OMG, My First Tag!

Okay, I know that these kinds of memes or tags or whatever are really popular in blogs, but this is my first one. I'm so honored that Trish tagged me. (I know, it's kind of geeky for me to say that, but if you read this blog, you know I can be a little geeky now and then.)

So, here are the answers:

7 Things I Want to Do Before I Die:

1. Dip my toes in the Mediterranean again.
2. Adopt a child. (Or three...)
3. Take my dad on an awesome trip somewhere because he totally deserves it.
4. Go to a Hollywood permiere.
5. Finish building our dream home.
6. Make the New York Times Best Seller List (Yes, stolen from Trish's list, but it's true!)
7. Own a really new car.

7 Things I Can't Do:

1. Ski. I almost broke my leg trying to learn when I was 15.
2. Drive fast. (Ask anyone who'd been behind my slow butt in traffic.)
3. Do that curling tongue thing. How do people do that?
4. Let go of the past sometimes. (Working on it!)
5. Not eat chocolate.
6. Parachute? I'm guessing here, since I've never done it.
7. Tango.

7 Things That Attracted Me to My Spouse:

1. He's strong.
2. He's funny.
3. He gets me most of the time.
4. He's handsome.
5. He has a good heart.
6. He likes to be goofy (which is totally different than funny).
7. He believes in me and my goals.

7 Things I Say (Or Write) Most Often:

1. Holy crap or variations like crow, cow, crapola, etc.
2. You're missing the magic word...
3. Cookies! (To call the dogs.)
4. Boone, don't eat that!
5. Honey, the *insert random appliance* isn't working again!
6. Hello? Are you new?
7. No way...

7 Books (or Series) I Love:

You only get seven? Here are my latest and greatest.

1. the Harry Potter series
2. Pride & Prejudice
3. Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series
4. Elmore Leonard's books.
5. Jenny Crusie's books.
6. Anne Rice's books -- these are also awesome as audiobooks
7. Bridget Jones' Diary (Laugh every time I reread it)

7 Movies I Would Watch Over and Over Again:

1. Magnolia (Fascinating characters.)
2. Four Weddings & a Funeral (Love Andi & Hugh together.)
3. About a Boy (Just rewatched this one. Lovely, human characters. Heart and Wit.)
4. Rockstar (Obsessed with watching this when it comes on VH1. Can't explain.)
5. Phantom of the Opera (Love this soundtrack, too. Am I the only one who feels bad for the phantom at the end? Learn to be Lonely, bah humbug!)
6. Sixteen Candles (I love the ending when Jake shows up at the church.)
7. Get Shorty (The dialogue is sooo good and funny.)

7 People I Want to Join In (In other words, tag, you're it!):

Okay, I'm not going to tag people, because duh, I'm not sure who has blogs! So, if you know me, love me, read this blog, whatever -- you're it. Hm...I'm counting... that should be about four people.

Back with a normal blog soon. Until then, go read Miss Snark's blog. She's got the "Crap-o-Meter" out again and is using it to rate synopses. She's at www.misssnark.blogspot.com if you haven't been there.

Deal or no Deal?

Yes, I'm a baaaaad blogger. It's been way too long since my last post, but life has been crazy.

Last week, my ancient car died, so my DH and I had to go through the grueling process of buying a replacement vehicle. Downside -- dealing with dealerships.

What's with the typical guy comment that my DH made as we strolled on the first dealership's lot? "Let me do all the talking?" Ugh!

Of course in the second dealership's office where we waited for the salesman to prepare the purchase papers, DH's tune had changed to, "Wow! Honey, you're a good negotiator! How did you know to say that?"

"Well," I said, "while you had your head under the car and were on the phone with your mechanic buddy, I was chatting up the salesman, who told me how long the car had been on the lot, how he really liked to blow the cars out at a discount after a certain number of days, and how he'd rather lose money on a sale but gain a repeat client." DH was suitably impressed. Salesman told my DH to come back in 2006 for another car, but to leave me at home next time. :)

So, that was great, but the biggest upside of the deal was that for the first time in thirteen years, I'll be driving a car not inherited from a dead relative. Yay!

Boone and Katie had waited in DH's truck while we dealt with the car stuff and Boone apparently was in a partying mood -- he completely shredded the Auto Trader magazine into confetti. Parade anyone?

The dogs both love the new rig. It has a fold-down seat, so Boone's crate will fit in the back, and both of them can walk around to stretch their furry little legs. And so far, knock on wood, Boone's found nothing to shred.

In writing news -- working on my new paranormal YA MS, which I am loving. Set the other YA manuscript aside to mellow for awhile before I figure out how to fix it. My page goal this week is two chapters. Bold, with the holidays coming up, but with the DH driving and my Alphasmart on my lap, I'm pretty sure I can get it done.

BTW, did I mention the new car has an overhead reading light just above the passenger's front seat? I can finally write at night, which will be a big relief from watching hubby's driving on the long and winding road to the city.

Happy writing!

Stories are Like...

When I first started writing, I thought that each story was a "baby" you birthed, raised, sent out into the world, hoped would make a decent living, etc.

Now, I'm starting to think that stories might be like dance partners. You pick one out across the crowded room in your mind and ask it to dance.

Some are so-so looking, but are good dancers. They surprise you by teaching you new moves, and when you're done, you can't believe the night is over because you had so much fun.

Some are hunky at first glance, but the poor clods can't dance a step. If you spend time partnering with them, you'll have to teach them to cha-cha-cha and tango and that could take forever.

But the thing is -- you can't tell from appearances -- you have to let the music begin and take a few steps together. Write a chapter, start a synopsis, check your partner out.

And there's nothing wrong with telling a story to sit the next song out so you can look for a better suited partner. It's your party and you can bail if you want to... well, within the first few songs. After that, you may already be married to the guy.

I guess as writers, we all like to think that our stories are all worth developing, and that with our skills, we should be able to whip any story into shape. But, looking at it from a time perspective -- would you rather start something that's going to be fun and moving, or something that will be drudgery?

Okay, you may want to flog me with your manuscripts that prove me wrong or accuse me of being super lazy, but I really think if I'm not feeling the passion for my story, no one else will either. If I have to manufacture the passion -- the reader can tell and so can I! Ugh.

There's plenty of hard work to come in the latter stages of writing a novel -- so why not have fun? Don't just love the one you're with. At least not at first.