Quote of the Day (Stolen from Michelle's Blog) : "If the Doctor told me I had six minutes to live, I'd type a little faster."--Isaac Asimov
I had a writing fantasy when I was a teenager--that I would get a phone call from Steven Spielberg, at my house, and it would go something like this:
Lara: Hello?
SS: Hello. I'm looking for Lara So-and-so.
Lara: This is she.
SS: Hi, Lara, this is Steven Spielberg
Lara: Very funny.
SS: No, seriously, this is really him. I am calling because I read your novel, and I am really interested in making it into a movie."
Lara: (long pause of stupefied silence) Are you kidding me?
SS: No. I overheard my wife reading your novel to my daughter, and I started to get some really great ideas. I'd like to fly you out to meet with me in L.A. so we can go over details and discuss it. Does next Thursday work for you?
Lara: Um...
SS: Don't worry, I'll pay for everything. You just bring yourself, and your novel. I want to buy the rights from you for a LOT of money, I promise. But of course, you could have a part in writing the screenplay for the movie.
Lara: Holy Crap, are you serious?
SS: Very serious.
Lara: (unintelligible screaming) OH MY HECK YEAH! (more unintelligible screaming)
So, that has always been my writing fantasy. But now, it's changed slightly. Since I can't seem to get said novel sold, my new fantasy is that I visit New York with my Hubby on one of his business trips.
During the elevator ride up in my swanky hotel, the elevator gets stuck, and its just me and a man I don't know.
We realize that we are stuck and we sit down to wait it out, and he asks me what I do for a living, and I tell him I'm a writer. The man asks me what I write, and I tell him I write Young Adult fiction, and he seems interested. He asks me to tell him about my stories, because, after all, we seem to have nowhere to go at the moment.
So I tell him all about the plots of my novels, and he seems to really like my ideas. After three hours of him getting details out of me, the elevator power suddenly resumes, and the door opens to my floor. He thanks me for "entertaining him" during our elevator experience, and tells me that he's an editor, and he really would like me to drop by his office with my manuscripts, because he thinks I have some really original ideas, and he'd like to read them.
I pause, blocking the elevator door from shutting, apologize and ask him "What is your name again?"
He removes his glasses and cleans them. "My name is Arthur. Arthur Levine. You can call me Art."
I stand there, temporarily immobilized. "Yeah, sure, I'd be happy to do that," I finally manage.
So, there you have it-- my new-and-improved writing fantasy. I'm sure every writer has 'em. So, what's your story?
Time to enter the real world...*sigh* Hope everyone has a good weekend!
Friday, September 30, 2005
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Busy
Yesterday pretty much sucked.
I have been a faxing/FedExing/phone-calling/errand-running/paperwork sorting/info. gathering maniac for the last ten days, but it's all done now, and we close on our house in Denver tomorrow.
Now, I hope we can sell our house here, in Wisconsin.
Hubby was talking about the odd weather in Denver, 92 degrees one day, 57 the next--a lovely little recipe for getting sick. I bought him vitamins before he left so I told him to take them and eat right and he should be ok.
Here it was 48 degrees last time I checked. BRRRRR! I had a small battle with Thing One today over wearing her winter coat, the little turkey seemed to think that it was "uncool" to wear coats yet. Thank Heaven Thing Two doesn't care what he wears. Boys are definitely easier in that department.
Of course, victory was mine when she came running in from the bus stop out of breath and said "Okay, Mommy, you were right, it's COLD! I need my gloves too!"
I stayed up until wee hours of the morning and finished "Lost." Now I kind of wish I had at least taped the first few episodes of season 2, so I could catch up. Darn it. Oh well. That's what I get for coming late to the party.
I am going to take a nap today. It's just me and Thing Three and he's still sick, so we're finishing lunch and it's officially Nap Time. I can't wait! All this lack of sleep has finally caught up to me...
I have been a faxing/FedExing/phone-calling/errand-running/paperwork sorting/info. gathering maniac for the last ten days, but it's all done now, and we close on our house in Denver tomorrow.
Now, I hope we can sell our house here, in Wisconsin.
Hubby was talking about the odd weather in Denver, 92 degrees one day, 57 the next--a lovely little recipe for getting sick. I bought him vitamins before he left so I told him to take them and eat right and he should be ok.
Here it was 48 degrees last time I checked. BRRRRR! I had a small battle with Thing One today over wearing her winter coat, the little turkey seemed to think that it was "uncool" to wear coats yet. Thank Heaven Thing Two doesn't care what he wears. Boys are definitely easier in that department.
Of course, victory was mine when she came running in from the bus stop out of breath and said "Okay, Mommy, you were right, it's COLD! I need my gloves too!"
I stayed up until wee hours of the morning and finished "Lost." Now I kind of wish I had at least taped the first few episodes of season 2, so I could catch up. Darn it. Oh well. That's what I get for coming late to the party.
I am going to take a nap today. It's just me and Thing Three and he's still sick, so we're finishing lunch and it's officially Nap Time. I can't wait! All this lack of sleep has finally caught up to me...
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
The Onslaught Begins...
Apparently, my kids will be missed. Thing One told me that no less than three girls in her second-grade class burst into tears when it was announced that she was moving soon, and suddenly all these little friends of Things Two and Three are coming over all the time for "last hurrahs" and playdates before we set off for Denver.
I never thought I'd say this, but I'm a pretty spontaneous person. Usually when Hubby comes home, he likes to relax and unwind, and chaos (aka having half the neighborhood kids over) makes him crazy, and he can't handle it. He always asks me to send them all home when he arrives.
Now that he's in Denver, we are having kids over for dinner nearly every night, and playing until dark. My kids are loving it. I just wish it was possible when hubby WAS here. He likes his quiet, I guess. The difference between us is I am so used to chaos I can "tune it out," whereas for him it makes him a nervous wreck.
Oh well.
I haven't had time to breathe let alone write (as you can tell from yesterday's post) and we actually have a couple who viewed our house last night for over an hour (picture me in the Expedition with the kids--with Burger King spread out on their laps, with the bloody dog too, in the back, cruising covertly around the neighborhood in circles because they were supposed to be viewing from 7pm to 7:30, and they didn't leave until EIGHT) at one point Thing One groaned "Mommy, can't you call our house and tell them to leave already?"
According to our realtor, they loved our house and want to buy it, but they have to sell their house first, so that is a problem. I am not getting my hopes up. But it would be nice!
I am trying to use all the stuff up out of my freezers. Tonight it's the less-than-healthy fare of hotdogs and oven-baked tater tots. But I AM making them eat zuchini. (he he he he he he hehe)
Gotta run. Time to feed the brood. Hubby is meeting the interior designer at the house tonight (in Denver). Pray/channel/chant/whatever for me. I am nervous about what they'll do to it...
:-)
I never thought I'd say this, but I'm a pretty spontaneous person. Usually when Hubby comes home, he likes to relax and unwind, and chaos (aka having half the neighborhood kids over) makes him crazy, and he can't handle it. He always asks me to send them all home when he arrives.
Now that he's in Denver, we are having kids over for dinner nearly every night, and playing until dark. My kids are loving it. I just wish it was possible when hubby WAS here. He likes his quiet, I guess. The difference between us is I am so used to chaos I can "tune it out," whereas for him it makes him a nervous wreck.
Oh well.
I haven't had time to breathe let alone write (as you can tell from yesterday's post) and we actually have a couple who viewed our house last night for over an hour (picture me in the Expedition with the kids--with Burger King spread out on their laps, with the bloody dog too, in the back, cruising covertly around the neighborhood in circles because they were supposed to be viewing from 7pm to 7:30, and they didn't leave until EIGHT) at one point Thing One groaned "Mommy, can't you call our house and tell them to leave already?"
According to our realtor, they loved our house and want to buy it, but they have to sell their house first, so that is a problem. I am not getting my hopes up. But it would be nice!
I am trying to use all the stuff up out of my freezers. Tonight it's the less-than-healthy fare of hotdogs and oven-baked tater tots. But I AM making them eat zuchini. (he he he he he he hehe)
Gotta run. Time to feed the brood. Hubby is meeting the interior designer at the house tonight (in Denver). Pray/channel/chant/whatever for me. I am nervous about what they'll do to it...
:-)
Monday, September 26, 2005
Overwhelming Monday...
Quote of the Day: "He who trains his tongue to quote the learned sages, will be known far and wide as a smart ass."-- Howard Kandel
On my To Do List today:
1) Clean the house spotless for any possible showings
2) Go to the cleaners
3) Go to the bank
4) Go look at paint colors
5) Grocery Store Trip
6) Call and attempt to get kids enrolled in school in Denver
7) Call relo people about household goods move
8) Buy presents at Toys R Us for birthday parties
9) Call and find out where I can take golf lessons in Denver (Ok, our new house is on the street that lines the golf course--and I have to learn how to play...fast)
10) Take Hagan to the vet
11) Call about Relo stuff
12) Call interior designer
13) Return overdue books to library
14) Return overdue movies to video store
15) Go to the bank
16) Mail a package
17) Freak out as to whether or not my agent has read my novel already! (Wait some more?)
18) Fedex important papers
19) Fax data for relo
20) Make assorted phone calls about denver info.
21) Vacuum and dust the upstairs blinds (I did all the downstairs ones yesterday)
22) Tend Thing Three who has had diahrrea since yesterday
23) Sit and stare bug-eyed at a blank wall and drum my lips with one finger...
On my To Do List today:
1) Clean the house spotless for any possible showings
2) Go to the cleaners
3) Go to the bank
4) Go look at paint colors
5) Grocery Store Trip
6) Call and attempt to get kids enrolled in school in Denver
7) Call relo people about household goods move
8) Buy presents at Toys R Us for birthday parties
9) Call and find out where I can take golf lessons in Denver (Ok, our new house is on the street that lines the golf course--and I have to learn how to play...fast)
10) Take Hagan to the vet
11) Call about Relo stuff
12) Call interior designer
13) Return overdue books to library
14) Return overdue movies to video store
15) Go to the bank
16) Mail a package
17) Freak out as to whether or not my agent has read my novel already! (Wait some more?)
18) Fedex important papers
19) Fax data for relo
20) Make assorted phone calls about denver info.
21) Vacuum and dust the upstairs blinds (I did all the downstairs ones yesterday)
22) Tend Thing Three who has had diahrrea since yesterday
23) Sit and stare bug-eyed at a blank wall and drum my lips with one finger...
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Saying Goodbye...
Today was a little strange. Apparently it was announced at church that Hubby and I are moving, (I only went the last hour because I had to teach the lesson and Thing Three was having SERIOUS diarrhea problems) because I had everyone coming up to me and asking me where we were moving to. It sort of caught me off guard, because generally, people don't speak to me at church.
I guess that's my fault, I never felt like I fit in there, and we never really tried. I guess I was too caught up in my own life and my own things, to care much.
But now, Hubby is in Denver to stay, and the kids and I will be joining him in a couple of weeks.
It has been an emotional weekend. We went to dinner downtown Friday night (my mom would be proud--I actually got a sitter) with a bunch of Hubby's business friends, and our good friend Stephanie. It was so much fun, gorging ourselves and laughing and re-living all our best/happiest/most embarrassing moments, and of course, at the end, there was a lot of crying and hugging. Such a bittersweet farewell. Bitter because we are leaving good friends behind--true friends, and sweet because we are getting a fresh start in a place we already love and are very excited about.
I admit I have been a VERY bad blogger. I still haven't had time to write, but now that things have calmed down somewhat, I will definitely be better. Hey, I might even regain my sense of humor! I seem to have lost it the last few weeks. I dont know how long I will last, having to keep my house spotless every minute of the day (for those "Hi-this-is-so-and-so-realtor-and-we'd-like-to-show-your-house-in-20-minutes" calls) and having Hubby be in charge of all the re-designing aspects of the new house in Denver (we can't seem to agree on decor, he likes Cherry, I like Maple; he likes dark granite, I like SEMI-dark granite, etc...thank HEAVEN we at least agree on stainless steel appliances! UGH!) and a plethora of other things that are irking me, but as B.K. so truly put it: I will get through this.
It's all a matter of leaving my comfort zone. I am comfortable. I need to get uncomfortable, or I'll never grow, I'll never go anywhere, and I'll stay where I am, in my own little rut. Gotta get out; gotta get moving.
Hey, at least I have one thing to look forward to: I bought the Season One DVD set of "LOST" because (and DON'T freak out) I never saw even one episode last season, so I am going to watch two a night until I've knocked 'em all out. Then when the Season 2 DVD comes out, I'll watch THAT, and so on. So, I'll always be a season behind, but better late than never, I always say.
Hope everyone is having a safe weekend, my thoughts are with those who were affected by Rita, and those who are still suffering from Katrina.
Cheers everyone,
Lara
I guess that's my fault, I never felt like I fit in there, and we never really tried. I guess I was too caught up in my own life and my own things, to care much.
But now, Hubby is in Denver to stay, and the kids and I will be joining him in a couple of weeks.
It has been an emotional weekend. We went to dinner downtown Friday night (my mom would be proud--I actually got a sitter) with a bunch of Hubby's business friends, and our good friend Stephanie. It was so much fun, gorging ourselves and laughing and re-living all our best/happiest/most embarrassing moments, and of course, at the end, there was a lot of crying and hugging. Such a bittersweet farewell. Bitter because we are leaving good friends behind--true friends, and sweet because we are getting a fresh start in a place we already love and are very excited about.
I admit I have been a VERY bad blogger. I still haven't had time to write, but now that things have calmed down somewhat, I will definitely be better. Hey, I might even regain my sense of humor! I seem to have lost it the last few weeks. I dont know how long I will last, having to keep my house spotless every minute of the day (for those "Hi-this-is-so-and-so-realtor-and-we'd-like-to-show-your-house-in-20-minutes" calls) and having Hubby be in charge of all the re-designing aspects of the new house in Denver (we can't seem to agree on decor, he likes Cherry, I like Maple; he likes dark granite, I like SEMI-dark granite, etc...thank HEAVEN we at least agree on stainless steel appliances! UGH!) and a plethora of other things that are irking me, but as B.K. so truly put it: I will get through this.
It's all a matter of leaving my comfort zone. I am comfortable. I need to get uncomfortable, or I'll never grow, I'll never go anywhere, and I'll stay where I am, in my own little rut. Gotta get out; gotta get moving.
Hey, at least I have one thing to look forward to: I bought the Season One DVD set of "LOST" because (and DON'T freak out) I never saw even one episode last season, so I am going to watch two a night until I've knocked 'em all out. Then when the Season 2 DVD comes out, I'll watch THAT, and so on. So, I'll always be a season behind, but better late than never, I always say.
Hope everyone is having a safe weekend, my thoughts are with those who were affected by Rita, and those who are still suffering from Katrina.
Cheers everyone,
Lara
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Where's the Joy?
I'm all for change. Change can be a good thing. However, the timing of the change can also be a bad thing.
I find myself getting crankier and crankier lately, and I finally figured out why. I am comfortable here. I know where everything is, my kids have GREAT teachers, I finally got the freeway system down (I am Directionally Challenged) and there are even new people in my church who are actually calling me up and wanting to do stuff with me.
And we're leaving. So, yes, timing can make change either good, or rotten.
I discovered the reason I'm cranky is because I haven't had time to pause and breathe, much less write. No journal entries, no blogging (I am supposed to be getting the kids ready for school right now but I'm stealing ten minutes to write this entry) and certainly no writing. Writing is my life blood. It calms me. It is therapeutic. Now that I don't have time to write, I am in full Stress Mode.
One of my dear friends said that when "writers get stressed, they go buy books."
Let me tell you, I went out of my way yesterday when I was supposed to be picking out paint colors and made a killing at the local Half-price Books.
I haven't had time to write, or read, two of my passions. Now it's all about phone calls, faxing, internet research (on schools, etc) picking out decor, keeping my house pristine and spotless for those BUTTHEAD realtors who like to call and ask for a showing "in ten minutes" etc...ON TOP of my regular routine.
Hence, I'm a total crankypants. Not to mention the fact that Hubby will be leaving this weekend to start work in Denver and I will be a totally ALONE crankypants.
Heaven help me.
I find myself getting crankier and crankier lately, and I finally figured out why. I am comfortable here. I know where everything is, my kids have GREAT teachers, I finally got the freeway system down (I am Directionally Challenged) and there are even new people in my church who are actually calling me up and wanting to do stuff with me.
And we're leaving. So, yes, timing can make change either good, or rotten.
I discovered the reason I'm cranky is because I haven't had time to pause and breathe, much less write. No journal entries, no blogging (I am supposed to be getting the kids ready for school right now but I'm stealing ten minutes to write this entry) and certainly no writing. Writing is my life blood. It calms me. It is therapeutic. Now that I don't have time to write, I am in full Stress Mode.
One of my dear friends said that when "writers get stressed, they go buy books."
Let me tell you, I went out of my way yesterday when I was supposed to be picking out paint colors and made a killing at the local Half-price Books.
I haven't had time to write, or read, two of my passions. Now it's all about phone calls, faxing, internet research (on schools, etc) picking out decor, keeping my house pristine and spotless for those BUTTHEAD realtors who like to call and ask for a showing "in ten minutes" etc...ON TOP of my regular routine.
Hence, I'm a total crankypants. Not to mention the fact that Hubby will be leaving this weekend to start work in Denver and I will be a totally ALONE crankypants.
Heaven help me.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
I HATE Cleaning!!!!!
Hate hate hate!!! BLEAH. Ppphbbbbhhhtttttt.
We listed our house today, and the realtor was over, and OH JOY she mentioned that my closets needed to be in "pristine" shape, because darn it (Lara slaps knee) prospective buyers ALWAYS LOOK IN THE CLOSETS. (Insert wretching noises here.)
I know this is true because I, myself, looked in every closet in every one of the ninety-six (or so it seemed) houses we looked at and walked through last weekend.
But, on the good news front, we made an offer on the house we liked yesterday and they accepted the offer today! Hooray! No counter! They are probably ready to zing out of there. We'll be closing on Sep. 30th so it looks like it will be adios Wisconsin for me very soon. :-(
Even BETTER news: My agent is reading my novel sometime this week--he told me that he was initially disappointed that I hadn't finished the historical, but he's ok with it. So, fingers crossed that he likes this one!
OK, enough internet playing. I have to go muck out Thing Two's closet...
Arrrggghhhhhhhhh!
ps--sidenote to Karen: I have to disagree--cleaning out the inside of my microwave DEFINITELY qualifies you for Sainthood... :-)
We listed our house today, and the realtor was over, and OH JOY she mentioned that my closets needed to be in "pristine" shape, because darn it (Lara slaps knee) prospective buyers ALWAYS LOOK IN THE CLOSETS. (Insert wretching noises here.)
I know this is true because I, myself, looked in every closet in every one of the ninety-six (or so it seemed) houses we looked at and walked through last weekend.
But, on the good news front, we made an offer on the house we liked yesterday and they accepted the offer today! Hooray! No counter! They are probably ready to zing out of there. We'll be closing on Sep. 30th so it looks like it will be adios Wisconsin for me very soon. :-(
Even BETTER news: My agent is reading my novel sometime this week--he told me that he was initially disappointed that I hadn't finished the historical, but he's ok with it. So, fingers crossed that he likes this one!
OK, enough internet playing. I have to go muck out Thing Two's closet...
Arrrggghhhhhhhhh!
ps--sidenote to Karen: I have to disagree--cleaning out the inside of my microwave DEFINITELY qualifies you for Sainthood... :-)
Monday, September 19, 2005
Denver Bound!
I haven't been able to write for a while, because Hubby has just accepted a job in Denver and things have been a little "tumultuous" with the whole relocation/house-hunting/getting ready to list OUR house thing.
But I'm back (thanks to Derek and Karen, who, without their kindess my trip out would not have been possible, and who both need to be elevated to SAINTHOOD for watching our rambunctious children for an entire weekend) and looking forward to the move. We found a great house in Lone Tree, and you can see the mountains. I haven't lived near mountains in nine years, so this will be fun. Very inspirational for the Writing Thing.
Speaking of which, my agent wasn't very happy with my story, so I guess you can't win 'em all. I am disappointed, but I guess I'll shelve it for now and work on the historical he was expecting. I can't help it if I got a little "sidetracked."
It's raining pretty hard this morning, I think we're going to officially see some Fall colors soon here. I never thought I would find myself saying this, but I will miss Wisconsin. It does have some good points. (Housing, for one. For the price of my house, I discovered that I can afford a chicken coop in one of the Elite Areas of Denver. (and yes, I am serious.)
I have to get my house in "sparkling condition" for the potential buyers now, so, gotta run, but I'll write more tomorrow.
Friday, September 09, 2005
Edits Complete!
(I literally laughed until I cried over this one)The Good News: I am happy to say, that after weeks of intense editing, the novel is ready to be shipped off to my agent. Cross your fingers for me that he likes it--he'll have it sometime next week.
The Bad News: I have found that my life, as of late, has been plunged into turmoil. I can't really go into detail about it here yet (since this IS a public forum) but when I am at liberty to do so, I will come forth with the details. As of now, this blog will not be resuming until everything gets cleared up. Hopefully that will not be long. Trust me, I MISS BLOGGING and will resume as soon as is humanly possible... Cheers everyone!
Lara
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