Started work today. Got up with the sun...literally. I've discovered that it's kind of cool to be up that early. Everything is so quiet, and there's little (besides my bed) to distract me. However, getting up that early really sucks. : ) If that makes any sense.
I've forgotten how tiring it is to be new. How uncertain you can feel about your role and the bounds of your responsibility and authority. But the people are nice and the job will be challenging so that's good.
BATHROOM TALK (You have been warned. No complaining! : ) )
Weird thing, in the bathroom at work, they have a bottle of spray air freshener in every stall on the back of the toilet. And three more on the countertop by the sinks. So, obviously, this is an important issue for them. But me being me, I'm wondering about protocol. Is that something you do for yourself or when you deem it necessary, regardless of the source? Is it gross that I'm talking about this? These are the thoughts that are wandering through my head. Like, say you're in there and it's just standard protocol to spray every time regardless. Companies develop weird traditions like that. At my last company, you'd get a tray to carry your food to the table in the cafeteria, but you never ate on the tray. You always returned it to the tray holder before even eating. Which was stupid because it meant you had to juggle all your dirty dishes to the conveyor belt instead of just using the tray. But those were the rules. And everybody followed them. I just don't want to break the bathroom air freshener rules because I don't know them, you know? Aaaaah, the peer pressure! : )
NON-BATHROOM TALK
We went to see Miami Vice this weekend and hit the movie trifecta.
-someone snoring behind us,
-a couple talking so loudly I wanted to tell them that if I'd wanted to hear their commentary I would have waited for the DVD to come out and then gone over to their house,
-and a woman with a larger than average hairdo (or perhaps it was her head...I'm not being nasty, I just couldn't see the screen as well around her) in front of us.
Plus, I really didn't like the movie either. Oh, well, better luck next time.
I'm off to microwave dinner, watch The Closer and Saved, or as much as I can stay awake for, and finish my laundry! : )
Monday, July 31, 2006
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Update
So, I've been a little lax on posting lately. : ) Sorry. Things have been a little hectic here. As of Monday, I'll be starting a new temporary position, sort of an in-between to a full-time job and fully freelance. Which will definitely help with the cash flow situation. : )
I will do my best to be a little more prompt about updating here. I keep thinking of things that I want to write about but without writing them down, they always slip away before I can get over here.
On the good news side of things, Linnea Sinclair won a RITA for her book, Gabriel's Ghost, last night at the RWA conference. This is a HUGE award in romance writing, and it couldn't have happened to a nicer person or a more deserving writer!!! She called me last night to tell me--so cool! I can't wait to hear from her what it was like to hear her name called in front of all those people. This is the conference with Nora Roberts and all the other giants in the romance industry. : )
Random things
-Not to sound too vague, but the good book news is still in the works. I don't have anything definite to announce, but I hope to in the next few weeks.
-I'm loving the new summer shows Psych and Saved. That Wyatt Cole on Saved is a cutie.
-Gobbled up the latest Meg Cabot YA How to Be Popular. My favorite is still Avalon, but this one is good too.
Have to go now. For the first time since I was living at my parents' house, I actually have a bed time. No choice. I've got to be at work at 8:00 a.m. Dude. *sigh*
I will do my best to be a little more prompt about updating here. I keep thinking of things that I want to write about but without writing them down, they always slip away before I can get over here.
On the good news side of things, Linnea Sinclair won a RITA for her book, Gabriel's Ghost, last night at the RWA conference. This is a HUGE award in romance writing, and it couldn't have happened to a nicer person or a more deserving writer!!! She called me last night to tell me--so cool! I can't wait to hear from her what it was like to hear her name called in front of all those people. This is the conference with Nora Roberts and all the other giants in the romance industry. : )
Random things
-Not to sound too vague, but the good book news is still in the works. I don't have anything definite to announce, but I hope to in the next few weeks.
-I'm loving the new summer shows Psych and Saved. That Wyatt Cole on Saved is a cutie.
-Gobbled up the latest Meg Cabot YA How to Be Popular. My favorite is still Avalon, but this one is good too.
Have to go now. For the first time since I was living at my parents' house, I actually have a bed time. No choice. I've got to be at work at 8:00 a.m. Dude. *sigh*
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Blogger error and Madison
I tried to post an entry to let you guys know I'd be in Madison this week, but Blogger kept giving me an error message. Oh, well. So, I'm back now. And I'd forgotten how much fun I have in Madison, especially at the Writers Institute.
I arrived late on Wednesday, only missing the hotel parking garage once and having to circle back with a minor bit of angst, which is pretty good for me! The hotel--the Madison Concourse--was lovely, right next to the Capitol, which is such a beautiful building. It would have been neat to get a closer look, but I ran out of time.
After getting checked in on Wednesday, I decided to find State Street and get some ice cream. That's always my big challenge to myself whenever I go anywhere alone. My temptation is to hide in my hotel room, but I always make myself go out and eat or walk. I found a Ben and Jerry's only a couple blocks up from my hotel, so that was easy enough. I love UW-Madison and State Street, it's just like being in college again. There are always people out and about, even after dark, and you can be out there eating an ice cream cone by yourself and not have to worry. Plus, the very casual and laid back way the students dress reminds me so much of my college days, back when grunge was very hot. ; )
After the ice cream, I went back to my hotel and prepped for my session the next day and went to bed.
The shuttle to the Union on campus left the hotel at 7:30 a.m. Ugh. But I made it! I got there plenty early, dropped my books off in the bookstore and settled in with a muffin. As always there were about two hundred people attending and everyone was so nice and friendly. I love that! A few people remembered me from last year and came over to say hello. It's amazing to me how many people share this love for writing. And they have so many fascinating ideas to write about.
The keynote speaker was David Maraniss, a Pulitzer-Prize-winning author. Pretty cool, right? And he was an excellent speaker too. After he was finished speaking, we, the instructors, introduced ourselves. That always makes me nervous. It just takes me a few minutes to warm up to speaking in front of a bunch of people and by that time, the introductions are already done!
My session, Elevating Conflict, was in the first group. Talk about a tough act to follow! But I think it went pretty well. It was soooo hot, though, upstairs in the Union. Plus, when I'm talking and moving around, I tend to get even warmer.
After my session, I went out to lunch at Einstein's (where else!) with a gentleman who'd attended my session. (I don't post names here unless someone is a public figure--an author--or has given me permission). We had a fascinating conversation about the non-fiction books he's planning on writing.
After lunch, I attended a couple more sessions, including a round table where we all just got together and talked about various writing issues. J.A. Konrath was there, and he is always so much fun! And a little crazy.
Afterward, J.A., another writer and I went out for dinner and drinks. Linnea would be so proud of me--I had a Cosmo instead of a Fuzzy Navel. Though the bar where we ate didn't serve martinis evidently, so I had my Cosmo in a tumbler, which just cracked me up. My husband and I, often too lazy to drag out the fancy wine glasses for just the two of us, have had wine with dinner in tumblers. So sad!
Anyway, I'll write more about the rest of the conference as soon as I have a chance. Hopefully, tomorrow or so. I'm heading out to Peoria this afternoon to attend my dad's twenty-fifth ordination celebration. : )
I arrived late on Wednesday, only missing the hotel parking garage once and having to circle back with a minor bit of angst, which is pretty good for me! The hotel--the Madison Concourse--was lovely, right next to the Capitol, which is such a beautiful building. It would have been neat to get a closer look, but I ran out of time.
After getting checked in on Wednesday, I decided to find State Street and get some ice cream. That's always my big challenge to myself whenever I go anywhere alone. My temptation is to hide in my hotel room, but I always make myself go out and eat or walk. I found a Ben and Jerry's only a couple blocks up from my hotel, so that was easy enough. I love UW-Madison and State Street, it's just like being in college again. There are always people out and about, even after dark, and you can be out there eating an ice cream cone by yourself and not have to worry. Plus, the very casual and laid back way the students dress reminds me so much of my college days, back when grunge was very hot. ; )
After the ice cream, I went back to my hotel and prepped for my session the next day and went to bed.
The shuttle to the Union on campus left the hotel at 7:30 a.m. Ugh. But I made it! I got there plenty early, dropped my books off in the bookstore and settled in with a muffin. As always there were about two hundred people attending and everyone was so nice and friendly. I love that! A few people remembered me from last year and came over to say hello. It's amazing to me how many people share this love for writing. And they have so many fascinating ideas to write about.
The keynote speaker was David Maraniss, a Pulitzer-Prize-winning author. Pretty cool, right? And he was an excellent speaker too. After he was finished speaking, we, the instructors, introduced ourselves. That always makes me nervous. It just takes me a few minutes to warm up to speaking in front of a bunch of people and by that time, the introductions are already done!
My session, Elevating Conflict, was in the first group. Talk about a tough act to follow! But I think it went pretty well. It was soooo hot, though, upstairs in the Union. Plus, when I'm talking and moving around, I tend to get even warmer.
After my session, I went out to lunch at Einstein's (where else!) with a gentleman who'd attended my session. (I don't post names here unless someone is a public figure--an author--or has given me permission). We had a fascinating conversation about the non-fiction books he's planning on writing.
After lunch, I attended a couple more sessions, including a round table where we all just got together and talked about various writing issues. J.A. Konrath was there, and he is always so much fun! And a little crazy.
Afterward, J.A., another writer and I went out for dinner and drinks. Linnea would be so proud of me--I had a Cosmo instead of a Fuzzy Navel. Though the bar where we ate didn't serve martinis evidently, so I had my Cosmo in a tumbler, which just cracked me up. My husband and I, often too lazy to drag out the fancy wine glasses for just the two of us, have had wine with dinner in tumblers. So sad!
Anyway, I'll write more about the rest of the conference as soon as I have a chance. Hopefully, tomorrow or so. I'm heading out to Peoria this afternoon to attend my dad's twenty-fifth ordination celebration. : )
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Just a reminder...
I'll be out of town at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Writers' Institute for the next couple of days. I'm so excited!
I'll try to post from the road if time and wireless access allow.
: ) Stacey
I'll try to post from the road if time and wireless access allow.
: ) Stacey
Just a reminder...
I'll be out of town at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Writers' Institute for the next couple of days. I'm so excited!
I'll try to post from the road if time and wireless access allows.
: ) Stacey
I'll try to post from the road if time and wireless access allows.
: ) Stacey
Just a reminder...
I'll be out of town at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Writers' Institute for the next couple of days. I'm so excited!
I'll try to post from the road if time and wireless access allows.
: ) Stacey
I'll try to post from the road if time and wireless access allows.
: ) Stacey
Just a reminder...
I'll be out of town at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Writers' Institute for the next couple of days. I'm so excited!
I'll try to post from the road if time and wireless access allows.
: ) Stacey
I'll try to post from the road if time and wireless access allows.
: ) Stacey
Monday, July 10, 2006
Cool stuff...
Don't know if I mentioned this earlier but thanks to dear friend and awesome sci-fi romance writer, Linnea Sinclair, I've been invited to attend and participate in Archon 31, which also happens to be hosting the North American Science Fiction Convention (9th NASFIC) since Worldcon is in Japan next year. So, yeah, I got the list of other attendees today, and I'm a little terrified. There are some BIG sci-fi names going to be at this convention. Frederik Pohl. Jacqueline Lichtenberg. Barbara Hambly! Can anybody say, "EEEK!" I've only been to one sci-fi convention before (WindyCon, a long time ago) and found myself amazed and more than a little intimidated as I was majorly out-geeked, something that has not often occurred in my lifetime (except around my friend and MOATT, Ed). : ) So, I think this one is going to be even more nerve-wracking than RT. Much as I'm loath to admit it, I didn't read much pure sci-fi stuff when I was younger. Ever, actually. I watched Star Wars and Star Trek and read bunches of novels set in those universes. Most of my other reading leaned toward the paranormal. Ghosts, witches, earth-based stuff. However, I'm hoping it will be okay because Linnea will be there and she watches out for me, keeping my feet firmly on the ground instead of halfway down my throat. And Laurell K. Hamilton will be there, too. Yea for familiar faces, people I know!!! It's weird, too, because I'm used to RT where I might not know people, but I know names or book titles or even characters. Not this time...
I am, however, pleased to note that this convention breathes life into one of my favorite fantasies. The one where I get to attend as an author (possibly a speaker, the fantasy varies) and I get to meet my very favorite television/movie sci-fi stars, writers, and producers. Such as the following, in no particular order:
George Lucas (Star Wars)
Wil Wheaton (Stand by Me, TNG, and WilWheaton.net)
Patrick Stewart (Two for one! "Captain Picard" on TNG and Dr. Charles Xavier in X-Men)
Jonathan Frakes (Another two for one! He was a producer for Roswell and played "Commander Riker" on TNG)
Jason Behr ("Max" on Roswell)
*Brandon Routh ("Superman" in Superman Returns)
Richard Dean Anderson ("O'Neill" on SG-1)
Bryan Singer (X-Men, Superman Returns, and House)
Ron Moore (Roswell and Battlestar Galactica)
Katee Sackhoff ("Starbuck" on BSG)
Leonard Nimoy ("Spock" on OS)--I would add William Shatner on here, but Wil Wheaton has successfully scared me away from him forever. : ) But I might still have to try, just for my dad.
The "attending as an author" part is a vital part of the fantasy because that way, when I turn into a gibbering idiot around said favorite person, they will know that I'm not a complete idiot all the time. Just around them. However, the "gibbering idiot" thing has worked out pretty well for me in the past; LKH and her husband have remembered me for years, thanks to my completely awestruck and foolish behavior the first time I met them! : )
Next year's Media Guest of Honor is not someone on my list but is a cool sci-fi person nonetheless. Mira Furlan, who some of you will know probably from Babylon 5 as Ambassador Delenn. But I know her as "the crazy French lady" Rosseau (spelling?) from Lost. Very cool!!!
But if I keep attending, maybe one day I'll get to meet all or some of the people on my favorites list (which is apparently very male-dominated). : )
*Funny side story. My obssession with Superman Returns continues. This weekend, while playing Apples to Apples (an awesome game if you haven't tried it) with Ed (MOATT) and Deb, the card with "Superman" came up during play. The way the game works--well, one version of it--is that you flip over a card with a noun on it, such as Superman, and then the players in the game are required to choose from the adjective cards in their hands to come up with the one they think best describes the noun. Now, the trick is knowing the judge. Each player gets a turn as a judge, and it's up to the judge which adjective describes the noun the best. The adjective cards are then placed face down in front of the judge and mixed up so that the judge can't play favorites among the players. The first card I turned over to describe Superman was "luscious." I laughed my ass off...and totally picked that card as the winner. But the really funny part is that I thought Ed had chosen that one because he and I have always joked around about stuff like that. But no! Instead, I find out it's my long-suffering husband who knows me all too well. God love that man!
The other two cards for Superman were "delicious" (Ed's choice--yep, he knows me too!) and "phony" (Deb's choice, which I thought was really clever because Superman is not who he pretends to be all the time).
Also, while we're on the subject, I tivo'd HBO's First Look: Superman Returns, a little fifteen minute segment about the movie and saved it permanently...at least until the DVD comes out yet. Yes, I am that sad.
I am, however, pleased to note that this convention breathes life into one of my favorite fantasies. The one where I get to attend as an author (possibly a speaker, the fantasy varies) and I get to meet my very favorite television/movie sci-fi stars, writers, and producers. Such as the following, in no particular order:
George Lucas (Star Wars)
Wil Wheaton (Stand by Me, TNG, and WilWheaton.net)
Patrick Stewart (Two for one! "Captain Picard" on TNG and Dr. Charles Xavier in X-Men)
Jonathan Frakes (Another two for one! He was a producer for Roswell and played "Commander Riker" on TNG)
Jason Behr ("Max" on Roswell)
*Brandon Routh ("Superman" in Superman Returns)
Richard Dean Anderson ("O'Neill" on SG-1)
Bryan Singer (X-Men, Superman Returns, and House)
Ron Moore (Roswell and Battlestar Galactica)
Katee Sackhoff ("Starbuck" on BSG)
Leonard Nimoy ("Spock" on OS)--I would add William Shatner on here, but Wil Wheaton has successfully scared me away from him forever. : ) But I might still have to try, just for my dad.
The "attending as an author" part is a vital part of the fantasy because that way, when I turn into a gibbering idiot around said favorite person, they will know that I'm not a complete idiot all the time. Just around them. However, the "gibbering idiot" thing has worked out pretty well for me in the past; LKH and her husband have remembered me for years, thanks to my completely awestruck and foolish behavior the first time I met them! : )
Next year's Media Guest of Honor is not someone on my list but is a cool sci-fi person nonetheless. Mira Furlan, who some of you will know probably from Babylon 5 as Ambassador Delenn. But I know her as "the crazy French lady" Rosseau (spelling?) from Lost. Very cool!!!
But if I keep attending, maybe one day I'll get to meet all or some of the people on my favorites list (which is apparently very male-dominated). : )
*Funny side story. My obssession with Superman Returns continues. This weekend, while playing Apples to Apples (an awesome game if you haven't tried it) with Ed (MOATT) and Deb, the card with "Superman" came up during play. The way the game works--well, one version of it--is that you flip over a card with a noun on it, such as Superman, and then the players in the game are required to choose from the adjective cards in their hands to come up with the one they think best describes the noun. Now, the trick is knowing the judge. Each player gets a turn as a judge, and it's up to the judge which adjective describes the noun the best. The adjective cards are then placed face down in front of the judge and mixed up so that the judge can't play favorites among the players. The first card I turned over to describe Superman was "luscious." I laughed my ass off...and totally picked that card as the winner. But the really funny part is that I thought Ed had chosen that one because he and I have always joked around about stuff like that. But no! Instead, I find out it's my long-suffering husband who knows me all too well. God love that man!
The other two cards for Superman were "delicious" (Ed's choice--yep, he knows me too!) and "phony" (Deb's choice, which I thought was really clever because Superman is not who he pretends to be all the time).
Also, while we're on the subject, I tivo'd HBO's First Look: Superman Returns, a little fifteen minute segment about the movie and saved it permanently...at least until the DVD comes out yet. Yes, I am that sad.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Dear Bryan Singer: I forgive you!
Bryan Singer is the guy who produced and/or directed the first two X-Men movies, the second of which I LOVED. But then when he signed on to do the new Superman movie (a project very close to his heart, evidently), the studio dropped him from the third X-Men movie. And, consequently, I think it sucked. For a while I blamed Bryan Singer for abandoning a series that HE made me care about.
But then I saw Superman Returns. It is the BEST MOVIE OF THE SUMMER!!!!! And you know with how many movies I see, I do not grant this title lightly. It is sooooo good. I was a huge fan of the movies in the 80s. Well, really only the second one where Superman gives up his powers to be with Lois Lane. Yeah, big shocker why I like that one out of all them. : ) So I was fully prepared to be "eh" about this one. I mean, who else could be Superman but Christopher Reeve?
This new guy, Brandon Routh, brought this totally different element to it. Some of it was the story and the writing, but some of it, I think, was also the acting. Superman is an alien. Can't even tell you how old I was before that finally clicked through. But he was raised among humans. In this movie, you really see the human part. The part that struggles with being the only alien, with being different, and the conflict he feels. I cried...twice! The emotions were just so strong.
I even liked Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane. It was weird, though, to see the characters being played by actors near my age, probably younger. Kevin Spacey was a pretty good bad guy, as bad as Lex Luthor ever really is. He's always kind of funny and smart. He was totally the science geek who got beat up in high school by good looking jock-type guys like Superman. : )
So I saw the movie last night with Greg and then today, when I finished up with my work for the day, I hightailed it over to the theater again for a second showing. Only $5 during the day! : )
It is that good! Seriously. I'm buying it on DVD too, as soon as it comes out.
Bryan Singer, you have been redeemed in my eyes! : ) Also, thank you for House.
So go see it!
But then I saw Superman Returns. It is the BEST MOVIE OF THE SUMMER!!!!! And you know with how many movies I see, I do not grant this title lightly. It is sooooo good. I was a huge fan of the movies in the 80s. Well, really only the second one where Superman gives up his powers to be with Lois Lane. Yeah, big shocker why I like that one out of all them. : ) So I was fully prepared to be "eh" about this one. I mean, who else could be Superman but Christopher Reeve?
This new guy, Brandon Routh, brought this totally different element to it. Some of it was the story and the writing, but some of it, I think, was also the acting. Superman is an alien. Can't even tell you how old I was before that finally clicked through. But he was raised among humans. In this movie, you really see the human part. The part that struggles with being the only alien, with being different, and the conflict he feels. I cried...twice! The emotions were just so strong.
I even liked Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane. It was weird, though, to see the characters being played by actors near my age, probably younger. Kevin Spacey was a pretty good bad guy, as bad as Lex Luthor ever really is. He's always kind of funny and smart. He was totally the science geek who got beat up in high school by good looking jock-type guys like Superman. : )
So I saw the movie last night with Greg and then today, when I finished up with my work for the day, I hightailed it over to the theater again for a second showing. Only $5 during the day! : )
It is that good! Seriously. I'm buying it on DVD too, as soon as it comes out.
Bryan Singer, you have been redeemed in my eyes! : ) Also, thank you for House.
So go see it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
