Friday, April 30, 2010

It came!!!

Remember when I did that write-a-thon? That super-dooper fun four hour stretch of doing nothing but WRITE?
I had accomplished my goal, and got a lot done. It was fantastic. But something else good came of it too...
I won a prize!!!!
I didn't win the highest word count prize or the random drawing. But because all of us who participated reached an accumulative word count of over 100,000 words, a third prize was given away!
A book about grammar (which is always a help to all word nerds... special thanks to Annette Lyon!) and a hand-bound journal.

Guess who won?
Yeah.
Moi!!!

The journal and book arrived by mail today. The book is cool and will be useful. The journal is so incredibly divine.  Real leather, hard cover. This was made by Pendragon's Book Binding. This lovely lady did a fantastic job. It so antique-y and travel-y. I adore traveling so this is a great design for me!

For anyone looking for a great gift idea for a writer, a scrapbooker, a keepsake liker, or anyone, look up Pendragon's Book Binding. They have TONS of designs.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Painting Update

Background is done! And some of the castle is sketched in. The princesses are still lookin a little...uh...incomplete. But that's okay, they'll look fabulous soon.


and just for comparison, here's the last one:

It looks differenter in person.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

No internet for four days will really kill you

I had gone without the internet for the majority of three years of marriage. You know the saying, "use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without" ?
Yeah. I did without. I did fine.
Ever since getting the internet back, I have been SPOILED.
Every time I wanted to communicate, catch up, look something up (does the Chrystler Building have any decorative ponds inside?) or blog update...
Cool, I can look it up!
This week: Oh wait. Internet's not working!!!
Oy.
Well, now it's fixed!!! Thanks to the forever ultimate cousin Jodi. Here's a little update on the week:

~Going to send in another query letter, hopefully tonight. Wish me luck!
~I broke a mirror yesterday. Soon after, I couldn't find my cell phone then later found it and I tripped over a huge pillow on the floor ah, yes, I tripped but I did not break my face. One of the most liberating feelings in the world is deciding to rely on a Power infinitely higher than luck.
~Uncle Mike got baptized!! Truly, a beautiful experience for our family. What a great example of Christlike humility and faith.

It's been a good weekend. I even got all the laundry done.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

I must be like jello

I think I'm getting stronger. I got another rejection letter yesterday and I didn't even cry! I didn't even care! Maybe cuz I have a plan. Or a support system. 

Or maybe, like jello, my determination is becoming set. My resolve is getting firm. My goals are taking shape, even though they might still be a little wobbly.

I am like jello. 
Green jello.
With sprite in it.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Ah, Fitzwilliam

I went to mum's house today. She let me use her wicked cool washer and drier. I also worked on a project that shall remain unnamed because it's for my future SIL.

And we watched Pride and Prejudice! the good one.

All six hours of it! Tres fun.

While we were watching, mum pointed out how similar Mr. Darcy is to my man. Oh yes, ladies. All he needs is super sexy chops-style sideburns (and breeches, coat, and cravat, but he wouldn't be caught dead in such attire) and he'd be your classic Regency stud.

He hates dancing, he's cute, he's quiet, he's honorable and loyal and also quite shy. a trait I had mistaken for indifference when I first met him.

So... sorry ladies. Fitzwilliam is taken. But Superman, Prince Charming, Edward Cullen, and Romeo might still be available.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Withdrawals

I finished reading the fifth and final book in the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull.

Action. From start to finish. Sucked me in so bad I'm feeling depressed that it's over.
I tried starting again from the first book but it's not the same!

What happens to the characters? I mean, I know what happens. The book tells us what the characters may do in the future, what they'd like to do in the future. But I'm still yearning for more!!

It's like Harry Potter all over again. Sniff. Ugh. Don't want it to be over!!
Brandon Mull, you fiend!
Thanks for signing my books :)

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Okay, you can bother the writer now.

Start time: 6:20 p.m. 
Starting word count: 129
Ending time: 10:16
Ending word count: 5, 335

A grand total of 5, 206 words! I made my goal!!!!

So far, I'm in fourth place for the highest word count. Ah, dang. I kinda wanted that prize. But I made my goal. That feels really, really good.

I got ten pages written in four hours. More than 5,000 words. Some of it is kinda crappy, I was just sort-of free-writing some of the time. But I got it down. That's the important thing. 

Don't bother the Writer! episode 2

Tonight, I am doing a Write-a-Thon sponsored by Precision Editing Group. For four straight hours, I am going to sit with a pile of notes and maybe some M & M's and a HUGE glass of water, and I am going to
WRITE

I'm working on a novel yet to be titled. It's a modern revision of Phantom of the Opera. (Hopefully it'll be engaging, dark, and beautiful sorta like Gerard Butler's portrayal of the Phantom... ahem...)

So between the hours of 6  and 10 tonight, you 
cannot get a hold of me.

Yahoo!!! 5,000 words or BUST!

Monday, April 5, 2010

Changed me mind

Well, after talking it over with the Man, I decided wedding planning isn't for me. It would be fun, yes, but I don't think I want that kind of lifestyle. I'm not a career woman. I'm a wife and aspiring mother.

So after reviewing a few different majors on the BYU website, yes BYU. Not sure if we're going to end up there, but I can take classes online. I decided my major:

English.

Boring. I know. But just think about all the WRITING I'll get to do!!! Yay!
It's going to take a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time. Aside from having English 101, 102, and a semester of Spanish done, I'm pretty much starting from square one. At almost 28 years old.
I can't help thinking with a frustrated growl, What have I been doing for the last ten years???

Okay, Okay, I'll say it. You were right, Mom.

Friday, April 2, 2010

What did you do for April Fools Day?

Me and the receptionist at the dental office where I work thought we'd play a joke on our boss. We got some disappearing ink in a cute little goody basket from one of the specialists, so we used that, put a little puddle of it onto the BRAND new countertop, placed a pen beside it, and I went and told Dr. T that the receptionist needed to talk to him about something. So he goes in there, doesn't see the spilled ink, doesn't notice it until I gasp and point it out. Was I over-acting? Heck no! I was fabulous! But Dr. T calmly wiped the ink off the counter top. Me and the other girls started laughing. Dr. T barely blinked an eye.
He said I gave the joke away when I pointed it out.
Very anti-climactic.
I was so bummed. No, bummed isn't the right word. Completely miffed and offended. Yeah. miffed that he had NO reaction!!!! Are you kidding me? After putting up with your teasing, needling, and bossing me around for the last seven years, I don't even get a reaction out of you because of some spilled ink on your brand new countertop???? sheesh!!

So what'd you do for April fool's day?