Oh, how we love Marfa.

Barbara Kingsolver says,

"Close the door. Write with no one looking over your shoulder. Don't try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It's the one and only thing you have to offer."

I needed to hear that. I also needed to clean and organize our spare room so that it's a space I want to write in. So that I'm surrounded by things that inspire me, but also so that the clutter is gone. Maybe fung shui is real. Who am I to argue with the Ming dynasty? The room feels better to be in--that's all I know.

I also posted all my rejection letters from agents on one wall. I could only find eleven of them, and I know I should have at least twenty, but it's a good start. And in my defense, a couple of them aren't rejection letters--they are requests for partials or my entire ms, even though in the end they were rejections. But I digress.

I walk into the room now and I want to do just what Barbara Kingsolver says. Close the door. Write...

The Kardashians have moved into our laundry room.

No, not THOSE Kardashians. I'm talking about my new family of red wigglers, the tiny worms that are hard at work in my new vermicomposting bin.


Now, we'll be able to recycle all of our fruit and veggie scraps, as well as tea and coffee grounds, eggshells, egg cartons, stale bread, old copies of the Chronicle, tons of stuff. The Kardashians will change it from trash into the best plant food that you can find anywhere.
I learned all about vermicomposting, and lots of other cool stuff at a training I went to this week through the
Sustainable Food Center of Austin. We spent time helping at a local farm, built and planted some additional raised beds at our school garden, and learned about local programs that educate teachers, students, and parents to make the planet a nicer place.
And right now, our home is a nicer place thanks to the Kardashians!

C'mon, the only other families I could think of were the Rockefellers, the Clown-Arounds, the Munsters and the Jacksons.

In case you haven't heard Nathan and me talking like little kids on Christmas lately, we finally got a Wii.

We've also gotten, shall I say, a tad carried away with creating Miis, which are the animated characters you can create, name and play with on all the games.
Then, last night we had the best time making our little Miis play baseball with each other.
Here is the breakout of teams:

Team Rosie:
Rosie (pitcher)
Amy
Tori
Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Bjork
Kurt Cobain
Pootie (who is one fierce trollop)
John Goodman
Mia Michaels

Team Jesus:
Jesus (pitcher)
Nathan
Ellen
Mary Murphy
Nigel
Barbara
Joy
Whoopi
Elizabeth

It was hysterical watching Tori catch fly-balls from Ellen, Jesus pitch to John Goodman, and Whoopie hit foul balls into the crowd.
Just picture it for a minute. So, so awesomely great.

Also, as soon as we get another nunchuk, we'll be able to box with two people, and then we can have a celebrity deathmatch between Rosie and Elizabeth. Stay tuned...
I'm putting my money on Rosie.

Is there really anything to complain about when you lose weight?

Yes, actually.
I'm now too thin for my fat pants, but too big for my skinny pants.
What in the blazes did I wear when I was in the middle last time?

Summer is here again.

For most people who live in Texas, that's not such a great thing.
For teachers who live in Texas (or anywhere else for that matter), it's a glorious thing.

This year's annual summer playlist is already concocted and ready to be shared. Let me know if you'd like a copy. Making summer mixtapes is one of my rituals, and I sort of wish it was a ritual for everyone, because how great would that be? And you guys all know that when I say mixtape, I really mean mixCD, right? It's just so much cooler and nostalgic to say mixtape. I think I still have some of favorite old mixtapes in a dusty box in the top of my closet. The one from my best friend, Amber, in 7th grade that was full of Suzanne Vega, Morrisey, and was my first introduction to Tori. The one from one of my high school boyfriends, Zach, that showcased early Oasis, Pavement, the Jesus and Mary Chain, and the first song on both sides was our song, Hold My Hand, by Hootie and the Blowfish. Which one of the mixtapes would you say was cooler? To find the answer, stay tuned until the end of this post.

I also have lost a total of 5 pounds on our new Abs-Diet-workout-5-days-a-week-alternating-cardio-and-weights-Diet/Intervention Plan. I pulled out three of my favorite old skirts that I can no longer wear appropriately in public as motivation. My goal is to be able to wear them on our trip to Marfa for our anniversary.

In other news, we start our ballroom dancing class on Thursday. I absolutely can't wait. We may get there and find the only other people in the class are our friends who we convinced to sign up, but that would still be great.

The answer is A, the coolest mixtape was the one from my best friend in 7th grade, Amber. Because even though it did have Primus, it also had the live version of Somebody by Depeche Mode, and that makes it infinitely cooler.

I should probably blog.

It's been a while.
But all I'm doing at the moment is working six days a week,
trying to say "yes" to weight training and cardio and "no" to junk food,
going to bed before 10 on a regular basis because of allergies or exhaustion,
and trying to bring myself to face rewriting the end of my book.
Again.
So when you put all that together, it's not so much fun.
And not so much the stuff of great blogs.
I'm sure you understand.

Another rejection in the mail today. And I quote Albert Einstein,

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds."

In other news, I only have six more days of school until vacation, and I plan to:
1. Sleep in until a ridiculously late, ungodly hour.
2. Work on my writing at the coffee shop.
3. Watch a marathon of the latest season of Gilmore Girls on DVD. Shut up! I dare you to watch ONE episode and not be totally hooked. They're like crack. With fewer side-effects.
4. Knit a gorgeous scarf.
5. Finish reading Cold Sassy Tree.

In that order.
Well, there's a good chance that I'll knit while watching Gilmore Girls. So combine those.
Oh yeah. I'm almost thirty. How did that happen?

I have a new Getting Published Theme Song.

After yet another rejection from yet another agent, I've decided to change my Getting Published Theme Song.

Previously, my theme song was "Take a Chance on Me" by ABBA.

(shown here in its original glory)


My new Getting Published Theme Song is.....drumrolllllllll......"I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" by Diana Ross and the Supremes!
Fitting, no?

(live performance here with Ms. Ross and Stevie Wonder as a youngin.)

I don't know if any other writers have had luck with theme songs per se, but I really think having one is helpful for me. That way I can play it in my car and sing it to myself when I feel discouraged. I mean, I had a Teacher Survival Theme Song about six years ago, which was "Surviver" by Destiny's Child and it basically kept me from quitting. So, I think theme songs are important. I'd recommend getting one, if you don't already have one.

If you happen to pick the song "When I See You Smile," I'd recommend this version.


Not this one.

Writing news

So, two things are going on in my writing life.

1. I'm participating in National Novel Writing Month which has been really good. I'm only up to 8000 right now, and the big goal is 50,000 words, but I'm writing Young Adult, which is usually shorter. Also, keep in mind that my last book took three and a half years to write. When you look at it that way, I'm doing really well! This is my author's profile page if you want to take a peek at an excerpt, my other writing friends, etc.

2. Since hearing "no thank you" from the last promising agent, I revised my query letter and sent out a batch of ten cold queries. This time I targeted agents who specialize in YA. (The last batch was mainly the agents I met at the writers' conference last summer.) So far, I've heard back from five. Three said, "Not for us." One wanted the first 30 pages. And one wanted the entire ms, which is super-flattering, although at this point, it doesn't guarantee anything. I revised the whole thing (yet again) and dropped it in the mail today.

So far, my total record for ms requests is 4 for 15. Not too shabby.

I've come to a crucial decision.

When I become a best-selling author, and Nathan and I buy the house of our dreams, it's going to have a self-cleaning kitchen.

If self-cleaning kitchens aren't available and/or invented at that time, I may have to personally contact the United States Patent Office. I mean, this is a great idea. And anyway, they had one on the Jetsons.


I think if you have a really good contractor, he/she should be able to modify a kitchen such as this one into a self-cleaning kitchen, no problem. Minus the wicker chairs, obviously.

Towanda! Righter of wrongs! Queen beyond compare!

Fried Green Tomatoes was on Lifetime tonight.
Still no lit agent.
And Nathan wants to drop cable and get a mac tv.
But here's the problem. If we did that, I wouldn't know what new shows to watch.

So it's been awhile since my last post.

Sorry about that, but I have some good excuses. Well, sort of.

1. I just got a new position for the fall. I'm going to be the Language Arts Instructional Specialist at my school. Most middle schools and high schools have instructional specialists for both English and Math. In some places, they're called instructional coaches, or curriculum specialists, or maybe something else I don't know about. What it really means is that I won't have regular classes, but I'll be supporting all the other language arts teachers with their lessons and planning and so on. I'm anticipating days full of meetings and observations, but I'm excited about the challenge. It's also considered a promotion, and the recognition feels really nice.

2. I'm still waiting to hear back from the literary agent in NY. By tomorrow, they should have had my MS for five weeks, so it's getting close to the point that I'll hear back. Every day I get a rush of adrenaline as I walk to the mailbox, and every day I feel disappointed as I open it to find crappy catalogs, bills and credit card offers. Sometimes I even check the mail twice a day, just in case. I'm not so good at waiting.

3. We took a break from marathons of Meerkat Manor and went to the Alamo on Friday night to see the new Die Hard movie. I had never seen any of them (although now I have!) and it was fantastically fun. I highly recommend it. Yippie-ki-yay!

4. I'm already back to school, even though it's not August yet. Last week I had meetings and planning sessions. Starting tomorrow I'm helping with a two-week transition camp for incoming 6th graders. The kids will probably be really little and cute. I sort of wish they could stay that way....

5. I've gotten my YouTube fix lately, and in the meantime, discovered that America loves two things: Star Wars



and Legos.


And...Star Wars and Legos together.

Tennis, anyone?

Sometimes Nathan and I get these crazy ideas. Like that time we decided to buy a toy $20 cotton-candy maker from Walgreens, and it sort of worked one time, before it burned out.

Our new thing is tennis. Yes, tennis. (This may have come from Nathan watching some Wimbledon while we were at my parents' house over the fourth, but I'm not sure.) Also, the pool at our apartments is closed for renovations, so we can't work out by swimming. Great timing, guys! But I digress.

So we talked about it, got all excited, bought racquets and balls at Target, and then went with Jenny and Stace to play doubles. Apparently there are tennis courts at this park right behind our apartment. Who knew?

I am happy to report that even though I'm currently one step above sucking, I really, really like tennis. I like a sport! With the exemption of skiing, I've never been very athletic, but I am super competitive, as many of you know. So that's working in my favor as I try to improve. Today Stacy and I went in the late morning to play, and she helped me correct the way I swing my racquet. The other great thing is that even if you have to chase a tennis ball around, you're STILL buring calories. Nice!

Right now someone in New York is reading my manuscript.

Okay, maybe not right at this very second.

But there's a good chance.

And all this excitment and nervousness is giving me acid reflux in the meantime.

Big News for Violet

I've been waiting patiently (okay, not so patiently) for a response from a New York literary agency. I won't say the name of the agency, because I don't want to jinx myself. If you're curious enough, you can look at previous posts and follow the clues. Which could be a really fun game if you don't have anything better to do. Anyway, they asked for the first twenty pages after I sent them a cold query a while back.

So....I just got their response, and as I pulled the envelope out of our mailbox, it was exactly like a movie, with that whole shaft of light shining down from heaven thing, along with the angelic voices raised together, just like in the Disney cartoon of the Sword and the Stone, or in Ghost, when Patrick Swayze decides to stay on Earth to be with Demi even though their chances for sexy pottery scenes are slim to none at that point. Him being a ghost and all.

Fast forward to the important bits: "If you have not already secured representation, we would be pleased to consider your entire manuscript. Please mail it to the address above and again, please mark the envelope 'Requested Materials.' We look forward to receiving your entire manuscript."

Yay! Double yay! I'm sending it by Monday at the latest, after I take another look at the whole thing. Keep your fingers crossed for Violet! And for me.

Memorial Day Movie Marathon

To celebrate the holiday and the new DVD player, we had a movie marathon today. We only had one criteria for film selections: Must be a movie that either Nathan or I, or both haven't already seen.

The movies we've seen so far today:
1. Shaun of the Dead (selection inspired by Hot Fuzz)
2. My Super Ex-Girlfriend (last minute selection inspired by rent-one, get-one-free night)
3. The Queen (we already had this little gem from netflix)
4. Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (Hello! I knew only a fraction of this story, and it's craaaaazzzzy.)
5. Curse of the Golden Flower (Chinese fighting movie, which inspired our Chinese food delivery)
6. Steel Magnolias (inspired by the fact that NO, I've never seen it. I HAVE seen the play at a dinner theater, and the whole thing takes place in a beauty shop, but unfortunately the one I saw didn't feature Dolly Parton and Darryl Hannah.)
Hopefully we will have time for:
7. Bobby
And to watch this week while Nathan is at work:
8. Gilmore Girls Season 3

Summer is here! Well, basically here.

I have five days of school left, and after reading Erika's list of all the stuff she's looking forward to this summer, I had to post my list too.

1. I'm excited about working on my second book, and hearing back from agents on my first.

2. I'm excited about sleeping in. Ahhhh.

3. I'm excited about working on sewing with Jenny. I've always wanted to learn to sew, and Jenny was kind enough to offer to help me.

4. I'm excited about using the gazelle to workout while watching marathons of my favorite shows.

5. I'm excited about meeting Stacy at Epoch or Thunderbird Cafe during the day, and playing this awesome word game called Syzygy. Yes, it's a word game, and if I explain it to you, it won't sound fun. Stacy already agreed to play it with me, and I predict she kicks my you-know-what.

6. I'm excited about going to visit my parents for the 4th of July and the two things on the agenda: laying in the hammock and playing bocce ball.

7. I'm excited about swimming at our apartment pool, and even better--breaking out our pool toys from last year.

I had a relapse.

That's right. Tonight, I fell off the wagon and watched the final four perform on American Idol.
I broke up with Idol months ago, but tonight I was weak. I felt myself giving in, and I couldn't say no.

That, and the only other things on are Dateline, George Lopez, U.S. Poker, Tori and Dean: Inn Love, Cops, and Flavor of Love. I know what you're thinking. Why am I not watching Tori and Dean? Because that's hard-hitting, quality reality television. I know, I know. But it's a rerun and I've already seen it.

What to do if you still haven't heard back about a job you really, really want.

1. Unwrap four Dove dark chocolate pieces. Put in a ramekin.

2. Add a couple of spoonfuls of your favorite peanut butter.

3. Heat in fifteen-second intervals at 50% power in microwave. Stir between each fifteen-second interval.

4. When thoroughly melted, drizzle over a gigantic single scoop of Dreyer's Slow Churned Vanilla ice cream.

5. Ahhhhh. Job? What job?

We'll see.

Because I'm not so sure I'm going to get the job at the new school that I reeeeaaaalllly want. The interview went pretty well. They were poker-faced for the most part, so it was hard to tell.

I should know for sure before May 1. I hope to find out before that, like in the next week or so. I know they're on a fast timeframe, and if I have to wait the full two weeks to find out, I might lose it. I know that I have so much to offer, but I also might not be the most "attractive candidate." For example, I don't have my masters, I've taught for under 10 years, I've only taught in two different districts, stuff like that. I hope they can see through all that to my strengths.

I also found out in the interview that over 100 teachers applied for a transfer within the district alone, not to mention anyone coming in from out of the district or out of the state. I looked up the available positions, and it looks like they need to hire between 20 and 25 people, with about three different positions that I could be offered. You do the math.

I feel a little discouraged, but I still think I have a chance. If I don't get in this year, I do plan to try next year. But for moment, I'm still trying to think positive. Because you never know.

Things are good.

Very, very good.

1. The dogs are better, and running around playing Growl Game like nothing ever happened.

2. I got another request for the first 20 pages of my manuscript, which I am sending out tomorrow. This request came from a long-established literary agency in New York, (which represented John Steinbeck!), and when I read the request letter, I started crying.

3. On Saturday, I have an interview for a teaching position at another school here in Austin, and if I land it, I will pretty much consider it my dream job. Other than writing full time. So I guess it would be my dream teaching job. I don't want to say anything else about where it is or anything, because I don't want to jinx myself. More on that later.

4. We bought a "Gazelle" on Craigslist about a week ago. You've seen the infomercials, I'm sure. It's that gliding workout machine with that crazy dude Tony Little, who says, "You can do iiiiiit!" We've used it every single day since we picked it up. I like it because it's fun. Nathan likes it because it doesn't strain his back. We both like it because we can workout inside. If you've ever spent a summer in Texas, you know that cardio outdoors is not for the weak of heart.

5. The infamous TAKS test is coming up not this week, but next, and I feel ready for it. Or rather, I feel my kids are ready for it.
After the test, it's a mad rush to summer, which is always a beautiful thing.

Another two responses from agents today in the mail.

One said, "I'm sorry. I must pass." Which was at least handwritten. I appreciate that.

One said, "If you have not already secured representation, we would be pleased to consider your manuscript for possible representation." I am SO happy right now. I am grinning. I'm even breaking my diet to have a celebratory pale ale. Nathan made delicioso meatballs and both my dogs are healthy and happy. Did I mention that I'M happy for that matter?

Still stuck.

That's me. Stuck. Trying to revise the end of my book as suggested by my hopefully-would-be agent.

It's not working.

I'm tired.
And also sick.
Not the normal "sick and tired" that you've probably heard a teacher or parent speak of, oh no. I mean tired and sick.
The tired is from not sleeping more than 2-3 hours at a time because of Maisy, our still-new puppy. She has taught me that even if you sleep as many as nine hours in a single night, you can still feel like a zombie.

On to the sick.
I have something. I don't know what it is. It feels like a mash-up of the flu with a sinus infection I had two years ago. Add in massive allergies, like those hazy people in the Claritin commercials. Only the really annoying thing is that I'm not that sick. I'm just sick enough to feel like crap if I go to work, but bored if I stay home. This pretty much sucks. I hope that whatever I have, it's the 24-hour stuff.

Thank you to Nathan for pointing out that I can use my bored sick day tomorrow to work on revisions.

Violet...the Lost Chapter

So, an update. I am not done with my first book. I thought I was. I am already hard at work on the second book. But that's beside the point.

The agent who asked to see my whole manuscript really likes it. She also really likes the idea of a series, BUT she still thinks the end of my book needs to be more fleshed out. I can see her point, but it's frustrating, to put it lightly. I keep telling myself, SHE is the expert. And maybe I'm too close to the material to really see the whole picture. And Nathan and I did agree that the end was like a mad dash. (I mean, you should have seen my first draft, it defined the expression "bare bones.") And while some things can be left up in the air, it still needs to feel resolved. It may be one part of a series, but it should still feel like a complete book. Duh.

Soooooo, all that to say, I am writing the lost chapter of Violet. Not a chapter that I intend to tack onto the end of the book, oh no. I'm strategically writing it as the next to last chapter, and keeping my final chapter pretty much as is. I hope that my first draft will be done by the end of this week, and then I can send a revised ending to the aforementioned agent.

This is quite a process. Have I already said that?

More good news for Violet.

Today I got an email from my potential agent who said that she loves my manuscript (yay!) but that it's not done (well, true!) and she asked me to think about writing 2-3 chapters to complete the book.
I sent her back an email that apologized for neglecting to mention (oops!) that I'm planning this as the first installment in a series.
I also told her that I'm working on my second book, which (thank goodness!) I've already begun.

I'll let you guys know what she says from there. She might not be interested, but I'm thinking good thoughts and listening to lots of Beyonce.

I'm partway through Steven King's On Writing,

which is one of the best, if not THE BEST, book I've read on the subject. Until this morning, when I came upon a terrifying suggestion from Mr. King. (It has nothing to do with the genre of horror, either.)

He strongly suggests that I stop watching TV if I want to get serious about being a writer. I repeat, STOP watching TV.

I have a list of reasons why I should continue to watch TV on a regular basis. I mean, doesn't TV give me material for my writing? Shouldn't I stay updated on current events, not to mention have exposure to teenage cultural icons, which I need if I'm going to keep writing young adult fiction???

Maybe.

But I have to admit, Mr. King makes a good point. If I devoted all the time I spend watching TV every week to reading and writing, I would probably be twice as productive.

But I also know me. And I know that I can't give TV up completely. So I made another list. This is a list of the TV shows I'm going to watch. The only ones I will watch from now on:
1. The Sarah Silverman Program (So funny, so politically incorrect, I love it.)
2. The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency (I know, I know... But I'm totally addicted.)
3. Whatever "Top" show happens to be on (Top Design, Top Chef, Project Runway, etc.)
4. The Simpsons (which will give me more than enough cultural fodder, plus come on, it's genius.)
5. Best Week Ever (which will also fill me in on the best moments from all the reality shows I'm not watching anymore!)

You don't see American Idol listed here, because it comes on three nights a week and sometimes runs for two hours at a time and is (in the words of Lelaina Pierce) a "Master at the Art of Time Suckage."
If I really want to know the status of my favorites, like Melinda Doolittle, I can check the website to see if they make it to the next round. So I'm quitting Idol. We had a good thing going--while it lasted. But it just wasn't meant to be.

I also want to say right here and now that I reserve the right to swap shows, like if one of my selected programs ends a season, or gets cancelled. But I WILL agree to replace it with another show of the same length, be it a 30-minute show or an hour-long show, or if we ever get HBO again, sometimes they have weird lengths, like 42 minutes or something.

I know I may stray from my commitment, but I feel good about it. One thing I probably should have done is wait until AFTER spring break to make this decision, but oh well. Think how far I'll get in my second book. I already have the first page, but not much else. More on that later.

In other news, the agent (who I've given an exclusive) will receive my full manuscript in the next few days. Then, she has two weeks to decide if she wants to represent me and shop me to a publisher. I'll let you know the news as soon as I find out. Keep your fingers crossed!

Awhile back, Erika "tagged" me.

She confessed six weird things about herself, and then asked six other people to confess weird things about themselves. This was a little like a chain letter, which I normally am against. But, it's Erika, who I love, and so I'm going to participate. Also, Nathan and Stacy already wrote their lists, and I don't want to be left out.

Six weird things about me:
(And I know there are way more than six, because I'm so neurotic, but here are six off the top of my head.)

1. I'm a loud chewer (according to Nathan) Don't misunderstand. I know my manners, and I chew with my mouth closed. But Nathan insists that I'm a loud chewer.

2. I either squeal or gasp in pleasure when I see SJP on TV. This reaction is totally involuntary, and it even happens when I see her in a commercial for crappy hair color.

3. Sometimes when I'm alone, I pretend that someone famous (like Oprah) is interviewing me about my book, and I answer her questions out loud.

4. My most comfortable way to sleep is flat on my back, with my arms at my sides, like a total Stepford wife or something.

5. I can spell most difficult words, but mess up on really easy ones, making the same mistakes I've made since elementary school. Some examples include: monthes, calander, and tons of words that end in "tion" because I mix it up with "sion," like extention. I spell check everything and use my dictionary widget on a daily basis.

6. I always save the very last message on my phone from Nathan, even if it's just a message about DVRing Battlestar Galactica, on the off chance that something tragic might happen to him. I'm really bad about doing this when he goes out of town. I'm typically not a morbid person. Well, except for this one thing.

Maisy, if you want me to love you, you have to stop peeing in the house.

This is what I actually said to Maisy just a few moments ago. It might sound cold. It might sound callous. (I know they pretty much mean the same thing, but I like the alliteration.)

We knew this would be a long road. Why else did we buy a new, fabulous, hand-held carpet shampooer? But, that doesn't mean I want to use it every twenty minutes.

I think I can speak for Nathan on this subject, without even asking him.

Even more good news for Violet.

After reading my next 25 pages, the literary agent who may potentially represent me, asked for the FULL MANUSCRIPT and an "EXCLUSIVE."

An exclusive means that I only show the whole book to her for a specific amount of time (approx. 3-4 weeks) and then she'll let me know if she wants to represent the project. I went ahead and emailed the other agents I had queried to let them know that I had a request for the entire manuscript as well as an exclusive. The reason you're supposed to let them know is to create interest and hopefully bring your query to the top of the pile. It's the equivalent of saying, "I'm great! Look at me! You want me!" or something like that.

This week, I'm going to go ahead with the exclusive. Then, while we're waiting, responses will be trickling in. They will most likely be rejections (I'm not being modest; I'm being realistic) and that will be fine. If any come back positive, I can let them know that another agent has an exclusive, but that I can give THEM an exclusive after that point. Then, we can try to see who feels like the best fit and/or can negotiate the best deal.

For the record, I'm still in shock.

Uncork the champagne, baby!

OK. I'm a little freaked out.

I sent out my first round of query letters to my first ten agents. Half of them I met this summer at a writers' conference, and they asked for me to send my synopsis and first three chapters when my book was complete. Two out of ten prefer email submissions, so I emailed them yesterday. The other eight I sent off today, on my way home from school.

I didn't expect to get an email response today. But I did, from both agents. One said, "Thanks for your query, but this doesn't sound right for us." I was expecting that. I was ready. I was NOT expecting the other one to say, "Dear Amy: I like this. Send me the next 25 pages. Look forward to the read." But it did.

No, it's not a deal, but it's the next step forward. And it's a step I didn't expect so soon. So, we're celebrating tonight.

Don't worry--I'll keep everyone up to date. At the rate I'm going, I'll be on my book tour by the end of the year.

I'd like to call this series "White Doggies on a Red Couch"

Interesting facts about Maisy

Number of days we've had her: 6

Average number of times we take Maisy out to pee per day: 14 times, I counted! (5:30 a.m., 6:15 a.m., 7:00 a.m., 7:45 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and in increments of 45 minutes thereafter up until 10:30/11:00 p.m.)

Highest number of times Maisy has peed in the house in a single day: 4

Fewest number of times Maisy has peed in the house in a single day: 0

Total number of days Maisy has not peed in the house: 2, not consecutive

Number of long walks with both doggies: 3

Cutest puppy habit: Tie between falling asleep frequently and getting the hiccups

Grossest puppy habit that I totally forgot, since Abigail doesn't do this anymore: Eating other dog's poo found outside

What I keep accidently calling her: Mabey (combination Abigail/Maisy)

Number of times I've had to scold Maisy: too many to count

Number of times Abigail looks distressed when Maisy is scolded: see above

Number of times I've had to reassure Abigail after her distress: see above

Total number of times Maisy has not cried when put in her crate: 4

Total number of times Maisy has put HERSELF in her crate at bedtime: 1

Songs Maisy likes, in case she does cry, to which she will stop crying: Killing Me Softly, Fugees cover of Roberta Flack; On Top of Spaghetti, artist unknown; Breakaway, Kelly Clarkson

JUST IN: Number of times Maisy has scratched at the door to go outside and pee: 1!!!!

I have to tell you about how Nathan just broke our ceiling fan.

Tonight, in the midst of the fantastic spectacle that is American Idol, Nathan got, well, a little carried away doing a Bo Bice impression when he grabbed our beige, velour throw from the couch, which probably weighs close to five pounds (the throw, not the couch) and put it on his head, flinging it around like hair, singing Bo's version of "I Don't Want to Be," that crappy Gavin Degraw song, a.k.a. the theme song from One Tree Hill.

The impression lasted a glorious 15 seconds, before the blanket whipped to the ceiling, breaking off one of the spokes of the fan, sending it spiralling across the room. It was pretty awesome. But if the fan had been on, it probably would have killed me.

My book is finished! Well...mostly.

Yes, you read correctly. I finished the last chapter of my book this last week!

The only problem is, I can tell there are some things that need re-tweaking. This may come from the fact that all the beginning and middle chapters have been revised SO MANY times, and the latest ones at the end are still a bit rough.
Right now I am in the process of reworking the last few chapters, adding pieces that may be missing, and slowing down the pacing, to make sure it really matches the rest of the book.
Not too difficult, because all that really means is that I'm expanding what's already there, adding little scenes or lengthening the amount of dialogue, etc.

My goal now is to really have a strong, basically "finished" draft in the next two weeks. I also need to put together my proposal package, with query letter, synopsis, and all that. As of now, the game plan is to send out proposals to ten different agents every six weeks. I'm bracing myself for lots and lots of rejection letters. Honestly, that's just part of the process. I know that my writing is strong enough that eventually someone will be interested in picking me up. My optimistic outlook says it's only a matter of time.

It's January 3, 2007 and

1. I am nearing the end of my book. It really feels like that final sprint that you go into at the end of a race, which I've only heard other people talk about. I have just under 30,000 words/126 pages. My original goal was to be done by the end of 2006. My new goal is to be done by the time I go back to teaching, which is Tuesday, six days away. I'll let everyone know when it's done--don't worry.

2. In the meantime, I can't get enough of the America's Next Top Model mega-marathon on VH1, which I shamelessly subject Nathan and Abigail to. I won't let it keep me from working on my book, but I do have to leave the house so that I can really focus. But I usually do that to write, not just when America's Next Top Model is on.

3. Since we got back to Austin after Christmas, I've been working out like crazy, going back to my routine of exercising five days a week, taking off Mondays and Fridays. I've been alternating aerobic workouts with weight training, and hope that soon I will be able to wear the cute clothes hiding in the back of my closet.

4. Tomorrow night is the Ladies of the '80s Sing-Along at the Alamo Drafthouse, which I am SO excited about. It looks like it will be myself, Stace and Jennifer, along with many other 80s-music loving strangers who will seriously feel like our friends by the end of the evening. Based on how much fun I had at the Little Mermaid Sing-Along, it promises to be a great time.

Lord of the Rings...quite a little story, wouldn't you say?

The music, the cinematography, the dialogue, the special effects, the costumes, the creatures, the heroes, the battles, the quest. Fantastic.

I can't watch just one. I have to set aside enough time to watch all three, and vacations are just perfect for that.


Since I am finishing The Two Towers this afternoon, I will leave you with one my favorite pieces of dialogue from the script, between Frodo and Sam. (I found this on the imdb website, where you can find many other quotes, if you like.)

Frodo: I can't do this, Sam.
Sam: I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.
Frodo: What are we holding onto, Sam?
Sam: That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for.

I think I can...

Most of you know that this summer I took a big step forward in my writing, which was to join a group called the Writers' League of Texas. I went to an annual conference where I met with an editor, and learned about how to approach getting published.

At the conference, I ran into a friend who used to work at Dobie, and she and I have been meeting every two weeks to critique each other's writing. We are both writing young adult fiction, both our main characters are teenage girls, and we're both writing in first person, present tense. Other than that, our subject matter and writing styles are quite different. The great thing is that we're really getting to a point where we're digging into the writing, and pushing each other to revise in certain ways and make the writing really strong. It's fantastic.

It was my original goal to be done with my book by the end of the year. I've always gauged that I wanted to write about 150 pages. Since then, I've learned that in the world of publishing, you talk more in terms of word count, not page numbers. Right now I have 27,000 words, which is 115 pages. Typical YA fiction is between 25,000 to 35,000 words, and I'm still expecting to write several more chapters, so I think I'm right on track.

The exciting thing is that if I work really hard over the holiday, I may still be able to meet my goal of finishing by the end of the year. There's an end in sight, and I'm looking forward to the day when I can write my final page, close my laptop and feel that I created something I'm proud of. And yes, I sometimes broke the rules of grammar, like how I ended that last sentence with a preposition, or started this sentence with the word "and." And that's okay.

Guilty Pleasures.

Since everyone is doing it, why not join in the fun?
My top Guilty Pleasures that I am NOT ashamed to admit:

1. Chili cheese dogs, preferably from Dog Almighty or the Drafthouse, although I will settle for one from Sonic
2. Whose Line is it Anyway?
3. Girls Just Want To Have Fun (the song, AND the movie)
4. Sugarry kids cereals
5. The E Channel, Oxygen and We
6. Drug commercials that list funny possible side-effects
7. Going to bed at 8:30
8. The Game Show Network
9. Anything with Sarah Jessica Parker, even those Garnier hair color commercials
10. McDonalds French fries
11. Burger King cheeseburgers
12. Sonic tots
13. Popeyes spicy chicken
14. Whataburger sausage biscuits
15. Nestle Quik
16. So You Think You Can Dance
17. For that matter, almost ANY kind of reality TV, including ones that swap wives and bring in super nannies, but not the ones that make the contestants eat bugs
18. Cheesy aerobic workouts, like step or water
19. Jammin 105.9 (they mainly play disco hits of the 70s)
20. Robert Zemeckis movies like Romancing the Stone and Back to the Future
21. The #1 Spot at Target (those shelves right at the front where everything is on super clearance for $1.)
22. ABBA, the Carpenters, Journey, Heart, Whitney Houston (Pre-Bobby)
23. Oompa Loompa dance choreography
24. Kid songs like this.
25. samples at Central Market, which I eat 2 or 3 times the polite amount

The most fun I've had in a long time.

The Secret Fish-Girl Sing-Along at the Alamo.



You just can't imagine how singing like a fool at the top of your lungs with strangers around you doing the same can feel so, so good. Or maybe you can.

Either way, I'm hooked on this Sing Along stuff. Coming up next is the Christmas Pops! Sing Along which promises holiday songs by Boyz 2 Men, Dolly Parton, and New Kids on the Block. Add to that "Last Christmas" by Wham, and the strange but memorable duet of "Little Drummer Boy" by Bing Crosby and David Bowie, and you've got something special.

Feeling a little bit better.

Not quite back to my usually annoyingly energetic self, but better than last week.
Sick is not good, but here are some things that make it nicer:
1. Watching old movies, especially musicals.
2. Consuming things that I normally would never want, such as Jello, plain Saltines, and Sprite.
3. Going back to work and having a mediocre day that turned into a beautiful day when Nathan had a gorgeous vase of flowers delivered. I would post a picture here so that everyone could see just how gorgeous they are, but that would mean bugging Nathan to help me do that, and that doesn't seem very thankful, now does it? Also, it's interesting that beautiful flowers can make a girl really feel beautiful.
4. Watching the Food Network, and wishing I was friends with all the people, especially Nigella Lawson, Rachel Ray, Alton Brown, Giada De Larentes, Paula Dean, Mario Batalli and the rest of them.
5. Exploring the new IKEA, which we visited this weekend. Twice.

Double whammy.

The doctor says I have bronchitus AND a sinus infection.
When I get sick, I do it right.

Sickies.

That's me. Not feeling good. Not good at all. Stuffy, sneezy, glands-swollen-y.

At least if I have to really take a day off, I have three great subs I can call in as backup.
Well, I'll only have to call in one of them.

Happy Anthropologie, etc.

Updates, since I haven't blogged regularly, and am very into lists right now.

1. We are close to Thanksgiving. This was even a three day weekend, if you count the inservice I had today.

2. I was afraid that my wallet had been taken out of my school bag yesterday, but found it exactly where I left it at home. It was a relief, because I had accepted the possibility that it was stolen. Lesson of the day: Trust is emotional.

3. It had gotten nice and chilly. Now hot again. "WHA HAPPEN'D?"

4. Tomorrow morning--ok, afternoon--I plan to happily explore the new Anthropologie store downtown, and maybe even buy this gorgeous dress I've had my eye on. If it fits, naturally.

5. This Sunday night for family, we might just have a dance party. I wish I could type "dance party" in bright colors and animate the letters so they wiggled, with little confetti pieces all around. Does anyone know how to do that?

6. If we do have a dance party, I think I should wear my new party dress.

Last Thanksgiving, I raided my mom's closet.

Now, to give you a little background, you should know that my little sister constantly "borrows" things from my mom because she's in college and is back at home a bunch. My mom is something of a packrat, which means she hangs onto clothes forever. To boot, she has a flair for fashion and most of her stuff is really timeless. In other words, it's a rare treat for me to dig through her closet. One of the things I pulled out was this fantastic trenchcoat that was in perfect condition. A basic, belted trench, double-breasted. Mom said she got it in the early '80s. I tried it on, and it was really perfect. So, I swiped it. Obviously.

Well, I didn't end up wearing it last year because it had these shoulder button-strap things, which are meant to hold up the sleeves if you roll them up. You might know what I'm talking about. Really more function than fashion. Well, last week, I got to looking at the trench, and realized that the straps were sewn on externally, and it would be a snap to remove them. So I did. Obviously.

With the cooler, blustery weather, I've been wearing the trench almost daily, in the mornings especially. I love the feeling I get from it. Just knowing my mom wore it more than twenty years ago gives me this strong sense of connection to her. I also found a ticket in one pocket from a jazz concert that my little sister went to. Which means that at some point, she stole it, too. How I managed to get it in the end, I'm not sure. But I plan to keep it. Obviously.

Why, American Heart Association, why?!

I could have gone a long time without reading this.

In a fitness article I just read yesterday, I saw a little piece of information, direct from the American Heart Association. But before I break the traumatic news, I want you to keep in mind that this article is titled "Killer Tone-Up, Trim-Down Workout." Sounds good, huh? Tell me more about this killer workout! The explanation and exercise moves look great. I think I'll incorporate them into my 30 minute, 3-days a week workout. Cool.

Not so cool. In a little pull-out box of text, I read that the "American Heart Association now recommends the new fitness guidelines of 30 minutes of exercise per day to maintain your weight and 60 minutes a day to shed pounds." It says nothing about my old faithful 3 days a week routine. In fact, if I were to up my ante and complete my workout on a DAILY basis, I would still only maintain my current weight. Sure, I wouldn't gain, but let's be honest. How many of us, including me, have tons of cute clothes we're still hanging onto for that far-off dreamy day that we might fit back into them again?

So what now? I could just quit. Because what's the point? OR--and this is the philosophy I'm going with--I could be bittersweetly grateful that I read what I did, and accelerate my workout to 60 minutes, EVERY day. Yes, there will be days that I don't make it. But if I get it done most of the days, I may begin to see a difference on the scale and might even be able to wear said cute clothes in the back of my closet again.

My German roots have finally caught up with me.

Something happened about a year ago. We had been back on meat for a while, and I started craving bratwurst. Then, schnitzel. Then, I started to think, my tastes have changed a lot in the last few years. What about trying some kind of...beer, just for kicks? I thought that given my German heritage, I owed it to myself and my ancestors before me, to try....beer. Before long, I had developed a taste for what I liked and didn't like, and then one day, I finished a full bottle. I believe it was a Dos Equis. Since then, I've moved on. Enough so that I can even recommend my top ten brews, perhaps even give a quick run-down of what they taste like to me. In no particular order...

1. Pyramid -- Apricot Ale. Fruity, crisp, sweet without being too malty. One of the first beers I ever tried, and really turned me on to the fact that there are ALL kinds of beer out there.
2. Lindemans-- Cassis (Black currant) Belgian Lambic. We also like their cherry lambic. They also brew a peach, but it's a bit too sweet for my taste. Lambics are pretty much the champagne of beers. So bubbly and punchy that I'm not even sure they belong in the same category.
3. Real Ale - Full Moon Pale Rye. Nice and hoppy without being bitter. Real Ale is a brewery in Blanco, Texas, which is about an hour away.
4. New Belgium Brewing Co. -- 1554 (Brussels Style Black Ale) We just found this one a couple weeks ago. The label says it has a "clean, chocolately finish" and surprisingly, it does.
5. Spaten - Oktoberfest. Bold, bitey. Those Germans know what they are doing.
6. Dogfishhead -- 30 min. IPA. Despite the off-putting name, this brew is nice. A bit on the stout side.
7. Fireman's #4. Every time I've had this one, it has accompanied steaming slices of pizza from the Parlor. Pretty light, just a little hoppy. Another one of my gateway beers.
8. Full Sail -- Session Lager. This one is smooth and well-balanced. Not a usual you'd find in the regular grocery store, but don't let that stop you from looking.
9. Pyramid -- Curve Ball (seasonal) I picked this one on a whim, and I'm glad I did. Has a little kick.
10. Bass Pale Ale. This beer was originally brewed in 1777, and I read that it was a favorite of Napoleon, Edgar Allan Poe, and Buffalo Bill. Oh yeah, it's also great. Big, hoppy, I like it.

This stuff is genius.

This week I had that feeling. You know the one. The uh-oh-I-think-I'm-getting-sick-and-I-don't-have-time-for-that-right-now feeling.

I thought about buying some of that medicine I've seen that you're supposed to take right at the beginning of feeling cold symptoms. I talked to three different people, and this is what they said:
Dana (a friend from work): You mean Zycam?
Lora: Are you talking about Mucinex?
Nathan: Uh...I don't know. Echinacea?
Me: No, I'm pretty sure it's called something else.

And it is. It's called Airborne. It's that stuff that you may have seen that was created by a school teacher who was tired of getting sick all the time. I can relate to the teacher part, but not the getting sick part. Excuse me now for the following personal testimony/unpaid endorsement. This stuff is packed with antioxidants, herbs and vitamins to boost your immune system so that you can actually fight a cold. The formula dissolves in water like Alca Seltzer, but tastes a lot more like Blue Sky soda. I bought the pink grapefruit variety, and the Walgreens version, Wal-borne, because this stuff isn't cheap. I did also spring for these Airborne gummy throat lozenges that have a smaller dosage of the formula.

It's FANTASTIC. Every time I have taken my little tonic, I seriously get this boost. The website says it doesn't have caffeine, so I think it must be the blend of natural herbs and all the vitamins. This stuff is insanely magical. I know that I'm not sick right now and I should be because of this stuff. And I, for one, am very happy about that.

Best voicemail ever.

This morning I saw the little annoying blinking light on my phone telling me that I not only had one, but two messages. While I am inundated with email throughout the day, it is a rare occasion to get voicemail messages, and the majority of them are either hang-ups, or parents who are very angry--and vocal about their anger--who demand that I call them back right away. I know my return phone calls will almost always end well, but I digress. Voicemail blinking lights are NOT a welcome sign.

To my surprise and delight, I was wrong.
This is the transcript of the two voicemail messages that I hope to keep forever.

Hi Mrs. Russell.
I love you, Mrs. Russell.
You are my favorite teacher.
Bye!
(click)

Hello...
This is Casandra and Jayla...
We just wanted to know...hi!
I mean, we just wanted to SAY hi. (laughter in background)
And we love you.
Bye!!
(click)

Dedicated to all those who have an Abigail-sized hole in their hearts.

Just now, and I mean, right this very second, I was about to post about my stressful day in which I had three meetings, two that were before 9 a.m., and then a siren went by, right as I was signing into blogger.

A second later, I heard Abigail howling out on the patio. All the tension of my day slipped away like in one of those commercials for scented candles. Just hearing Abigail belt out her little low-pitched howl made me smile and realize that I have a pretty nice life.

On the heels of my junk food post

I think it only appropriate that I delve into my latest fitness craze--the NYC Ballet Workout!
I love, love, love it. Perhaps it's my formative years that were spent in ballet class, I don't know. But my unrequited desire to be a ballerina will be satisfied, and I plan to burn some calories in the meantime.

Here is a shot of myself doing one of the more basic maneuvers (with Nathan helping me, of course!)



By the way, on the second volume of the ballet workout, there is a combination routine that I think we should all learn and perform together! In the spirit of Oompa Loompa. Who's in?

When you have an insanely hectic day

from start to finish, there are few things on Earth that will make you feel as good as a steaming slice of Conan's deep dish pepperoni pizza and a cold glass of Pyramid's apricot ale.
Nice.

Top 5, okay 3, Patriotic Movies that Make You Feel Good about Our Country

I tried to think of 5, so that I would have a nice round number, but could only think of 3. So, here they are, my top 3 Patriotic Movies...

1. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
2. The American President
3. Dave

Aren't these great movies? For some reason, I love them, and they make me want to stand up and sing in the spirit of Pollyanna, "Amerrrrica, Amerrrrica, God shed her grace on theeeee, and crooooown thy gooood with brrrraaaaaaaatherhood, from seeea to shinnniiiing seeea!"

Updates in Brief

School is back in full force, three weeks in to be exact. And I am tired, spent, brain-dead, any other synonym you can think of.

1. My classes are going well. Other than having the highest numbers I've ever had, I'm feeling good, working like crazy, and loving (almost) every minute of it.

2. I wrote past my 100th page in my book! I'm meeting every other week with a friend who is also a writer of YA fiction, and just having that meeting time motivates me to pick up my writing when I don't feel in the "zone." By the way, the "zone" is a load of crap, and just a really good excuse to be lazy.

3. Not working out every day like I did in summer, but between all the running around I do at school, up and down the hill between the building and my portable, and the fact that I haven't had a lot of spare time for snacking in front of the tele, I'm still on the weight-loss track. I think it's the tortoise-variety, the "slow and steady" weight loss track.

4. Nathan scored tickets to the symphony tonight, which featured Joshua Bell, the world-renowned violinist. I almost cried more than once.

5. It is almost 12:30 and I am still awake. But it's also a three-day weekend. So lay off.

Summer in the city.

Erika doesn't fully realize just how great she is. I know this for a fact.
One small example I can tell you right off the bat is that she and Rob came down for little visit about a month and a half ago.
When they were here, they forced us all to go out to the pool, (which we had made friends with last summer, but were not really "clicking with" this summer). At the pool, Rob and Erika led us in a series of relay races with these dive toys they had, and I'll go ahead and say it. It was not only fun, it burned calories. After Erika and Rob had to go back to their city, we rekindled our relationship with the pool, and even purchased some dive toys of our very own.





Also, I would like Erika to know that we assigned point values to each of our dive toys in the order of the most dangerous, with a man being 50 and a sea horse being 10. Sharks are 40, and so on. Some might argue that sharks are more dangerous than man, but come on. Have you seen the planet lately? Also, Erika, if you're reading this, I would like to suggest a new game. You have someone throw ALL the toys at once and then dive under to get as many as you can before they hit the bottom. A variation of this game is for one person to throw the toys in 3-5 second intervals at whoever is diving. They can breathe and surface as much as they want, but can't get toys once they hit the bottom. Nathan is pretty good at this, and throws the toys back out at me, and most of the time of the time they stay in the pool area.

I have a confession to make...

which has nothing to do with the produce section at HEB.

So you know those cable channels which are specifically targeted at women, like Oxygen and Lifetime? Unfortunately, I just confirmed TWICE this weekend that I am a prime audience for these crap channels. Sad, but true.

First, I stayed up until midnight watching the Hallmark Channel's presentation of the made-for-TV movie of Love Comes Softly, the film version of the Christian book by Jeanette Oke, which is set in American pioneer days. The book, which I read in sixth grade was, at the time, the most fabulously moving thing I had read, romantic and inspiring. Let me just tell you, this movie was so heart-warming that I actually welled up with tears, although none spilled out.

Then, today, I watched four hours, I repeat, four hours, of the 2-part TV film, Sybil, starring Sally Field, which aired on WE. I was so engrossed in the story, that I neglected to work out, work on my book, get dressed, or even wash my face, and almost forgot my one errand of the day, to get to the bank before 4:00.

This film, which is a tragic, true tale of one woman's triumph over her childhood of abuse resulting in 16 different personalities, makes me want to read the book, but mostly makes me want to die of embarrassment that I am so susceptible to these shows and programming.

Oxygen, WE, Hallmark, and Lifetime, you have won. I am putty in your hands.

In true Russell/Prien fashion,

Nathan and I carried on a 45-minute conversation over iChat today without either one of us remembering that today is our 6th anniversary. Then, some time later, we both said "Um...forgot to tell you something....Happy Anniversary!"
It was pretty funny, but also a nice reminder of why we might just be perfect for each other.
So to celebrate tonight, we took a night off from cooking and a night off from our diet and ordered a fabulous Conan's pepperoni pizza which we just polished off with some ice-cold cherry Coke.
We also have some skittles (sour for me, and classic for Nathan) lined up for our double feature of crappy movies that we got on Netflix.
Last year for our anniversary, we went to a ridiculously decadent fondue restaurant. This year, it's pizza, Coke and Netflix, and I couldn't be happier.

Unfortunately, tonight's episode

of one of my favorite shows, So You Think You Can Dance, really lowered the bar by featuring the ever-so-classless Pussycat Dolls.

As I watched them, slightly revolted, but not so revolted as to stop watching, I realized that I was reminded of another group of girls from the not-too-distant past...

Fascinating resemblance, no?

More happy stories from the diet front...

Tonight, Nathan made a fabulous spicy, breaded baked chicken. The crazy part of the recipe is that you actually use yogurt instead of egg to bread the chicken, and no one would believe it's diet food, it tastes so good.

Well, Nathan's chicken inspired me to look online for dessert recipes that would be just as creative, and just as guiltless. Plus, we were watching an episode of Take Home Chef on the food network which featured a chocolate mousse for dessert. I found a very interesting dark chocolate mousse recipe that called for tofu, I repeat TOFU, instead of heavy cream. Feeling brave, I ran to the store to pick up some tofu, since we had everything else on hand. An hour later, may I just say, wow. Rich, decadent, and no guilt! Who would have thought of using tofu (even if it doesn't have a flavor) in a chocolate mousse recipe? Genius, pure genius.

Try it and see for yourself.

Good News/Bad News

Good News: Everyone I talked to this weekend (by everyone, I mean agents) asked for me to go ahead and send my proposal packages to them. Proposal packages include a query letter, synopsis, and first two/three chapters or so.

Bad News: I don't have said proposal packages....yet.

Good News: Repeat: I did make connections with very receptive and friendly potential agents.

Bad News: They all said I need to finish my book before sending them anything.

Good News: The editor that I had a consultation session with wanted me to pitch my book to her.

Bad News: I didn't know how to pitch, and could only babble and beg her to look at my first page.

Good News: She read my first page very attentively and then said, "The good news is that this is great."

Bad News: She went on to say, "The bad news is that I can't use it. The imprint of my publishing house is looking to acquire young adult fiction that is multi-cultural."

Good News: She said some other highly positive things that I will remember when I get rejection letters in the near future.

More Good News: I ran into a friend who used to work at Dobie, and she is also working on young adult fiction. We plan to hook up soon to share work.

Even More Good News: I learned so much and feel motivated to work toward my goal of finishing this summer, ideally END OF JULY. That way I can send my proposals to agents I met in a timely manner.

You may notice that in the end, I have more Good News than Bad News.
That is the good news.

OK. I am officially freaked out.

This weekend I am taking a big step forward for myself as an author. At the recommendation of a friend, I signed up for a Writer's League of Texas Agents and Editors Conference here in Austin. I have an appointment to meet with an editor on Saturday afternoon and get some feedback on my novel. There are also breakout sessions on everything from finding an agent to crafting fiction to marketing yourself.

I am weirdly optimistic, but more than anything freaked out. I know that I'll come away learning some valuable things, but I think the reason I'm nervous is because I found out about this conference at the very last second and decided to go at the very last second and revised my first chapter at the very last second and then went and made copies at the very last second.

I always was under the impression that I had to be done with my book completely before pursuing publishing, but that's really not the case. In fact, on avaerage, it takes so long to get a book accepted for publication, that it would be smart of me to go ahead and begin the process. It also motivates me to work toward finishing it.

Wish me luck!

In the '80s we made mix tapes.

Now we burn CDs from our playlists using itunes.

In honor of summer, (and my boredom,) I have created two new fun and exciting playlists. On the first one, I tried to pick songs that you would want to sing at the top of your lungs driving down the road while you blast the AC, or with the window down if you don't live in Texas. The second playlist is more like what you would play while you sit on your patio/porch in the evening. I would love to burn CDs for everyone, so if you are in need of a new mix CD, let me know or drop me a comment and I will send them to you. Seriously, this is my idea of fun.

Here is the lineup, just to whet your appetite.

Side A: Songs to play on a Summer Day
1. I Can't Get Next to You - Al Green
2. Come Together - The Beatles
3. Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel
4. The Woman in You - Ben Harper
5. Down to the River to Pray - Alison Krauss
6. The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
7. We Didn't Start the Fire - Billy Joel
8. Eternal Flame (live) - Susana Hoffs
9. Sweetness Follows - REM
10. Tiny Dancer - Elton John
11. Spring Provides - Matt Pond PA
12. Love is a Battlefield - Pat Benetar
13. Just What I Needed - The Cars
14. Wake Up - The Arcade Fire
15. Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen

Side B: Songs to play on a Summer Night
1. By Your Side - Sade
2. Every Breath You Take - The Police
3. Universal Traveler - Air
4. How Sweet It Is - Joan Osborne
5. The Moon Softly Weeps a Lullaby - The Autumns
6. A Case of You (live) - Diana Krall
7. Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers
8. Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap
9. Cannonball - Damien Rice
10. Way Over Yonder - Carole King
11. Unchained Melody - Cyndi Lauper
12. Songs We Used to Sing - Edie Brickell
13. Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me - Elton John
14. What a Difference a Day Made - Dinah Washington

Updates...

1. I agreed to help out Amy Chapman w/ watering all her gorgeous plants while she and Derek are in Europe until August. I've enjoyed the work so far, and am happy to help them out.

2. I am on Day 11 of a 30 Day workout plan. I have been working out every single day (with the exception of one day a week), and I am drinking a ridiculous amount of water (easy) and TRYING to cut back on drinks with empty calories like soda, wine/mojitos, and coffee with sugar and cream (not so easy). I've been doing all different kinds of workout routines like yoga with weights, hiphop, ballet strength training, kickboxing, tai chi, you name it. I have reached the wonderful place where your muscles aren't in pain anymore, but are humming with energy. At the end of the 30 days, I may go another 30, we'll see. I will definitely be more motivated if I see some results. In the meantime, getting older sucks.

3. I have been avoiding working on my book for no good reason. I wrote today, and ideally, I'll work on it a little every day so that I really will be close to finished when summer is over.

4. If you haven't watched So You Think You Can Dance, you need to. I mean it.

It's that time of year again...

Time for the return of quality television.
Time for anticipating prime time more than ever.
Time for exciting, creative, performance art on both Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Time for...

5 reasons to work out/eat right/attempt to lose weight

1. It's already swimsuit season.
2. My fat jeans from several years ago have become my current skinny jeans.
3. All the hip-hop workout routines on the Fit Network.
4. I can't afford a new wardrobe. And besides, I really like the one in my closet.
5. Our new panini maker that will be used for good, not evil.

I wish everyone had summer off...

Really, it's a fabulous idea. They do that in Europe, you know. Maybe not the entire summer, but at the very least a couple weeks off for a holiday to the seashore. I wish it was built into our culture. Wouldn't that make the unbearably hot summer months bearable? I know that when the weather gets hot, somehow pychologically I get excited, just anticipating summer vacation.

But even if we can't all have summer off, at least we have more ways to stay cool this summer, including the quiet apt. pool on Saturday and Sunday mornings while all the annoying college kids sleep off their bad choices from the night before, AND now Jess and Jason's snow cone stand. Currently, my favorite flavor being blackberry and cream, which you should try immediately.

2 days to go...

until summer. That's right. Be jealous, be very jealous.

I can fully indulge in my vacation knowing that I worked every day with ADD 11-year-olds, and have earned it. I sort-of have this philosophy that teachers (at least the good ones) work overtime for 10 months, and then it all evens out when they get those 2 months off.

This summer, I ambitiously plan to work on my book and hopefully finish a first draft by the end of summer so I can revise and pursue publishing during the next school year. I'm at 75 pages, so I'm actually about half done... most juvenile fiction is around 150 pages in length, so that's what I'm roughly aiming for. But to be honest, I don't plan the story ahead of time, so I have no idea when the last page will pop up. Although, I have a feeling I'll know when I get there.

I used to hate the taste of licorice.

I remember every Easter I would relinquish all the black jelly beans to my dad because I just couldn't stand the taste. Well, not too long ago, I tried licorice again for the first time in years, and it's so spicy and good. It's interesting that over the years our tastes can change and develop. So if there's a flavor out there that you don't care for, try it again. You never know.

We saw Mission Impossible 3 last night,

and in honor of how great Philip Seymour Hoffman was, I wanted to create a personality quiz for some of the interesting roles he's played over the years. The good news is that you can take this quiz. The bad news is that every quiz-creating website I found wouldn't work for this type of quiz, so it's not electronic. But I will not be defeated! You can either use your memory, or you might have to take it the old-fashioned way and write your results on paper. I know.... but here it is!

Which Philip Seymour Hoffman character are you?

1. Describe yourself in one word:
A: helpful
B: discerning
C: observant
D: strong
E: authoritative
F: offbeat

2. At a party, you would be:
A: alone at the food table
B: running the music
C: telling a great story
D: sealing a deal
E: circulating/shmoozing
F: cracking jokes

3. Which place do you like the best?
A: San Fernando Valley
B: San Diego
C: New York
D: any city in the world
E: Vermont
F: Oklahoma

4. The only down-side to your job is:
A: boring and distasteful routine
B: no one appreciates your genius
C: the troubling psychosis
D: no down-time
E: you're broke
F: paying for gas money

5. Your favorite film genre is:
A: ensemble drama
B: coming-of-age comedy
C: documentary
D: action
E: dark humor
F: adventure


You mostly answered:

A: You are Phil Parma, male nurse in the film Magnolia. You take care of others, and are somewhat shy. Take a chance and say what YOU really want. Try it the next time you call in an order for delivery.

B: You are the self-proclaimed "uncool" yet ultra-cool radio personality, rock critic Lester Bangs in Almost Famous. You are smart, funny, slightly neurotic, and couldn't live without music. You have helpful advice to share with a young friend.

C: You are the quiet, insightful author, Truman Capote. You are tender and compassionate of those who are troubled, yet sometimes get too involved emotionally.

D: You are Owen Davian, international weapons dealer in Mission Impossible 3. You crave action and violence, and even though you don't have a conscience, you are officially bad-ass.

E: You are Joseph Turner White, director of "The Old Mill" in State and Main. You're creative and confident, but be careful--don't let the people with the money for your project push you around.

F: You are Dustin Davis, maniacal, but lovable storm-chaser in the film Twister. While some may not get you, you are the life of a party, and definitely one-of-a-kind.

My Top Ten '80s Boy Crushes....

In no particular order...

1. Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly. Really, is there anything cuter than Michael J. Fox hanging onto the back of a truck riding his skateboard in Back to the Future? If that didn't win you over, there's always his famous lipsync rendition of "Johnny Be Good" later on in the movie.


2. Richard Dean Anderson as Macgyver. Yes, he had a mullet. But he could also make a bomb out of a stick of gum and a ballpoint pen.


3. Harrison Ford as Han Solo. There are two kinds of girls, the Luke Skywalker Girls, and the Han Solo Girls. I know what side I'm on.


4. Kirk Cameron in Growing Pains. The curly mop-top. The devilish grin. Who would have thought all that promise would turn out as the lead of the Left Behind movie adaptation?


5. Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Theo Huxtable. You sure were cute while getting into those friendly little misadventures.


6. Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones. I've heard there's some sort-of new Young Indiana Jones. Honestly, why did they even try?


7. Ralph Macchio as "Daniel-son" in the Karate Kid. Even today, people everywhere reinact that odd-looking signature kick in the final scene. And what a final scene it was.


8. Matthew Broderick in Ferris Beuller's Day Out. And even before there was Ferris Beuller, there were WarGames.


9. Harrison Ford as himself.




and finally...

10. Johnny Depp. The number one reason to run home after school and watch 21 Jump Street. I can still hear the theme music.

Worst job ever

We got to talking the other day about what would REALLY be the worst possible job. Here are the results of our discussion:

Me: anybody working for the IRS
Nathan: the guy who collects the used grease from fast-food places
Lora: still thinking...
Stacy: a deodorant tester
Jenny: the port-a-potty guy

Chapter 13, Page 72

But just how much is that?
17,694 words
799 paragraphs
2,042 lines

A new record. For me and Violet, at least.

Tonight I started thinking about female superheroes,

and while I am not a comic expert by any means, I couldn't think of a single red-headed female superhero.

Don't worry, an extensive google search alleviated my concern for the lack of flaming-haired superpowered vixens.
Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Firestar. This one Nathan knew right off the top of his head! Formerly Angelica Jones, she is a mutant superhero originally created for the animated series Spiderman and his Amazing Friends.


2. Ginger Powerpuff. No, not a superhero per se, but a redhead who fights evil nonetheless.


3. Goblin Queen. A.K.A. Madelyne Pryor-Summers, an evil clone of Jean Grey.


4. Vindicator. A.K.A. Heather Hudson, the leader of the Canadian team Alpha Flight.


5. Nathan says Rogue has reddish-colored hair in certain lights.


6. Josie, of Josie and the Pussycats.


7. Barbara “Babs” Gordon. Oracle, formerly Batgirl.


8. Princess Python. A.K.A. Zelda DuBois.


9. Phoenix, formerly Jean Grey.


10. Hellcat. I can’t tell if she’s good or bad, sounds bad, right?

Interestingly enough, Hellcat was formerly Patsy Walker, of the teen romantic-comedy comics “Patsy and her Pals."

One of the things I love about Nathan

is that no matter what, he never judges me.

Not even when I say that what I really want for dinner is a chili cheese dog from Dog Almighty.

Would I sound absolutely insane

if I said that I am right now watching the remake of the Parent Trap with Linsay Lohan and it's actually winning me over with its cuteness?

Well, I am, and it is.

I can't believe that this spunky little red-head has joined the ranks of the trashy, post-adolescent Hollywood actresses who make B-List movies and even worse radio smut. How is it that this adorable, promising little starlet grew up to be friends with the likes of Paris Hilton?

Lindsay, if you're listening, I believe you can redeem yourself. It's not too late for you.

Family night is always

a highlight of my week.
You'd think we all would see each other all the time, (which is sometimes true, but most often not the case), so it's great to have a set-aside time just to see each other, eat a yummy meal, and watch Desperate Housewives, when it's new, that is.

Last night was not a let down in the slightest.
The show was new.
The meal was smoky maccaroni and cheese with apples (by request), and then, during coffee, we all got to talking about our weekends....

I was proud to announce that during my free time on Saturday, I diligently learned two dance routines from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The second disc in the deluxe edition (Thank you again to my fabulous little sister, the first Amy Russell) has a feature where you can learn the Agustus Gloop dance AND the Violet Beauregarde dance which are performed by the Oompa Loompas. Oh yes. I learned not one, but both dance routines. Why, you ask? Because I thought it would make me feel good. And it did.

What I didn't really expect (but should have seen coming) was that everyone would want me to perform the dance routines, right there on the spot. Well, I have no shame, and I really must say that I put heart into the choreography.

At least it made everyone laugh.
Even if it does confirm that I'm a total dork.

Yesterday we celebrated my birthday, which is technically today.

It turns out that birthdays are perfect for convincing your friends to all go out and see a movie that you might otherwise have to see alone. Case in point, The Family Stone, with my imaginary best friend, Sarah Jessica Parker.
Yes, there were one or two groan-y moments, but overall, funny and cute.

Then we all came back and lit a fire and had chocolate soup with mascarpone brioche sandwiches that Nathan made by request.

This morning, I have repeated last night's activities, including the chocolate soup, sandwich, and fire, only now I am watching movies and cuddling with the dog, who will probably hate me in two day's time when we make her fly on an airplane.