I live for the weekends

So someone up and quit at my job today. Or got fired if you ask my boss. But there was an argument (which I could hear) and then she left. Took me like two hours to calm down. I hate conflict. Read my stories if you don't believe me.

ARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!

Deliver me from the job, I pray. I'll go back to Starbucks at this point. Good benefits for just making people coffee? Sign me up.

I was an awesome barista.

I did more editing today. Then switched to watching Whatever Works. Um, yeah, I watched it for Henry Cavill. The rest of it was more caricature than something meaningful. New York causes people to be liberal. I think that was the theme I was supposed to get out of that.

But Henry Cavill. *swoons*



(from allmoviephoto.com) And I just love Patricia Clarkson. She's amazing.

Hallmark makes a splash

Given that we're less than a week out from Valentines, how do you feel about the approaching holiday? Will you participate or abstain? If you're not in a relationship, how will you celebrate your single status? (from livejournal)


I will actually be with a friend (female) and out of town for that weekend. It wasn't intentional by any means, but I will honestly be glad to be away from my friends and their significant others. Don't need the reminder.

My grandpa died on Valentine's Day over ten years ago, so it's always a little bittersweet. I think it's cool that it's named for St. Valentine who married people who weren't allowed to wed. If Hallmark wasn't involved, I'd probably like the holiday better.

It's more fun to get stuff for your unsuspecting friends anyway. ;)

Seems more than appropriate

Mom and Dad sent me this for my birthday and at the time, I was amused and touched by it. After Friday, it seems like they knew I'd need it.

Yesterday

The funny/good things that happened yesterday (when I was definitely hit with one of the biggest blows in my life):

1. My boss showed me some sympathy. I'm not sure anyone else who didn't know him would be able to tell, but for him, he was kinda nice.

2. I heard/read the "When God closes a door, he opens a window" mantra more than once, so now I'll never forget it. (Love you all who sent it :) )

3. My brother called to check on me and then asked for prayer for a verdict he was waiting for. He doesn't usually ask for prayer and that was awesome.

4. I now know that JK Rowling was rejected first, so was Stephen King and George Orwell. And that according to my dad, Lincoln lost 10 times (he admits it's an exaggeration) before gaining office.

5. My sister-in-law made me laugh when after I'd sent her an email about what happened, she wrote back, "Well, that's crap. Are you okay?"

6. Watched Whip It last night with the roommate and it was as good as the book. Go Shauna Cross for writing both the book and screenplay.

7. I took an actual lunch and Bex took me out and I found out how amazing it was to have a lunch break away from the office.

8. Several lovely people encouraged me to not give up. Giving up hadn't even occurred to me. :)

9. The one thing I really wanted to do all day yesterday, was write.

10. My best friend, Em, put it best when I said it's alright. "No, it's not alright. It sucks."

11. I found out that I'm truly loved and cared for by so many people.

Not bad for a day from some level of hell. :)

The book deal

My book offer has been rescinded. Due to the economy and the market for teen books, etc. Seems no one's up for risking much these days.

So, yeah. Now I just have to get through the work day.

Complete...

Tis finished. The first draft of my second novel. I did it.

*crashes* Now, will my brain even function tomorrow at work?

Thinking about books.

So, because I have only a limited amount of space on my bookshelves, I've been doing some sifting to make more room and get rid of some books that I really don't like all that much. So I joined bookmooch.com. It's pretty cool. You earn points with how many books you list to give away, when you give a book away, and you spend the points when you want a book. I've earned 5 points already. Someone wants three of my books. Now of course I have to pay postage, but to get rid of them, and perhaps gain a few new books that I really want...although, the four books I wishlisted, none are available. Nice.

I have the hardest time getting rid of books. Even awful ones. Because I believe everything I intake (media wise) grows me as a writer. Even cheesy girl books that I hope to never emulate. I learn something from them. But I was thinking yesterday at church about the kind of life I'd like to have in the future. And I was thinking (if my life continues as such, which means, a single life), that I'd love to have at least one room in my house solely devoted to books. All kinds. So that the neighborhood kids could come round and borrow them and we'd hang out and have hot chocolate and cookies, or with the summer, lemonade and cookies. And what books do I want to represent my life to other people. What books do I want to share with these kids and which ones would I not.

A bit of rant, probably, but you know, you write what's on your mind.

Which is to say, I really need to be writing on my novel. I suppose I could get out of my pajamas (or pyjamas if you're British) and get ready for a day never leaving the apartment.

Happy Sunday!!

--postscript-- I'm up to 14 books to send out. Holy Cow!

Can go to bed now.

Just finished up Chapter Nineteen. Which okay was partially done as I had a scene for it that I'd written months (or weeks) ago. But the grand word count is 47,029.

And I'm not even done yet.

My goal was for this book to be longer than my first. And as there is so much more that I need to add to the beginning to this novel, that just in first draft mode it's going to be longer.

This is positive.

In other news, tomorrow is Monday and while some people might get off for Martin Luther King Day, I am not one of them. :(

Freezing Fog

That's what the weather report said.

And in case you have no clue what that looks like, here you go:

I hate trying to come up with witty subject lines.

I overslept this morning. My own fault, actually. I was going to go to bed before midnight. I finished Percy Jackson (first book) and was just gonna write a little.

I finished chapter 17 (for now, honestly at the point, everything is flexible) and it was after midnight. But why stop when it's actually flowing? So, here I am, waiting for the nine o'clock service to be oever so I can go meet my friend for brunch. Guess my body needed sleep more than my soul needed church?

*avoids the lightning strike*

Percy Jackson, by the by, was great. I'm actually quite jealous of the writing because it's so fast-paced and conversational. I can do conversational, but the fast-paced...I'm still working on that. I cannot wait for the movie.

Next book on my list? North and South.

But hopefully I can get more writing done today. I have it outlined for (at this moment) 21 chapters. But I think it's gonna be longer. But if I could get 18 & 19 done today, I'd feel like less of a procrastinator. :)

I'm trying not to focus on the fact that I find the writing style stiff and plodding. And often confusing. The point is just to get the story out. It's only a first draft.

Maybe reading something like North and South will make my writing better. I really hope so.



Photo by Ansel Adams.

Me, I just really want to live there.

I Love Saturdays

No work, full weekend. Saturdays are lovely. I'm drinking tea and staying inside as it might be warmer out there, but in the thirties is still dang cold.

For my birthday I got books, adult books actually. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith and North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. Both I've seen the movie versions of and now need to read the books. I also got the first two seasons of How I Met Your Mother from my roommate. Suit up!

My friend's older brother, who I love dearly, made me something for both Christmas and b-day.

For b-day: A Secret Bookshelve Compartment



And for Christmas: A Vampire Slaying Kit (he made them for all of us)



I think he should sell them on ebay. How awesome are they??

So I used some of my best buy gift cards yesterday. I'm now the proud owner of Primeval Series 3 and Coraline. :) Shouldn't be too surprised. On Thursday I bought Angel season 1 & 4 from my friend for 20$ since she got the whole series in a box set. Now I'm eventually going to have to get season 2 & 3, but that will probably be next year.

I just rewatched Coraline. Haven't seen it since I saw it in 3D in the cinema. IT'S SO GOOD! Yes, it deserved all capitals. It is still my favorite movie of 2009. Even if I didn't see it as many times as I saw New Moon. *hangs head in shame* But the colors, music, story and imagination of Coraline is just perfect. I get totally sucked in.

I had a sleepover with my friend, Bex, last night with her three girls. We watched G-Force and my finger and toenails are now painted. We had a really good time. It's nice to just rest and be silly. Bex also gave me Throughly Modern Millie and Little Shop of Horrors (which I've never seen, but always wanted to) .

Wow, majorly gift-centric post. But I was so excited about everything. Especially pam and steff's fics they wrote for me. Thanks girls!!

Now, I'm writing. I'm determined to finish chapter 15 and 16 at least today. If more is accomplished, go me!

Hoping to have more publishing news next week. *cross fingers*