What made me think that just because I loved a topic I could build an actual story around it? (I mean, hello, you still need a plot.)
When am I going to accept that sometimes I just have to go along for the ride and see where it takes me? (Probably never.)
How many different ways can I pretend to start the book thereby postponing going on past the first page. (At last count, 11.)
How many times can I put the mom in, take her out, put back in again and then take her out for good? (At last count, 4.)
How important is it, really, to know what the book is about before I try to write it? (Not very, I hope.)
Why can't I find a dirty stinky smelly old sock to stuff in my inner editor's mouth when I am trying to write the crummy first draft? (That's what I get for being caught-up on laundry.)
Why does it feel like my crummy first draft is the worst crummy first draft in the entire history of crummy first drafts? (Because right now, at this moment, it is.)
Why can't I ever remember that crummy first drafts are called crummy first drafts for a reason?
When am I going to accept that sometimes I just have to go along for the ride and see where it takes me? (Probably never.)
How many different ways can I pretend to start the book thereby postponing going on past the first page. (At last count, 11.)
How many times can I put the mom in, take her out, put back in again and then take her out for good? (At last count, 4.)
How important is it, really, to know what the book is about before I try to write it? (Not very, I hope.)
Why can't I find a dirty stinky smelly old sock to stuff in my inner editor's mouth when I am trying to write the crummy first draft? (That's what I get for being caught-up on laundry.)
Why does it feel like my crummy first draft is the worst crummy first draft in the entire history of crummy first drafts? (Because right now, at this moment, it is.)
Why can't I ever remember that crummy first drafts are called crummy first drafts for a reason?
- Location:library
- Mood:
frustrated
Yesterday was the Indiana SCBWI regional conference. ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
marybethkelsey and I went together. I thought I'd give a little wrap up on some of the take-aways. The speakers were Catherine Onder - Editor at Harper Collins and Lisa Cheng - Assoc. Editor at Simon & Schuster.
A large portion of the talk was on Acquisitions and Catherine went into quite a lot of detail on how a book is acquired. After listening to the HC process, I'm surprised that any books get published at all! She did qualify some of the process by noting that not every imprint goes through all these steps...
1. editor has good 1st reaction (both analytical & visceral) to the manuscript
2. editor shares ms with other editors/assistants
3. editor researches track record of author (if previously published)
4. editor compares ms to current relative titles
5. editor prepares P&L (Proft & Loss) statement to take to acquisition meeting
P&L is a big snapshot of the book's projected shelf life (sales expectations, less cost = profit aka bottom line)
Info for P&L comes from many departments
a. Production department - physical costs to make the book
b. Marketing - how much to market the book (galleys, arcs, f&gs/picture books )
c. displays (only for anticipated bestsellers)
d. author tours (very expensive)
e. website development (micro-sites)
f. satellite tours for authors (i.e. author goes to one place & interview is broadcast to many places)
g. advance & royalty rates
Then the editor takes all the above to the acquisitions meeting & hopes that all the rest of the team is as excited as she is about the book. If they are, an offer is made - if not... rejection.
So - this answered a big question for me. How an editor can give you great feedback on a book, but still not acquire it. The editor (unless they are legendary!) does not have the final say on whether or not a book gets picked up. And, even if they love it - if the rest of the team is not onboard with it - they won't be able to make an offer.
Other important note... one we all know & should live by, but can tend to forget or overlook... SHOW, DON'T TELL !
All in all... it was a good conference. I got a crit from Catherine on the first ten pages of a YA WIP. That in itself was worth the price. It is so fantastic to get feedback from an editor. She was spot on & addressed areas (with suggestions) that had been problematic to me. I think when I get back to this ms, it will be better for her input!
marybethkelsey and I went together. I thought I'd give a little wrap up on some of the take-aways. The speakers were Catherine Onder - Editor at Harper Collins and Lisa Cheng - Assoc. Editor at Simon & Schuster.A large portion of the talk was on Acquisitions and Catherine went into quite a lot of detail on how a book is acquired. After listening to the HC process, I'm surprised that any books get published at all! She did qualify some of the process by noting that not every imprint goes through all these steps...
1. editor has good 1st reaction (both analytical & visceral) to the manuscript
2. editor shares ms with other editors/assistants
3. editor researches track record of author (if previously published)
4. editor compares ms to current relative titles
5. editor prepares P&L (Proft & Loss) statement to take to acquisition meeting
P&L is a big snapshot of the book's projected shelf life (sales expectations, less cost = profit aka bottom line)
Info for P&L comes from many departments
a. Production department - physical costs to make the book
b. Marketing - how much to market the book (galleys, arcs, f&gs/picture books )
c. displays (only for anticipated bestsellers)
d. author tours (very expensive)
e. website development (micro-sites)
f. satellite tours for authors (i.e. author goes to one place & interview is broadcast to many places)
g. advance & royalty rates
Then the editor takes all the above to the acquisitions meeting & hopes that all the rest of the team is as excited as she is about the book. If they are, an offer is made - if not... rejection.
So - this answered a big question for me. How an editor can give you great feedback on a book, but still not acquire it. The editor (unless they are legendary!) does not have the final say on whether or not a book gets picked up. And, even if they love it - if the rest of the team is not onboard with it - they won't be able to make an offer.
Other important note... one we all know & should live by, but can tend to forget or overlook... SHOW, DON'T TELL !
All in all... it was a good conference. I got a crit from Catherine on the first ten pages of a YA WIP. That in itself was worth the price. It is so fantastic to get feedback from an editor. She was spot on & addressed areas (with suggestions) that had been problematic to me. I think when I get back to this ms, it will be better for her input!
- Location:home
- Mood:
thoughtful
1. I may need to rethink my Tracht hypothesis. Tomorrow is the last day of this fair and so the bus was full when we got on this morning. We sat facing two families who were on their way to the Kirchweih. Both couples had one son, and all were dressed up. The younger son was in 1st grade or so because he was sounding out all the street names. The other one was 14-15 years old, and definitely in full Lederhosen. Of course, he also looked a bit sullen. Possibly he wasn't enthusiastic about the outfit his mother had stuffed him into and was desperately hoping all his friends would be home asleep on a Sunday morning, and no one would notice him.
2. Lilacs are wonderful flowers! Someday if I ever own property I am going to plant them. We have a bouquet in the kitchen right now and you can smell them as soon as you walk in. And I'm not even allergic to them!
3. I know it's a total ripoff, but I really love the do-it-yourself strawberry fruit smoothie packages my local store sells. They are 75% chopped strawberries and 25% chopped bananas, frozen. You whip them in a blender and add apple juice. Yum!
2. Lilacs are wonderful flowers! Someday if I ever own property I am going to plant them. We have a bouquet in the kitchen right now and you can smell them as soon as you walk in. And I'm not even allergic to them!
3. I know it's a total ripoff, but I really love the do-it-yourself strawberry fruit smoothie packages my local store sells. They are 75% chopped strawberries and 25% chopped bananas, frozen. You whip them in a blender and add apple juice. Yum!
Friday night we were at my wife's aunt's house, spending time with the family. I was sitting across from Grandma. She turned to me out of the blue and asked, "How is it going with your book?"
There are moments that make you realize just how loved you are....here's a woman who is completely numb from the death of her husband of 59 years and she takes a moment to ask about my book. I wanted to cry at that very moment.
It made me want to grab a computer and start the editing process all over again....for her!
There are moments that make you realize just how loved you are....here's a woman who is completely numb from the death of her husband of 59 years and she takes a moment to ask about my book. I wanted to cry at that very moment.
It made me want to grab a computer and start the editing process all over again....for her!
- Mood:
loved
When I'm writing, I can spend the entire day trying to get those voices in my head to talk to me, tell me their stories. Whether or not it works, the moment I turn out my light and try to fall asleep, the characters inevitably come out to play.
I'm never sure whether to be delighted or annoyed. My ultimate reaction usually depends on how comfortable I am and how many sleeping cats are pinning me in place. Then there's the spouse factor: after the final goodnights have been mumbled and we've lived in silence for several minutes, it's just cruel to turn the light back on, no matter how great the dialogue in my head and how convinced I am that I will not remember it in the morning unless I record it right then and there. (Naturally, I still haven't remembered to stock my flashlight in my nightstand, although I've learned never to be without a notebook and a pen. Which is why this whole thing was written in the dark. See?)
Of course, just because I succumb to pressure from my chatty characters or Dolores, my on-board narrator, it does not mean that the words were worth the shuffling and fumbling required to capture them on paper. Even if they are legible (at best, my handwriting is a poor imitation of cursive), when I'm in the zone of near-sleep my ability to judge writing quality is questionable.
Take, for example, the night when I absolutely, positively could not sleep no matter how I tossed and turned. If anything, my desperation only pushed that blissful unconsciousness further away. Finally, I settled into thinking about my book. You see, I had a character to name, and this seemed the perfect time to do so. In my sleep-deprived state, I decided that I wanted something unique, so I reached around for the most beautiful, unusual first name I could find. Once I settled on it, I was so happy that I knew I needed a last name to go with it. And so I thought and thought and finally came up with the perfect companion to that first name. It was so lovely, so wonderful, that I couldn't wait to assign it to a character the next day. Since this was before I learned to keep a notebook handy, I committed it to memory, rolled over, and promptly fell asleep. When my alarm rang the next morning, I had the nagging thought that I was forgetting something. So I fished around in my memory for a while, and came up with it: the name. Only in daylight did I realize that I had, with no sense of irony whatsoever, named my character Dream McKnight. Sure, the name could work, but it would be the bane of the character's existence, not something of which she could be proud.
With incidents like that, it's no wonder I record my nighttime ramblings so reluctantly, even if I'm usually glad that I did so.
I'm never sure whether to be delighted or annoyed. My ultimate reaction usually depends on how comfortable I am and how many sleeping cats are pinning me in place. Then there's the spouse factor: after the final goodnights have been mumbled and we've lived in silence for several minutes, it's just cruel to turn the light back on, no matter how great the dialogue in my head and how convinced I am that I will not remember it in the morning unless I record it right then and there. (Naturally, I still haven't remembered to stock my flashlight in my nightstand, although I've learned never to be without a notebook and a pen. Which is why this whole thing was written in the dark. See?)
Of course, just because I succumb to pressure from my chatty characters or Dolores, my on-board narrator, it does not mean that the words were worth the shuffling and fumbling required to capture them on paper. Even if they are legible (at best, my handwriting is a poor imitation of cursive), when I'm in the zone of near-sleep my ability to judge writing quality is questionable.
Take, for example, the night when I absolutely, positively could not sleep no matter how I tossed and turned. If anything, my desperation only pushed that blissful unconsciousness further away. Finally, I settled into thinking about my book. You see, I had a character to name, and this seemed the perfect time to do so. In my sleep-deprived state, I decided that I wanted something unique, so I reached around for the most beautiful, unusual first name I could find. Once I settled on it, I was so happy that I knew I needed a last name to go with it. And so I thought and thought and finally came up with the perfect companion to that first name. It was so lovely, so wonderful, that I couldn't wait to assign it to a character the next day. Since this was before I learned to keep a notebook handy, I committed it to memory, rolled over, and promptly fell asleep. When my alarm rang the next morning, I had the nagging thought that I was forgetting something. So I fished around in my memory for a while, and came up with it: the name. Only in daylight did I realize that I had, with no sense of irony whatsoever, named my character Dream McKnight. Sure, the name could work, but it would be the bane of the character's existence, not something of which she could be proud.
With incidents like that, it's no wonder I record my nighttime ramblings so reluctantly, even if I'm usually glad that I did so.
Had to share: Neal Shusterman put the questions aecurtis and I created for our teen book discussion up on his website.
Here they are!
aecurtis and I created for our teen book discussion up on his website.Here they are!
- Mood:
hot
Ever since I found out that the housing development just over in Simi Valley used to be part of the Big Sky Ranch, where TV shows like Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie were once filmed, I knew I wanted to hike the area someday. Well, this is a rare uncommitted weekend for me, so it was time to check the place out.
There was just one problem. It's really hot here in Southern California at the moment. I thought I could manage by going out early in the morning - but it was still really hot. Fortunately, I made it back in one piece.
The trail didn't venture too far outside civilization. I wondered if there was a way up these hills, but I didn't see one. It was probably just as well today.
( Click here for more pics )
Tomorrow it's back to book promotion. We'll see how much I can do with my website.
There was just one problem. It's really hot here in Southern California at the moment. I thought I could manage by going out early in the morning - but it was still really hot. Fortunately, I made it back in one piece.
The trail didn't venture too far outside civilization. I wondered if there was a way up these hills, but I didn't see one. It was probably just as well today.
( Click here for more pics )
Tomorrow it's back to book promotion. We'll see how much I can do with my website.
- Location:Doctor Who - "The Vanity Box"
- Mood:
tired
1. What were you doing 10 years ago?
Ten years ago, I was working with people with disabilities. Had our first foster child. And had just learned I was expecting my first birth child.
2. What are 5 things you need to do today?
Today our family already walked a 5K.
We watched my son's soccer game. Go, J! He won.
Portraits for said son. Adorable.
Deep clean for an hour or two, because Saturdays are always dedicated to that. UGH!
Grill some hot dogs and maybe run through the sprinklers because I'm sunburned and it's HOT!
3. What are some snacks you enjoy?
Dried cranberries, dark chocolate, and puerquitos.
4. What would you do if you were a billionaire?
Haa haa haa. Obviously, I'd be dreaming.
5. What are 3 bad habits?
Mine, or other people's? Hee hee. Okay, fine.
I hate to do laundry, so it piles up until Saturdays.
I can make terrible faces. Not on purpose, but I'm very expressive.
I put myself down too much.
6. Name 5 places you have lived.
Rexburg, Idaho
Provo, Utah
St. George, Utah
Vilonia, Arkansas
Idaho Falls, Idaho
7. What are 5 jobs have you had?
How do I make my jobs sound the best, you know resume-ish?
Cleaning Goddess for an Elementary School AKA Custodian while putting myself through college.
Fashion Goddess at a retail chain. AKA Clothing Manager.
Developmental Specialist for Persons with Disabilities. AKA Case manager.
Rehabilitation Specialist for Dept. of Human Services. AKA Court appointed by judge to help birth parents regain custody of children.
Domestic Goddess, Foster Parent, and Mother Extrodinaire. AKA The best job in the world for me right now.
8. And now tag5 people 1 person:
elizabethcbunce! I haven't seen you play yet.
Ten years ago, I was working with people with disabilities. Had our first foster child. And had just learned I was expecting my first birth child.
2. What are 5 things you need to do today?
Today our family already walked a 5K.
We watched my son's soccer game. Go, J! He won.
Portraits for said son. Adorable.
Deep clean for an hour or two, because Saturdays are always dedicated to that. UGH!
Grill some hot dogs and maybe run through the sprinklers because I'm sunburned and it's HOT!
3. What are some snacks you enjoy?
Dried cranberries, dark chocolate, and puerquitos.
4. What would you do if you were a billionaire?
Haa haa haa. Obviously, I'd be dreaming.
5. What are 3 bad habits?
Mine, or other people's? Hee hee. Okay, fine.
I hate to do laundry, so it piles up until Saturdays.
I can make terrible faces. Not on purpose, but I'm very expressive.
I put myself down too much.
6. Name 5 places you have lived.
Rexburg, Idaho
Provo, Utah
St. George, Utah
Vilonia, Arkansas
Idaho Falls, Idaho
7. What are 5 jobs have you had?
How do I make my jobs sound the best, you know resume-ish?
Cleaning Goddess for an Elementary School AKA Custodian while putting myself through college.
Fashion Goddess at a retail chain. AKA Clothing Manager.
Developmental Specialist for Persons with Disabilities. AKA Case manager.
Rehabilitation Specialist for Dept. of Human Services. AKA Court appointed by judge to help birth parents regain custody of children.
Domestic Goddess, Foster Parent, and Mother Extrodinaire. AKA The best job in the world for me right now.
8. And now tag
elizabethcbunce! I haven't seen you play yet. So here we have what most closely would correspond to America's idea of the county fair, minus the animals. Lots of towns have a "Kirchweih" (Bayern) or "Kermes" (Nordrhein-Westfalen) every year where you have rides and food booths and if the town stores beer in hobbit-like holes in the hills, they open the beer cellars and set up tables and serve the stuff. It is a huge family-friendly local event. You have probably heard of Oktoberfest; that is the best known, but there are hundreds of smaller ones.
Anyway, one of the big elements of this event is that it is one of the times when it is perfectly normal for people to dress up in Tracht, or traditional outfits. I think there is only one age where it is not cool to wear Tracht, ie teen. People in their 20s until death can wear it, and children can wear it, but about 12-19 or so it is not so cool.
There is no one Tracht for Germany, by the way. "Germany" is an invention of 1870; before that it was a region of small, German-speaking kingdoms. And each town within those kingdoms will have its own variation of Tracht. There are whole clubs dedicated to people wearing their local Tracht and doing dances and singing traditional songs. But I think you will recognize all of these variants as German.
Here we have the kind of Biermadchen sort of Tracht:
Anyway, one of the big elements of this event is that it is one of the times when it is perfectly normal for people to dress up in Tracht, or traditional outfits. I think there is only one age where it is not cool to wear Tracht, ie teen. People in their 20s until death can wear it, and children can wear it, but about 12-19 or so it is not so cool.
There is no one Tracht for Germany, by the way. "Germany" is an invention of 1870; before that it was a region of small, German-speaking kingdoms. And each town within those kingdoms will have its own variation of Tracht. There are whole clubs dedicated to people wearing their local Tracht and doing dances and singing traditional songs. But I think you will recognize all of these variants as German.
Here we have the kind of Biermadchen sort of Tracht:
( Read more... )
Which of course you can feel free to skip.
There are many street musicians in Germany; they're a part of the landscape. I've seen this guy a number of times in Nurnberg. I have no idea what you call his instrument, other than "interesting."
You can see them bigger at my Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/55411057@N0
There are many street musicians in Germany; they're a part of the landscape. I've seen this guy a number of times in Nurnberg. I have no idea what you call his instrument, other than "interesting."
( Read more... )
You can see them bigger at my Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/55411057@N0
Watching the Subway Series game with the daughter....Bobby Abreu hit a HR and Jeter hit a double off Santana to make it 6-4 Mets....she threw up! That's my girl!
- Mood: amused
1. What were you doing 10 years ago?
Ten years ago I was a mom to a two-year-old, and having the best time of my life!
2. What are 5 things you need to do today?
Well, at our house, today is Sister's Day. This is the day we adopted Little A and she and J became sisters. So, I have to:
- prepare some kind of sweet treat
- Mike and I will take them shopping for a gift to buy for each other (we meant to do it last week)
- sing "Happy Sister's Day"
- get a little weepy
- give and get lots of hugs
3. What are some snacks you enjoy?
I love Skittles.
4. What would you do if you were a billionaire?
Whoa! A billion dollars! I'm still trying to figure out what to do with the hundred dollars I got for Christmas one year.
5. What are 3 bad habits?
- I slouch when I'm at the computer
- I'm obsessive about brushing my teeth
- I put my feet on furniture, even if I'm wearing shoes, even if I'm at your house!
6. Name 5 places you have lived.
- San Diego, CA
- Coulilbistrie, Dominica (West Indies)
- Barcelona, Spain
- Kibbutz Be'eri, Israel
- Portolon, Costa Rica
7. What are 5 jobs have you had?
- Lifeguard and swim instructor
- organic agriculture teacher
- ESL teacher
- wilderness instructor (rock climbing, hiking, canoing, etc.)
- social worker/family counselor
8. And now tag 5 people:
I'm only going to tag one person, for emphasis: Max Meredith Vasilatos
Ten years ago I was a mom to a two-year-old, and having the best time of my life!
2. What are 5 things you need to do today?
Well, at our house, today is Sister's Day. This is the day we adopted Little A and she and J became sisters. So, I have to:
- prepare some kind of sweet treat
- Mike and I will take them shopping for a gift to buy for each other (we meant to do it last week)
- sing "Happy Sister's Day"
- get a little weepy
- give and get lots of hugs
3. What are some snacks you enjoy?
I love Skittles.
4. What would you do if you were a billionaire?
Whoa! A billion dollars! I'm still trying to figure out what to do with the hundred dollars I got for Christmas one year.
5. What are 3 bad habits?
- I slouch when I'm at the computer
- I'm obsessive about brushing my teeth
- I put my feet on furniture, even if I'm wearing shoes, even if I'm at your house!
6. Name 5 places you have lived.
- San Diego, CA
- Coulilbistrie, Dominica (West Indies)
- Barcelona, Spain
- Kibbutz Be'eri, Israel
- Portolon, Costa Rica
7. What are 5 jobs have you had?
- Lifeguard and swim instructor
- organic agriculture teacher
- ESL teacher
- wilderness instructor (rock climbing, hiking, canoing, etc.)
- social worker/family counselor
8. And now tag 5 people:
I'm only going to tag one person, for emphasis: Max Meredith Vasilatos
So yesterday afternoon, while my son was watching TV, I handwrote the rest of my scene. It took some worked, but eventually it started flowing. Then, as I watched TV with my husband last night, ideas came to me on stuff to make it even better when I typed it up. This morning, my husband took my son to a church activity and I stayed home to clean the downstairs (cause we're having company tomorrow) and then I had time left over so I typed up my scene. I rarely say this about my work because I rarely think this, but after I read back through the scene, all I could think was, "Man, I'm awesome!" And since I'm so excited about it, I just can't wait for Teaser Tuesday so instead, I'm gonna do a Sharing Saturday and post a small piece from the scene.
“Riana, wait!” Westley called but she didn’t slow.
She heard him crashing after her. A moment later he grabbed her arm and spun her around. “What is wrong?”
She kept her expression as neutral as possible, grateful for all the years she’d spent on stage. “Nothing.”
“I don’t believe you,” he said.
She gaped at him. “Are you calling me a liar?”
“If nothing is wrong, then why did you storm off?”
“I have things to do.”
He crossed his arms and raised a brow as if to say, “Uh-huh.”
“Are you unhappy that I won?”
She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter to me.”
“And yet, you gave me your favor.” He fingered the scarf tied around his arm. He seemed almost hurt by her attitude. She clenched her teeth and turned away. Feeling bad about offending him was not a good way to keep her distance.
“What is it?” He waited a moment and when she didn’t answer said, “Riana?”
She whirled around. He wasn’t going to leave her alone so she might as well give him a piece of her mind. “You want to know what my problem is?”
“Aye.”
“Your arrogance! I know it wasn’t a battle, but you didn’t take it seriously at all. You could have been hurt.”
He grinned, his midnight eyes softening as he studied her face. She nearly forgot why she was upset.
“You cared for my welfare?” he asked.
She caught herself in time. “No! I just didn’t want to see anyone killed. I don’t think I have the stomach for it.”
His grin never wavered. “You needn’t have worried. Ruben and I are like brothers. He would not have hurt me. This was naught but sport. Had it been real, I’d have taken it seriously.”
Much as she wanted to argue that, no comeback formed on her tongue. “Whatever,” she said and turned to go.
“Wait.”
She sighed. “What?”
“Dadro wishes to speak with you.”
“Who?”
“My father, Tarvik.”
“Oh.” Tarvik was his father? Perhaps there was a resemblance between them. She’d have to look for it later. Wait, what was she thinking? She shouldn’t care about that.
- Mood:
creative - Music:Dark Chest of Wonders -- Nightwish
What were you doing 10 years ago?
I was single, my hair was long, I was 25 lbs thinner, and I was working as a criminal prosecutor. My future DH and I were supposedly "just friends" at the time, so I was trying to figure out if I wanted to date this young radiologist in the apartment downstairs. I was trying to write my current WIP, but my skills weren't there, yet.
What are 5 things you need to do today?
1. Go to a family reunion & waterpark.
2. Consume some caffeine.
3. Do some absolutely-final-before-querying revisions on the first 5 chapters of my book.
4. Read some more of Princess Academy. (I know; I'm late on this one).
5. Buy some gum (had garlic chicken for lunch).
What are some snacks you enjoy?
Popcorn, icees, fruit
What would you do if you were a billionaire?
Quit my job. Go to an estate planner. Start some sort of charitable foundation and institute some scholarships. Volunteer in Hospice and maybe be a CASA volunteer. Buy a new car, donate the old one to Public Radio. Go on a book shopping spree. Do some further home remodeling, but nothing crazy. Buy a pontoon boat. Go to Disney World. Give my close family and friends some nice monetary presents, like paying off their mortgages.
What are 3 bad habits?
You expect me to confess to bad habits?
1. Too obsessive.
2. Too caffeine addicted.
3. Hard to control myself around carbohydrates.
Name 5 places you have lived.
No place particularly interesting. Some places I've visited have been Alaska, Puerto Rico, Norway, Japan, England.
What are 5 jobs you've had?
1. Judicial law clerk
2. Cosmetics Counter Girl
3. Telemarketer
4. Waitress (I was a terrible waitress)
5. Tutor
And now to tag 5 people
Anyone who hasn't done this!
I was single, my hair was long, I was 25 lbs thinner, and I was working as a criminal prosecutor. My future DH and I were supposedly "just friends" at the time, so I was trying to figure out if I wanted to date this young radiologist in the apartment downstairs. I was trying to write my current WIP, but my skills weren't there, yet.
What are 5 things you need to do today?
1. Go to a family reunion & waterpark.
2. Consume some caffeine.
3. Do some absolutely-final-before-querying revisions on the first 5 chapters of my book.
4. Read some more of Princess Academy. (I know; I'm late on this one).
5. Buy some gum (had garlic chicken for lunch).
What are some snacks you enjoy?
Popcorn, icees, fruit
What would you do if you were a billionaire?
Quit my job. Go to an estate planner. Start some sort of charitable foundation and institute some scholarships. Volunteer in Hospice and maybe be a CASA volunteer. Buy a new car, donate the old one to Public Radio. Go on a book shopping spree. Do some further home remodeling, but nothing crazy. Buy a pontoon boat. Go to Disney World. Give my close family and friends some nice monetary presents, like paying off their mortgages.
What are 3 bad habits?
You expect me to confess to bad habits?
1. Too obsessive.
2. Too caffeine addicted.
3. Hard to control myself around carbohydrates.
Name 5 places you have lived.
No place particularly interesting. Some places I've visited have been Alaska, Puerto Rico, Norway, Japan, England.
What are 5 jobs you've had?
1. Judicial law clerk
2. Cosmetics Counter Girl
3. Telemarketer
4. Waitress (I was a terrible waitress)
5. Tutor
And now to tag 5 people
Anyone who hasn't done this!
And I really did try to read all of the backlog of entries, but um...I don't think I can catch up on that volume. So if anything really exciting happened in the last week that you want me to know, you'll have to tell me again.
The short of it: teenagers are great, Germany is gorgeous, I wish I spoke better German, since the American kids came mostly at the end and instead of translating, as I'd expected, I ended up massacring the language. Seeing teenagers really committed to doing something good, and seeing how brothers and sisters who are close to each other really make a difference in helping and supporting each other, was really good. I also ran into a number of people I knew from past stays in Germany, which was really cool. A kid I was primary teacher to when he was seven is now a missionary in Belgium (so, he's 19 now--do I feel old or what???).
And now since I'm massacring the English language as well, I will stop to do a meme that at least two people tagged me for.
1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read the player’s blog.
4. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.
The short of it: teenagers are great, Germany is gorgeous, I wish I spoke better German, since the American kids came mostly at the end and instead of translating, as I'd expected, I ended up massacring the language. Seeing teenagers really committed to doing something good, and seeing how brothers and sisters who are close to each other really make a difference in helping and supporting each other, was really good. I also ran into a number of people I knew from past stays in Germany, which was really cool. A kid I was primary teacher to when he was seven is now a missionary in Belgium (so, he's 19 now--do I feel old or what???).
And now since I'm massacring the English language as well, I will stop to do a meme that at least two people tagged me for.
1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read the player’s blog.
4. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.
What were you doing ten years ago?
Hm, in 1998 I was finishing my masters degree in ESL at the University of Illinois. We lived in a miniscule apartment owned by the university and I still had a year to go. That was also the summer we drove to New York, NJ, and MA with our oldest, who was around 6 months.
What are five things on your to-do list for today (not in any particular order):
1 Hug my family
2. Lie down.
3. Read a book.
4. Brush my teeth.
5. Completely space out and empty my brain and enjoy having the youth trip behind me!
What are some snacks you enjoy?
Any kind of German chocolate (especially if it's Lindt's Weihnachtsschokolade, and yes, I know it's Swiss, not German)
pistacios (and yes, I know it's misspelled)
corn chips (I notice my body craves corn and misses it whenever I'm in Germany for a long time--they don't each much corn here.)
What would you do if you were a billionaire?
Pay off all debts.
Help out my family with financial matters.
Find a way to fund education in Afghanistan. I can read. It's not fair that they can't.
Donate to the Perpetual Education Fund (a fund in places like South American where otherwise smart people who don't have money can get loans to study, and then replenish the loan as they are able so others can study.)
Go visit Britain
Do lots of genealogy.
Buy lots of books!
What are three of your bad habits?
Jumping to conclusions
Not being patient enough
Not liking housework (I would rather read!)
And, no doubt in someone's eyes, not dressing my kids in Strumpfhose all the time.
What are five places where you have lived?
Bonn, Germany
Olmue, Chile (thus my screen name)
Arkansas Ozarks
Charleston, SC
New Jersey
What are five jobs you have had?
Fast food slave
illustrator (university press, educational materials)
editor (university press, educational materials)
writer, of course! (even if I'm still working on the financial renumeration part...)
MOM :)
What six people do you want to tag?
Schrank believes the book’s momentum is ultimately the result of an unusual perfect storm of circumstances. “It is poetic and beautifully written, and conceptually it is extremely strong,” he says. “The topic is perennially fascinating and the characters are deeply relatable. And we were very pleased that when the finished book came out, the look of the physical package perfectly matched the qualities of the book. That doesn’t always happen.”
A glowing article about Friend-of-NYMBC Jay Asher and his book 13 REASONS WHY... check it out.
A glowing article about Friend-of-NYMBC Jay Asher and his book 13 REASONS WHY... check it out.
Out of the 60-something library books we are returning today, these are the few that rose to the top as the favs...
All of us enjoyed...
One Ted Falls Out of Bed by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Anna Currey
The Little Red Hen by Jerry Pinkney
The Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Azel Sheffler (don't miss the first-The Gruffalo)
The Night is Singing by Jacqueline Davies, illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker
My brand new reader has also been reading lots of the little blue Phonics Readers books...A Cat Nap, Pen Pals, and Pat's Jam.
- Mood:
cheerful
dorichaconas meme-tagged me, so here goes:What were you doing 10 years ago?
Trying to build magazine credits and teaching myself how to write. Pretty much in that order.
What are 5 things you need to do today?
1. Unpack my suitcase from Th-Fri St. Louis trip
2. Download photos " " " "
3. Pick up the house
4. Do the crossword from yesterday's paper
5. Clear off my desk
What are some snacks you enjoy?
Buttery popcorn
Kalona cheese curds (warm & squeaky & melty from microwave - yum!)
Triscuits and cheddar
What would you do if you were a billionaire?
Build a new house
Travel
Have a blast giving chunks anonymously to needy people
What are 3 bad habits?
procrastination
snacking
letting stuff pile up on my desk
Name 5 places you have lived.
Only 4:
Blue Grass, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa
near Dixon, Iowa
What are 5 jobs you've had?
small town grocery store clerk/stocker
truck stop waitress
JCPenney associate
secretary
teacher's aide
Who do you want to tag?
l_skeerssuzellelisaalbertbrendaferberProfile
- meredith_wood
- Meredith Wood
Panthan's Crucible Progress
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- tlcadence : First contest [+0]
- susanwrites : Things I wonder about crummy first drafts [+6]
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- olmue : Random things on a Sunday [+0]
- ebenstone : Knowing You Are Loved [+2]
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- bbovenguy : Big Sky at morning, hikers take warning... It's freakin' hot! [+2]
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- olmue : various pictures of where I've been lately [+8]
- ebenstone : Light Note # 2 [+0]
- jennifer_d_g : The Meme... I've been tagged by Robin [+14]
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- lizzy_lyn : That Meme going around [+1]
- olmue : I'm back! [+3]
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notyourmothers :: literaticat : 13 reasons why... [+0] - whimsybooks : Our Favorite Library Picks [+0]
- jillsbooks : I've been tagged [+0]