Friday, March 25th
Fun
Do you sometimes forget just how much fun some of the simple stuff you did was when you were a kid? Now that the weather's nice, we FINALLY got our daughter's trampoline she got for Christmas up in the back yard. I hadn't been on a trampoline in years--well, more accurately, we could say a couple of decades.  I took off my shoes and started to climb in and my daughter asked, "Have you ever been on a trampoline before?" I told her my best friend in middle and high school had one. She said, "Oh, I didn't know they had these back then." Snot-nosed brat!! Anyway...OMG, it was so much FUN!! We jumped and laughed and screamed and had such a good time we had to go back out after dark and have one last jump-a-thon and then fall back exhausted and look at the moon through the trees. Awesome! I'm going to work really hard and get all my writing done this morning so we can jump again when she gets home from school! 
Jen
Jennifer on 03.25.05 @ 09:17 AM EST [Entry Link] [2 Comments]
Wednesday, March 23rd
One of Life's Mysteries
This morning I'm feeling deep and contemplative and I wanted to throw out what seems to be one of life's mysteries. Why is it that when I go in to get my hair colored, it really doesn't need a cut but give it a week or so and it looks as if I'm wearing a topiary on my head?
So this morning I'm putting together a proposal for a book I'm pretty excited about but don't dare say more in case it doesn't get accepted. It's a little different from what I've done before which is always interesting, exciting, and a bit scary. Then it's on to the line edits from the book I just revised. I'm always holding my breath when I read through the line edits to see what's been changed/cut. I'll have to tell you, however, that I've really had enough of this book. I'm always past done by this stage. How many stinking times can you look at the same thing? And for me, Ms. Virgo with Perfectionist Tendancies, I'm still wanting to tweak and make it better. I'm absolutely never satisfied with it.
Hope wherever you are Spring is coming your way. The birds are busy at the feeders and in the yard this morning--woodpeckers, robins, cardinals, chicadees, and blue jays.
Jen
Jennifer on 03.23.05 @ 11:44 AM EST [Entry Link] [3 Comments]
Monday, March 21st
Order in my Universe
It's amazing what a peace of mind and a calmness comes with a little bit of order. I finished my revisions last week and my reward was to stay up all night reading Beach Music. What a fanatastic book!
My parents came for the week-end and my step-father and I spent Sunday cleaning up the back yard, the garden pond, and the decks. So, here it is on Monday morning and my house is in order and the yard and decks look lovely and I'm really psyched to get started on a proposal and then the next book! I won't spoil it by thinking that sooner than later it will all slide back into chaos.
On a serious note, let me encourage everyone to search on your computer for registered sex offenders in your area. You want the list that is put together by your state. In Georgia, you are given, by zip codes, name, address, and often a photo. It will also list what the offense was. Color me neurotic, I want to know the pedophiles and rapists that live around me. I want to know my enemies.
Jen
Jennifer on 03.21.05 @ 10:47 AM EST [Entry Link] [2 Comments]
Tuesday, March 15th
Mixed bag
I've been in absentia working on revisions. Just to catch up to speed, ran my 5K on Sunday! It was unseasonably hot and some guy pushing a baby stroller--complete with baby--kept passing me.  He'd stop to fiddle with the baby and I'd pass them. Then in a bit he'd come waxing by me, pushing that stroller. Really, sort of funny, in a pathetic way. 
Jen
Jennifer on 03.15.05 @ 10:01 PM EST [Entry Link] [1 Comment]
Thursday, March 10th
One Hill at a Time
I'm so psyched and a bit nervous all at the same time--I'm participating in my very first 5K this week-end. Let me make it clear, I'm looking to complete, not compete. I won't set any records for speed, but to finish is a huge deal for me. I've never been a runner, primarily because I didn't think I could. I had a host of reasons/excuses: I didn't have the right body type, I didn't really like it, it was too hot in the summer, too cold in the winter, I couldn't do that.
Last year, I decided I could and would do this. I began to run and enjoyed it. Whether I'm good at it, whether I'm graceful out there--I neither know nor care. I know it's a tremendous outlet for stress and it's been a great source of empowerment. My neighborhood is filled with wicked hills. When I start, I know where and how far I'm going. I know the route and the hills involved. But, once I start to run, I don't think past the hill in front of me. All I have to do is get up that hill. I'm not stopping once I reach the top, but I get a break, a respite, until I'm facing that next hill. I never allow myself to think that I can't do it--I just go for it, one hill at a time--that's so less daunting than to think about the whole 3 miles.
It's definitely carried over to my writing. Once scene at a time. Some days it's one page at a time. *ggg* Actually, I carry it with me in many respects of my life. It's become my mantra. I can do anything as long as I believe I can and tackle it one hill at a time.
What is it you've always wanted to do but thought you couldn't? What part of yourself have you quietly curtailed? Believe in yourself. Know what you want, know where you want to go. And then go for it--you can get there, one hill at a time.
 Jen
Jennifer on 03.10.05 @ 09:37 AM EST [Entry Link] [4 Comments]
Tuesday, March 8th
Unnatural Attachments to Inanimate Objects
I love my car. I don't just like it--I really love it. I'm attached to it to an obscene degree. I'm sure to feel this way about an inanimate object is a sin in most major religions. So....I knew I was in trouble when we went to see the movie Are We There Yet? This guy has this gorgeous new Lincoln Navigator (not my fave car, but I can relate to how much he loves this car), he sees this really hot chick and in a moment of misguided lust agrees to transport her two demon spawn.
Having seen the trailers, I didn't exactly have to be a girl genius to see where this was going. So, sad but true, bit by bit, scene by scene, they destroyed this vehicle. It was painful and frustrating. He should've just said no.
I know all about lust and love. I write it on a pretty-much daily basis. Trust me, no human object of desire's worth sacrificing your vehicle. Let's say, for hypothesis sake, that I'm not married. Now, let's suppose Liam Neeson or Ken Watanabe or Toby Keith or that lovely Viggo Mortensen asked me to haul their kid somewhere in my car (we're supposing they have kids--I don't know). Okay, I'd sign on hoping to impress. BUT, when said kid pulled out a juice box or soda or touched my radio. Errrrk. (That's the screech of tires and brakes.) Forget it, kid. Not in my car. They'd be so out of there.
So, remember, it's one thing to see it in the movies or read about it in a book, but that's fiction. In real life, it's just not worth it. Never sacrifice your car for true love. Instead go get a wash and wax.
Jen
Jennifer on 03.08.05 @ 03:32 PM EST [Entry Link] [No Comments]
Tuesday, March 1st
An artform
I consider myself an artist with a natural gift. I am so good at what I do, I really haven't had to apply myself, it just comes naturally (that natural gift thing). Very few equal my talent and I don't think anyone actually rivals me. Are you appalled by my sheer arrogance? You shouldn't be. What good is a great talent if we don't recognize it for what it is?
Yes, I have elevated procrastination to an artform. I haven't had to work to hone my craft, procrastination just comes naturally...and I simply excel at it. I'm presenting a workshop at the National RWA conference in Reno this year. I received my speaker forms a couple of weeks ago. They were due February 29. Guess what's on my desk to fax this morning, along with a note of apology? Yeah, you know. My accountant automatically files tax extensions each year. He knows. RITA scores are due March 7. You know when those will go out. I bought a book last year on procrastination, but I haven't read it yet (swear to you--that's the truth).
For years I've resented you people who had your Christmas shopping wrapped up before Halloween, writers who turned in books early, citizens who filed taxes in a timely fashion, and travelers who didn't stay up half the night before a trip, packing. It's true that I harbored unkind thoughts about these good people. But envy really doesn't present a pretty face. So, I've decided to embrace my gift. The book on procrastination is now in the box to be donated to the library.
My friend Lee tells me I work best under pressure. It's a good thing.
Jen
Jennifer on 03.01.05 @ 08:57 AM EST [Entry Link]
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"Go out as far as you can in your writing. I can rein you back in, but
I can't take you out there."
-Brenda Chin, Harlequin Enterprises, Inc
Writer Buddies
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Temptation Authors
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Thompson
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“Edison failed 10,000 times before he made the electric light. Do not be discouraged if you fail a few times.”
-Napoleon Hill
Writerly Links
DoBelieve
Georgia Romance
Writers
Harlequin
Romance Writers of America
"Some men admit they avoid confrontation (about breaking up) because they’re afraid we’ll cry. Of course we’ll cry; we cry at Hallmark commercials. What they don’t understand is that we’re not crying because of them, we’re crying because now we have to get naked in front of someone else.”
-Cindy Chupack, TV writer
Fun Links
Toby Keith
Dave Matthews Band
"If you’re going through hell, keep going.”
-Winston Churchill
"Sex is not a sin. Many people have complained that this is taking all the fun out of sex.”
-Dr. Ruth Westheimer
"I know the difference between a good man and a bad one, but I haven’t decided which I like better.”
-Mae West
"Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change.”
-Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
“Men make love more intensely at twenty but make love better, however, at thirty.”
-Catherine II, empress of Russia
“My sister was with two men one night. She could hardly walk after that. Can you imagine? Two dinners!”
-Sarah Silverman, comedian
“A bit of lusting after someone does wonders for you and is good for your skin.”
-Elizabeth Hurley
“I used to think I had ambition...but now I’m not so sure. It may have been only discontent. They’re easily confused.”
-Rachel Field, children’s book author
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