General SHOW of...err...prizes?

Playing on iTunes: "The Phrase" by Nicholas Megalis

I know I have been shirking my duties as blog hostess, BUT I AM ON VACATION(S)!!! Give me a break! *sigh* Just stop yelling at me in my head....it hurts.

Let's see....what have I been doing? We pardy-hardied (and oddly enough...I thoroughly enjoyed myself!!) on Saturday. We slept and did not much of anything on Sunday. On Monday, we drove to my beloved Santa Barbara and I held Allie hostage in the car while I showed her things like where I bought my groceries when I lived there. We also managed to get lost in the mountains on purpose...sort of. Nice.

Yesterday was brilliant. We found a fabulous store that sold a bunch of robot and other adult artistic toys (get your mind out of the gutter). It was called Wacko, and we spent a good majority of our day there. I spent about $50 on toys. I feel like I may be bringing the economy back to normality one robot at a time. After Wacko, we pretty much came home and got ready to go to a show. Let me just tell you Nicholas Megalis is awesome!! If you haven't heard of him (and you most likely haven't...he's new) you should run over to his myspace and have a listen. The show was at the Knitting Factory. He was a great performer with an absolutely gorgeous (and fun) voice. I own the cd. I shall listen to it again today.

Today.....drum roll please.....THE BONNIE HUNT SHOW!!! I would be lying if I said that I watch her show everyday and am so excited I might pee myself. I am super super excited....but I don't think I have ever seen her show a day in my life. I hope she hands out free stuff. We ended up with VIP tickets b/c the friend that hooked us up has friend on Bonnie's staff. Again, I say "nice....".

Serena, I promise, promise, promise I will tell you all about my wonderful break in the photog business, but I need to iron everything out and make sure it even has a chance of coming together first. I may be working it out tomorrow. I will write a blog specifically dedicated to you. :)

Right then, I am off. I will be sure to start blogging on my editing process just as soon as I start it. Like I said.....vacay....

Must go put my face on! Ta-ta.

I am so lost....on purpose.

Playing in iTunes: "Silvery Sleds" by Army Navy

Well hello all!! I would just like to say, that I have a very good excuse for not writing last week. I FINISHED MY BOOK!!!! MY BABY!!!! MY LIBRO!!! My pièce de résistance......

She is done....and she is not at all great. lmao. I am so excited to get to the editing part it is ridiculous. Unfortunately, though, I am probably going to have to wait until next week when I am all alone-y on my own-y. I am hoping the editing will be done by January or so.

Just as good-uh news!!! I AM IN CALIFORNIA!!!! Oh the land of my father's, father's, father's, father's, cousin. It truly is home to me. I am spending one week in LA with some friends....WHO NEVER SLEEP!!!!! And then one week in Santa Barbara with my old stoner roommates WHO SLEEP ALL THE TIME!!! Life is good. (Actually, just my roommate's boyfriend was a pothead...but sleeping is definitely looked highly upon in that house.)

I would also like to say, that I may have just made a HUGE breakthrough in my photography career. I don't know. We shall see how it pans out....BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDN'T THINK OF THIS BEFORE. Allie....we are geniuses...hopefully soon-to-be self-sustaining geniuses.

Be sure to stay tuned. I am definitely back to the multiple daily postings...and tomorrow's Hop-Along Monday is ready and waiting.

See all you little literary monkeys tomorrow!!!

OMG!!!!! I LOVE LOUISE RENNISON!!!

Playing in iTunes: "99 Luftballons" by Nena

I don't know how many of you guys actually read the Georgia Nicholson series but I am so stoked about the news posted on the author's website!!!

A movie of the first novel (Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging) is being made! w00t!!!! I am so incredibly excited. It's being directed by Gurinder Chadha who also directed "Bend it Like Beckham"...which is, incidentally, fabulous movie!!

The series is for teens (girls primarily). It is written from the p.o.v. of a fourteen year old girl who hilariously recounts almost every minute of her day with her friends and the guys she loves (i.e. the "sex gods").

I....am excited.

Take it as you will.....

This image cracked me up!! It is actually a button being sold on Etsy. You can get it here. There are actually some GREAT pro, anti, Obama, McCain, Palin (not so much Bidin) on the website. Just do a search at the top of the page.

Belly Flop Fridays...You forgot didn't you!!

I think I am looking forward to Fridays more and more. I ran across this video today and thought I would share. :)

It's a banned commercial...sounds like it might be from Sweden? Not sure though.

Glory of the Steampunk

Playing in iTunes: "Let Go" by Frou Frou

I would like to do an early morning post on the glories that are Steampunk. (I capitalize that word, because I think it deserves it.) In case you are not familiar with this rather thrilling movement, I give you Wikipedia's definition. (Hold on a sec. while I go and look it up.)
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Ah-hem...."Steampunk is a subgenre of fantasy and speculative fiction that came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. The term denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century, and often set in Victorian era England—but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date."

Wow....that second sentence was hella-long!!! To cut through that crap jargon, Steampunk is bad-ass fiction that takes place in Victorian England and has strong ties to fantasy and sci-fi with a hell of a lot of technology. Mmmmm....purdy.

The image posted is a laptop computer that someone has decked out in the Steampunk style. Can you say FREAKIN' AWESOME!!??

I guess this post could really fall under the "inspiration" category. I would love to write a sci-fi (although really leaning more on the fiction side....think Jack the Ripper meats Willie Wonka) geared towards the Steampunk movement. I've been thinking about it for a while and have jotted down some notes, so we will see what pans out. NO ONE STEAL MY WILLIE WONKA IDEA. I KILL YOU!!

Ladies and gentlemen you are finally able to bask in the glory of the Steampunk. Now, can I just say that I really, really, really want this owl Steampunk necklace?

A Death in the Cookie Family

Playing in iTunes: Silence in Memory of.......(or a dirge...take your pick)

I was on Supah Cute's blog just seconds ago when I read the news. Mother's Cookies has gone out of business!! Oh...you know them. Do pink and white frosted covered circus animals with sprinkles ring a bell? Yeah...that's them. I think I am going to go and cry now. Anyone wanna join? Check out Supah Cute's blog for a super cute t-shirt in homage to the fabulous company.

A Thought on Jam and Family

Playing on iTunes: "All She Wants to Do is Dance" by Don Henley

So, you know those commercials with the Smuckers boys talking about how they are going to grow up and run the family Jam business? I was thinking the other day (Conor was part of this train of thought process) that their mother is "Mother Smucker".

GAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

I would have demanded all of the neighborhood children call me mother smucker had I been in her position.

That is all.

No more Peaks and Hop Along Monday!!

Playing on iTunes: "Whatever Lola Wants" by Ella Fitzgerald

It's that time again!! (No not THAT time!! Gees...gutter head.) Hop Along Monday!! Today's phrase is, to me, just disgusting. What do you, the average Joe, say whenever if a frustrating glitch "rears its ugly head" during your day? Prime examples might include "Damn" or even "Dang it". Nope....Conor's phrase of choice ladies and gentlemen? "Crap-O'Matic Bubble". And I am so not kidding!! To me (and cover your ears if you are easily disgusted), the words crap and bubble in the same sentence evoke an image of....uh....well...I really don't wanna say because I'm easily disgusted as well. Blech!

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Here's the scenario (completely fictional of course ;): Conor and I are driving towards his parent's house, discussing the evening's dinner, when all of the sudden "Egads!" his phone rings!! It is a text.

"Can you pick up some canned corn at grocery store?" The text is from his mother, but we are already two blocks from their house.

*sigh*

"Crap-O'Matic-Bubble," he says, staring down at the message.

*sigh*
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To me, this just doesn't illustrate the emotion of this mildly frustrating event. Don't you guys worry, though...I think this may be his most disgusting crap phrase...so it shouldn't get too much worse.

THE REAL POST:
Two more chapters to go! Can I get a w00t?

I have a fabulous idea for the second book, which I will start on just as soon as I get finished editing the first. Although, this has recently becoming kind of an interesting debate within my own head. Shall I show you? Ok....take a peak in my brain, but just this once:

"...I am so writing that second book but what if none of the agents think it's saleable and I never even get a good response from an agent should I just start on the second book anyways or maybe I should start working on another book THAT ONE FOR ADULTS maybe it will sell better but then what if the agent does like the first Izzy book and I haven't even started on the second one will she not want to represent me thinking I might not finish and what if I...."

OK.....DONE! No more peaks for you.

Because I can....even though it's not Friday

Beaker as Ludmeep Meep Meepthoven


Ode To Joy from Beaker on Vimeo.

Holy bueno writing, Batman!!! That was marvelous!!

Playing on iTunes: "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk" by Rufus Wainwright

I have been avoiding writing this particular chapter for almost two weeks now. Really, it was that bad. I think the problem is, I keep getting my heroin stuck in certain precarious circumstances that I don't know how to get her out of. What's odd, though, is that in this case...it was just a simple issue of getting her from one place to another with no money. I had NO idea how I was going to do this.

Today, I decided I needed to just sit down and do it. Just write. It would come. It felt a lot like getting on an elevator only to have a seven year old hit every button between floors one and ten...but I did it. And I'm proud. And it was probably one of my favorite chapters to write once I got going.

The first paragraph looked a bit rough. "The sun was hot. She saw stuff. It was pretty." Yeah....like I said....floors one through ten. *sigh* It picked up speed once I got her on her way, though. And I must say, the cab chase was quite thrilling!! :) Cabbies are fast and really, really mean when you don't pay them!!

(I think Cab Ass'n should stand for Cab Assassin....hence the photo.)

Belly Flop Fridays

Playing on iTunes: "Longfellow Serenade" by Neil Diamond (Oh yeah...I broke him out. What?)

"I just called...to say...I love you." Hahahaha.....I just wanted to get that song stuck in your head. I needed to know someone else was in my boat.

Onto the post!! I spend the first hour of my day...everyday...catching up on blogs. Needless to say, I run across some pretty hilarious stuff that I really really really want to share. So, I am instituting Belly Flop Fridays (b/c Belly Flops are funny). The way I figure it, we should all end our weeks on a happy note. So, even if you don't read what I write (which you should be...so shame on you) you should at least check in on Fridays for some hardy laughs.

Knowing myself as well as I do (about as well as I know math, actually) I will be posting a lot on Fridays. :)

For my first post of the day, An Octopus Love Story:

Destroying the Universe and Taco Bell

Playing on iTunes: "Bagman's Gambit" by The Decembrists

Hark, what is that I hear? iTunes? It is! It is! That must mean I have my computer back!! :) That's right ladies and gentlemen...I have my computer back and it officially stays on longer than 10 seconds at a time. *sigh* sweet technology.

Alright...I have a question. I was at Taco Bell this evening, which never tastes as good as it sounds...and noticed their new dollar menu. It's called "Why Pay More!". This sign drives me nuts, as it's seems like they should be asking me a question instead of shouting at me! Why doesn't it say "Why Pay More?". Am I not understanding the punctuation? Are they really correct and I'm just a confused English major? I just don't see how this is not a question....and it kind of drives me nuts. THEY HAVE IT PLASTERED EVERYWHERE!!!!!

Alright...that is enough of the Bell. But if you have any answers...please share. I don't know if I am going to be able to sleep tonight. (And no...it isn't the beans.)

Moving on....

Since I have my computer back....I am going to finish my book! :) I am going to write a bit tonight (after this debate is over) and all day tomorrow. My computer WILL remain working, and I WILL start editing next week. EXCITEMENT ABOUND!!!

Oh! Not related to writing....I hate the people who invented the game "Spore" primarily because it does not work with the Powerbook G4's. Bastards. I was really looking forward to raising a cute alien and then destroying the universe. Damn.

This really was a depressing post. I think it's the politics on the tv. It doesn't depress me, it just changes the tone of my thoughts.

Oh!! I voted this week!! I won't get into politics...but I voted for Obama. If you want reasons...too bad. I have them (good one's too...not just Sarah Palin's SNL spoof's) and they are mine. I voted in person with a absentee ballot (I'm going to be in CA for the election). It was fun.

That is all.

Cookies and Cheese

Playing on my iPod: "Summer of 69" by Bryan Adams

Mmmm....I'm baking (don't say "uh-oh" Conor!!). The recipe is called Double Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies. So, does that mean they are double double the chocolate? or just double the chocolate? (This....is why I don't bake.) Either way, they DO smell delish.

I am kind of going through writing withdraw right now. All of my work is on a little portable hard drive...but I have no computer to view it on. Very depressing. I am only two chapters from the end!!! Why, in the name of Stephen King.....why?

I am thinking about biting the bullet and just writing the rest based off of where I think I left off. I am just worried I will miss something (I've been following pretty hefty notes) or forget to tie up a loose end. I dunno...I think I only have four or five days to wait for my computer. Maybe I will just stick it out.

Ooooo!!! The cookies beeped!! Hold on......

Hmmm.....they look like they may have been a slight waste of time. They seem to be resembling bubbly Jabba the Huts.

Allie, if I ever ask...don't let me behind your bakery's counter. Just turn me away. I am much, much better at buying cookies than making them.

OH!! This little detour reminds me of something! It's Hop-Along Monday!!! Chess...chess it is. Today's phrase is being brought to you by Kraft Cheese. :)

Now, it's very normal for a human being to be surprised. Common phrases used during "said" surprise can range from "Holy S*it!!!" to the more comical "Holy Felony Batman!". One you don't hear often in the English lexicon, however, is "Goodnight Irene". Yes ladies and gentlemen, this is Conor's phrase of choice for surprising moments. You may join me now in a communal headshake.

I'm not really sure what "Goodnight Irene" means. Does it mean that the event was so flabbergasting that you just have to call it a day and hit the sack? Could it possibly be a substitution for a more foul phrase? We may never know. Only the Conor may know for sure.

Still...it's an interesting ponder for the evening...albeit one that won't last long.

That said.....Goodnight!!

P.S. I forgot to take the cookies out of the oven (I decided to let the gooey blobs cook longer) and now they are hard cracked turds. One day I will be a success....at least once....in the kitchen.

My Latest Muse

Not listening to iTunes...because my computer is dead. In the emergency room. 5-7 days. Writing on hold. Very depressed. On to the post (from my mother's computer):

In case most of you don't know....I am a photographer by trade. How is this relavent to writing, you might ask? Go ahead...ask it. I'll wait.

*waits patiently*

Good question! Let me tell you. I've been thinking recently about creative ways in which I might promote my book, once it gets published. I have heard that it is a good idea to have a clear idea of how the book should be promoted in case an agent shows interest in your work. (Don't worry...I also know not to start the promotion conversation until the appropriate time). I have thought of the usual....bookmarks, posters, postcards, buttons, etc. Then it came to me. What do all of these mediums need? PICTURES!! It just so happens, i'm pretty decent at making those!!

So, I have begun looking for models who might resemble my main characters....and by accident, when I wasn't looking.....I FOUND HER THIS WEEKEND!! MY IZZY!! (She is posted above, in case you are wondering.) The image posted isn't the image I would use...she doesn't exactly look like she is running for her life here, does she? But I think she may just be perfect.

I really don't know how I am going to go about all of this. I don't want to force an image of my characters onto the reader...but at the same time, I think it could be kind of a fun gimmic. Almost like collectible art for a book promo. I dunno. Just an idea. I definitely have time to think about it, that's for sure.

Mac Medication

Playing on iPod!!! "American Boy" by Estelle

My computer is at the doctor's!!! (This is just a quick post from the Mac Emergency Room.) I'll try to update with an actual post tonight at Conor's. I have a crap-ton to talk about!! (Don't worry...everything was backed up, so no data lost. Just a pain in the ass. Luckily, I think Mac has medication for that.)

Gaaaaaames!!!!!

Playing in iTunes: "Piano Man" by Billy Joel

My good blogging buddy Georgie B has gone and started a war. :) Nah, he actually is a link in an interesting game for bibliofiles!!! So, I have decided to participate (against my will). I have been asked to write six book related (about me) things on my blog, and tag six other people to do the same. So, without further frivolous writing....

1) Peter Pan is my all time, all time, all time favorite book.....of all time. I AM OBSESSED!!!!!

2) I have worked for various bookstores in their children's section for a little over five years.

3) I am writing my second book! (The first one was absolute crap and is locked away in a swiss vault, due not it's value...but it's humiliation factor).

4) Talking literature and breaking down characters and ripping apart plot lines is, seriously, one of my favorite things to do in life. You have no idea.

5) I actually prefer to see the made into movies first...that way there is nothing to compare it to. The movie could be great....and then the book will be fabulous!! Win, win situation.

6) I have almost as many fashion photography books as I do fiction. (Although my collection of self-improvement is fairly extensive as well.)

Right! Very simple...kinda fun. Who doesn't like to talk about themselves? That's why we're bloggers, right?

Anyways, next comes the fun part. Tagging my poor unsuspecting friends!! SPIN THE BOTTLE IT IS!!!

Alright.....*spinning*........Pink Ink!! (Oh good!! She's playful...she might like this!!)
Again.......*spinning*........Babo!!! (I'll make him do it...he doesn't have a choice...)
My arm is getting tired......*spin*........Serena!!! (Games, games, games. I think Serena likes games.)
Alrighty.......*nudge*..........Christine!!!!! (Look, another post for ya!! Already laid out...)
*sigh*........*poke*...........Allie-Boo!! (You rarely update....so I dunno if the bottle chose wisely.)
OK...one more time....*broke the bottle* (oops)....Janna!! (You guys should check out her blog...she's always interesting!!)

AND THE RULES FOR ALL OF YOU CHALLENGEES!!!

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on the blog.
3. Write six random bookish things about yourself.
4. Tag sixish people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know he or she has been tagged.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.