Mysteries, minivans, and little men, oh my!

So I've spent the last month going over a book that is supposed to help me write a novel in a month. HA! But I have come up with a detailed outline in a month. Half of it's in my head because I like it better there, but still, think it up I did! I was ready to tackle a key scene tonight - all three kids were snuggled into their beds - when lo and behold Word decided to lock all of my documents. Apparently I have more planning work to do. ;) I'll take it as a sign that I'm not ready to start yet while I move things over to Works.

But, I'm excited, and it's going to be fun and hopefully I'll write it fast.

In other news... I've been looking for a car to hold all of my babies since last fall. I'd nearly decided on a Durango, Suburbans being my first choice but losing points for their gas thirstieness and mammoth size in the already crowded driveway... when I drove a Sienna on a whim today. Hm... so I loved it. It's tan, it has nothing really cool about it, no leather seats or DVD player or power sliding doors, but geez it drives like it's on auto pilot and I can see everything, including the kids way in the back seat. Maybe these minivan makers are on to something!

So I seem destined for minvan-dom, which is appropriate as I tackle a YA mystery while waiting for my daughter in the pick up line at school and handing goldfish crackers to the other monkeys. Or monkey. One of them doesn't have teeth yet. He does, however, have powerfully determined hands when I'm holding a latte (so, all the time) or a Diet Dr. Pepper. Or a chocolate covered graham cracker. I'm thinking these things aren't on the first foods list... but this is Seattle, so, you never know. He's a good little Seattlite.

Miss Snark Tribute

There's a tribute happening over on Pat Wood's blog today. It's the anniversary of Miss Snark's final post. Oh how I've missed her.

Go see what all the fuss is about!

http://pkwood.blogspot.com/2008/05/miss-snarknot-just-for-nitwits.html

From the mind of my seven year old

My mom to my seven year old daughter, "Please tell me you won't ever get a tatoo."
My seven year old's reply, "I promise no tatoo will ever touch this body... unless it's on someone else's body..."

Oh boy.

Yay for sunny Fridays!

Are you kidding me with the warm weather? We've got summer here in Seattle! WOO!!!!

I've already taken the two littlest ones to the park today - we tried a new park, I get bored easily, and it was lots of fun. Now I've got one chilling in the arm chair eating popcorn and another staring at toys in his bouncy chair. He's learned to grab now. It's super fun. He even hung onto the chains while we were swinging with him in my front pack. Clearly he's destined to be an athlete. ;)

In other news... I have a book review of Artichoke's Heart up at Enduring Romance.

If you haven't seen The Office yet, go watch the season finale *right now*! I'll wait. It's storytelling at its finest. Jen - do you see why I love Michael yet??

Inspiration

I find photos or pictures of city streets, in the rain, the fog, the snow, or some moody sort of weather really inspiring. They capture a mood that I want to capture in my writing. Here's a perfect example.

When I get discouraged with writing, I look at things like this and it keeps me going. It's a drive to communicate what I feel when I look at something like this.

PS Brian is a fantastic photographer who travels widely and always has wonderful photos like this up on his blog!

Yay for May!

It was warm and sunny today and the kids played in the backyard for 3 hours! WOO!!! I believe they were building a pill bug habitat and making food for imaginary friends of some sort. I'm just thrilled they were getting fresh air and I didn't have to tell them no for three whole hours. Well, except when the little one got stuck climbing a fence... but we caught her. ;)

Other good news - I've picked a story and I'm 1000 words into it. The invariable bad news is I've written it in two different styles so far and I can't decide which works best. What is this new form of self sabotage?! Why must I thwart myself so?!

My goal for this week is to pick a voice and stick with it. Of course, then I'll be stuck on the fence of some other issue... much like my two year old today.

A few things...

I was going to be all clever and do five for Friday - but now it's almost Sunday, so it's not quite as clever. Sadly, I'm tired and can only think in bullet points, so here it goes anyway:

• My daughter told me that I "destroyed her happiness" last night. Actually, I'm not sure "told" is the correct verb since she was declaring this at the top of her lungs. My sin? I only gave her an hour to read before lights out. The teenage years will be oh so fun.
• To make up for it, my two year old loves only me. I overheard my husband saying "I love you girls" earlier today - the one with her happiness destroyed responded "I love you, too daddy!" The other said "I love mommy!" heh heh... I was secretly happy, though I know I should focus on fostering father daughter bonding.
• Since I've had a son I'm not sure why "mama's boy" has such a negative connotation. Shouldn't he love his mama?! DH just shakes his head and promises him he won't let me make him weird... I don't know what he's talking about.
• E. Lockhart. No, no continuation with the above thought - but seriously, if you haven't read the Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, you need to. It sticks with you. So many books are predictable. This is really about power. It's The Art of War at boarding school, but not with boys or popularity as the bounty. The prize is power itself. Very interesting.
• I'm working on much plotting right now. I have two novels competing for brain time. I should pick one and go with it, but right now I'm sketching them both out to see which I want to commit to first.
• It's way past my bedtime, adios!

Funny things

1. It's been snowing all day here in Seattle. There's probably 5 inches outside right now. That's serious snow here. And of course, we all know it's APRIL!

2. My daughter just told me (yes, because she's still up reading...) that when she gets her multiple doctorates, she'll insist that everyone still call her by her first name. Please, no Dr. so and so. She's seven. I was just checking in to make sure she still enjoys first grade. I guess that's a yes.

3. I'm reading The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks and it's hilarious. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting anything good to read right now. E Lockhart has a unique and charming voice. Really incredible.

4. When I read on E's website that her first name was the most common name given to baby girls in 2003 I instantly knew what name that was. I think that's a special brand of geek. ;)

OK, off to watch the snow and spend some more time with Frankie...

Goodbyes on my reality shows

I think it's ironic that just as Kristy Lee Cook (American Idol) and Ryan Scott (Top Chef) were starting to get their groove, they get the boot. I can't really blame America for sending Kristy home - she's been way overdue - (and really, after MJ left, how can anything surprise me!) But I'm still a little shocked that Ryan got sent home instead of spoon licker dude or "oops, I ran out of food" lady. Crazy. I guess that just goes to show you that you can't depend on reality tv! Who knew!

In other news, I've been doing the kids by myself of late. Hubby is traveling. Boo. Let me tell you, there's a big difference in "I'm practically doing this by myself" some days and "I really AM doing this by myself." BIG! I thanked my 7 year old for helping out last night and told her she was my little adult. She replied "I like being called an adult, it's just the work I don't like."

Amen sister friend.

(And before you think I subjected her to child labor - her work amounted to finding her own pajamas and occasionally tracking down a pacifier...)

And before I forget... to those of you for whom Friday still means something (so, not stay at home moms) TGIF tomorrow. It's finally taken on meaning again for me because McDonald's - yes, McDonald's - now offers free lattes in the morning, or McLattes as I call them. It's a size small, which is a tall, and tastes surprisingly good, especially since it's free! Give it a shot. You can always go to Starbucks later if you don't like it, but it's my new Friday tradition and I'm quite the coffee snob... er ... connoisseur.

New Review Up

Go check out my review of The Silver Compass at Enduring Romance. It's a fantastic book. ;) And I had an ARC, so it made reading it all the more fun!

In other news... Kristy Lee Cook's time was finally up. She seemed like a cool person, but it's a travesty that Michael Johns went first. A TRAVESTY! If I type it enough can I undo the past? I wonder.... at least Brooke was safe. Whew.