The License Plate Game - Or The Mind of a Crazy Woman!

Some people play the license plate game when they travel – meaning they look for all 50 states. I play my version every single day. I try to come up with a word or phrase using the 3 letters of a license plate. I do this mainly with our own cars, but have been known to do it to others, too.

We had the letters HEF on the tags of two of our vehicles when we first moved to Ohio. I called them Heffer1 and Heffer2.

We replaced one of the Heffers (donated to teenager) and got a van with the tag ANN (real easy there!).

When the first Heffer died, the second Heffer was donated to same teenager who killed the first (he was brutal with our cars – not so much with his own, though). My husband bought a Grand Am with the tag BHW. Seeing those letters, you’d think I wouldn’t get anything good out of them, but the first thing that popped into my head was “Big Hairy Woman”. Don’t know why, but it stuck (the first ones always do). And BHWs were all over our town as well as BHRs (Big Hairy Rabbit) and BHMs (Big Hairy Men). If it started with BH, it was Big and Hairy. Am I sick, or what?

We no longer needed a van, and I would have loved to have kept the ANN plate (it was just too easy), but I bought a replacement before selling the van, so I had to get a new tag. These tags were different. Bicentennial plates with two letters followed by two numbers followed by two letters. I was sure I’d get something unusable and dreaded getting plates. And when I did get the plates, I cringed when I saw DK WZ, because the first words that popped into my head were “Dick Wiz” (and yes, it stuck). It could have been worse. I could have had DK WD. I’ll let you guess what that one is!

We also have a Ford (you know - Found of Road Dead) with the tag DOA (I kid you not!!).

So, now that you know how totally nuts I am – you still gonna hang around? (I hope so!) Or do you do some equally crazy thing?

Continue or Wait?

I have a dilemma regarding my first book, THE UNCOMMON ONE. While it’s currently with an agent (who requested the full back on Dec 27), I’m wondering if I should continue to query the book. I don’t want to give up on it. Not yet. But I don’t want to burn all my bridges, either.

The rejects are making me doubt myself. If I keep getting rejects, is it because the story isn’t unique or is it because I haven’t found the right agent/editor? If it’s the first and I query everyone, then I’ve lost my chance. If it’s the second, I don’t want to change the book if nothing’s wrong with it. It’s these kinds of decisions that drive me nuts.

So… I entered it into another contest. The finalists will be notified on April 11th. I think I will wait until I hear back from that and see what kind of comments I get.

If I final, then forget it – I’ll go back to querying! If I don’t, then I will rethink the story. I won’t give up on this book (and the sequel). I love it too much to do that.

You got anything driving you nuts? Please share so I don’t feel alone!

Happy Birthday, Sweetie!

Today is my husband’s birthday. He doesn’t read my blog, either (I think my daughter is the only family member who does), but I still have to wish him a Happy Birthday here.

We’ve been married 31 years (after dating for a year), so I’ve known him more than half his life. Kind of strange when I think about it that way.

He’s the best thing that ever happened to me, though. Without his humor, my day would be dull. Without his love, my life would be lonely. Without him, I wouldn’t have the two greatest kids ever!

And without his encouragement, I never would have attempted to write a book. He’s the one who pushed me to try.

He’s my best friend and I love him to death!!

Conventions

Last April I went to my first convention. The Romantic Times (RT) Convention was held in Columbus and lured me in due to the close proximity (and the fact I have a friend who lives in Columbus). It was an eye-opening experience for me and I ended up making new friends and having fun (as nervous as I was).

This April the RT Convention is in Los Angeles. And while I’d love to go back to California for a week, it’s not really feasible. I’d like to take some vacation with my husband (shocker – I know) and I had already decided to go to New York City this June for the Romance Writers of America (RWA) Nationals.

Both of those conventions are pricey - RT over $400, RWA over $500 (the main reason I’m only going to one), and that’s just for registration (with a couple of meals). While RT is geared toward writers, readers, and booksellers, RWA is only for members. Small potatoes compared to the other convention I decided to attend - again.

Dragon*Con is a monster, geared toward the SciFi fan, and held every year in Atlanta during the Labor Day weekend. 40,000 people attended last year. Registration is under $100, but they don’t have any meals. Just lots and lots of panels and workshops (even for writers). And lots of people who like to dress up. Even if only ½ dressed up (and I think it was more than that) – that’s still 20,000 people in costumes!

When I decided to try my hand at writing, I really had no idea what I’d gotten myself into. I have enough problems talking to strangers and now I’m putting myself in the middle of thousands of them! Who said you can’t change as you grow older?

Have you ever been to a convention? Is there one you love to go to year after year (as my daughter does for Dragon*Con)? What makes you go back?

DL's Whodunnit Game

In case you were wondering what DL’s Whodunnit Clue was all about (located on the top of my sidebar) and if you like mysteries and want to play the game, hop on over to DL Hammons’ blog Cruising Altitude. To celebrate having 600 followers, he’s put together a contest that requires doing some investigative work.

Frankly, I can't imagine having that many followers. Although, I am extremely happy with the 32 I have so far!!

If you play along - happy hunting!