I still like to watch it. Old habits are hard to break.

Productivity

I feel productive today, yet the house still looks a mess.

I put all my loose piles of books into a box – these are the ones to be read, because those I HAVE read are in a bookcase. Four boxes of books isn't really all that much better, but at least the books are easier to move around now! And no, I don't plan on getting an e-reader anytime soon. I kind of like SEEING what I have yet to read, even if it does create a mess.

I cleared the stack of magazines and papers and organized them a little better. Also threw out a lot of notes I had for various books (notes I had already put onto a word document – I really need to do better at throwing those away once I've transcribed them). I'll have to determine later if I want to trash the magazines or store them elsewhere. Of course, if I store them elsewhere, the odds of me ever reading them again are slim. Hmmm, trashing is looking like a good option.

We bought a new printer. Which is mine! Mine, mine, mine!! This is what prompted my cleaning fit – I have to put it somewhere! Our main printer (which is still perfectly good and isn't going anywhere) had an older driver (probably for XP). When my husband upgraded the main computer to Windows 7, he had to get a new driver for the printer. Well, my laptop has Vista (and no, I'm not upgrading – not fond of Windows 7 and I definitely will put off using any new MS Word until it reverts back to the old ways or I'm screwed and forced to – I pray my laptop works forever). He couldn't find a driver for Vista; therefore, I can't print from my laptop. It's kind of frustrating, really. Any e-mails or documents I need to print, I have to transfer them to the main computer (yes, we're networked) and then I have to go over there and print them. Not a fun task (yes, I'm laaaazy).

I'm surprised I had the energy (or motivation) to do what I did today (besides the normal laundry). Last night I drank WAAAY too much and woke up with a headache (or would that be a hangover??). I can't remember the last time I did that – I think I was single! So, that would be over 30 years. Me thinks I should wait another 30 before I do that again.

Next, I need to become productive in my writing. I hope that happens tonight. Wish me luck!

Inspiration from Strange Sources

My horoscope for today via Yahoo! (that would be for us Moonchildren):

Hear that? That 'clickety-clack' sound is the gears in your mind, turning at a furious pace! You are entering a very active mental phase, in which your simplest thoughts will quickly transform into complex, innovative ideas. Your keen mind will come in handy in social situations. If you're trying to connect two people or two groups of people, you will probably come up with a brilliant plan for how to do it by the end of today.

It's inspiring – that's what it is (except for the social situation-part – I will be home alone tonight). My brain has been on hiatus for too long. It needs to get grinding. I just hope it's still "click-clacking" by the time I'm available to write.

Onward - Ho!

Between Dragon*Con and an outpatient medical procedure I had (to help make my life a little bit better – I hope), I hadn't been at work for a full week for two weeks now. That's all about to change this week.

I wish I had more vacation (well, actually I wish I didn't have to work!). My story is starting to come out – little bit by little bit – and I want to be free to write when inspiration hits. This book is kicking my butt and I have to write down everything that comes to me because I just know one of those strange ideas will be the catalyst I need to get my latest WIP rolling.

One thing in my favor: my husband starts teaching three nights of the week starting tomorrow. Although I miss him when he's gone, I will take advantage of a quiet home. I'll just have to turn off the internet or I'm sunk.

I have definitely challenged myself with this latest project. It's a truly pantser effort since I have absolutely no idea where this story will take me. I just need to make sure it goes on a fantastic journey, with lots of twists and turns, because straight is just too boring.

Here's to a good week of writing. Hope you have a fun one, too!

Dragon*Con Pictures Part II

Dragon*Con is over. It was sad watching the workers put everything away. No more signs. No more rooms with chairs and chairs. No more roped off lines. No more people! It looked strange.

I had more fun this time at Dragon*Con. I knew what to expect and I was prepared. Still, I forgot what it was like walking through masses of people (although my pictures don't show the mass of people – those shots were impossible to stop and take). Made me kind of glad most of the panels I attended were in the same hotel!

I attended several writers seminars/panels. Some of the information was known (and reinforced), and some of the information was enlightening. Some panels told me I shouldn't go the traditional route in publishing, others told me there was nothing wrong with the traditional route and was probably better for my career. I want the traditional route and that's what I'm striving for, so I'll listen to the latter.

My thrill on Monday was seeing Nicholas Brendon (Xander from the Buffy series, in case you didn't know) in my hotel. Twice! I don't see many celebrities, so it was exciting. I was good and didn't bother the guy, although I have no idea what I would have said anyway (I have trouble talking with people I know!!). But I can say that I passed two celebrities at Dragon*Con. Nicholas and Richard Hatch (passed him crossing the street on Thursday). And I ran into a reader I met at the Lori Foster Get Together in West Chester. Hey – it really is a small world!

I made myself sick eating double doozies from The Cookie Company. But they were soooo good. Guess I should be glad there isn't a store that close to my house (there's one at the mall, but I don't go there very often and I avoid that part of the place). I'd probably be weak, therefore, really fat. Granted, I bought the first round of cookies when we arrived to Atlanta. Then my daughter bought the second round. Yes, my stomach hated me, but my mouth didn't complain.

All in all I had a good time this year. I'd like to come back next year. I just hope it's feasible. I feel like I've kind of exhausted the writers panels. Maybe if I wrote more sci-fi/fantasy it would make sense for my writing career. Problem is, I want to attend as a fan. My husband has no problem with it, so maybe I shouldn't either. It's nice spending time with my daughter (she actually doesn't mind my company) and I liked a lot of the panels. Oh well, we'll see. I know my daughter will be back next year (it will be her & her friend's tenth). Only time will tell if I join her.

Dragon*Con Pictures Part I

I've just completed the third day of Dragon*Con and I'm bushed!! One more day left, but I expect it won't be near as hectic as it was today. Yee-gads! There were just so many people it took forever to move from one hotel to another! And yes, a lot of them were dressed up just like these two!

After spending a couple of days concentrating on the writer's panels/seminars (which, by the way, aren't near as crowded), I went to some of the media panels today. My daughter and I lined up 90 minutes early for True Blood and were rewarded with the second row. While I enjoyed that panel (and seeing Joe Manganiello – whoo hoo! – I actually springed for a signed autograph), the surprise was the panel afterward – Being Human (which we couldn't line up early, but managed to get decent seats).

I didn't plan on going to this panel, but my daughter was and I thought, what the heck. Why not? I watch the show and I deserved to have some fun! What a blast I had! All three actors showed and it was easy to tell they enjoy each other. Now I can't wait for season two to start in January!!

Also, since my daughter has introduced me to Buffy, I had to go to a Buffy panel. I still have one season left to watch, but not too much was said to spoil anything for me. It was cool to see James Marsters and Nicholas Brendon, and my daughter is a HUGE Eliza Dushku fan. I'm glad I was able to go to some of these panels, a nice break in between learning!

I'll post some more pictures later, but thought I'd get something posted now. If you find me on Facebook (link is located on the right panel, toward the bottom), you can see the photos I downloaded that aren't panel-related.