RWA Meeting

Over the weekend I attended the Chocolate Fair in Glendale. It was a blast! The weather was wonderful and the chocolate was tasty! I got to spend some quality time with my dad. It was really nice to have some one on one time with him. :)

One of the big reasons I wanted to go to the fair was that I had heard there would be a bunch of romance authors attending and signing their books. It was quite true! There were many friendly authors to talk to. One that stands out is Judi McCoy. She was so awesome to talk with. She told me about RWA and that she would be speaking at a local chapters meeting. She also told me that she runs the aspiring writers workshop at RT. I so want to go. I mean really. I just don't know where I can find the money. Anyhoo, Judi was full of info and I picked up the first book in her dog walker series. I also bought three other books. Four books? I call that self control! LOL!

I had known about RWA for a few years and had intended on joining but never took that step. After talking to Judi I thought I would check out the website again and also the site for the local chapter. I did that today and decided that I would go to the meeting. I am so glad I did. It was a fantastic experience. I met some really neat people. I have never been in a room with so many like minded people. Everyone wants the same thing and understands just what you mean when you speak. I am definitely going to join. Can't wait for the next meeting! I am so jazzed and just incredibly inspired to get words down. Watch out WIP, here I come! :)

Resolution anyone?

So traditionally at the start of the new year people make resolutions. Usually they are put down on paper and hung somewhere so that they can be seen and not forgotten. I have done this in the past. I look at them written down in a bulletted list and ultimately just ignore, throw away, forget, make excuses....whatever and at the end of the year I am left wishing that I had followed thru.

Again, I have made a list. Written out on a crisp sheet of paper in a pretty colored ink. (purple for those wondering) They list the regular suspects. Lose weight, exercise, budget, blah blah blah. In the last few years I have also put down writing goals. It appears again this year. I have made them simpler and yet specific this time around.

So without further ado...my resolutions, the writing half.

Write two books in 8 months.
Submit to agents.
Do not fail.

I will post regular updates about my progress. Thats what I will have. Progress.

I will not fail. I am a writer. I will not fail.

Wrapped Up

2009 is almost at an end. I would like to say, "where did the time go?" but actually this was a very long year for me. A rough year. Lets see, my husband was let go from his job (9 months with no work), found out my dog Ginger has epilepsy, accomplished none of the goals I set forth last year and way too many good dogs left this world. It was a hard year. On the other hand I think that this year has shown me just how strong I truly am. Its shown me the things that are truly important in this life. Friends and family and being true to yourself.

I am blessed with an amazing family. My immediate family supported us in many ways through the rough times. My cousin and her husband flew us out to NY to be in their wedding. Reconnecting with that side of my family has been wonderfully enriching. My sister and brother (not biological but might as well be) have listened and helped me to laugh through the tears.

My friends, many of whom I only know online, have inspired me to be better and do better. Kat, Vicki, Rinda, Holly, Heather, and many more. Thank you. :)

I guess it is very true, the saying that goes, "Without a struggle, there can be no progress."

Goodbye 2009.

Non-Title

Sorry folks, couldn't think of a catchy title or even a semi-catchy title. So today you get the non-title. LOL! Lets see, what's been up? Well, NaNo is over today and I am about 46000 words short. I'm ok with that. Its further than I'd ever gotten before and I plan to keep working on the story a bit at a time. I had originally wanted to have it done before the Romantic Times convention in April 2010. It may still happen. I'm not sure if I want to have something to show there or if I want to just have fun meeting people I've only talked to online. Either way I know It'll be a great experience because I will have my mom and my bestie there! :)

I am currently doing a lot of work on my beauty youtube channel. I have a project I am working towards launching and am just beyond excited about it. I have also been uploading videos to a weight loss channel. I joined a christmas wl challenge at the end of october but unfortunately missed the deadline due to a difference in timezones. I am still following along in the challenge just unofficially. I want to go back to eating mostly raw foods. I did it for about three weeks where I would eat mostly raw all day and then have a "regular" dinner. I noticed a huge difference in how I felt. I was happier and my mind was clearer. I also had more energy and lost some weight. :) I stopped doing it though. I think I went too much too soon and got burned out. I'll start it again but will go raw in the morning and then work into going raw for lunch as well.

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving (if you celebrate).

I would like to say also that not long ago the world lost a precious pup. Wee-Man went to sleep after his mommy made the hardest decision. She is a strong and loving mama to her boys. Please take a moment and send out happiness and love to her and Wee-Man, also to Boud his brother. I know that he his playing somewhere above and if you listen you may hear him. :)

Writing the NaNo

NaNo continues as does my word count. I really had a hard time writing for a few days after kick off. I figured out it was because the mc didn't start out in the right setting. So I changed it. Viola!!! I made up all the words I erased plus some. So yea for me! :)

Today my bestie and I did a mini write in at the public library. It was great! I ended up adding about 1600 more words to my wip. So again, yea!!!

I am really happy with the way the words are coming out. I think this could really lead to something good. :)

In addition to NaNo I have been thinking about what I want to do over the next year and how to go about making it happen. I want to travel to some of the conventions this next year. One's I have heard about in the past but haven't had the funds to go to. I want to take care of my debt and actually put some money away. This means I have to stop buying frivolous things. The things that give me that instant gratification. If the last eight months have taught me anything its that instant gratification is so not worth the stress of the consequences.

Anyhoo, hope everyone is doing well, specifically a guy named Wee-man. Big hugs for you buddy. :)

NaNo Kick Off

This mornig at 12:01 am I started on my way to finishing my 50,000 words for NaNo! This was the first year I'd ever done this. I loved it! I really didn't think I'd be able to stay up but I wasn't alone, thankfully! My best friend was here with me. :) We both sat in my office, fingers clacking away! Every 45 minutes we would read aloud our last paragraphand our word count. Then we'd take a 15 minute break. She brought an arsenal of items to help us stay awake and nourished! Hot chocolate, donuts, granola! You name it! It was awesome! She really kept me going and having her there was so motivated!

We originally planned for 4 hours but by 3:15ish we were both falling asleep. So we called it a night. A very successful night! She ended with 4800 and I with 1500. She rocked it man! I came in at less but am very happy with how much I accomplished! All in all it was a great kick off. We have another write in planned for Friday night. So looking forward to it! :)

Rain Rain Go Away

The last few days have been not so bueno. If you read my facebook you'll know why. My Ginger baby has been having seizures again. She hasn't had any that I know of for quite a few months. Its very hard to watch her go thru them and then she is just so wiped out afterwards. When she sleeps I pray for her to sleep peacfully. Her seizures hit her when she is sleeping. But so far today no incidents so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

My brother stopped by today. He was on his bike ride and decided to visit. I am so very proud of him. He has lost over 100 pounds! He looks great and is so much happier. Its been almost a year since he started walking, then running and now he's biking and swimming. He got into doing marathons and now he his gearing up for his first triathalon which is this weekend! :) He looks great! I want to put myself on the same track but I keep putting myself in the way. He says that I just need to put myself first and go for it. He also says that I am like my mom in that I am passionate about so many things that I get bored easily and move on to something else before I really accomplish anything. He's right. so very very right.

I'm working on a plan and a set of goals for myself. I was watching a youtube vid and this gal said that dreams are only wishes, that you need goals that are smart.
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bound. But that they also have to be Yours. You do it for yourself and no one else. no one else.