tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246361362024-02-07T01:27:51.963-05:00acceptable behaviorStephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-65706889918050777812008-08-16T00:04:00.002-04:002008-08-16T00:07:26.681-04:00Michael Phelps ehDoes anyone else have Olympic overload? I didn't think it could happen but there it is.<br /><br />Of course I could be alone out there. I am the only person I know who can only watch 2 maybe 3 seasons of a tv show before getting bored.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-61705169643123260362008-08-11T22:36:00.008-04:002008-08-11T23:04:32.461-04:00Yark.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5UgqMdNG1srcw6L5Geaml1p87_11CV4F3OabslobvBbCEFJH8vX2NEuJtkICwVF0eS9ugkV5wxYubyfZcsxCTInaSJAtizezBq7BRDtmPlUO7ZQEwTGcLnjXcqWbxvEcpnd5/s1600-h/typing.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233459215779369922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5UgqMdNG1srcw6L5Geaml1p87_11CV4F3OabslobvBbCEFJH8vX2NEuJtkICwVF0eS9ugkV5wxYubyfZcsxCTInaSJAtizezBq7BRDtmPlUO7ZQEwTGcLnjXcqWbxvEcpnd5/s320/typing.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Yark. While deadlines make me work faster, I think the new one I have set for myself is going to kill me. I have decided that I am going to finish the next draft of my book by 10/28. I do realize it still need editing after that, but I want to be done. Why 10/28 you ask? </div><div><br /></div><div>Well 3 things, I am going away for a scrapbooking weekend with Crystal that weekend, and I want to be done before that date. Why before the big weekend? When I get back it will be the beginning of November. </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>Whats the beginning of November have to do with anything you ask? Well you guys are very inquisitive tonight. Well November is the <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/whatisnano">NaNoWriMo</a>. National Novel Writing Month. Where I will write a novel in a month. Thats crazy you say? Well I won last year and I plan to do it again this year. And I don't think I can do it with 'Repeat' hanging over me. </div><div></div><br /><div>So my goal is to finish it right before the weekend, so I can have some down time, before I start that crazy schedule again. (I will tell you about last year some other time) I have done my spread sheet and it looks like I have to do about a chapter a week. And I am freaked out. Honestly I don't know why it's freaking me out so much, especially since I initally wrote the whole thing in a month. That averages out about 4 chapters a week. (I had to take some time out for work stuff, so I missed a week) </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>But I have my spreadsheet so I should be fine. So long as no one wants to see me for 3 months. I have already told work that I was not going to be working any more overtime either. Yark.<br /></div><div>That was only 2 reasons you say? Right. Thanks for reminding me. November 2 I turn 30. <em>30</em>. I need to start showing more progress. I have given myself 2 more years. 2 years to show any progress. </div><div></div><br /><div>Its go time. Now leave me alone, I'm watching what will have to be my last night of Olympics. </div><div>Michael Phelps rocks!</div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-50928080603938419402008-08-10T20:48:00.011-04:002008-08-10T21:44:27.202-04:00Book-a-rific!I got tons of free books (the official count for the end of the week was 80). I love the book signings. This is my chance to find out what's being published. But the best part is to give genre's I don't generally read a chance. I have an inspirational (I do have to say they have great titles) and a young adult. I read the inspirational in the airport, it was Wanted by <a href="http://shelleyshepardgray.com/">Shelley Shepard Gray</a>. I have to admit I enjoyed it and will probably pick up the next book in the series, or even another inspirational author.<br /><br />I met some of my favorite authors, perhaps you may have heard of them? A <a href="http://noraroberts.com/">Ms. Nora Roberts</a> (I got her new book Tribute in hardcover signed. I can't wait to read it.) and a <a href="http://www.krentz-quick.com/">Ms. Jayne Ann Krentz</a>. Yes, THE Nora Roberts. I waited in long lines (see pic) and got lots of free books. yay.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdS9kAPprR6RXlC-ZtGJU0Uqb0M388dCnNOoJHgeNJJd0CaAnR-eFv6zD7xtkbrtU3u_wddAc8UKQmC1p2DbrIiYQmCoV0zlAHUSDu1Aezv88ImV04MTe01LUnAtONEnCv_ao5/s1600-h/booksigning.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdS9kAPprR6RXlC-ZtGJU0Uqb0M388dCnNOoJHgeNJJd0CaAnR-eFv6zD7xtkbrtU3u_wddAc8UKQmC1p2DbrIiYQmCoV0zlAHUSDu1Aezv88ImV04MTe01LUnAtONEnCv_ao5/s320/booksigning.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233063348858102610" border="0" /></a>Jayne Ann Krentz, I waited for her too. She just signed a book for my friend Aimee. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Lbyto1vbCrgWdiV3ckukINtC_RhMM9T6JIqgZRjFIFcTSNZBrZrPwJXNlTg2RuNLMIGfiCuUvDT0YGQx9iNoz7dRKbhJd6Q7i7ymIqKCnhVf6Zfla91We8jVOLAB3s3EFbnY/s1600-h/M&JAK.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Lbyto1vbCrgWdiV3ckukINtC_RhMM9T6JIqgZRjFIFcTSNZBrZrPwJXNlTg2RuNLMIGfiCuUvDT0YGQx9iNoz7dRKbhJd6Q7i7ymIqKCnhVf6Zfla91We8jVOLAB3s3EFbnY/s320/M&JAK.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233064213913585938" border="0" /></a><br />A few more people recognized me from the conference last year, and I met up with <a href="http://lizapalmer.com/">Liza Palmer</a> again. She is still just as cool.<br /><br />Thursday night Laurie and Shoshi had their party for the From the Heart Chapter. So I was on my own for dinner. I decided to take my first foray over to the food court. There were so many choices! Not only did I have to figure out where I was going to eat, I had to figure out how. I ended up Lurking a place called Coriander, an Indian place. Finally I noticed a woman with a RWA badge on entering the line. I figured if she could do it so could I, plus I might be able to chat her up and find someone to eat with. Dude. It totally worked.<br /><br />Her name was <a href="http://www.marieharte.com/">Marie Harte</a>, and she writes erotica, she was a very nice lady, and introduced me to her very nice friends Cat and <a href="http://www.romancejunkies.com/">Teri</a>. They were just normal regular ladies. I could see them totally fitting in with me and my friends. I hope we keep in touch. After we ate dinner, we went back to the hotel, they took me to the room they shared, gave me free books, and then we went to the midnight bazar. I bought a t-shirt.<br /><br />We then went to the very loud bar and talked tv.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFE5EYxTD_RiY1SNNMYTj3Wj5b4CjIpGbGIPBAb0avwFam1v_jbezowP7LoSm1o8ALlRp3MAZv-xv_Si4-BIgpNzl8c18PPzcPSQxeebrKivLs5lWT43kbhUaT8hW7LF7b7fO/s1600-h/erotica.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 296px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFE5EYxTD_RiY1SNNMYTj3Wj5b4CjIpGbGIPBAb0avwFam1v_jbezowP7LoSm1o8ALlRp3MAZv-xv_Si4-BIgpNzl8c18PPzcPSQxeebrKivLs5lWT43kbhUaT8hW7LF7b7fO/s320/erotica.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233063598566456834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RaMz5ynUFHJbzFHtEW5pL66G6C_bsozX9LmLQPPhrDrAkWUFa1jEEFXGgPsASMnUKGsl5f03h0DWy5uoV9UTIeWRuJsB-w70CQ3JIqVxc-_SO0hiAdlBwqZLMa4y_vn1nsir/s1600-h/cowboy+junkie.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RaMz5ynUFHJbzFHtEW5pL66G6C_bsozX9LmLQPPhrDrAkWUFa1jEEFXGgPsASMnUKGsl5f03h0DWy5uoV9UTIeWRuJsB-w70CQ3JIqVxc-_SO0hiAdlBwqZLMa4y_vn1nsir/s320/cowboy+junkie.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233063034343077042" border="0" /></a>Where is the picture of Nora and I you ask? (Which is the best picture I have taken in a really long time) Well, Ms Greedies, if I give up all the good stuff now, there will be noting to make you listen to my tales later. (If you think my updates gets you out of listening to me when I get back, boy are you in for a surprise)<br /><br />Can you all tell I've had a Mango Mohito tonight? <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ozJ_mBIYg1J4kbISTUjXsqufGDJMXlCAx96ONN6ktgGDM-UGLYL5CMbhFNXpKrbGBMx8afKpKm2OOJxP4ULVNF1_aqIDElxzrYkX8RGAnuoPKIasgwwTVtfM-V5qU2MiyohN/s1600-h/mango+mohito.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ozJ_mBIYg1J4kbISTUjXsqufGDJMXlCAx96ONN6ktgGDM-UGLYL5CMbhFNXpKrbGBMx8afKpKm2OOJxP4ULVNF1_aqIDElxzrYkX8RGAnuoPKIasgwwTVtfM-V5qU2MiyohN/s320/mango+mohito.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233065557834014178" border="0" /></a>Shoshi, Laurie, and Shane (the wonderful bringer of Diet Cokes) went to a Mexican Resturant. Yumm.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0n129c0oJOUb_hxJ1HO8IiX3n4SeNgtTzWu7bMWR-nH29FdwmqmMkCnRcU8tIHkcq86Uto_0eySxPtbhIp1GwY2LlGADEdooohfHY-32vLCtj6IXBHcx6NL2Dp3DQABJ85kfH/s1600-h/US+Girls.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0n129c0oJOUb_hxJ1HO8IiX3n4SeNgtTzWu7bMWR-nH29FdwmqmMkCnRcU8tIHkcq86Uto_0eySxPtbhIp1GwY2LlGADEdooohfHY-32vLCtj6IXBHcx6NL2Dp3DQABJ85kfH/s320/US+Girls.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233062802186457346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpohEHmS0zaHQIAPOmjhc03y8-GFft7KIYMGPparxVlsJdSniNYHxF6lQzCVTgLaNgIl5rLij8M7EbqTYfB3axENJNFBPn7oQ9LSpxda_QoJj6w6iS50irqN_opwl4RY_wUAZ/s1600-h/Mehico.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpohEHmS0zaHQIAPOmjhc03y8-GFft7KIYMGPparxVlsJdSniNYHxF6lQzCVTgLaNgIl5rLij8M7EbqTYfB3axENJNFBPn7oQ9LSpxda_QoJj6w6iS50irqN_opwl4RY_wUAZ/s320/Mehico.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233063859952059362" border="0" /></a><br />Smooches from SF<br />StephanieStephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-47912557295160915582008-08-09T22:00:00.005-04:002008-08-09T22:25:50.166-04:00Workshop ShuffleHere is the email I sent out on Thursday:<br /><br />Good lord. For those of you keeping track, I am still alive. And so far head cold free. Now are the times where the days start blending together.<br /><br />Yesterday was the kick off for the conference, the literacy signing. This year there were over 520 authors signing. Today we found out that we earned over 54,000 for the CA literacy group. Go us. Of course since I was volunteering as a cashier (time to put all my years in retail to work) I am painfully aware how busy we were. After scaring the crap out of us with warnings of mean people demanding free things, the coordinators put us to work. I was sat next to a woman who was very cranky and then proceeded to explain all the horrible things going on in her life making her so cranky. yay. Anyway by the end of the night I was horse from shouting, "I can help someone down at this register!" (thank you Zeb's) and "Would you like to round up for literacy? Literacy. To help people who can't read? It's a good cause, just do it." I had one woman who told me she was told all the books were going to be half off the cover price. I was all like, nope, as a matter of fact, I'm going to ask you for even more money. Would you like to round up for literacy?<br /><br />After the signing was the clean up and the party for my chapter. Now there are actually people who recognize me and say hello to me in the hallways. Today I met up with Megan Crane at Starbucks (don't worry about me, I am still able to get my daily fix here!) She is one of the authors I hung out with at the conference last year. Of course me being the terrible person I am, never kept in contact with any of them. She recognized me and came over to say hello!! And she realized I had grown my hair out.<br /><br />The workshops started today and everyone is impressed by how freakishly prepared I am with my conference binder. The rooms are smaller in this hotel for the workshops, so I didn't get into the first round of workshops. Damn my need to pee! We have all quickly learned the workshop sprint. Here's how it goes: Once in a work shop, only unpack the bare essentials. Its best if you don't even take out any paper, write on your hand if you find it absolutely necessary to take notes. About half way through, put pen away, and close purse. As soon as the moderator asks for questions, jump from your seat and run for the stairs. Only amateurs wait to take the elevator. Once you reach the new room, the previous session will still be in progress-- burst in anyway, pick out the weakest attendee, and stare them down until they give up their seat.<br /><br />I haven't made any new friends yet. I am stalking this one girl who is very friendly and we keep bumping into each other. She doesn't know it yet, but we are going to be friends. Best of friends. Or Else.<br /><br />Alright I have to go. I need to strategize my day tomorrow. Figure out the exact floor plan, memorize where the stairwells are... Also, the free book signings start tomorrow. Requests? Otherwise I am going to to go with everything I can get my hands on.<br /><br />Who am I kidding? I'll probably do that anyway.<br /><br />Stephanie<br /><br />Here are some pics:<br /><br /><br />This is from the Ferry building that I went to with Shoshi and Laurie. We got amazing sandwiches and ate it outside. This was one of the few sunny warm days.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3awg_c6NXqZ2lMijiCeZPErpRMI19mHCwNCDjiFxdRDQXZ0LVisk7kqw4eSF7_neDQ_lcV1XWrC1rUpt1Qj9H6YNmPNL2rK85JRFur4h7_r7RZ0DZs0tWSG45nDYDecfdHjB/s1600-h/031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3awg_c6NXqZ2lMijiCeZPErpRMI19mHCwNCDjiFxdRDQXZ0LVisk7kqw4eSF7_neDQ_lcV1XWrC1rUpt1Qj9H6YNmPNL2rK85JRFur4h7_r7RZ0DZs0tWSG45nDYDecfdHjB/s320/031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232705890262097026" border="0" /></a><br />This is the display at Bloomingdales. There is this huge fancy mall right by the hotel. Laurie and I were killing time while Shoshi got her hair done. We picked up these fruit tarts (mine was lemon) and it was incredible. I bought it as SF version of a grocery store. They also have this really fancy food court. Yeah I ate there multiple times. But I will get into that in another post.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4HbKG_FAl1bFNtkm5GHJvDl_AmZpi8_NfEDQouB79Ad7HyCRhVqVD1jU0TmRoxw-z47MWa3S_5uU51UysjyXYOv3zOjPbF9aTMuDS7pLpw1LwxVCcyEGXqlNwO0LyWgVahrT/s1600-h/028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4HbKG_FAl1bFNtkm5GHJvDl_AmZpi8_NfEDQouB79Ad7HyCRhVqVD1jU0TmRoxw-z47MWa3S_5uU51UysjyXYOv3zOjPbF9aTMuDS7pLpw1LwxVCcyEGXqlNwO0LyWgVahrT/s320/028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232705542386942114" border="0" /></a>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-4816489371522682432008-08-08T22:57:00.004-04:002008-08-08T23:41:44.418-04:00Opening Games<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bALRWggXrVS9ddOAcXnNhAq_IQs3p7zUjhuoeJOankzFrwfmQ7MIhnYvVHfC-KXC_6IZxTG-9w-Mjo4eO6eddhKeuTXiPLxC1GMQPtRpKd6oUGRXFLKsvARdagziZ_Jc6Jd4/s1600-h/Beijing-Olympic-2008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bALRWggXrVS9ddOAcXnNhAq_IQs3p7zUjhuoeJOankzFrwfmQ7MIhnYvVHfC-KXC_6IZxTG-9w-Mjo4eO6eddhKeuTXiPLxC1GMQPtRpKd6oUGRXFLKsvARdagziZ_Jc6Jd4/s320/Beijing-Olympic-2008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232346769341247026" border="0" /></a>Just to break into my vacation reporting...<br /><br />I love the Summer Olympics. And no, its not because of the Mens swim teams.<br /><br />Well not completely because of the mens swim teams...<br /><br />This however, is my first year watching the opening night. What is up with all the hats? USA is all pimped out in its white golf hats. I also have to laugh whenever the cameras pan into the President and the first lady. You'd think they would know the cameras could be on them at any time and would at least act like they are interested. One time when the cameras panned over, both of them were looking at their watches.<br /><br />There are dozens of countries that have never won any metals. Ever. That is dedication.<br /><br />Did anyone else know that table tennis is an Olympic game? Isn't that ping pong?<br /><br />Okay, right now there is a guy marching around in fur cape. Check it out, New Zealand.<br /><br />Seriously though, I always get hooked on the summer olympics. It makes the goober in me want to cry. All those people, working so hard, so proud of themselves and their countries. Everyone is there for a common goal, no one is booed, everyone is cheered, even the teams from countries you've never even heard of, that have like 4 members total. You know that this is the biggest thing that has ever happened to them.<br /><br />Did anyone see the little boy who walked next to the guy holding the Chinese flag? He is this little boy who was in the big earthquake. He was in school when it happened and he was able to get himself out, and then went back to help his classmates out. When he was asked later why he stayed, he said that he was a class leader, it was his job to lead the class.<br /><br />Am I the only one who watches the Olympics with a tissue?<br /><br />Besides how much fun is it to say Pieter Van Den Hoogenband?<br /><br />How much fun is it to look at Pieter Van Den Hoogenband?<br /><br />As a matter of fact after all the tissues, I think we deserve a picture of Pieter Van Den Hoogenband.<br /><br />Soak it in ladies:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivf0b12jejNNrmGVEI2hGkERm8nDuo_oDBYcG-tmJ_rtDGWFWyacb5livnkGwXjH9SHRKGDWwxEKlzAjLF1f-FoVTjl6uKWxhTTV4LsiQzST4mOvSS-dh9ApAcowEnTPs_8rnu/s1600-h/hoogenband9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivf0b12jejNNrmGVEI2hGkERm8nDuo_oDBYcG-tmJ_rtDGWFWyacb5livnkGwXjH9SHRKGDWwxEKlzAjLF1f-FoVTjl6uKWxhTTV4LsiQzST4mOvSS-dh9ApAcowEnTPs_8rnu/s320/hoogenband9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232355834931438978" border="0" /></a>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-34814608499684854322008-08-07T23:56:00.015-04:002008-08-08T23:43:18.130-04:00From the Land of Women.<span style="">RWA has descended upon the hotel, and it is women as far as the eye can see. Or t</span><span style="">he ears can hear.</span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">I thought I walked a lot yesterday. Yesterday was nothing. I spit on ye</span><span style="">sterday</span><span style="">. Today I walked everywhere.</span><span style=""><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">It was a weird day. I took a taxi from my original hotel to the Conference hotel. Due to th</span><span style="">e earliness of the time, I was able to get a double double room. Considering the fact I had never met my roommate before before, I really did not want to share a bed with her, so yay.</span><span style=""> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">I was wandering around and thought I would see if I could help with and bumped into s</span><span style="">ome women who were talking about the conference, after chatting them up, I found out that it was the president of RWA <a href="http://www.romancewiki.com/Sherry_Lewis">Sherry Lewis</a></span><span style=""> While we were waiting for the office people to come back, Sherry invited us to her room. She had a Suite at the top of the hotel. It had a sitting room, dining room, and an balcony (a big one) with amazing views of the downtown area. Was I so uncouth that I asked to go out there and take pictures? Who do you think your talking to?</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGejWMbLWfqUj1a_eyomLl9-IFR21DDtcqIZSEs-J4usN4nI-qjW1wppBXrKSepJ3L_bj-uA3FIOuIhgTX1xMWTv9stvedHDExIW_7yJRwCik_OtybTD8H2IK9_5aUCs65NS2n/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGejWMbLWfqUj1a_eyomLl9-IFR21DDtcqIZSEs-J4usN4nI-qjW1wppBXrKSepJ3L_bj-uA3FIOuIhgTX1xMWTv9stvedHDExIW_7yJRwCik_OtybTD8H2IK9_5aUCs65NS2n/s320/001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231995430049796642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIe2lnW7D1AFc1_gullMGuCt0OjjEOr_e8B9t4WwNZZpmMo-X9hFZYIyGTKuWITpmW2AHqFT4D6nRUX9cr4rthYP9jtK9aQUJBJlGs8EZkoo4M52puy79HGwlZL4Z_-MlUYu8/s1600-h/003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIe2lnW7D1AFc1_gullMGuCt0OjjEOr_e8B9t4WwNZZpmMo-X9hFZYIyGTKuWITpmW2AHqFT4D6nRUX9cr4rthYP9jtK9aQUJBJlGs8EZkoo4M52puy79HGwlZL4Z_-MlUYu8/s320/003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231995740222815298" border="0" /></a><span style=""> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">While getting lost, I found myself in the natural territory of the gays, The Castro.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdoEMPUPa3kLNVjjDuml7usGAQlVY5sRpJLs8WSSrkleJsak_rGgCZdgsjuEqDH0Qbmeya6swsxT3ogn33EPQrLgRdWuK0uaLWwskkjGeO-9wNYy4hPOxnFOnWKZMgEHg-MSF/s1600-h/004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdoEMPUPa3kLNVjjDuml7usGAQlVY5sRpJLs8WSSrkleJsak_rGgCZdgsjuEqDH0Qbmeya6swsxT3ogn33EPQrLgRdWuK0uaLWwskkjGeO-9wNYy4hPOxnFOnWKZMgEHg-MSF/s320/004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231996187164112434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhet3zog8Mz1L06_2-5E1i0qnyXx6ANhO_HAuUOuUH3kPVJpFi1YZMO3dKmOMXs57KEc5Hy-DoNaXswElh1U-1eOrfhX3msGecxAon-R1O3ElLTm0mgruB9c5rP6lnasGkNktCZ/s1600-h/005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhet3zog8Mz1L06_2-5E1i0qnyXx6ANhO_HAuUOuUH3kPVJpFi1YZMO3dKmOMXs57KEc5Hy-DoNaXswElh1U-1eOrfhX3msGecxAon-R1O3ElLTm0mgruB9c5rP6lnasGkNktCZ/s320/005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231995952241822194" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Then I went to Golden Gate park, (seriously? So not worth it, nothing like central park) I missed the Bison collection, but I did see the Japanese gardens ($4 to get in).</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9INR76JdFyi14-uTxRTx-PQ30YpOo6SiD_OWLD5eWZDexSCnlBkOcg8e4QbSZYrbyCr7LjBzgpK8lRAJomshdGLfeoE7K0JQzFUIWpXCi-kEIU30CraPzEVQzOOfunutbb9m/s1600-h/009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9INR76JdFyi14-uTxRTx-PQ30YpOo6SiD_OWLD5eWZDexSCnlBkOcg8e4QbSZYrbyCr7LjBzgpK8lRAJomshdGLfeoE7K0JQzFUIWpXCi-kEIU30CraPzEVQzOOfunutbb9m/s320/009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231996879501980674" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDQy7HQzPU7UcYGfm-xpnDkRrA2GNDHk8K2NkAOVBXGaEZFSYlyxph1KHAUrTBKwUtEhbzMXn1ByRF4rClGrJQ-lCBsPwCDGC6KZcERyNK6odovjQTx1RpSLoLq9grXlmNjl7/s1600-h/015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDQy7HQzPU7UcYGfm-xpnDkRrA2GNDHk8K2NkAOVBXGaEZFSYlyxph1KHAUrTBKwUtEhbzMXn1ByRF4rClGrJQ-lCBsPwCDGC6KZcERyNK6odovjQTx1RpSLoLq9grXlmNjl7/s320/015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231997056757032034" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">After that I got lost and ended up in Haight Ashbury. Groovy.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTJk5K8iTJIFrUDErtnCiuvtlRQ_i9G-Ld5mpqoa6WS-e6-3eBP5xj-hWjawHLBEAVZqBsC_hc0BHgJcpq3kpSUMc5kYtaL-lUfpM476H80i9_OKsnr6hyphenhyphenFbYAk1LsKXmFfns/s1600-h/024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTJk5K8iTJIFrUDErtnCiuvtlRQ_i9G-Ld5mpqoa6WS-e6-3eBP5xj-hWjawHLBEAVZqBsC_hc0BHgJcpq3kpSUMc5kYtaL-lUfpM476H80i9_OKsnr6hyphenhyphenFbYAk1LsKXmFfns/s320/024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231997445675434690" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">Here are some random picks:<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"> Bambi, you're the devil. (Enlarge to check out just how freaky he is)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwJKyWEPw-Om5DB3Hf9FmwcTvd3JEwgrOW1J4Nbb57ha8kN8ohck9Fn60JUQfkGMZwfLagewgTdllBs7suAelw9ktFB1yvLSNgPXMnVRRriS6xyWeGbzb63uga2NG2XEN4-O_/s1600-h/028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwJKyWEPw-Om5DB3Hf9FmwcTvd3JEwgrOW1J4Nbb57ha8kN8ohck9Fn60JUQfkGMZwfLagewgTdllBs7suAelw9ktFB1yvLSNgPXMnVRRriS6xyWeGbzb63uga2NG2XEN4-O_/s320/028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231998037087992754" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">Seriously, check out the nipples on this statue-<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKswv7f2m_wstDLNlZu27i01bHbkC9KNAYqXD5bRlapGhO0bIRWUczJxH232G4Kd7FJY0Wue39rTGHGiKdxGG2bOJCtwGSM-q2F9b0vBXyhIA8WU7zO3d4ifQTEr8OqTc9Xyrm/s1600-h/019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKswv7f2m_wstDLNlZu27i01bHbkC9KNAYqXD5bRlapGhO0bIRWUczJxH232G4Kd7FJY0Wue39rTGHGiKdxGG2bOJCtwGSM-q2F9b0vBXyhIA8WU7zO3d4ifQTEr8OqTc9Xyrm/s320/019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231997262505197618" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lots of Love, and believe it or not, I do miss you all!</p> <span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-41208936184443795792008-08-07T23:18:00.009-04:002008-08-08T23:44:01.642-04:00Notes from SFHello From the Road,<br /><br />Today was another very long walky day and I am very proud of the blisters I have to show for it. My original plan for today was to go to the golden gate park, but then I realized it was Monday and the museums were not open today. Instead I decided to take the tour to Muir woods and Sausalito (who knew it wasn't just a cookie?) The tour was at 2 so I went down to embarkadero via the bart, and visited the ferry. After walking around there, I hopped a cable car and traveled back to the warf to catch the bus. It seems like the warf is a big whole that keeps sucking me in. I grabbed a lunch of chowder in a sourdough roll. Yum.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGS2s5i3HfDKi7UQD3HoKOU0dZturAbEvM03obtA9pj02pGzNef0ZOg_6kkxnALEyOlx2_O9GYweysew-z8t11PBwlABeXS9iBp5psdoYt8WTAn4S9-sA4c10b6oP2Zu3gu-_/s1600-h/005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGS2s5i3HfDKi7UQD3HoKOU0dZturAbEvM03obtA9pj02pGzNef0ZOg_6kkxnALEyOlx2_O9GYweysew-z8t11PBwlABeXS9iBp5psdoYt8WTAn4S9-sA4c10b6oP2Zu3gu-_/s320/005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231981813281369586" border="0" /></a><br />The bus took us over the golden gate bridge. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNv-MUGF9d4T4NbQ7kCSZkzB9U6lGWgYIDBunWBz-z0Nbqv14jgQ1ZRqHUK4ViAdUjdbHTKfZOMDSTBw6UikQHlqXjhUmXxgqop9id9Ut5_vo2uRcl_ghChSwn_LQm7bvplypt/s1600-h/011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNv-MUGF9d4T4NbQ7kCSZkzB9U6lGWgYIDBunWBz-z0Nbqv14jgQ1ZRqHUK4ViAdUjdbHTKfZOMDSTBw6UikQHlqXjhUmXxgqop9id9Ut5_vo2uRcl_ghChSwn_LQm7bvplypt/s320/011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231981999164525042" border="0" /></a>Muir Woods (redwoods) was beautiful, very serene. These trees are magnificent, and I live in a national forest, so I know trees. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaU6bPI7IwpyzMkpE0ApF5GabBiLmxvkc5YWq_AYD-PzBNz59tYnu12vx1lCtcyR1AoqyVbvJHRGkp5peZmZXcirRIdFYl5xRg1frGZX2q48BJrSDlVJqZ5DQMGKa9IBBxWgD/s1600-h/016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaU6bPI7IwpyzMkpE0ApF5GabBiLmxvkc5YWq_AYD-PzBNz59tYnu12vx1lCtcyR1AoqyVbvJHRGkp5peZmZXcirRIdFYl5xRg1frGZX2q48BJrSDlVJqZ5DQMGKa9IBBxWgD/s320/016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231982209836246898" border="0" /></a>I met a mother and daughter from Australia on the tour and we wandered around Sausalito together, eating this amazing Hawaiian ice cream. Black cherry cordial. Yum. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xkqf-nI9jbb2YCju8yGO0kt6Qu5uhuLIlZY_rlIa4VDkX3BSM5GfzRvYWcepZi80VSswxNhdXNGfG0tnKrwdM1tse3d60WblkDDNal5Hi0Bc7y6nRXhqY0hJ6JbIHJ8aJzJ5/s1600-h/046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xkqf-nI9jbb2YCju8yGO0kt6Qu5uhuLIlZY_rlIa4VDkX3BSM5GfzRvYWcepZi80VSswxNhdXNGfG0tnKrwdM1tse3d60WblkDDNal5Hi0Bc7y6nRXhqY0hJ6JbIHJ8aJzJ5/s320/046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231982393416652882" border="0" /></a>It was beautiful and sunny in Sausalito, from our side of the water we could see the SF skyline, it was covered in mist, kind of creepy.<br /><br />When we got back from the tour, my new friends and I went to a lovely place to eat in the italy section, where we bumped into a large group of men, women and babies in red dresses running down the street. Later I found out they were a drinking group with a running problem. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ixDWT485ZH2AeFTppT6sFsj2khzEQJdZorAUw6BOAXjW-MfQRaqB5FgC8eqEqaCRweRoI2jOjPeedRxOh-E1-Js7jIzdXJL-sG_5hIxqwsXqNiYHl6C8dMdO-LFWObMCAzkO/s1600-h/055.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ixDWT485ZH2AeFTppT6sFsj2khzEQJdZorAUw6BOAXjW-MfQRaqB5FgC8eqEqaCRweRoI2jOjPeedRxOh-E1-Js7jIzdXJL-sG_5hIxqwsXqNiYHl6C8dMdO-LFWObMCAzkO/s320/055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231982767936886146" border="0" /></a> After, the warf sucked me back in again and I went to Ghiradellis for an icecream sundae. I ate it as I stood in line for the trolley. Get this-- I rode back to my hotel, hanging onto the side of the trolley. Did I get video you ask? Why yes I did!<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzvo_FlgPrQ7bG34MpEa4yesqBtMv-ZPYxA1cPOvLtwBz2HJYHMhisMiAbWaK-5yN5mrkWJZLYPpjk' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />Tomorrow I head to my new hotel, and probably to the Golden Gate Park, and if I know SF--- probably the warf.<br /><br />StephanieStephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-54268168918602912172008-08-06T22:56:00.014-04:002008-08-08T23:44:56.222-04:00Good old fashioned PornGreetings and Salutations,<br /><br />I am ready to come home now. jk.<br /><br />I finally got to my hotel room at about 5am our time. Yark<br /><br />Plane ride was great! I went the the automatic check in and noticed that I could change my seating arragngement, so instead of sitting in the middle of 2 people, I got a window seat on the last row. Then my guy moved to another row and I got the whole thing to myself. I officially love JetBlue.<br /><br />My first day I road the trolley down to the warf, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UjK2eSbK9UX_OuBja3GZo6TWrVtdiV6j1Bw5ejzVVpj3-8wj8jzz2-vQgbdAVgPGI2wH5jx212ANTewLIgSvKBhzQDkjkYVKrR_6W-qFAxLblClnOOSo7jsVmoxbA6v1Zxfu/s1600-h/007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UjK2eSbK9UX_OuBja3GZo6TWrVtdiV6j1Bw5ejzVVpj3-8wj8jzz2-vQgbdAVgPGI2wH5jx212ANTewLIgSvKBhzQDkjkYVKrR_6W-qFAxLblClnOOSo7jsVmoxbA6v1Zxfu/s320/007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231614073533590690" border="0" /></a>I picked up my first souvi from one of the local street people. No not street people as in the shaking cup at you kind, but one of those street vendors. In SF there seems to be three types of street vendors, scenic photographs, weird knitted hats, and beaded whatnots, bead necklaces, earrings, ect. Anyway my I bought a pic from one of the photograph people, it was of the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/muwo/">Muir Woods</a>.<br /><br />Down at the warf I checked out the submarine they had on display. Believe it or not it is the same submarine they filmed one of my guilty pleasure movies, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116130/">Down Periscope</a> on.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnOl02a46QfijuhN83I3olxTATXt0TxSU4Hn7qClh0XV8cMWAI8R8ABVtZmzqByqxV3FU1k8UKvfj6aRi0qaCZZF3c5atEcZZLJIG4ZGHo5MGcnZjuGrGLgq2-KgeY5Lm8tO9/s1600-h/017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnOl02a46QfijuhN83I3olxTATXt0TxSU4Hn7qClh0XV8cMWAI8R8ABVtZmzqByqxV3FU1k8UKvfj6aRi0qaCZZF3c5atEcZZLJIG4ZGHo5MGcnZjuGrGLgq2-KgeY5Lm8tO9/s320/017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231614421647732354" border="0" /></a><br />Then I checked out the mechanical museum, where they display all the things that used to entertain us before video games. I actually really enjoyed it. They even had the pre playboy porn on display. Who was the perv who recorded it? yes that would be me. If I have played my cards right i will be able to figure out how to load it here.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDlaenKNtMTSn6PiWoYwSkTFzR7-pRWou9GBtFIujKBEcecg1cQj3zoU25KsCqSu5XUAhrRB_TDXScgWPfI1rHIxbYKnVGdYztf2F45APEgm4Anp414pa_QyZWR2EtVdUmOnM/s1600-h/043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 187px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDlaenKNtMTSn6PiWoYwSkTFzR7-pRWou9GBtFIujKBEcecg1cQj3zoU25KsCqSu5XUAhrRB_TDXScgWPfI1rHIxbYKnVGdYztf2F45APEgm4Anp414pa_QyZWR2EtVdUmOnM/s320/043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231611176587756002" border="0" /></a><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyPP8-xqugdt90JOeTVZeWSZLWEplPyKGE9gHBJoCLdjrXwIibYVWDNrTLDgbWtBH64Z6wrYUX_nCA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br />At the end of the day I went home via limo, a smelly sweaty limo. Only in SF I guess.<br /><br />Every day I have to work up my nerve to leave my cozy hotel room. I don't feel comfortable without a plan, without a guide. I try to remember I am a loud proud woman and I have nothing to be nervious about, but of course you all know me. But eventually I gather, my maps, my money, camera and nerve, and step outside the door.<br /><br />Go Me!<br />Here are some more random pics from my first day out...<br /><br /><br />So there was a guy behind this "bush", he would jump out and scare people, and then they would pay him. One kid tried to sneak up and scare him. Here is what he said, " Kid , there ain't nothing scary about a white guy behind a bush. Unless you're Dick Cheney"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKgoEhAAFbm9hqRwcsZYJq_0C0Jad04ksCjbFqjWbPjxKU2XtCB2WwFCbTLeIz9SgrlKcEAf3VDgKz3WnPfn-Ao7bLJ7e9j8AlvkzWaWxbYH8NPdT2vxPPKlOiMwxClATdUYr/s1600-h/049.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKgoEhAAFbm9hqRwcsZYJq_0C0Jad04ksCjbFqjWbPjxKU2XtCB2WwFCbTLeIz9SgrlKcEAf3VDgKz3WnPfn-Ao7bLJ7e9j8AlvkzWaWxbYH8NPdT2vxPPKlOiMwxClATdUYr/s320/049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231617568588992130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Mmm Sourdough<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FD2tLgHorAFwf-BCdidyKOo7CC0wD-ZGODBf4Bg3PE4sEHgE017wVJEObKyvkwpTuV5yPncB4kOCt9Y23Ug5dcUrvyjenBzJAj4heVy8F-YXl2U5k0ZhAF8Ir7EokOny5N2p/s1600-h/sourdough.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FD2tLgHorAFwf-BCdidyKOo7CC0wD-ZGODBf4Bg3PE4sEHgE017wVJEObKyvkwpTuV5yPncB4kOCt9Y23Ug5dcUrvyjenBzJAj4heVy8F-YXl2U5k0ZhAF8Ir7EokOny5N2p/s320/sourdough.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231616713376795730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Hells yeah, I walked up this hell, I mean hill.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwLT5NdjZneFoKhqFyE4p7Mpob7cj9hyphenhyphenUvF2pIdfIYGVBgcQL1mAOF0R5HEBZfGoqFwtgoWc6XUk-BLZQ4zhhbgYK2I6crEyIP70drB85GMTG8KqFZBbBkoliBs4zd5uc-k2J/s1600-h/big+hill+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwLT5NdjZneFoKhqFyE4p7Mpob7cj9hyphenhyphenUvF2pIdfIYGVBgcQL1mAOF0R5HEBZfGoqFwtgoWc6XUk-BLZQ4zhhbgYK2I6crEyIP70drB85GMTG8KqFZBbBkoliBs4zd5uc-k2J/s320/big+hill+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231615296407003442" border="0" /></a><br />Crookedest Street<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmFag_5K15afeXnX4u_pis8mkderf_jkTOr1cp3XC4MNK1UxmybKEoocB_8Si3rvcoRjYzX_Ex8tqCvgFvFt6_JGGw8TFMIZXrguMOo0wmLIHr3wKogT6mPHS5Z3VI4nOJhxG/s1600-h/crookedest+street+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmFag_5K15afeXnX4u_pis8mkderf_jkTOr1cp3XC4MNK1UxmybKEoocB_8Si3rvcoRjYzX_Ex8tqCvgFvFt6_JGGw8TFMIZXrguMOo0wmLIHr3wKogT6mPHS5Z3VI4nOJhxG/s320/crookedest+street+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231614748846641858" border="0" /></a>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-55154570555824628122008-08-06T16:30:00.003-04:002008-08-08T23:45:32.008-04:00I'm a bad, bad girl.I have been appropriately shame-ed. A year has passed, I just came home from this years conference, where I met up with the lovely <a href="http://www.megancrane.com/">Megan Crane</a>. She mentioned me in her blog and linked to this blog. This very empty blog. Bad Girl. And the funny thing is I write these long drawn out emails to my friends, so there is no reason why I haven't. I'm just a bad, bad girl. So for now I am going to load up my emails.<br /><br />Enjoy!Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-21884882809088772872007-08-08T23:21:00.000-04:002007-08-08T23:54:27.411-04:00Its a Small Small WorldOne of the weirdest things happened to me while I was at Nationals. Really weird. Weirder than me chillin' with famous people.<br /><br />There are over 9000 members of the RWA, there was over 2000 members at nationals. In the entire time I was there I didn't meet a single person from New England, let alone New Hampshire.<br /><br />Enter my stalker. During the Warner 5Spot, Avon(?) and a couple of other publisher book signings I was standing in a line having the ususal conversation (see previous blog). I saw this girl, standing a few people back, reading Conversatioins with the Fat Girl. I of course told her I thought it was wonderful and went back to my conversation. When it came around to my turn and I said NH, I heard from the back of the group, "No way, what part?" Low and behold it was the girl with Liza's book. I said, "It's a little town called North Conway." Her mouth dropped and she told me that she was moving to Conway in a month. Not only was she moving to Conway but she was also moving to the street I grew up on.<br /><br />WTF?<br /><br />That wasn't the last time I bumped into her either. I went to the dinner match up and who was there? I was looking for a place to eat breakfast the next morning and who was sitting there? I was leaving for the airport (sick as a dog) hopped into the front seat of a shuttle that was about to leave and who was sitting behind me? Ooooo. Spooky.<br /><br />What are the chances?<br /><br />Anyway, she seems like a really nice lady, and I think it might be good to have another writer so close. Can we say kick in the pants? We have already met up to see the new HP movie. We had one of those cool conversations about authors and books we have (or haven't) enjoyed.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096541431040560530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Qnqw_fCZI0WYFdImtosNTdJc-LbzOejb3WQN4appJ7Hb0lKFoaQg0Cyb_clTuCeYMGenm6IdkRfbdnHi8nutlHXpk1zERZBuT8taLPZltWFo24WS_mWsx77rPprUpPkPXxEx/s320/Dinner+Meetup.jpg" border="0" />This is a picure of our group at the dinner meet up. Yumm!Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-89834842390076332792007-08-01T22:13:00.000-04:002007-08-01T23:02:37.032-04:00RWA members so nice they could be a Disney RideConference rehash Part Deuce<br /><br />I believe I mentioned how worried I was about not knowing anyone and the fact I was worried that I wouldn't speak to anyone the entire time I was there.<br /><br />I am happy to announce that this is not the case.<br /><br />It started right from the very beginning. After my tussle with the front desk lady I met my first conference ladies at the elevators (actually this is where I met a lot of people at the elevators due to the excessive time spent waiting for the down elevators) Everyone was sooo nice! Always asking how are you doing, are you having a good time, and when I got my first timer flag on my name badge, they would asked how my first time was going.<br /><br /> And this wasn't just us wannabe writers (not that there is anything wrong with being a wannabe writer). Authors I've read before were totally nice to me too. Here were some of my favorites: <a href="http://www.karenrosebooks.com/">Karen Rose</a>, <a href="http://www.dailyinquisitor.com/sherrilyn/intro.htm">Sherrilyn Kenyon</a>, <a href="http://samanthagraves.com/">Samantha Graves</a>, and <a href="http://lizapalmer.com/">Liza Palmer</a>. There was this one time where I was sitting around a coffee shop table with Liza Palmer, <a href="http://megancrane.com/">Megan Crane</a>, <a href="http://www.michellerowen.com/">Michelle Rowan</a>, and <a href="http://www.janeporter.com/">Jane Porter.</a> It was a major pinch me moment. If I wasn't afraid of being too much of a geek, I would have gotten a picture, but once invited to the cool kids table, I was afraid of setting myself apart.<br /><br />Anytime you were standing in a line we could look over to the person next to us and start up a conversation. We were all there for the same reason, we go there knowing you had something in common with the person next to us.<br /><br />Of course we would have the same conversation over and over again. This is how almost every conversation went:<br />What's your name?<br />Where are you from?<br />What do you write?<br />You could mix up the order but that was the gist everything.<br /><br />On my very first night, I went out to one of the hotel restaurants and waited in a really long line just to get to the line, to give them my name. I started talking to the ladies behind me, (actually I inserted myself into their conversation) when it got to be my turn and I told the hostess, "just one." The ladies behind me said "Oh no, you should join us!" and they meant it. I had a very nice evening with them talking about books. At the end of the dinner, we even shared a dessert.<br /><br />It was actually weird to come home and 1 not have everyone wearing name tags and 2. not be interested in chatting.<br /><br />I already can't wait for next year!Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-74647910761011658652007-08-01T21:59:00.000-04:002007-08-01T22:12:14.816-04:00I'm a naughty, naughty girl.I haven't blogged for a while. Honestly I haven't written anything of worth for a while either. I thought I'd come back from Nationals raring to go. This has not been the case. Actually I think I might be moving backwards. I will sit there in front of the keyboard and I'm like a kid with ADD high on pixie stix.<br /><br />I have decided that I need to purchase a new computer. Perhaps I will leave my bad writing Karma here. (Either way it's a pretty sweet computer) But then I think, do I really deserve a new computer?Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-6834800269152756722007-07-21T20:40:00.000-04:002007-07-21T20:53:48.838-04:00Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!I know it was poofy from the humidity of TEXAS, but after looking at my pictures from last weekend, I have realized that my new haircut has this weird mushroom look to it.<br /><div></div><br /><div>Crap. </div><br /><div></div><div>On a Stick.</div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-18752692072374851102007-07-18T18:03:00.000-04:002007-07-18T19:26:20.218-04:00NationaliesWhile I languish here with the killer headcold I developed at the RWA Conference I thought I would let y'all know how fricken cool this weekend was. Let me just put it this way, you remember all the goals I was hoping to achieve? (See previous post) Well I accomplished everyone and have the photographic evidence to prove it.<br /><br />Meet <a href="http://samanthagraves.com/">Samantha Graves</a>? Check<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088663345366302562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdVxIS-6S8Z3gZqHV8WA6kkbQ972U9aplssYmVUDP_PGjGLjkffTjU24-_rMoF1ZcmrxCAF2I-LVUN-_OWH4bw9MLnP7H9P2mDuvyggM4cml0fWqVkXZFVXWqMnfroUUL8Bcv/s320/Me&Sam.jpg" border="0" />Super nice lady, who seemed just as excited to meet me a loyal listener of the podcast. (Or maybe in all my excitement I just made her nervous, and she just wanted to shoo me along.) Either way, I got a copy of her new book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sight-Unseen-Samantha-Graves/dp/0446618381/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/103-1066725-3959018?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184797191&sr=8-2">Sight Unseen</a>. She also took what had to be a very unflattering photo of me doing my "I curse you Lani Diane Rich for getting me hooked on <a href="http://www.gamegecko.com/bubbleshooter.php">bubbleshooter</a>!"-face. Anyway I was the first one to mention Will Write for Wine and received the prize of the Coaster with the logo printed on it.<br /><p>I met up with some S<a href="http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/">mart Bitches</a> over Diet Cokes in the bar, where we proceeded to have the loudest most inappropriate conversations about male genitalia, sexual perversions, and The Office.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088666669670989682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jwKEjE4m_-JHO0t_MjOVVKAH8pqegPF29Ijp7jIvrtqPsnt9J9OGePEmm0fLV247RIfRTQ8yBdzVc1_dLwkiWfzaoEoV8VDfhTVJnsVK0I8wBXHT8sOjBEzW4Oj7z-B0e4sv/s320/Smart+Bitches.jpg" border="0" />I listened to Michael Hauge speak. He was of course amazing... and of course I bought the 6 hour video, I am nothing if not a sucker for a good upsell.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088668988953329538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ISKGbqTmgAo_dX3-Ud2_A9RAR_EKUMQsuK8dhXZfMndNoR7Jdt8e_lZNpd-GXrn9j7qyjSsy53hfCPS7K_1qhBOQjCr35zinBUgH5cD8lIn89ntQUCBGQUGm_g1GrSGR30AI/s320/michael+hauge.jpg" border="0" /> I came home with (not kidding) about 50lbs worth of free books. If I were to add them up, I do believe that I have gotten back the conference fee in free books.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088671072012468114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgIzLCPbmYdX2zFmuVvfWN5S-_-CttnixX-MPBZrzl_ZhZC4WMYz5X0kwlJPTum8tWnBQdtou3PUOrdAPMLqPexYmhpaGmy14JhF8-9V0BL7zkwDI5J6vG9YoQJ_I42eSIWKQ/s320/mmm...+books.jpg" border="0" /><br />Other Highlights:<br /><br />I met <a href="http://www.dailyinquisitor.com/sherrilyn/">Sherrilyn Kenyon</a> She is super nice. She is also one of those ladies one would speak of there in hushed, awestruck tones. (You know in the same realm as Nora or SEP)There was a huge line to get her autograph at the signing. I didn't see her there (not a big fan of lines) but I had a stroke of luck at one of the publisher signings. I was wandering about just as she was about to sit down for another signing and was able to get into the beginning of the line. Even then I waited quite a while. But it was totally worth it, she was SO nice, and funny, and pretty.... (I will stop now)<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088674052719771554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLKSdA7c_97XGDmy383aFq41pCGdLihECfEzz4ANQ3izj6zAS3bpGeQYguYaf8KcbPY6tO5xb17Xe4ZyeTFO7IEskdv85Im749Di_pa3sgLzekgkicmN2VsIHk_OuzJY4BN06/s320/IMGP0939.jpg" border="0" />My Bed. The Hyatts food might have sucked, we might have had to wait for the down elevators for too long, the coffee shop's hot chocolate might be the worst swill imaginable, but the bed was uber comfortable</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088676969002565554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNTs6g_iiim5aDfvGMMcDRLXulMYtecMWkqVXtWOyiH1sbdvhA5Qj1EoT-CwILl4DelzwvX8MrdJlldGoArUoZe7bO0JlWjBum6E7EtKegA7OdFDrp4C5a-p-A-fB3YgCBubi/s320/mybed.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>Okay that is all for now. I've decided to save some for additional posts. (actually it's now night time here and the dreaded nighttime tickle cough has arrived and I'm having a little trouble staying focused) Upcoming posts include, <em>RWA members so nice they could be a Disney Ride, Stalking my new BFF Liza Palmer, It's a Small, Small Word, and How I am like Kathy Griffin.</em></p><p>Bye </p>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-76084284157911159502007-07-05T21:58:00.000-04:002007-07-05T22:46:30.317-04:00OMGWTF!It has been one of these days, weeks, and months. I am soo stressed at work right now. Its one of those times that I now dread going in. I actually have a dread feeling in the pit during my days off, knowing that I have to go back. Blech. We are just going through one of those times where almost every single person has a problem. Almost every single call is some unhappy customer looking for someone to vent their anger and frustration at. I am honestly not sure how much longer I can keep up this pace.<br /><br />Who am I kidding? The other businesses in the area where I live cannot support me in the manor to which I have become accustomed.<br /><br />Blech.<br /><br />I am almost ready for the conference. I have been shopping like a storm. I believe that I have all the apparel I need. I have been looking into the all the authors who are going to be at the Literacy Signing. Here are the people who I am most excited to meet:<br /><a href="http://www.willwriteforwine.com/">Samantha Graves</a> I haven't read anything she's written but she is 1/2 of the awesome Will Write for Wine Ladies. (I am actually writing this while I wait for the new episode to be posted to itunes.) She writes romantic suspense under the name Samantha Graves and Futuristics under the pen name C.J. Barry.<br /><a href="http://www.lizapalmer.com/">Liza Palmer</a> She wrote Conversations with the Fat Girl. I loved this book, not only is it on my keeper shelf but reread it all the time.<br /><a href="http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2007/05/14/interview-with-an-editor-heather-osborn-tor/">Heather Osbourn</a> She was a publisher with Elloras Cave last year and she was on a panel for a workshop called "Pillow Talk: Hint, it's not porn". She was so funny.<br /><a href="http://www.screenplaymastery.com/">Michael Hauge</a> He teaches screenwriting. I listened to his workshop from last year and he teaches storytelling, character arcs, ect. One of my favorites last year and he is teaching two different ones this year.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-29975775087285511372007-06-26T00:19:00.000-04:002007-06-26T00:31:49.627-04:00What do they want from me?I am so tired my eyes are starting to cross, characters are starting to talk to me. I have decided that my book actually starts earlier than previously intended, so I have been up adding a couple of scenes. These are actually going pretty well. It is so funny how you go into a project knowing something, saying okay this is what the books about, I'm not sure about all the details but this is what the core of the book is. Then you work on it for a little while, finding out what works, what doesn't. In that time one, just one, of your core facts change, and it's like knitting when you should have purled. What seems like a little mistake, continues on in your project, getting bigger and bigger, until you just can't ignore it anymore. Then you must make a decision, rip out all the work you've already put into it, or you can adjust your pattern. Okay that might not be very clear, but it's after 12, pity metaphors left me a while ago.<br /><br />Lay off. And that goes for the people in my head, as I am going to go to bed now.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-17202348650648508442007-06-23T20:42:00.000-04:002007-06-23T22:44:30.256-04:00Introducing...I was lurking around Dogs and Goddesses and I found the <a href="http://dogsandgoddesses.com/?p=81">coolest thing</a>. They did a layout of all the characters of the book they are working on. I had already collected a bunch of pictures as its actually really helpful. Looking around for photos you clear in your head who the character is by eliminating who the character isn't. You know or it could be a huge delaying tactic as it took me forever to do this. Big shout out to <strong>Mary Ann</strong> who suggested Power Point. Anyway the characters are coming together really well. Now I am going to go and figure out how to put this picture on my computer as my wall paper. Oh yeah and WRITE while I am so excited.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyJ6qoN20UW8dLXld_3lIrXdQZWhoz9JZtHDeSlejYfjmkFXFRCknb3mAdBIYzvTxf0B2R4psw7t31SFao5wUr40zeS6CQiweIiVbnEgY0fiKSJp5gQEvCoRGTcZVw0mVu6Uf/s1600-h/Book+Pics.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079425064421056882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 318px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="359" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyJ6qoN20UW8dLXld_3lIrXdQZWhoz9JZtHDeSlejYfjmkFXFRCknb3mAdBIYzvTxf0B2R4psw7t31SFao5wUr40zeS6CQiweIiVbnEgY0fiKSJp5gQEvCoRGTcZVw0mVu6Uf/s400/Book+Pics.jpg" width="442" border="0" /></a>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-21745498834629691232007-06-22T23:16:00.000-04:002007-06-22T23:34:29.029-04:00The Sky is Falling!Good lord. I was away from work for 2 days and the world fell in. Now don't misunderstand me, I am no overlord, it probably would have caved in whether I was there or not. The last two days I have put in so many hours my butt is numb from sitting at the computer all day. Not generally a bad thing, but then when I come home and I am faced with my own computer... Needless to say not much is getting done.<br /><br />Something good, something good... Lets see, oh yes this weeks episode of Will Write for Wine just came out. This is the little treat I have for my car ride in tomorrow. They are discussing Chocolat, which I have to say I didn't really enjoy. Kate was all, watch it you'll love it, I know you. I was able to say after all that "You don't know me at all", which didn't faze her any. The only redeeming quality of the movie was the Johnny Depp character. And not because I drool over JD. His was a really interesting character. I hear his next movie is Sweeney Todd. Somehow that suits him.<br /><br />Ooo something else I love, I am really enjoying <a href="http://www.twilightzoneradio.com/">The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas</a> on sundays on my ride home from work they are playing on my local radio station. I went online and they offer a couple of free downloads. At this moment I am listening to Ring a Ding Girl. Check them out<br /><br />Anyway I can't spend one more moment in front of the computer, so I am off!Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-75259794168030501012007-06-20T22:42:00.000-04:002007-06-20T23:34:45.455-04:00Thats what Authors do<div><span style="font-family:arial;">It's official, I'm an author. And I have the business card to prove it:</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078342968885666146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBl7nVHBFqP21AsgK1l0fN01mtw_-8DFB0lhmFhBIoNfVvgiUcmhaT15Xlf4LhllMeD1XifHj-4JIR77vAm3RM1NjHFtm9DeZ5tKjEAHfK7iYdHAmorqSnwIJbNStiUmgr_-GN/s400/business+card.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">Now I just have to get published. You know or finish something. I have a lot to do to to live up to my business card. Isn't it pretty!?</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">Why would an unpublished writer (not that there's anything wrong with that) have a business card you ask? I am going to my very first writers conference! It is the Romance Writers of America (of which my the ink on my membership card isn't even dry yet) National conference, which is taking place in Dallas. I am SO excited about it. And I am going by myself so I am wicked nervous as well. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">Of course I am not a member of any local chapter, so I <em>really</em> won't know anyone. And to be perfectly honest I am not the outgoing type (at least when I don't know anyone). That was okay at first because I am really there to take the workshops anyway. But then I realized how much 'free' time we were given. I am totally going to be that girl in the corner who finds her drink very fascinating. They say this is a great time to go meet people. You know, go up to a table at lunch and ask if the empty chair is taken. Of course if it were me, when I ask if I can sit, the table will be full of very popular published authors, and they will be like "Umm... No. This is the popular kids table?" THEN they will be all offended that I didn't know who they were. (right because people can recognize authors. Show me a picture of your cover and then I'll know who you are) Already I am making enemy's and they don't even know me yet. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">The dress code is business casual. Of course business casual for one state is not necessarily business casual for another. In NH business casual means khaki or even jeans and a nice top. So I am packing for everything. I went shopping with Amy this week and apparently I am going to be skirt girl. Even though I didn't know what business casual was, I was sure what it wasn't. I told Amy, I need my clothes to convey a particular message. I need people to look at from my spot in the corner, and say "Look at that lady in the corner, the one with what must be a really interesting drink, her clothes are telling me she is a really interesting and unique person. I feel compelled to go over and introduce myself" Can you do that with a $200 budget?</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">Oh and get this, there is a full on formal night, which believe it or not I already had a dress for.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">Anywhoo, I am not shopping anything, which I think is a good thing. I can go experience this without an agenda, learn a lot, and scope everything out. My big goal is to meet some interesting people and to hopefully come out of this energized with a great critique group. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">You know 'cause that's what authors do.</span></p>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-13454473174006486652007-06-16T15:51:00.000-04:002007-06-16T15:57:41.142-04:00BRB'Allo Guvnah'<br /><br />I now have external conflict for my character! I thought it was cool when the internal conflict fell into place. I knew what the external conflict is for the hero, but that doesn't really work for her. I didn't think it was such a big thing, until I was reading He Wrote She Wrote.<br /><br />If there is anyone out there trying to write anything (fictional) should definitely check it out. Much worth the time.<br /><br />Anywhoo, I am house sitting for the next couple of days without an Internet connection. So bad for you because I won't be posting anything but good for my writing because I won't have any of those web distractions.<br /><br />Unfortunately they do have movie channels which get me every time.<br />Dang.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-75710240104466967822007-06-14T00:05:00.000-04:002007-06-14T00:31:24.735-04:00Gift with PurchaseReading through my previous blogs, I found that I had already mentioned the jobbie. Here is a gift to you: Hottie Mchothot.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075771855433392466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgN9Py1TrJIW8B0v3aQWxzZzs33lRvrijOCb3yj5zEp5F5QkmwMjvARhJB0_El1dfwxWDb_3ioDLhtiLQr-ESw_E54tnRQAKD9UqLkOGpTi-RKThGzfshSUQN05JaWKyPpsdj/s400/psp411_com-mods-472-1.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuJqla7WoCbgWy6V-CEq1VilgZrZAETKrT9wSbdjM8do2ucX_JxyptOz7sqFCAz9Slo6T3jWhiTyP9sIU8ptwpzSxVCIyNCVJ1ciN31Zg4Pi0iD5PE0c-ng6O-ZeN_hUgFBEY/s1600-h/canne.jpg"></a>Yeah I am not ashamed to admit my hero is patterned after Mr. Hot, really who can blame me?<br /><div><div><div><div> </div></div></div></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-89758682045535761522007-06-13T23:16:00.000-04:002007-06-13T23:53:35.894-04:00What've I been doing you ask? Causing trouble. See below:Holla Chicas! Wow I didn't realize how long it had been since I had done this. Okay that is a total lie. I am a bad bad person. I am hanging my head here. Okay that's a lie too. If I hang my head down I will miss the crazy shit going down on the new season of Top Chef.<br /><br /><br /><br />I have updated my links, check 'em out.<br /><br /><br /><br />There has been a lot of changes here. The biggest one is that I have officially admitted I am a reality show junkie. Top Chef, Project Runway, Americas Next Top Model, the list goes on and on.<br /><br /><br /><br />Lets see what else is new? Oh Yeah my job. Not only do I have a new job but I am now lower to middle management. I am now the sales manager of an internet company. While it is great to be working at a place that not only do they think great things of me but I also get to use my brain. (The money doesn't hurt either) Of course the downside is my job is so stressful it makes my blood pressure go up 20 points.<br /><br /><br /><br />Lets see I am now an official member of the RWA, thats the Romance Writers of America for all you schlubs out there who didn't know. I am even going to the National Conference. Wahoo! I won't talk too much about it here because I am sure I will bore you all with it later.<br /><br /><br /><br />Anyway this is just a quick post to reintroduce myself.<br /><br /><br /><br />Hello.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075760671338553602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BdIDUf5cjWWIS35vzOnBuX45U1DIXczE-y2KFyb9N7YPnmCr4Q8KQIpF09ch5cDhh1VBFDqLWiHtjl9O-bqfFRp3lUK-N2v-TMFAs0A-_3GD3r8h9CzRnhdOTkZry8xRu3BI/s320/P1010024.JPG" border="0" />Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-1154732495005371522006-08-04T18:39:00.000-04:002006-08-04T19:01:35.030-04:00BucketsTonight is the night! Necked locals. Well it will be a nice change gfom my boxes and bags, boxes and bags, boxes and bags. The painting will come next. It's looking like I have to paint every wall in this house. Concidering the fact that I live in a condo that's 3 stories. I'm sure that whatever time I have gained so far will be sucked up then.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-1154489383700524642006-08-01T23:10:00.000-04:002006-08-01T23:29:43.713-04:00Ring, Ring<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4246/2557/1600/telephone.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4246/2557/320/telephone.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I am so tired my eyelids feel like they are sticking to my eyeballs. It would be just my luck to be packing up the whole house during a heatwave. Of course it doesn't help that I am doing it alone and I am so stressed out about work. I don't know if I am going to be able to do this. It is one thing to deal with pissed off people every now and then but now it is my responcibility to deal with each and every one of those people. And its not just little things either, little things other people can handle it by themselves-- I get the truly, messed up, pissed off people. Right now I am dealing with one lady, who, even though it is my days off, I am stressing about. I also know that I tend to blow things up in my mind. I mean really, its not as though this lady can come through the phone at me. She will yell at me and I will take it and we will move on. However I must say that I do love saying that I am the manager. Besides what will I do? Go back to Zebs? I don't think so, this is just Stephanie becomes a better person part 7. Personal Growth is not easy.<br /><br />I think that I am going to go and get something to eat. There is still alot of time- alot of things to do before I have to go to bed.<br /><br />Alright end on a good note, end on a good note, hmm....<br /><br />hmmm....Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24636136.post-1154373463208400122006-07-31T15:14:00.000-04:002006-07-31T15:17:43.226-04:00Lovley ThingsI swear I haven't forsaken you, between my hinky internet conection and moving I have been crazy.<br /><br />Two of my new favorite things,<br />NCIS- Kate bought the first season on DVD, it's great<br /><br />Black Garbage Bags. Not just for trash anymore, no boxes? No problem, just use a trashbag. (just make sure not to mix up the piles)<br /><br />On Wednesday C and I traveled over an hour to go to Cinamagic. Let me tell you it is magical. I saw the Lady in the Water, we had stadium seating all to our selves. Woa!<br />Next Thursday I am going to see a local production of the Full Monty. Naked locals, should make for an memorable evening.<br /><br />PS since I wrote this I have to add that another one of my new favorite things is Amy, she and her brother Josh have been incredibly helpful in this whole crazy moving process.<br /><br />Gots ta Go- I'm home on my lunch break!<br />SAKStephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02416177178229893477noreply@blogger.com0