Really, Officer...I didn't mean it!
Most of you may think I lead an uneventful life, and much of the time you'd be correct. The extent of my excitement is usually doing homework (as of late at least). Thursday night it all changed. You all think I'm this sweet, innocent young woman. I bet you all think I'd never do anything wrong or illegal. All I have to say to you is, HA!!
I've never claimed to be the best driver. My sister might disagree with me on this point, but I swear, I've never made such a claim. See, I have this thing...shhhh...come closer and I'll tell you. A little closer...closer now...closer...I have a lead foot. SHHHH! Don't say it too loudly, or else everyone else will find out my secret. It's true. I come by it honestly. My grandfather (who taught me to drive) has one, and so does my aunt (who's old Nissan was my first car). So you see? I really can't be blamed for my behavior.
I could even blame my car. She's always doing some strange sh*t. Like trying to strangel my friend Christina, whenever she rides in it. Don't know what's up with that.
Unfortunately, Officer Tall, Dark and Handsome would likely disagree with me on this point. Especially at 11pm, driving home from Issaquah. There I was, minding my own business, cruising along, when I see these extraordinarily bright lights begin to flash behind me. Thinking that maybe he just needs to pass, I move over.
He followed.
I move over again.
He followed.
I can no longer convince myself he's not after me. *sigh* Pull the car over to the side of the road. Turn down the radio, dig out my wallet, roll down my driver's side window.
Wait, where did he go?
Oh...he's on the otherside of the car. Probably a good idea. Wouldn't want him to get smooshed by all the other wacko drivers out there. Roll up driver's side, roll down passenger side.
Not too much exciting from this point. He took my license, my proof of insurance and my registration, went to check that I wasn't a felon on the lam, and let me off with a warning. No more driving 70 in 60 mph zone.
On an up note, I must have looked so pathetic that I didn't even have to break out the tears.
Procrastinating (or why I love my family)
Procrastination is an interesting word. Depending on your personality, it is either the bane of your existance, or else your best friend. If you're in the middle of your book, it's not so bad. If you've extended your deadline with your editor twice, and you're coming up on the last three days with 8 chapters to write...well, not so good. See how that works?
I'm the queen of procrastination. I know I've mentioned this before, but I'll say it again. Even today, when I'm sure I could be doing something school related during my class break, I'm sitting here surfing the net and waiting for emails to come in. I could be writing for goodness sake! Well, I could, except I did not bring my alpha-dumb with me. So there goes that idea.
As for why I love my family...well they help me with this of course! I mean, what better way to procrastinate working (whether on my book or homework) than by going for a bike ride with Mom? Or a movie with my Aunt or visiting relatives? They make it so easy! Of course, then there is the flipside. Tomorrow I get to spend about 4 hours (give or take an hour) in a car with Mom, H, Lil Sis and Nana. Hmmm...me thinks headphones may be in order here. Or at least an anti-anxiety med ;)
She's worried about you...
So, Saturday was quite the morning for me. I went to work and in the space of 15 minutes my coworker freaked out on me for helping, apologized for freaking out on me, and told me that another coworker is worried about me. Now this second coworker, we'll just call her T, never remembers me, so I'm confused that she is worried about me. We see each other at many work related meetings, and she always reintroduces herself to me. Now, I don't take this personally, as we've only ever actually worked together a couple of times. Apparently the most recent time was more memorable. When I asked why T was worried, L's reply was that I need a man. And that T is in Israel. Now the first comment out is, "What? Is she bringing me someone home?" No, apparently not. Still, strange.
After about 20 minutes of pondering why T is worried about my single status, I decided to send a message along to her. I asked L to thank T for me. I mean, really, there's nothing wrong with more people keeping their eyes open. And she has many a connection in the Jewish community out here, so really no harm there.
L repeats that T is very worried. When I ask why, L says, "She wants to find you a husband". Um...how am I supposed to respond to this?
So I jokingly inform her that I'd settle for a date at this moment. L proceeds to tell me to call T (again, who never remembers me) when she returns from Israel to find out about the man she has for me.
Uh-huh. Yeah...see, not going to hold my breath on this one. If she's got someone for me, she can call me to let me know. Or better yet, give him my phone number. Can't hurt, right?
Sometimes I just have to be a goof
Because you've always wanted to know...
Lil Sis and I on our ATV adventureBecause I know you've always wanted to know what I do in my spare time.
A few thoughts on writing...
So here I sit, doing homework, and for once I can't complain about it too much. I'm studying how to teach writing. "Ah," you say. "I see. So you're excited because this is one of your favorite topics!" You'd say this, and you would be right. One of the best parts about being part of a writing groups like Eastside RWA (or RWA National) and Chick Lit Writers of the World, is the focus on helping to make better writers. ERWA has spent the last year focusing on craft. We've had speakers on topics ranging from plotting to characterization to layering your scenes. Each meeting has addressed the need to educate in order to make better, and I love it! What really struck me though, about my homework is how applicable it is to my real life right now. I'm studying about the importance of things like Voice, Word Choice and Sentence Fluency. While I read these sections, I marvel at how important it is for me to hear right now. I've been feeling lost and a bit disconnected from writing for the last month or so. I haven't been able to attend the workshops and meetings that feed my soul with the all important energy and desire to write. This reading, though, has given some of that spark back. It's welcomed me back into the world of writing, from which I have felt so disconnected.
So, I'm back! And I'm leaving. But before I go, here's a quote for us all to ponder. "The writer must learn how to stalk the inner voice." Ralph Fletcher, What a Writer Needs, 1993.
It's been a busy few days...
In the world of the other writers in my life. The Girls, my dearest friends, were at The Writing Conference this last weekend. Much excitement was had, as evidenced by their blogs. For pics from dinner, karoake and twister, check out
Serena's Blog. While you're there, also check out the rockin'
cover for her book, due out in May. You can pre-order it
here. Also check out
Shannon's blog for some great information as to why you should attend your regional/local writer's conferences. I agree with it all 100%. Also,
Christina has a new blog, complete with pics and a look-see into her crazy life.
In other news, my eye is still twitching. It has now been 4 days. You'd think I'd be used to it by now.
So...go check out these wonderful ladies!
The muse at work...
Interestingly enough, my friend
Shannon posted on this a while back. I found myself pondering the issue of my muse the other day. It seems to me that all writers fear the end of ideas. Some more than others. With as busy as I've been the last couple of weeks, I fear the end of time. As in, not enough time for everything. As most of you know, I am frantically trying to finish off my current WIP in hopes of getting to revisions, and eventually submissions. In the midst of all this madness, I was hit straight upside the head by my muse. "A witch book!" she cried, smacking me again. "Well fine," was my answer. "But not now, I'm kind of busy, in case you didn't notice." My muse, stubborn thing that she is, didn't care. "Look! Look how great this idea is!" And so she granted me a peak at the opening scene. *sigh* She's right. It is a great idea. One that will be oh, so much fun to write. But alas, it will wait.
"You're going to forget it," she warned.
"Yeah, maybe. But see, that's why I wrote it down. Now I have the bare bones and can go back to my regularly scheduled life."
"Ha!" she mocked. Yes, I have a rather sarcastic muse. She doesn't like to be ignored, and she certainly doesn't like to wait. Instant Gratification, that's her thing.
To spite her, I worked more on the WIP. Ha! That'll show her.
So now I have my WIP, which still talks to me ad nauseum. It wants to be finished already. Shayna and Nate are done goofing around. They want to know if Mom and Bubbe are finally going to leave. Heck, I want to know if they are ever going to leave. In the meantime, the characters with no names (nope, the muse doesn't like to help out quite that much) are dancing a polka in my brain, screaming, "Pick us! Pick us!"
*sigh* No one said being a writer was easy.
Writing or...
Homework. That is the question.
Sadly, homework has won the war. So, while the girls are all off at the Emerald City Writers Conference, I'm here doing...homework. It's really such a dirty word. It strikes fear, anguish, angst and heartburn in to the soles of many. In my case, it's mostly reading this week, plus the beginnings on a few papers (rough drafts I believe) that I have to turn in this upcoming week.
**Side Note** this is the first time in 4 years I am not going to this Conference.
So anyway, Have fun ladies! But not too much fun. You all better miss me!
L'shanah Tova!
First off, I want to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year. May all our wishes come true this year.
In other news, I have the dubious honor (or should that be horror) of being the student who the teacher made cry yesterday. I'm not going to go into great detail (cuz really it's not worth it). But suffice it to say, he was trying to prove a point to us as a class, and I got caught in the middle of it. Throw in already stressed out and PMSing, and really, it's just not a good combo. On the flipside, his lesson was highly effective because of my reaction. I'll never forget it.
In other news, I am 6 chapters away from the end of my WIP. *cheering wildly* I just might make it through this one.
And speaking of my writing, don't you all love when real life and writing life collide? This quarter my literacy class is focusing on writing. The books the teacher has assigned are fabulous! They read very conversationally, and they all reiterate much of what I've learned in the many workshops I've gone to as a writer. This way of teaching writing is very real to me, and makes me very excited to get out there and teach it.
Interestingly enough, it also prompted an idea for book. I've now gone from the usual mid-book freak out of "I'll never have another idea again!" to three possible ideas to choose from when the day comes. Woohoo!
Aaaahhhh, sweet Serenity...
I don't have much time, as I desperately need to finish my homework for the night, but go see SERENITY!! This movie could quite possibly take the place of the Star Wars Trilogy as my favorite movie. It had it all: humor, suspense, space ships, cute guys, kick ass action sequences...did I mention the cute guys? Joss Whedon, I bow down to you. I thought the Firefly series was amazing, and the movie completely lived up to everyone of my expectations. I won't ruin the ending for anyone, but I was definitely on the edge of my seat through the end.
Now, back to my regularly schedule Science Methods homework. If I finish it quickly, I can start working on the last 8 pages of Chapter 14.
