I Amaze Myself Sometimes

Here's my recent moving stories:

 

In the span of a year and a half, I have moved 4 times. Yup, that's a couple too many times, for sure.

 

Move #1: To get me out of my parents' house. I had lived there for far too long in order to pay off some debt. Did that happen? Uh, I plea the fifth.

 

Move #2: I needed cheaper rent, plus my lease had ended.

 

Move #3: I was offered a job in Salt Lake City, Utah, meaning my commute was a little over an hour. Gas prices were kickin' my pocket book's butt, so the move was out of necessity to keep me from donating plasma or something totally make-me-pass-out worthy.

 

Move #4: My roommate and dear friend moved to Germany (pouts) and our lease had ended. I wanted to stay in the area, so I moved just down the road to where a ton of people I know live.

 

I'm getting really good at packing, moving, and unpacking. Woot!

 

Move #4 was interesting in that I had to be out of my old apartment by April 30, and the girl that was moving out of my current apartment couldn't get into her new place until May 1. That meant that my stuff and her stuff were in the same place for a day. Talk about massive chaos. It all worked out well, though. Phew!

 

I took the day off from work on Thursday and dug into the mess of boxes. I would have gone completely bonkers mad if I hadn't have done so. I'm sort of OCD about having my things in order.

 

This is what my bedroom looked like to begin with:

This is what it looks like now (Zen):

And I did this all in maybe 10 hours and that includes some deep cleaning and putting away my kitchen junk (ok, junk food). Do I win the best unpacker award of the century or what?

 

And yes, that is a pillow with a picture of Bono on the front. Lance Armstrong graces the other side. (G-rated totally, I promise) My good friend made me it as a birthday present a couple years ago. And yup, I own a banana chair, too. :) I am definitely awesome. You totally want to be my BFF now, don't you?

 

Well, tell me about your moving stories? How fast have you unpacked? Well, I have to admit I don't have a ton of stuff, and I am just one person. I don't have a husband and three kids' worth of crap to unload. I have it a bit easier than some. 

 

Writing Jewels

Smiling all the Way From A to Z -- G

First of all, thanks for all the birthday wishes last Saturday. The day was full of love and happy smiles because, well heck, it was totally all my day!

And the challenge continues. I'm drinking a ton of water and making sure I'm pacing myself so I don't burn out. Oh, this isn't a marathon, is it? I've been confused as to why I'm just sitting here typing instead of running and sweating really bad. Back to the real point of this post, now. We are to the letter G and I'm going to tell you what makes me smile beginning with this letter:

GUYS

Oh, guys, guys, guys how I love thy name and cute butts, too. haha I have yet to catch myself a hubs but by golly men are sure fun to look at, or to read about for that matter (coughs--Edward Cullen). You do make me cry sometimes, so shame, shame, shame on you!

These are my famous guy crushes: Bono from U2 and Lance Armstrong (I still think you rock and you should be given back your yellow jerseys).

And I'll be honest... I really like kissing. Guys, you make me swoon with your magic lips.

So, do you like kissing? No lying now (please keep this G-rated, get it? Letter G-rated). Who are your fictional or famous people crushes? Starting with the letter G, what makes you smile?

Writing Jewels

PS: Refer to the blurb on the very top of my blogs sidebar to know why I am posting about what makes me smile. Go forward and smile!

And the Race with Words Begins


I can attribute my writing journey to one thing...

Le Tour de France

My dad is an avid cyclist. He introduced me to Le Tour de France years ago. He taught me the ins and outs of the tour. I guess I can say he has a major role in my love for writing, too. Bless the man's heart. Willingly, he reads everything that I write, be it during the first draft, editing, or revising stages. He catches typos and things that don't make sense. I think he's read my books more times than he probably would ever desire to. I love him for it, though.

All this does have a point, I assure you. LOL

So, Le Tour de France commences tomorrow. Of course, for the full three weeks of racing, I'll be watching it from the comforts of my room on Versus  (a sports tv station).

Three years ago, for my graduation-from-university-present-to-myself, I went to Paris, France. I saw the tours traditional last day as they rode onto Champs-Élysées (a main road in the gorgeous city). Yes, I saw the cyclists fly past me at least six or so times, and (*giggles*) witnessed one of my famous crushes, Lance Armstrong, as he zoomed past me, too. *Swoon*
Anyway, this trip, of which included an excursion down to Italy, brought about the idea for my first book, FÉLICITÉ FOUND. I know it's totally cliché, but I fell in love with Paris so much that when I came home I dreamed about it all the time. One of those dreams turned into an idea for a book. 

I feel so grateful and blessed that over a period of eleven years (+/-), I was led to Paris through my love of Le Tour de France and traveling. These experiences were the catalyst to commence my own race with words. Otherwise, I really don't think I'd be writing. 

Over the next three weeks, you'll know what's keeping me busy--watching some wicked awesome cyclists and maybe, just maybe, their ripped legs. *blushes* Oh, and beta'ing some books, too.

So, how did you start writing? What initially inspired your writing journey?

Writing. Jewels.

Unforgettable Scenes

I've been listening to Twilight on audio book again. No matter how many times I read (or listen) to this book, it feels like it's the first time I'm being pulled into the thick of its addictive story.

 

As I drove into my garage yesterday after work, I had to stay in the car until I finished the chapter, "Confessions." I admit, I was out there for about twenty minutes (with the car off of course. I don't want to die of exhaust exposure). Anyway, this is the part where Bella and Edward are in the meadow and express their feelings for each other. Just thinking of this part of the book brings a heaviness of angsty happiness into my heart. Seriously, they don't even kiss but the romance flooding through the words is unforgettable. Beautiful. Breath-taking. Ok, they do kiss by the end of the chapter... Dreamy!

Bar-none, there is no other scene in a book that has had the exact same effect on me. Ok, there are many others that are beyond swoon-worthy, but this one sticks out strong in my list of amazing-makes-my-heart-stop scenes.

It's sort of like my two famous people crushes--Bono and Lance Armstrong, they just stick. I adore them. All right, one day when I have a boyfriend/husband, he will definitely be in first place. Sorry, Irish hottie and cycling champion.

Are there any scenes in books that ring out as unforgettable for you? Do tell! Or maybe in a movie?

In movies, I'd have to say the kiss scene at the end of the mini-series of North and South (Elizabeth Gaskell)  is delicious indeed. Shown below!

Elf Dancing with a Few Rockin' Men

It took me becoming an elf to meet these four guys that rock (some really do too).  I finally am found in Bono's arms at the end of the dance.  It was fun to learn how to dance with these men.  I think they enjoyed meeting me too.   

Merry Christmas Friends and Followers.