Scribbles by cani-jo

"Breakthrough" Novel

2012-02-16T08:45:00.002-08:00

I am so close to releasing Vampire-ish, it's going to be great!!

I know because of the vampire nature of the book and the over saturation of the Twilight movies, I will be releasing it as a POD and eBook coming in June, I hope.

The reason why so late -- I have entered it in to the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest. I entered this contest last year with my first Everstar novel and it made it to Semi's, which I thought was fantastic. Vampire-ish is such a quirk, fun, refreshing read - as long as it is in the contest I cannot release it. If it does well, you should be seeing it in your local B&N coming soon.

I'll keep you posted.

If anyone is interested in this contest, here is some information. It is a great opportunity to get out and share your stuff. The contest is free and presented by Createspace - independent publishing. Great alternative if you want full copyright and distribution on your books.

http://www.amazon.com/Breakthrough-Novel-Award-Books/b?ie=UTF8&node=332264011

Awesome Fuzzy Sock Muffs

2012-01-16T20:44:00.000-08:00

I got some awesome fuzzy socks for Christmas. They are so fuzzy it's like stepping in a bunny all around the house.

They had gone missing, but I found them this morning cleaning out my daughter's room, so I slipped them on my bare feet and felt the magic of the fluffiness.

So when I got on my bed tonight to do some rewriting I took them off to give my feet a break and breathe. I placed them next to me and had intentions of returning them to my feet in a moment.

This same daughter, after I had sent her to bed, came a visited me a number of times. I knew she was stalling, but secretly I think she had been eying my socks all day. The third time she visited I noticed she had snuck my socks and held them very covered in her hands.

Me: Mia? What are you doing?

Mia: Nothing. I just wanted a hug.

Me: Are you stealing my socks?

Mia: (Looking so coy, knowing she had been caught) I need them.

Me: Why?

Mia: I get cold.

It was a fair excuse, since she sleeps in the basement. So I sent her away with them if she promised to go to sleep and not get out of bed anymore. She didn't return.

I just went to check on her and found her asleep with my awesome fuzzy socks not on her feet, but dangling from her ears.

New Year's Contest-y Goodness

2011-12-29T18:30:00.001-08:00

I Need SNOW! I can't believe I said that, but I'm feelin' it. Remember this picture? It's from last MAY! BRING BACK WINTER!!!

I'm sick of being busy, and I thought I would do something fun... Like post a picture of tulips and... give away BOOKS, why not?

I'm dangerously close to finishing my revisions of two new books and a way to get it off my mind is to share what I have with you.

Starting Jan. 1st my book THE VIVATERA will be available for FREE download with AMAZON PRIME. This is in preparation for my SPRING release of THE CONJECTRIX - 2nd in the Everstar series.

Also, on my Goodreads blog I just posted a contest

http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/1908072-good-news-everyone

Follow the link and follow it's easy to win. I have a bunch of books I'm just staring at all day and I'm ready to part with them.

Good Luck!!!!

NaNoWriMo... Na -NO -Wri - NOT!

2011-11-29T22:12:00.000-08:00

Now with November is about over I think I can report on my progress with this year's NaNoWriMo writing adventure.

C o m p l e t e B u s t . . . . . . .

I completely failed. My idea went nowhere and I was completely distracted by life.

I recently completed my second novel in the Everstar Series and I was excitedly rewriting and going through it. I forgot how Fun these characters are... and not how much I hate them some times for being in my head so much. That made my mind drift away from Writing Month.

I also had many more opportunities to talk to young people about writing - that also was way more fun than staring at a WORD screen hoping for inspiration.

And one more thing - Vampire-ish is much closer to being finished. It is now in book form and I have it running through a critique group and am very excited to get that out for everyone. It is stinkin' funny!

... so I guess I can't call myself a failure. That fact is, I didn't try. Last year I tried and that is how I got my Vampire story out. This year it was a different story, but I will leave that for a different time. I still believe in it, but just not this November.

To all you other Wrimos... Hats Off to you! I hope you did well, because I ....ummm.... didn't...

Breaking Dawn Crap-tacular

2011-11-21T21:08:00.000-08:00

Thought I would give Breaking Dawn a BIG Pie-In-The-Face from me!! Here are some random pictures and thoughts of the Blockbuster.
Spoilers!! Sort of... I mean, how could I really spoil it, eh?
Midnight release with me, Janny, and Drea.
Our shirts read "Imprinting is for Babies."
I think I'm so stinkin' clever some times.

Barf is a funny word you know? But during all the lovey junk in the beginning... yes, I could've BARFED!!

And what was Stephenie Meyer doing at the Wedding? I thought that was TA-a-a-CKY!!! And they like, focused on her. I guess Joe Shmoe wouldn't know, but that is not who is seeing this film. Remind me NEVER to make a Cameo in my Book - Films. Ugh...

I couldn't stop laughing at the wolf talking bit. I was relieved the theater was so loud.

But there were parts that I thought were lovely, like when Edward had to chew his way through Bella's stomach. Now that's love.

I also thought Seth Clearwater was the best part of the whole show. Boo Boo, you rock!

I tried to count how many times Jacob ripped off his shirt. I lost count. It was, in fact, the opening scene.

I however, thought the Imprinting was lovely, which I thought was so so creepy in the book.

...and the Anticoagulant in the blood was not safe for anyone who is pregnant. No wonder she was a demon baby. I have a whole schpeel about that. Having worked in a Blood Bank for ten years ruins Vampire fiction a little.

This is Friday night with my friends, RayRay, Sare bear, Cyndi-loo, and Preggers.
These are the Isle Esme shirts with the Wrong Black Box on them. And of course I have the green shirt so we look like Christmas.

I had two different groups I promised to go with so I thought I would share both. I had a blast! I just can't take these movies too seriously. It was fun. I can't call me a mega fan, since I couldn't stand the last book, so going in with no expectations has something to be said about it. Will do it again with my TWI-HARDS friends next year I am sure.

Murray High School ROCKS!!

2011-11-20T14:35:00.000-08:00

This last Wednesday was so Super fun! I got to hang out at Murray High School and represent with other writers on a panel for their career day. I just wanted to send a loud S H O U T O U T!!!!! To Murray High Students and how absolutely AWESOME they are. I had a blast talking to them about the creative process. I hope to get the chance to come back and do some creative writing exercises.

Karl Beckstrand, Patricia Potts, and Me

It was fun to inspire so many. Each session was full. I gave away 12 books and talked with many young writers about their ideas and I hope that the guidance I could give was helpful. There is such a surge of creativity coming from these teenagers. I can't wait to see what becomes of them. I also placed a book in their Library if anyone is interested.

Bones, Muscle, and Skin

2011-10-31T21:57:00.000-07:00

NaNoWriMo... Here I go!!!

It's now November and I am participating in National Novel Writing Month again. This will be my third year doing it. The goal, as always, is to reach 50,000 words. And it is not about having a perfect product, it's about getting the story out of you.

If I could give advice, which I don't ever like to do, since if one thing works for one person does not guarantee it will work the same for another, but people who want to write many times get stuck on the little details and rewrite... and rewrite... Truth is you could rewrite forever and never feel satisfied. Many published books are publish simply because the author finished them.

As I see it, there are three stages in writing - Bones, Muscle, and Skin.

The Bones of a story comes out to a completed manuscript, but is never perfect. Bones are only the framework of what can be accomplished. If you are worried and missing details, I wouldn't. If they are in your head at one moment, they return, I promise.

The Muscle is the second rewrite - gives your work strength and a strong bond to characters, situations, and gives you better clarity and understanding of, not only the reality of the story, but also background, or what's to come.

And Finally the Skin. The skin of course it the beautiful package. It is where the story begins to live on its own. The Characters could make decisions and stand on their on without you; the world turns, the plants grow - you believe it and then others will believe it too.

You are giving birth in a sense, to this child and soon it will walk away from you. So don't stop writing, give your ideas a chance to live. NaNoWriMo is a great opportunity for that. Give that idea you have been kicking around some bones and see what happens.

Wish me luck!

If any of you are thinking about doing it, search for me - cani-jo and see how we do.

http://nanowrimo.org/

http://youtu.be/miBhmLA62O4

Death, Babies, and other Distractions...

2011-10-30T15:52:00.000-07:00

My new favorite things at the moment...

The last few weeks have been interesting. Here I am trying to finish my book... I mean literally moments from finishing and I have hardly had time to do so. Here are a few of my tiny distractions.

Grandma Leah passing away. You might think, well, she was old. But even though it was been nearly a week I really am still shocked that she is not here. She was the neatest lady and I always thought she would out live us all, but it came swift and sudden and now she is with her husband and twins again. God bless her...

Travel.... travel... back and forth... 90 miles this way and that... my g-ma had a stroke and we went to see her before she passed, and then came home, when she passed, there was another weekend spent 90 miles away in Logan. And with so much family around it was so fun, but completely distracting.

Babies!!! My sister-in-law is having a baby girl. Have two stinky boys finally pink. She never asks for anything, but having a girl is a big deal and she deserves some pink, so me and my book club threw her a SURPRISE shower disguised as Book Club. I planned it before G-ma died and had to leave right after for Logan, but it went Awesome and I'm so excited.

Halloween!!! AHH!!! Is it really tomorrow? I've had only 3 costumes to do - Candace Flynn (that's me), Mia is Junie B. Jones (and a dead ringer), and Jules is a girl Frankenstein (ala Monster Highish). Though the costumes are not hard, it took a lot of trips to Savers to get the right look.

MY Blasted Cold. I felt it coming earlier this week, but I had to sing at the funeral on Friday and willed it away, but come Saturday I succumbed and right now life stinks.

Work is crazy busy. Enough said. When I am rich and indeed FAMOUS, it would be nice to not have a grown-up job, but I do... :(

...and Vampire hunting - sometimes a girl needs some Count Chocula, you know? Any of the monster cereals are fantastic, but I have a ceremonial box of Count Chocula waiting for me when I finish. I can't wait for it.

But now that I have updated you all on my stinkin' life, I will go back to writing and finish this darn thing... thanks for letting me vent.... phew....

Mallow-creme Pumpkins ...nummm...

2011-10-25T19:51:00.000-07:00

Daddy: What are you eating?
Mia: A Mallow-creme pumpkin.
Daddy: Where did you find that?
Mia: Under the stove.
Daddy: Gross.. and you ate that?
Mia: It wasn't that far under the stove.

SLump

2011-10-09T08:18:00.001-07:00

No Chapter should ever take a month to write, but I finally finished 45. I can't say that will be the chapter that you read, since I plan on rearranging all the chapters, but when you get to it when reading the CONJECTRIX, I think you will all understand what I mean. It was all stuff I was building to but was sort of... avoiding.

...And Man!! It was SO hard to write. YIKES!! But now I am smooth sailing... I think. It's all down hill from now.

You may ask what exciting things I am doing instead of writing...

...Nothing...

But I promise, I will get out of this slump soon. I hope.

LUW Writer's Conference Revisited

2011-09-20T16:15:00.000-07:00

Here is my link to my Goodreads Blog:

Hope you like it!

http://http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/1571662-the-luw-annual-writer-s-conference-revisited

Repenting

2011-09-18T15:50:00.000-07:00

Today it is SUNDAY... And I have decided to repent...

I have been very relaxed on my blogging duty. This all comes down to me finishing my second novel in the Everstar series. So I know many of you will forgive me for that.

Other things that have slipped by the wayside...

I have absolutely no spoons or bowls that are clean - this is do to the huge amount of cereal that everyone has been consuming while I am NOT cooking.
I have no clean towels for the same reason.
It has now been a full month since my back lawn has been mowed. (This is not my fault entirely... I do have a husband)
and I'm sure my Bookclub think I am a flake, but really I want to read, but if I muddle up my world with someone's fantastic words it might look like plagiarism.

But things that helped finish my novel...

I got the cutest new bedspread that I constantly straighten so I can write in peace.
Nestle Magical Marshmallow Hot Cocoa - the marshmallows are colored... FUN!!
That I, at the moment, have no trainees at my full time job, I say at the moment, because we have 3 positions open, so it is just a matter of time.
York Peppermint patties and Mint 3 Musketeers... nummm
and the fantastic LUW Writers conference that helped fuel my desire to finish and confirmed to me that YES I am doing the right thing and I need to finish so I can get to the exciting world of rewrites.

And of course.. ALL OF YOU and all your support. My book is taking off. I have had 2 more people ask to review it and I couldn't be more excited.

I am only chapters away from completing, but endings and climaxes can be tricky, so wish me luck. My newest goal is 3 weeks. That is how much time I have before I get trainees and I need to be done before then I think.

I have the goal of April 1st for release as of right now. (No Joke!)

Here I go...

Going Mainstream

2011-08-08T21:50:00.000-07:00

The hip thing to do for books - YOU GOT TO GET A TRAILER!! With my book signing coming up, I got this together and here you go...

TaDa!!

New trailer created for the Vivatera.

Enjoy!!

Memoir to The Boy Who Lived

2011-08-01T08:04:00.000-07:00

...To Harry.....

I want you to go back in your memory... Christmas 1999... my husband and I were living in Logan Utah finishing up his Master's Degree. That year my Sister-In-Law Kris had my name for Christmas and got me this dinky Paperback book called Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

I thought that was so nice of her, but I really didn't look interested in it. It looked like a Juvenile book, like Junie B. Jones or Tale of the Fourth Grade Nothing. But she liked it so much and thought I would really like it, so I thought I would read it.

I was hooked by the first chapter - The Boy Who Lived. I was so intrigued. Now everyone in the entire world knows that Harry Potter is a wizard, but I had no idea at the time -1999 remember - what I was reading about - IT WAS GREAT!! It was surprising and I was so surprised but the whole thing. I was HOOKED and I read what I could, which at the time was only three books.

Ever since I have followed THE BOY WHO LIVED throughout the book releases and the Movie releases, parties... Midnight showings... and the time of my life - Harry Potter World in Islands of Adventure Universal in Orlando, Florida.

AND NOW.... what do I do?

First, I wanted to say THANK YOU to J.K. Rowling for creating such an intricately woven story that it inspired not only me, but so many others that have turned the YA Juvenile fiction genre into something for everyone.

Next, I wanted to say THANK YOU to Warner Bros. for doing the best series of movies I can imagine. I understand the world of script writing and movie making and I know they did the best they could. Books best of course... but Movies were downright FANTASTIC!

And Last, I wanted to say THANK YOU to all of you that have shared all my crazy Harry Potterness with me. I've done a lot of silly stuff with my love and have brought many of you into the Fan Fare... and it has been the best fun I have ever had.

I thought I might share some pictures of my craziness.

Thank you for Everything Harry! We'll miss you!!

Summoning the Dark Lord

Dark Marks

Half of our Group at the Midnight Show - Our Shirts Say
"The Last Enemy That Shall Be Destroyed Is Death"

Party Group at My Everything HP Party

Me and my Hubby at Hogwarts - Harry Potter World Nov. 2010

Becky, my best friend and I drinking REAL Butterbeer at HP World.
Our shirts say "Got Horcruxes?" with horcruxes as letters.

Creepy picture at Half Blood Prince Midnight Show.
I am showing off my missing pinky, like Wormtail.
I really do have a pinky - I just don't know what happened here.

Midnight party group for Half-blood Prince. Our shirt say
"Love Potions - Located at Weasley Wizard Weases 92 Diagon Ally London UK"
and on the back it has Wonder Witch Products Logo.

First in line for Deathly Hallows Book Release at the Gateway Barnes and Noble

Hermione, Luna, and Marietta the Sneak

Midnight Group for Order of the Phoenix. Our shirts say
"Weasley is our King"

Me, My SIL Kris, who first introduced the books to me, and my sis Becka. Our shirts read

"I Solemnly Swear I Am Up To No Good"

The Everstar Blog: a place to geek out with Naomi and Reynolds

2011-06-06T13:00:00.000-07:00

I have been asked if there is a place where you can review what is happening with my Everstar series...

And I am happy to announce that I have started a blog all about it!

http://secretsofeverstar.blogspot.com/

I think this will be fun. I can't wait to talk about the series and how it is progressing. It is filled with fan art, silliness, and updates, reviews, contact and events... all involved with the series.

This is also encouragement for me to finish what I have started. I knew once I set my book out in the real world that it would be read by real people, and from that day forth I would be making a commitment - to finish the story I started and to give people what they want.

So please visit and become a fan. I hope you like it and am excited as I am!!

Yippee!!

Division

2011-05-31T20:49:00.000-07:00

Mia: Mommy? Does Heavenly Father know everything? Even very, very, hard division?

Mom: Yes, he knows everything. He created it.

Mia: He created Division? Why would he do that?

Dead People aren't Magicians

2011-05-15T20:48:00.000-07:00

May has been a strange month - I've had a few funerals that I attended. Both I will post a link if you are curious about people that have had an effect on my life -

Matty~
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/deseretnews/obituary.aspx?n=matthew-foger&pid=150632316&fhid=4563

Grandpa "Hap"~
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/deseretnews/obituary.aspx?n=earl-holmstead&pid=150959590

...but enough about that, I wanted to tell you some funny things that come from kids trying to understand death.

Jules- my 4 yr old tough as nail princess - who we call Miss Bossy Pants, attended the viewing of Grandpa "Hap", my husband's grandfather.

I was delicate, because I wasn't sure she would handle it. When I took her to my own grandma's funeral, she was barely three and kept trying to wake her up.

Here are some conversations:

Dad: Does it look like he is sleeping.

Jules: (Matter of fact) No. It looks like he's dead.

She was very curious about the casket and said.

Jules: Are the pillows so he can sleep better?

Only half of the casket was open and she couldn't see his feet, this was a big concern to her.

Jules: Mom? His he a magician?

Me: A magician?

Jules: Yes, he looks like they cut him in half.

Me: (snicker) No honey, his legs are there.

Jules: Are they in the drawer?

Me: What drawer?

Jules moves to the handle on the front and tries to move it.

Me: Sweetie, that's not a drawer. That's so people can lift him up and carry him to the car.

Jules: But when it tips over we can see his legs. Then will he stand up?

Me: Honey, it's not going to tip over.

Jules: It might tip over if the drawer comes out.

At this point I gave up and just agreed with her.

The next day when we went to the family viewing before the funeral my husband took her back over there to see his body.

Dad: What do you think?

Jules: Nope, he's still dead.

Mia - my 7 yr old wanted nothing to do with it. She just said "Funerals are Boring," and complained the entire time. I happened to mention that my grandpa died when I was 7. I said, "Think about if he were your own Grandpa and if he died."

....Wrong thing to say. She burst into tears, but was good the rest of the time.

Bloggies and Sweeties!

2011-05-01T19:11:00.000-07:00

In this world of Blogging I have to say that anything is possible.

I was recently approached by a blogger on Goodreads if she could review my book. I was ecstatic! It is always a little nerve racking knowing someone is going to look at your work and judge you. YIKES! No one wants to be judged, but to do it on purpose just seems stupid.

I've been nervous about people reading my stuff, but that is what an author does. I think that anything that an author writes that is not polished is frankly embarrassing for others to see, since everyone expects the quality to be impeccable. But authors are human and sometimes my "they"s are "the"s and so on. I feel more comfortable knowing this is, at the very least, edited.

She just received my novel and posted it on your blog.

http://www.storiesandsweeties.com/

She will be posting a review within the next few months.

I will also soon be interviewed on a blog featuring local artists. This is run by a great friend Mike Frye, who is a columnist, photographer, blogger, and one of my biggest cheerleaders. He is helping me understand more of the world of Social Media and how to get my name out. Thank you Mike!

http://photocapm.com/

In celebration of these exciting moments I have discounted my ebooks to $4.99 from $8.99.

I'm tickled with these opportunities and grateful that this person as wanting to give my little novel a chance. :)

Mia Moments

2011-04-25T18:40:00.000-07:00

Just some memorable things that have happened lately:

Mia tends to talk in her sleep. The other night she sat up and yelled -

Mia: Daddy?

Daddy from the family room: Yes?

Mia: Did Peter Piper really pick a giant pack of pickled peppers?

Daddy laughing: Uh... Yes. Now go to bed.

Mia: Okay.

...............

I was about to leave my mother's house when Mia stopped and said...

Mia: Mom? How do you get gum out of your belly button?

Me: What? How did you get gum there?

Mia: I put it there.

Me: But why?

Mia: Because I didn't see a garbage.

Me: But you know where Grandma's garbage is. You could have come and thrown it away there.

Mia: I know and I wanted to, but I forgot about it and then it got really sticky so I tried to get it out by myself, but then it got smeared on my belly and on my shirt, so then I tried to hide it from you because I didn't want to get in trouble. But now... I need help.

(just a little hint, gum doesn't come out of belly buttons.)

........

Mia kept talking to us when she should have been going to sleep.

Me: Mia. I don't want to hear anything else from you. You eed to close your mouth and go to sleep.

Mia: Mommy? Just one more question.

Me: sigh... What?

Mia: Did you get the end of the story I told you?

Me: (Look confused) What story?

Mia: (Grumble) You mean you don't remember? Well let me tell you. There once lived three bears. One was born in a candy store and all he could say was Goody goody gumdrops...

(On she went for five minutes telling a silly joke that know she has never told me before.... WORLDS BIGGEST STALL)

My first "FIRST PLACE"

2011-03-26T17:42:00.000-07:00

I won!! I actually got a place in something. For a while now I have received some high Honorable Mentions on my stories, but this one was First Place in the Children's/Teen category at the Oquirrh Chapter in the League of Utah Writers. I was actually shocked.

Here is an idea of the night.

I have been sick for the past few days and I didn't want to go at all. My husband was out of town and my awesome family were gathered to watch the BYU game, which sounded more fun than attending this meeting. But a few weeks before I had receive an email from the committee chair stating I had won and to be in attendance that night. So I braved the night and went.

I was one of the last, if no the last to come in, so I had to sit near the back. They talked about a bunch of things before and we introduced ourselves and what we write. Then they moved to the awards.

The chairperson - a woman name Natty Dye - who is so adorable I would love to be her new best friend - introduced herself and mentioned about the emails and was grateful for the turnout, but she did mention that the email stated - YOU MAY HAVE WON - not that you HAVE won. At that thought I got nervous...

There were a few different categories and the first one was First Chapter contest. That was the one I entered, so I listened for my name... third place, nope - second place, nope - first place, ....nope... She didn't read my name.

So here I am - sick as a dog, feeling like an idiot for coming and realizing I had not won, and felt tricked.

But I didn't have the courage to leave, so I sat there listening to the winners read or tell about their stories and how awesome and more wonderful they are than mine.

When she got to the last category - CHILDREN'S - she read through third and second place and I honestly was trying to be interested, but I was more interested in the clock and how soon I could go home and go to bed.

Then she read "First Place... Prodigal - Candace Thomas".

What??? I stood a little shocked. I wasn't prepared at all. What I had submitted was my first chapter of my sequel novel to the Young Adult Fiction the Vivatera called the Conjectrix, but I wanted to spare the committee the explanation of the title, so I called it Prodigal after the Chapter name.

I hadn't prepared to read it either. I had lost my voice and then had to think on the fly of what I could tell them about it without horrendous detail. I think I did okay, but I got nervous and my words rambled around. I felt like an idiot, and all these people thought I was a rambling idiot too.

But it's too bad. The chapter is very good and I may post it here later when I have more time.

Thought I would share... Yeah me!!

P.S. I checked at home in my emails and mine did say You Won, so I feel better about that.

Update from last post -

2011-03-12T21:26:00.000-08:00

Just to update you on one of the contests -

I did get notified that I won something for my LUW chapter contest. It will be on the 24th of March and I guess they want me there.

I'm excited to see the super certificate. Last contest the certificate was just printed on white paper with no graphics of any kind. Let's hope they step it up a little this time.

I'm just crossing my fingers that I get that $5 back. :)

The HONOR of being JUDGED

2011-03-07T16:43:00.001-08:00

Contests... more contests.... always contests....

I love the idea of contests, but when it is your writing that is being judged, it's tricky. It is both a blessing and a curse. In certain contests it the honor of being judged that is the reward - like last year when I entered a writing contest and had to pay $15 per entry just to find out that the first place winner gets a certificate and $10. If you look at it right, I'd be ten dollars in the whole, just to win. But that is how literary contests work. "Here, let me judge you for a fee and I will tell you your the winner, and you can blog it and everyone will think you are fantastic!" Doesn't that sound like a great idea? Hmmm.... I am going to have to think about that .... (devious plotting...)

Here's the contest I am most excited about and it didn't cost me a thing:

The Amazon Breakthrough Novel Writing Contest.
http://www.amazon.com/b?node=332264011

A friend of mine, who loves my novel, told me about this in January and I looked into it. I submitted my novel around the beginning of February.

A little bit about the contest - in my own words -

A whole ton of people enter, very few win. They take 5,000 entries in Young Adult and Adult and narrow it to 1,000 per genre. And they based this not on your novel, but on your plot and PITCH in less than 500 words.
500? Wow! So many? No problem, right? Wrong! I struggled with this more than my wedding vows. My story is so complex that I eventually had to tell the story inside out - start from the back and work frontwards. Do you think JK Rowling had to do the same thing? If everyone knew that Harry dies at the end would anyone read it? - Sorry if you didn't know, but the book has been out for a while. :)
I got the news on Feb. 23rd that I made it to the next round. From this round they pick 250 novels total based on your previous stuff plus your first chapter.
Then they narrow it down further by throwing darts at your manuscript and then they run it through a series of tests - like how absorbent it is and which one makes the best stabilizer for a wobbly chair.

Other Contest entered:

I also entered my local League of Utah Writing Chapter's Annual Writing Contest. For this contest I submitted my newest chapter for my new novel - The Conjectrix.
I entered some stupid poetry I wrote to the American Fork Council's Write In Depth Literary Collection. Yeah... we'll see if THAT goes anywhere. think I have to buy the bok to see if I won.
I am also working on some writing for the LUW Round-up that will be in Logan this September. Doesn't that seem far away, but submission deadline is in June. And really, the more you write the better you write, and right now, I really feel like I need it.

Wish me luck! .....or not....

Valentine's Day Declassified

2011-02-15T21:23:00.000-08:00

I have always hated Valentine's day. I don't like the logic behind it. It seems like another holiday to make you feel bad that you are not as appreciated as you think you are. But it is irrelevant - you are appreciated everyday. Why would one day change that?

I told Kevin when we got married, that all I wanted was a homemade card. Boy, if you think he got it easy... you would be right. That to me is much better than flowers or candy. Kevin is not the lovey type - neither am I, which is perfect, but he tends to get a little creative and I never know what to expect.

Last year I posted his V-day card. The awesome Doomsday Squad igniting the atmosphere - yes, that was the one.

This year is pretty good. Let me start with my card...

Kevin and I have really gotten into the British show TOP GEAR on BBC America. If you don't know it - SHAMELESS PLUG... YOU MUST WATCH THIS SHOW!! IT IS THE FUNNIEST SHOW I HAVE EVER SEEN. Okay, so if you do know Top Gear you will know that they are looking for a new STIG. The Stig is their test track driver with a secret identity.

I thought I was clever.

Here is Kevin's. He got the idea from RED - ANOTHER SHAMELESS PLUG... LOVE THAT SHOW. Bruce Willis's character's FBI file looked much like this. I thought it was hilarious. Now that is love...

Here is a close-up...

I guess that's what I get for marrying a mad scientist.

Thinking... is a BAD idea

2011-01-07T19:57:00.000-08:00

Mia: I have a joke to tell you...

Me: Mia, do you have your hands in your pants?

Mia: Yes... but I have something to tell you.

Me: Well, get your hands out of your pants, it's gross.

Mia: But it helps me think, Mom.

Me: Well you can try to think with your hands in your back pockets instead.

Mia: Mom, it doesn't work. Look, (Hands in pockets) I'm not thinking.

Me: I'm sorry. I don't want you doing that anymore.

Mia: But how am I going to think?

Me: Well, you will just have to think of some other way to think.

Daddy for the other room: How about you stick your hands in your pants and think of another way to think.

Tis the Season...

2010-12-23T18:27:00.000-08:00

to share some things I didn't expect to hear or say this Christmas season.

****

Me: Mia, don't spit on the Temple Grounds.

Mia: But when I see a dry place I just need to get it wet.

****

Mia: But I really want a Rapunzel Tower for Christmas.

Me: But it is so expensive.

Mia: But I asked Santa to make it and Santa will get it for me.

Me: Well, let me explain something about Santa. Santa has to have a job too. He can't just give stuff away all the time. He has to make money too and I can't afford for Santa to get that for you.

****

Me: Julia! It's time to get up.

Julia: No mom. It's time to get down.

****

Mia: Mom, if we go somewhere for Christmas, does Santa still come to our house?

Mom: No. If he knows where you are sleeping, I'm sure he will know where to take the presents.

Mia: Oh Mom, you are always thinking aren't you.

Mom: I guess so. That's what a brain does. It thinks.

Mia: But not if you have a brain transplant.

Mom: Well, yes, I guess you might stop thinking if you consider having one of those.

Hard Hat Area... Extreme Caution!!

2010-12-14T10:11:00.000-08:00

My Blog is Currently Under Construction -

but won't it be just

FABULOUS?

I'll have something new very soon...

Like how my daughter wanted to play HOME ALONE and boobie trapped my entire house...

ah yah... didn't go over too well...

Christmas Crackers...

2010-11-28T13:41:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone! Thought I might share a few things to start off the season right...

The other night my husband and I were having a gentle discussion about finances and Christmas spending. We were both trying to reason with each other. I can't say it was an argument when my 7 yr. old Mia turns to us and says:

Mia: You guys need to stop fighting. I don't like Step-mothers.

********

Mia was being particularly "Full of It" and with Christmas coming, it's always nice to get out the threats of Santa Claus's naughty list.

Me: Do you need me to call Santa and tell him all about you hitting your sister.

Mia: Mom, you can't call Santa. He's long distance. You don't even know the number.

Mom: Yes, but I'm sure he has a Facebook page and can look up and see all the things I posted that were about you being naughty.

Mia: Well, you will just have to de-friend him.

***********

We set up the Christmas tree on Saturday along with all other Christmasy decorations. The best thing though so far is the Fisher Price Little People Nativity Set. BEST THING EVER INVENTED! I can let them play and never have to worry about it getting broken. The girls were so excited to get it out and start playing.

We have lots of other Little People Play Sets and Julia grabbed some of the others and Kevin began teasing the girls telling them the story of Baby Jesus - how Joseph drove a tracker to Bethlehem and the dinosaurs were in the stable and the three kings came riding on an elephant, a unicorn, and a tiger bringing presents of a basket of fruit, a stroller, and a pet giraffe.

Julia thought it was hilarious, but Mia took it very seriously:

Mia: Daddy, why would you tease us about Jesus? He wouldn't want a stroller for Christmas.

Daddy: What would he want then?

Mia: I don't know... Scriptures?

Happy Christmas!!

Honey Hot Dogs

2010-11-09T19:54:00.001-08:00

I went to Costco yesterday to stock up some seriously needed supplies. I mean, where else can you buy one package of TP that consists of 80 rolls? I had my wonderful 3 yr old with me, who kept putting stuff in the cart that I immediately had to return.

Well, while I was there she saw Hot Dogs. This girl can down hot dogs. She likes them cold, right out of the fridge. I found super cheap packages for a buck the other day and bought a couple which she ate all of them. One night she kept getting up and sneaking them to bed. So I know if you were me you are thinking the same thing. I looked at this package of hot dogs - 2 packages of 42 hot dogs. 84!! PERFECT!! She'd down that in a couple weeks right? So I splurged on the mega massive package of ground up pork parts that I know I or my husband will never eat.

I gave her one last night and didn't think much about it. This morning when I was getting her breakfast I noticed it on the counter with two bites out of it. So I just trashed it.

Tonight I tried the same thing. This was our conversation.

Jules: Mom, it's too hot!

Me: I just got it out of the fridge, it's not too hot. It's totally cold.

Jules: Mom, it has honey in it.

Me: No it doesn't.

Jules: Yes it does Mom. I don't like Honey in my Hot dogs.

Me: It's not a honey hot dog.

Jules: Yes...It... is!!

Me: If you are trying to pull a fast one on me- forget it. I invented that.

Jules: I'm not pulling anything! I'm not fast Mom. I'm slow! I like the REAL hot dogs not honey hot dogs. Humphf...

Me: Would you like to show me the REAL hot dogs?

Jules: No. But could I have some grapes... Please.....

Needless to say, now I have 82 Hot Dogs in my freezer waiting for summer to come... BBQ at my house in 8 months... Whoo Hoo!!

...ah that girl...

Nod to NaNoWriMo!

2010-11-01T10:36:00.000-07:00

Well here we are in November! I still have green leaves on my trees and my roses are still blooming, but other than that I'm liking it so far. Autumn is my favorite time of year, and even though I love warm, I feel the need to crush some leaves. I MUST CRUNCH!!!

But with November comes NaNoWriMo! That is right! National Novel Writing Month. I signed up for it last year and didn't finish, but it started my vampire novel, which is now in the second draft stage. So I decided to again attempt it. This year I will be working on my second in the Everstar series. I so far have called it THE CONJECTRIX, but when all is said and done who knows what it will be called.

The point is of course, to complete a novel, or a first draft of a novel, that can be polish over the following months. Any one that has written a novel knows that it is never the first draft that gets sold. The point is to get the story down in writing. My goal will not be to complete it. Heavens... my first draft of Vivatera was 144,000 words. So my goal is 50, 000 - that is around 250 pages, which to be honest, will take me half way.

So this is my encouragement to you - I am a mother of two very active girls, I work full time, I have my daughter's 7th birthday party, I have my trip to Florida to see Harry Potter, I have my trip to Logan for Thanksgiving, and I teach in church. What am I doing writing a novel?

....I don't know.... but I'm excited to start!

WISH ME LUCK!!!!

An Inspirational Writing Speed Bump

2010-10-23T21:57:00.000-07:00

Ever since my book became public a lot of people ask me how my writing is going, specifically how my 2nd book of my continuing series is coming. I think it is only fair to tell you -It's not... well not yet.

I did something stupid and ruined my story. Let me explain. I am stuck in the middle of a story. I once took some advice suggesting to have a side project when you are writing so you can redirect your thoughts and have better clarity of your vision when you return. Well, this side project started becoming my main project. I am talking about THE SULFA REACTION - my hypochondriac vampire story, a satirical look at vampire fiction.

In the creation of story I always have a rough idea of where I'm going, but I never know how to get there. But I really felt the pressure of finishing this project mostly to move on to what I felt more motivated to write. I thought of just quitting Sulfa and coming back to it later, but I am only a few chapters away from finishing - how could I stop? I wrote up a timeline - a good idea for any writing project - I was heading toward the finish line at a nice Sunday drive pace when I hit some inspiration speed bump within a chapter and in a few sentences ruined my timeline.

This is what I call - a Happy Accident - one of those inspirational moments when your characters take over and you just need to be there as the hands that tell what they need to say. This happened all the time in Vivatera: Zander for example was not in my original story and now I can't imagine it without him. So when I made this decision in Sulfa, I knew that this was going to ruin everything that I had an idea for, but only to make it better. So I had to reformulate my ending and am nearing the wrap-up, but it has taken the wind out of me and taken some time to regroup.

So in short, during these writing months, before girls camp season starts (as I call it), I expect to be done with Sulfa by the end of October, devote November (National Write a Novel Month) to my second Everstar novel and see where it leads from there.

You know, I just thought about something. A lot of people aspire to write A book, as in one book like the great J.D. Salinger. But once you write a book, you write multiple books, never just one. Writing multiple books seems like a lot of words and completely overwhelming, but completely realistic, and once you write A book who could never think about not writing another.

But one thing you should consider - living in a world that you created sometimes is a better and happier experience than the one you are actually in. I tell myself that every day when I look in my laundry room. That is my inspiration to finish.

Bagpipes are Beautiful!

2010-10-03T16:08:00.001-07:00

I got a treat while visiting my In-Law's in beautiful North Logan Utah. Kevin's sister had the previlige of spending 2 years of her life in Scotland and while there she met a family - The Cruickshank's - now come on, can you think of a better Scottish name?

They were so delightful. When I first met them I really had to turn up my hearing. It was English they were speaking, but it was so low and grumbly it took me a minute to catch on. And we got a private bagpipe concert. Can you believe that they take them everywhere. I was super impressed.

Here are some things I learns about Scots -

My Mother-in-law's house is HUGE! They couldn't get over how big and wonderful it is.
When in Utah, Scots put ice in their Bagpipes. You heard it right. Ruaridh (Pronounced Rory) brought them with him and the dry air here will actually make the pipes shrink.
When listening to the bagpipes - cover your ears. Ruaridh played for us and they are LOUD!!! But the droning can be muffled out when you cover your ears. Not that it's awful or anything.
When about to play the bagpipes don't tell your neighbors what is about to happen. It's best to have all the heads out the windows and doors wondering what in the world the Thomases are doing now?
Every Scot has a connection to Rob Roy or Harry Potter. Dave Cruickshank was in the movie Rob Roy and you can see him for about 5 seconds. JK Rowling lived not far from there home in Scotland when writing her books and they claim she took their last name for Hermione's cat - Crookshanks.
Scots like Muse. So do I.
Scots - well, the Cruickshank's were not so familiar with horses. It was rather funny watching Gary ride that horse.
The Cruickshank's couldn't get enough of the blue sky.

It was a pleasant experience and I can't wait to become better acquainted.

Here is a picture of the lovely family -

Ruaridh, Bridgett - Dave's mother, Cheryl, Dave, and Lisa...

And here's Gary on the horse. Gittee Up!!

Smiles and Phuggles

2010-09-27T22:40:00.000-07:00

Here are some conversations I have had with my Mia lately...

.....................................................

I was downstairs helping Mia clean her room and I started hucking stuffed animals on her bed and Mia starts yelling at me...

Mia: Whoa whoa whoa Mom. What are you doing?

Me: Your animals all need to go on your bed so we can sort them.

Mia: but don't throw them Mom.

Mom: Why not?

Mia: We don't throw things with smiles.

Me: With smiles?

Mia: Yes, don't throw anything with a smile.

Me: Why not?

Mia: Just don't. Because it might make them sad and it would make me sad if they lose their smiles and get frowny.

Me: Okay, sorry, I won't throw anything with smiles.

................................................................

Mia bought a new penguin - I know... another one! She was trying to come up with a name for it and she likes to name penguins with a "P" so I tried to help.

Me: Penelope, Putrences, Petunia...

Mia: Mom, those are dumb. How about Parker?

Me: Now that's a dumb name. Does it have to start with a P?

Mia: I like the P names Mom. How about Peeper?

Me: Fine. (I looked at the penguin again, with his big, enormous eyes and fat head) How about naming him Fugly.

Mia: Mom, that doesn't start with a P.

Me: It does if you spell it with a PH.

Mia: Mom, you're a genius. But let's name him Phuggles, cause Fugly is dumb.

Me: Phuggles it is.

Writing Rodeo Round-up

2010-09-19T22:15:00.000-07:00

I attend the League of Utah Writer Annual Conference Round-up yesterday and I have to tell you - I was nervous, but I had a great time. If you can imagine the scene... Me, alone, in a room with tons of tables, a lot of talking with friends, and I have to go sit somewhere there amongst the talking/writing elite. Yeah, my stomach was already a wreck from nerves and lack of sleep. But to give a good idea of things that went on I'll share what I learned.

I learned a few things:

I am just as nerdy as all these other geeks that live in their head too much.

I met some wonderful writers whom I am actually very excited to read more from, even though I have NEVER read any women's fiction. It feels good to have writers read your stuff, because they have love for you at all and form no biased opinions. :)

A few posts ago I talked about attending a letter query writing class and some guy chatting with me like he was the coolest guy there like he knew his stuff? Well, I ate lunch with him and attended his class, and actually found out that he did know his stuff, and did know what he was talking about. Who knew?

There are also some very strange people and some very normal people who write. I felt like one of the young ones and I attracted attention; maybe because of my long blonde hair or maybe for being one of the saner ones.

I didn't feel so stupid for being an Indie Writer. People thought I was so cool for having my book on Amazon.

And I schmoozed with some people:

There was an editor from Covenant you seemed really interested in my work - too bad Covenant doesn't publish Fantasy or Vampire Satire.

A met some cool published authors, that I've never read, but might now that I have met them.

James Dashner, though still nerdy, is actually a lot funnier and cooler than my original impression at the Writer's Workshop last year.

And most exciting news:

I met with an agent who thought my stuff sounded fun and interesting and asked me to send it to her in New York. She might have thought I was some spastic cow talking my nervous head off about nothing, but she seemed amused. She seems really fun and everyone cross your fingers about this. I made myself so sick all day over this...

and... DRUMROLL.......

I got an Honorable Mention for my Everstar Manuscript in the age 14-17 category - which is out of the entire state and nearly 100 entries. Basically you are looking at the FIFTH PLACE WINNER!!! with no money prize... YIPPEE!!!!

It was a great experience. I'm more excited than even to start writing again.

BIG 100!!!!!

2010-09-01T20:27:00.001-07:00

I made it!! My 100th Blog!! In celebration I wanted to smack you all in the Face with this ENORMOUS PIE this lady - let's name her Luetta - is holding. I love this picture.
I hope I'm related to her somewhere...

I haven't blogged in a while, not because I lack interesting things to say, but I lack time.
I have many time wasters.

Here are some stupid things I've done lately:

I got Braces. My good friend Dave McDonough (Shameless plug) is an Orthodontist and talked me into a fabulous smile. He screwed a screw in the top of my mouth to hide all the good stuff going on inside. It's a pretty tricky trick, and creeps people out, but no one knows my secret...
I wrote a book - but that's old news. The publishing of it has kind of taken my out of the water for the moment. And I swear... everyday I feel like I want to change it again... but the whole reason I did it was so I didn't have to think about it again, but everyone that has read it wants to know when book 2 is coming. Well, I'm on chapter 7 there, so.... take a guess.
I also have my Book Release Party coming up. You have to read my book to come, because there might be spoilers... and Q&A about all things Naomi. Should be fun. And CRAZY!!
I had a mountain - NO JOKE - of laundry to do, and that had to be done. Now I have over two hundred pairs of socks in a basket in my living room. I'm very proud.
I'm trying to finish my other book before September 18th. The reason- I'm meeting with an agent, who looks pretty cool. My Vivatera, being complete could be nice, or stupid, and I don't know which yet, but my vampire novel is a clincher!! If I have that done, just even my rough draft, I think I could talk her into that.
Girls camp... Phew... over... and still running out of breath..
... the biggest time consumer of all - MOCKINGJAY!! MOCKINGJAY!! MOCKINGJAY!! I had to read the Hunger Games Series again, and Mockingjay, I felt was a very well rounded, besides totally tripping me out read. I was sucked in immediately, like the others, and it tricked me, like the others, and killed so many people that I never got attached to them. This is all with revealing anything. But I FINALLY understand WHY it's called PANEM... that Suzanne Collins is so stinkin' clever.

With everything in my life taking off, it's hard to stay focused, but all is well here and I will hear from you all soon, I'm sure.

The Divide

2010-07-12T08:28:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun up at the Divide I thought I would share some pictures that I really liked.

My nixie-pixie Jules...

The Treasure Cove...

This is what I get for telling Mia the purpose of camping is to get muddy and wet.

Yes... Muddy and Wet...

The Big Bonfire. We started a huge fire to burn lots of the left-over trailer and turns of stock-piled wood. I figured out where Kevin got his Pyro-gene from... hmmm......

Two troublemakers...
Three trouble makers

Our Unicorn...

Julia named her Wenna...

My Jules ahead of the pack...

Potty Juice

2010-06-29T21:40:00.000-07:00

A brief conversation with my 3 yr old-

(I walked into the bathroom to find pee spots all over the seat and the toilet not flushed.)

Me: Jules, come here. This is so disgusting. You need to flush.

Jules: I didn't go potty mama.

Me: Mia's not here and I know Daddy didn't do this.

Jules: I DID-ENT GO POT-TY.

Me: Then what is all this?

Jules: Juice.

Me: Juice? What juice?

(I looked to see she had a cup in her hand.)

Me: Did you drink my Pineapple Crush?

Jules: I was just borrowing it. And it was in here and I wanted it in my cup so I dumped it in the toilet.

Me: You dumped my drink in the toilet?

Jules: I got it from my room and I scooped it out of the potty.

Me: Oh Jules... that's so gross... Don't drink that or I may never kiss you again.

Wardrobe Malfunction

2010-06-26T19:48:00.000-07:00

Mia had Acting Camp this week where she was in Peter Pan. It basically is a crash course on a kids play with a performance on Friday night. So what really did you expect - BROADWAY? The problem with having you kid in a kid's play is actually having to watch a kid's play.

Mia was very funny and knew the lines better than some of the other kids. In one part she had to tell someone their line. That's my smarty-pants girl alright?

But the best part was Mia's Wardrobe Malfunction. She was a polar bear lost kid and always had to move the hat to stay on.

I captured it for you all.

Good Parenting...

2010-06-07T07:32:00.000-07:00

Thought I would share with you my musical family and how AWESOME parenting can be...

Query Worry

2010-05-22T14:50:00.000-07:00

On Thursday I went to my League of Utah Writers Chapter meeting. I was very excited to learn all I could about Query letter writing since I absolutely SUCK at them. I get trapped with knowing too much about the story and tend to ramble a bit... like I am doing now.

I was nervous. I had only been to one other meeting and that was in December. I didn't know anyone, so I sat on the back row- dead middle, comfortable enough for me and still an able seat to participate; far enough from the creepy, homeless writer in the front corner and not near the LOST IN THEIR OWN FANTASY crowd in the center. I felt safe in the back, where I feel free enough to do my own thing if it gets boring... much like church.

Not 5 minutes after the meeting started some stragglers filled in the back seats, one sitting one chair away from me. A little later I heard noises in the hallway and leaned my head to look, only to see this guy staring at me - like eye to eye contact and he didn't flinch away, like I do most of the time when someone catches me looking a them. What do you do? I just smiles and whispered a "Hi," and went back to listening. But the rest of the time I felt awkward, like this stranger was eying me. But if you looked over the crowd, pickings were slim on a pretty face, not saying too much about myself, but everyone else in the room. I was one of the youngest, and as far as I could tell, the only blond.

During the course of this presentation, this guy would make comments like the "No-It-All" in the class. I found it rather irritating.

Finally we get to a time in the class to share our query letters within groups. I knew before he did it that this guy was going to skooch next to me and ask, "So, do you have a letter you wanted to share?"

After the presenter was done I knew what I needed to do with my letter, so I said, "You know, I do, but I don't think I want to share it anymore." So I found a few people that did have a letter to share and he followed me to that group.

After hearing some of these queries I noticed that this guy I guess, was someone of "Importance" in my chapter. I guess he had published stuff, but I didn't know who he was. He "Allowed" others to comment before he went into his deep philosophy about the letter style. My job, I felt, was to go back and reassure the writer that their stuff isn't bad, but it needs shape- that I liked the style of writing, but just lost the point of it. I think it is so easy to pick out what others need to do - but you can't see it for yourself. This guy agreed with my every point.

Anyway, when we were all done and everyone was packing up to leave, this guy was still sitting by me. So... BRAVE ME... I turned over to him and said as nice as I could, "Am I supposed to know who you are?"

He introduced himself, but funny thing, I don't remember his name, David something... which is a shame since I would love to look at his stuff - and told me his pen name also... which sadly I can't remember either. He stated after that, "You know, I could still help you with your query?"

"No, I think I got it," and I walked out the door.

So here is the question: "Where should I sit next time? Should I chance it with the homeless weirdo or the Fantasy Pack?" I think I will sit on the left side by the HOPELESS ROMANCE WRITING HOUSEWIVES, don't you think?

Updates

2010-05-16T13:55:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures to update people about us... thought they are nothing special, I think they are fun.

Here is Mia and her friend Deryck at the Kindergarten Fieldtrip to Discovery Gateway.

Mia and her friends: Kim, Deryck, Craig, and Althea.

Mia loves - LOVES penguins. We made it over to the Aquarium when they opened the penguin exhibit and Mia went straight to the "Penguin Experts" and told them all she knew about penguins, and charmed the pants right off them.

More of the Penguins.

This might be sisterly love... but I doubt it. You decided.

Cookie Recession

2010-05-04T21:30:00.000-07:00

Consumers beware... I have a major complaint about these so called "Mint Oreo Fudge Cremes."

Here's the complaint:

I was in our grocery store the other day and saw this beautiful box with Oreo cookies being drizzled with chocolate and the word MINT on the top. YUM!! Three of my favorite things. I have lately been an Oreo fan, since they started smothering them with chocolate. I remember a brief period in my life where I played checkers with Oreos, just like the commercial suggested to do and didn't want to touch them for a while, but smothered - especially minty smothered yumminess brought me back to heaven.

I remarked to my daughter in my compulsive nature. "Oh look, they brought back the covered Oreos. It doesn't get much better than smothered Oreos." She quickly said, "Yes it does." She doesn't like chocolate if anyone in the world didn't know.

I couldn't even wait for the ride home to have one of these - I opened them in the car.

And I immediately thought - "Oreo must be being hit by this Recession." The cookies were have the size of what they should be. They twisted off half of the cookie with the cream and dipped it. No sandwich. It can't be called an OREO if it's not a sandwich. I believe it was the Greek Gods that actually created the sandwich - and called it an "OREO" it was the Earl of Sandwich that made it popular. If I have my history right.

It was also very devious of the Oreo people to make the box so big, if you have half the cookie you expect and still only get sixteen cookies!!

To be fair - it does show a picture of an open-face cookie getting gooed by chocolate and in very thin, small, curvy letters reads: "A Crispy Chocolate Cookie Topped with Unmistakable Oreo Mint Creme, Covered in Fudge." This is all Oreo Lawyer covers for RIP OFF!!

I don't like that they used the word "Unmistakable" but it clearly was "Mistakable."

But I did eat all the cookies and dip them with milk and enjoyed the flavor and I might buy them again if they go on sale...

FIE YOU OREO GODS FOR MAKING YOUR COOKIES SO DARN GOOD!

Comandments?

2010-04-28T21:07:00.000-07:00

Mia: Mom, I really like Jesus, but does he have to have so many commandments?

Get Thee Hence!

2010-04-18T14:56:00.000-07:00

Mia leaned over to me today in church...

Mia: Mom, Jesus said, "Get Thee Hence..."

Mom: Yes, and what did that mean?

Mia: It means "Get the Heck out of here!"

Stupid Gravity!

2010-04-12T18:42:00.000-07:00

Julia just spilled a raspberry shake on my new carpet. I kinda got mad... and Mia came to her defense.

Mia: It's wasn't her fault Mom, it was gravity. Gravity is to blame. She was just walking down the stairs when gravity pulled the shake right on the ground. Stupid gravity always making a mess of things.

New Carpet

2010-04-12T09:07:00.000-07:00

It's in and AWESOME!!!

Everyone is invited over for a CARPET PARTY!!!

Becka asked me post some pictures. I really don't think it wil excited anyone but Becka, but I think it's stinkin' cool!!!

My downstairs. You can see Kevin already moved in his guitar and amp.

The hallway to Mia's Pink room. ooooooohhhhhh!!!

My family room. The hole at the end of the room is where the built-in media shelves are going.

If cat's could swear just guess what my cat just said...

While I was taking pictures the girls where playing orphanage. What does that tell you about my parenting.

Easter Traditions

2010-04-04T08:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had my family over and got to thinking about some of our family traditions...

Our Easter Toast
I remember the conversation that led to this tradition. Every year my mother would buy Marshmellow peeps and I couldn't tell you why. I think Marshmellow Peeps are the nastiest idea of candy ever invented - this coming from a girl who loves sugar. I remember questioning who was going to eat them. I hope I'm not wrong in this, but I think it was my brother Nathan who said "Let's have a toast. To Easter!" So we all toasted with him, bit off the heads of out Marshmellow Peep and threw the rest behind us. Hence, the beginning of our Peeps Toast.

The Easter Ninja
My sister Becka always insisted that we color eggs though none of us ever wanted to. But we would start and have a lot of fun. One year when I was a teenager we got so in to coloring that we colored the ones that weren't boiled also. Now we had a problem - which ones were which? There really wasn't a way to tell so what were we going to do with them. That's when we decided to throw them at my brother Josh, who was very nimble and quick and said he would be the Easter Ninja. He also had my brother Adam's kitana sword and would swing at the flying eggs.

We have a little song about the Easter Ninja:

I'm the Easter Ninja
I've come to steal your Eggs.
I'm the Easter Ninja
I'm popular at kegs.

When I was a kid this song was hilarious...

Deadline approaching.....

2010-03-29T08:34:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been very busy, but I thought some of you might like to know where I came with my goal of finishing rewriting my book by the end of March.

Last week, Kris had her baby on the 22nd... even though my goal was the 31st, I was excited to hear it- and little baby Britta looks so cute.
I'm Stake Camp Director also, and we had our Camp Kick-off this week- other headache, but everything went so well. Phew.....
And I've been scrabbling to finish my basement for the carpet installer that came on Saturday- that was another distraction.

But I'm happy to report...

Well..... I DID IT!!!

I'm Finished... all but the spell checking, some grammatical errors fixes and unfortunately so of the characters names are going to change, but what do you guys know, since many of you have never read it. I thought I might share with you some information and a brief plot to get you all excited.

Title: The Vivatera (or Life Stone)
Genre: Young Adult- Teen Fantasy
Pages: 510
Word Count: 129,020

Plot: NAOMI EVERSTAR would like to be ordinary, though she knows deep down she is different. Her world is very isolated. She has no family and spent the tender years growing up in seclusion with an old gypsy woman, MALINDRA, who took Naomi on as her own before her ill-fated murder when Naomi was only eleven. Now seventeen she lives with a widower FERREL BUCKLINGDOWN and his son ZANDER, whom she protects from his abusive father on a farm in the small insignificant town of Sharlot.

There are differences about Naomi that she never considers: her luck, her balance, her understanding of animals, her love of trees, and most peculiar, her ability to heal herself and others.

But there is a secret about her. Ever since Naomi can remember she has hidden her secret - a mark on the nape of her neck like a burn or brand, shaped like a star that shimmers when it's touched. Malindra told her it was sacred and to cover it at all times, but she never got the chance to tell Naomi its true meaning. Naomi does cover it with a silk scarf given to her by her loving guardian, though she hides it more for her security then discover.

The direction of her life takes a dangerous turn when she spots a girl in town revealing the same mark on her neck as her own, and before she can reach her she is quickly kidnapped away. Suddenly her life is in danger without understanding why and her mark has everything to do with it. Her adventure begins here and her real identity is about to unravel.

...I know.... and that's just the 1st and 2nd chapter...

One of Those Days

2010-03-12T18:04:00.000-08:00

Kevin got an iTouch for his birthday. He's so excited and he has been playing with it all week. Today, while I was at work, I got a message from him - he's figured out how to text my phone using it. I thought it was funny, so I will share.

So I dropped off Mia, but we forgot her glasses and show & tell. I
went back to the school and took them to her. Mrs. Thacker says "One
of those days, huh?"
After texting you, I took a "quick" shower that ran a bit long. I saw
the time and threw on my clothes and drove over to the school still
dripping wet. Too late. Mrs. Thacker had already taken Mia back into
the classroom. So I walk around to the office and they call Mia down.
The secretaries were all very friendly and helpful.
Mia and I go to the 1 by 1 (711) and get her a slurpee. Yummy! When we're
climbing back into the car I look at my sleeve and notice that my
shirt is inside out. One of those days. Sigh.

Thanks for sharing Kev...

And the Oscar goes to....ME!

2010-03-07T22:40:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited. I just made a movie for girl's camp and I just had to share.

Just imagine a deep voice over "...In a World..." kinda of stuff and you've got it.

...just sleeping... a tribute

2010-03-02T20:39:00.000-08:00

(My Mom's Family - Mom, Sharon, Jim, Ed,
My Grandparents Wendall and Marjorie holding Dennis)

My Grandma Carbine's Funeral was really special. Is it strange to say I had a good time? I felt touched at times, the song we sang was BEAUTIFUL and could only have been pulled off because of the angels that sang with us on the back row - NO JOKE! But I'm not a crier. After the service I turned to Kevin and said, "I think I'm broken." All my cousins were crying and I tried, forgive me Grandma, I really tried. I just couldn't be sad.

I personally think Grandma is much happier dead than alive and I can't blame her for that. She was stuck with us for 27 years without Grandpa and I think she was always mad about that. She had a stubbornness about her, which is one reason I think she hung around so long also. I see the same stubbornness in my mother, my brother, and my sister. Not me though, I have the passive "Let's deal with it when it falls" attitude, or more like "When things fall, let's walk around them" attitude. That sounds more like me.

But I did want to share something that I thought was so cute that happened at my Grandma's Viewing.

I took my two girls to see her. I didn't want them at the funeral, I wanted to enjoy myself, is that weird? I thought it was something they should see and remember, like I remember my own Grandpa's viewing when I was seven. Mia really didn't want to go. She was rather spooked and thought it was creepy. She was mad I made her put on a dress and holds a tight grudge at such things, and constantly complained that it wasn't going to be fun because there were no toys there. True there weren't toys there, Thank You Heaven for that!

Julia however thought it was neat. She liked going over to the casket and looking. She's not very morbid and was thinking about it a lot. One of those times I walked over with her and talked to her about it and this is what she said:

Julia: Mom, I think Grandma is sleeping.

Me: No, I don't think she's sleeping. She died. She's living with Heavenly Father now.

Julia: No, I think she's sleeping. We need to wake her up.

Me: No, I don't think we should wake her up.

Julia: Yes, I think I will wake her up.

Then she proceeded to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I thought it was so cute I didn't stop her.

Later on she was shushing Mia in her sassy way saying, "Don't wake Grandma. She's with Heavenly Father."

I think my Grandparents were laughing behind the veil at those two.

The Potty Scooper

2010-02-26T13:06:00.001-08:00

Mia: Mom, do you know where the potty scooper is?

Mom: I have no idea what you are talking about.

Mia: Remember when I dropped my Backyardagans spoon in the toilet and we had to scoop it out with one of your big scooping spoons?

Mom: (laughing)

Dad: When was this? Did you drop something in the toilet?

Mia: No Dad! This was when I was four.

Mom: It's true. Wow! Good memory.

Dad: But what do you need to scoop out?

Mia: My Strawberry Shortcake is in my drink.

Dad: How did it get in there?

Mia: She accidentally got dropped in.

Mom: Accidentally?

Mia: By my hand...

V Day Traditions

2010-02-14T15:17:00.000-08:00

Happy V Day! Really, and that's not my cynical self telling you to enjoy the day, even though I don't.

Growing up I always hated the holiday. It always made me feel bad as a teen; and why would I intentionally look forward to the disappointment of finding that I'm not loved by anyone or that no guy could fulfill my fantastic imagination. So I made a decision to not care... and it made everything so much easier. If any of you know me, I'm not the Luvie-dovie type, so it didn't matter. I'm more the Dress like a Pirate type on Valentine's day.

Well, when I got married I told Kevin I didn't want anything. Boy, he lucked out, right? Instead I told him I wanted a HOMEMADE Card. I didn't give him any rules and over the years I have received some rather "Interesting" cards.

Who can forget my "Die Candie Die" card - when you look inside it read: "But don't die for a really longer time, cause I'll miss you."

Or my "Bunnies in the Furnace" card, with a bunny made from construction paper surrounded by Brimstone!

Well, here is this year's card:
This is based on a song called "Skullcrusher Mountain" about a mad scientist who kidnaps a girl and tries to impress her by making her a bunch of things like a half-pony half-monkey monster.

This lyric reads:
Picture the two of us alone inside my golden submarine
While up above the waves my doomsday squad ignites the atmosphere
And all the fools who live their foolish lives may find it quite explosive
Well, it won't mean half as much to me if I don't have you here

Isn't that romantic? Can you see Kevin and I in the Golden Submarine?

I think it's my favorite card so far.

A Lesson Over Lunch

2010-02-08T17:13:00.000-08:00

Mia, Julia, and I had lunch today at Chickfila - love that place - and here was our conversation.

Mia: Look at my straw Mom. They have cool bendy straws and you don't get one.

Me: Nope, I get a boring grown-up straw.

Mia: Cause, you're a boring grown-up.

Me: Thanks. I'm just saying that I have to get the adult meal, cause I'm not a kid.

Mia: But, your a Child of God.

Me: (laugh) Yes, but that doesn't mean I can get a Kid's meal.

Mia: Maybe you should talk to Heavenly Father about that.

January Book Club Review

2010-02-01T07:44:00.000-08:00

As part of my blogging this year, I thought I would give you a quick book review on my Bookclub book. This idea helps me - again - finish something that I have not been doing.

Each year my friends and I get together and select 11 books we will read during the year. It was sorta my brainchild, so I usually organize it. However, I never get around to finishing - or even beginning - our book club book, until after the month is over. And I can't figure why; it's not like I don't have the time - while working full time, mothering my 2 girls, teaching Relief Society, working with my Camp committee, as I'm Stake Camp Director, or writing and editing a book in my "SPARE" time, and still manage to shower in there somewhere. And I all know you wonder how I keep my house so sparkling... Enough griping - I FINISHED THE BOOK THIS MONTH and I'd like you to hear what I have to say...

HOOT by Carl Hiaasen

First, I guess there is a movie about this, but I haven't seen it. About a boy, Roy, with his friend Beatrice and Mullet Fingers (Yes, you read that right), try to save protected burrowing Owls from getting smothered by the construction of a Mother Paula's American Pancake House.

I really was delighted with this book. It is simple reading - you could finish it in an afternoon, I imagine - and the idea is predictable, but that isn't the point: what is delightful about it was the way it was written. The author has a great crafting of words. He conveyed a visual image in simplicity - using zipped and trudge as examples. I love it when the crafting is good. I liked really reading it.
And it was really funny. I was sitting in te U hospital cafeteria and I started laughing outloud at what I had just read. People thought I was nuts...
I like the relationship of the Eberhardt family. There was a layer of trust that the parents had and Roy didn't ever want to lose that trust. He honored his parents and didn't like the idea of disappointing them Ah... if all parenting sounded this simple.
I also, liked the message. There are dozens of enviromental stories out there, telling you this and that about saving... whatever... but this wasn't heavy and it didn't go out to take over your way of thinking, it more stated, that with small actions, you can make a big differance. And that can go with anything.

I recommend it. And it makes me want to read more from this author - He wrotes things for adults too. Just sayin...

The Snack Troll Returns

2010-01-23T08:38:00.000-08:00

The other morning I woke up to my two girls sitting in front of the television with a big box of candy and tons of wrappers all over the ground.

The "Big Box of Candy" is placed above my sink high out of reach of these two monkeys, meant to "Reward" those that clean or be nice. In the past, when Mia was younger, we had who we called "THE SNACK TROLL" who guard the snacks and we had to ask permission to have any snacks. I hadn't thought of him for a while now, forgetting how fun it was to have a troll in our home.

So when I asked, "How did you get the candy down?" I wasn't expecting to hear from Mia, my 6 yr old...

"I moved over the stool and stood on the counter, but I had to get on my tippy-toes to reach the box and almost dropped it."

"But who said you could have some?"

"Well, I asked the Snack Troll - in my mind - and he said I could have some."

"I didn't know he was around."

"Yeah, he's back from visiting his cousin The Garbage Troll."

"And where does the Garbage Troll live?"

"In our basement with all the trash."

Couldn't argue with that.

Just a quick update..

2010-01-11T09:53:00.000-08:00

I fell like I'm going crazy. I haven't done much since my sister - bless her - has come into town. I've been partying a lot.

Her is an update on my book progress. My word count - which I am trying to get down to a reasonable reading count has gone back up. I got it down to 131,510 from 144,000. Good job for me. Well, now it's up again to 131,554!!

Not much of an improvement, but not too bad. Of course I've only got to chapter 14 out of 50. and this month is going by really quickly. Well, back to work...

Listening to the sound... of Razzberries pssttt.....

2010-01-03T18:11:00.000-08:00

Here is my first blog of this year - so far I love 2010. 2009 is way in the past. And to make you all jealous - I'm eating a Reese's Peanut Butter Christmas Tree...

I bought Kevin a sound effects machine for Christmas. Unfortunately it came from England and arrived 2 days after Christmas. We have had a blast with it. I've never enjoyed Harry Potter 6 so much than watching it with the sound machine.

Examples:

Harry and Ginny Kiss - Whistle
Ron says anything - waw wah
Draco and Harry duel - Window Crashing
Ron and Lavendar - Gun shot
Harry uses the Felix Felisus - Light bulb

It's been so much fun.

Here is a video of the girls enjoying the sound machine.... They crack me up.

Julie and Julia vs. Candie and Vivatera

2009-12-29T18:18:00.000-08:00

Here's to a New Year...

I was watching Julie and Julia, which I really liked by the way, and I got inspired by some of the things in it, mostly that the main girl "Julie" an aspiring writer, had a blog and wrote some very interesting stuff that people liked.

I am not "Julie" and I don't particularly have anything interesting to say. But as part of my resolutions this year, I have decided to keep up on my blog. There are a few reasons for this.

1. I'm funny!

2. I need motivation to finish some of the major things that I have been doing lately.

3. Regardless of who reads this, and I have very few, I need to get my name out there. It won't be long before I will... and let me explain.

Back in 2006 I got an idea for a book. I wrote out a timeline, some character sketches, a few chapters and then I had a baby and didn't touch anything for about eighteen months. In October 2007 I hosted a book club where we read "Twilight." In the event of this action I decided to start writing on my book again. I was inspired by the sheer simplicity of the book and thought "If I had written this book I would've done so many things differently." Instead of eating my words, I put my words into action and continued on my book. I fell in love with the characters and creating. July 31st 2008 I finished my book. January 2009 I finished my rewrite of my book, in the summer of 2009 I had my book edited, then read it out loud and rewrote it some more... and finally... I am rewriting it again.

So it would be something to write a book, but when you have to rewrite a book 5 times you start to loose your mind. I'm doing a final draft and am not touching it. I'm designing it to sell on Amazon.com as a print-on-demand, but I also have an idea.

As a member of Goodreads.com, I see how fast word travels about books. So I'm going to do an experiment and set up my book on Goodreads, and put it as a book I'm reading... and I want to see where it travels. This is also a good tactic to sell my book to publishers. I tried (and am still trying) to sell my book, the olde fashioned way, but with the networking we have now, is that necessary? I'd love to have someone buy it and mangle it into a beautiful piece of art, but these first editions will be much more personal - my gift to you.

I have a goal of 3 months. Think I can do it? I want to do it before my sister-in-law Kris has her baby, but that is unrealistic, so I will set it at March 31st to have it marketed on Amazon. This is nothing like the year JuliePowell spent cooking with Julia Child, this is a much more realistic goal for me. I had a goal of writing a book, now I want to share my book.

So wish me luck!

Sore Winner! Version 2

2009-11-21T19:19:00.000-08:00

Mia and I played Wii sports and I realized something...

Mia: Mom you are sooooo losing.
Mia: I am so winning you.
Mia: I love strikes! Just love, love strikes.
Mia: In your face! All over the place!
Mia: Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!
Mia: I love love winning, especially winning you Mom.
Mia: You missed!!
Mia: Stri ee i ee ike!! In the Face mommy. In Your Face!
Mia: (victory dance with a lot of shaking her booty) Yes! Thank you!
Mia: I rock at Bowling!

Sound familiar - I didn't ever know that my competitive gaming was hereditary. Yikes!!

Rejection Collection

2009-11-16T07:31:00.000-08:00

This isn't a pity party and I don't ask for words of encouragement, I just wanted to share with you some of the responses I have gotten from agents and publishers since I started submitting in September.

I've done as Shannon Hale told us at our workshop and saved every rejection I get. I've only really received 8 real No Thank Yous, and I thought I might share my misery.

Foundry: I found your material interesting, unfortunately I've decided that this project is not right for me. I'm sorry I can't respond with good news, but I'm sure you will find the right representation.

- And she addressed me by my name and signed it. This was one of the better ones.

Nelson Literary Agency: Dear Author: Thank you so much for sending the Nelson Literary Agency your query. We'd like to apologize for the impersonal nature of this standard rejection letter. Rest assured that we do read every query letter carefully and unfortunately, this project is not right for us.

- It sounds like something I heard on the Simpson's - Dear Baby, Welcome to Dumpsville, population YOU!

Paradigm: Thanks for letting me take a look at the opening to THE VIVATERA. I'm afraid this isn't right for me, so I have to pass on requesting more material; but I want to wish you luck in finding a good home for your novel. Thank you for the opportunity to review.

- He did wish me luck, how nice...

Fox Literary: Unfortunately, this doesn't sound right for me.

- Okay....?

Writers House: ... at 144,000, your word count is pretty high. You should try and get it as close to 100,000 words as possible. A high word count could seriously impact you finding an agent willing to take on when a lot of work will need to be done.

- I thought that was thoughtful to give me some advice on the word count - so I decided to take it off the query.

PMA: Thanks you for your recent query letter and your interest in PMA. We are always eager to hear from writers who are serious about the business of writing; unfortunately, we do not feel that PMA is the right company to represent you.

- Notice my book is not mentioned anywhere and mentioned themselves. They didn't even read it, jerkface. I guess I'm just not SERIOUS about the business of writing.

Larson Pomada: Thanks, but not my thing.

- No letter or nothing... got to love that.

- But the one I received on Saturday was I think the most honest. The hard part about it was they had the entire manuscript. I always knew they would say no because Shadow Mountain is a division of Deseret Book and my book has Tattoos in it and I can't take that out. It is a vital part of the story. So the blow wasn't so bad, I kinda knew already.

Shadow Mountain: We are always pleased to see new ideas, and we have now completed our review of this material. It is obvious you have invested a considerable amount of time and energy into this project. Our publishing schedule is quite competitive, however, and as we look carefully at all the issues involved in publication, we are forced to be extremely selective in our publishing decisions. I am sorry to inform you we are not in a position to pursue this project with you.

I think this was the most honest response out of them all, I could be wrong though - maybe it's just not their thing. Some of the rejections came with hardly any material sent to them, Shadow Mountain had everything, and I felt like they really read it. I just need to get my book through the door and I know whoever finds it will love it. I'm not good at querying I guess and should work on that.

Blood or Grass

2009-11-12T19:11:00.000-08:00

Mia drew a beautiful flower for me. She wanted to color it...

Mia: Mommy? Which color do you like better - the color of Blood or the color of Grass?

Mom: I like the color of Grass.

Mia: Well... I can't find the green color...

Mom: Okay, I'd like the color of Blood.

Mia: Oh good. I knew you'd pick that.

Halloweening!

2009-11-08T17:34:00.000-08:00

Our Halloween was uneventful, but we have great pictures...

Here we are at the Witches in Gardner Village

Mia liked the Witches

Julia wasn't sure...

The kids liked climbing on everything, that was what they liked most. I liked the Sugar Cookies the most - Thanks Grandma!

Our Costumes...

Julia at ARUP's Halloween Parade

Sisterly Love

Here's Gretal

My SASSY Witch - so true...

This is our Trunk or Treat

Ben is a robot, pretty clever.

Jan is a SLAM DUNK!

Julia couldn't wait to open her candy. She got to one car and sat down to eat!

Here is Gretal, looking for the CANDY HOUSE!

I'm Katniss Everdeen - from the book the Hunger Games, don't worry your not the only one that doesn't know who I am, but if you do, I think I did a good job. You can see the Mockingjay pin on my shirt and my hair is in a braid and everything! And LOVE MY BOOTS!! My new favorite thing in the whole world!! People though I was something from Star Trek or Robin Hood.
Come on -- READ A BOOK!

The Last Dispensation of the Fullnesss of Times... DING!

2009-10-19T07:45:00.000-07:00

First thing, I need to apologize to my Relief Society. I tried to listen, I promise.

Sunday was very nice all around. It was a gorgeous day. I had a good time. I hadn't been to church in a few weeks, with Conference and illness and such. It was nice to see my friends and get a chance to talk.

I have been attending the Marital and Family Relations class - which was all about Finance and Balancing a Budget, which I totally needed - and then went to the RS room. I usually like to sit more toward the back. That way I don't have to be asked to do anything, and I mentioned this to my friend Andrea, but there wasn't room in the back, so we moved to the second row. Nobody sat on the front row, of course, so we had a great view of our RS Presidency.

First thing Andrea got asked to say the closing prayer and read something for the class. WAHOO! I escaped it! But that was not what turned everything to bad.

To be honest, I don't even remember what the lesson was on besides, "THE LAST DISPENSATION OF THE FULLNESS OF TIMES." When the teacher said this for the first time, I turned to Andrea and said, "During Conference we play a little game and every time they say that I make a little DING! sound to see how many times they say it." We both did a little giggle, but went on. When someone said it again, I just took my little finger and made a checkmark in the air and mouthed "DING!" and we thought it was funny.

But I don't know what it is about that phrase - once it is uttered it must be repeated and repeated. And it was starting to really get funny. I trid keeping track, but lost count.

Then dear Sis. Cooper, who was sitting right behind us, responded to a question and repeated it 5 times! Andrea and I both lost it. I had to hold in the laughter, which was so painful the back of my head hurt. I put my head down to cover my face from the RS PRES, who might have thought I was out of line and tears... YES! tears of laughter came streaming down my face. I really struggled to compose myself, but they just kept saying it. And our poor teacher Sis. Lewis saw my face and was touch, because she saw the tears and thought I was feeling the spirit. In her testimony alone she said it 4 times!

To add to it, it was warm in the room and Andrea had a little notepad she was using to fan yourself. During some point toward the end of the lesson she smacked herself across the face. I almost had to be excused.

Needless to say, I learned MY lesson and won't sit in the front anymore.

But, now I pass it on to you and see if you can get through "THE LAST DISPENSATION OF THE FULLNESS OF TIMES" without hearing a "DING!" at the end.

My funny Julia

2009-10-13T16:15:00.000-07:00

Jokes are completely lost on a two year old.

Mia: Knock Knock Jules...

Julia: Come in.

Mia: No Jules, You're supposed to say, "Who's there?"

Julia: Okay.

Mia: Knock Knock

Julia: Come in to my house.

Mia: (yelling) No Jules, Knock! Knock!

Julia: (yelling back) Come in!

***********

I took Mia to the doctor yesterday.

Mia: Mommy, I just don't want to get a shot.

Mommy: I don't think they will give you a shot.

Julia: And Bears...

Mommy: Bears?

Julia: Bear don't want to get shot either.

My Little Pony

2009-10-11T11:04:00.000-07:00

Mia was up with a fever and in the morning her throat was all swollen.

Mommy: Mia are you okay? You sound a little hoarse.

Mia: Actually, I think I sound a little Pony.

Conversations with my Girls!

2009-09-24T19:25:00.000-07:00

While riding home from work -

Julia: Momma, the Sun is looking at me.

I look back at her and the sun is shining at her through the window.

Mommy: Sorry that the Sun is looking at you.

Julia: Yeah, I like the Stars and the Moon. Can you get the Moon to look at me?

Mommy: I'll see what I can do.

**************

Mia: Did you know that aglets are important?

Dad: A what?

Mia: an Aglet.

Mom: An anklet?

Mia: NO! An A-g-let!

Mom: An Aglet? What's an aglet?

Mia: Sheesh! It's the tip of a shoelace!

Candie gets on dictionary.com -

ag⋅let

[ag-lit] –noun

1.	a metal tag or sheath at the end of a lace used for tying, as of a shoelace.

Mom: Where did you learn that?

Mia: Phineas and Ferb Mom! Geeze!

Writers with Writers

2009-09-07T09:05:00.000-07:00

We had a fabulous time at the writer's workshop. I have to thank Wendy Christianson for telling me about it and coming. It was nice to know someone there.

The Workshop was held on August 28th at the Treehouse Museum in Ogden. There was at least 30 writers and illustrators that participated. After the first hour of meet and great in the theater they split us up into groups of about 25 and were paired with authors: Dan Webb, Bree Despain, Sydney Salter, and Shannon Hale. We got to ask questions which was so awesome. Then they split us more pairing us with to authors for our Manuscript critique: Dan Webb and Shannon Hale - can you BELIEVE my luck? The authors went through our first page and gave some advice. I got so nervous reading my first page to Shannon Hale I started stumbling over the words. It was so much worse than reading out loud in 7th grade English. But my critique was pretty positive. They did give a few good pointers, which I followed.

After lunch they had book signing and I stayed around to Chat with Shannon - I didn't care about getting anything signed, I just wanted to talk with her. I didn't want to regret anything. Turns out we have a lot in common, even my friend Wendy went to college with her. But she was very encouraging and I'm excited about actually doing this.

I do feel like I am applying for a new job... which I guess I am, but at a more tender scale.

Here are some authors I met - Don't know the guy in pink in the front, Sydney Salter, Wendy Toliver, Dan Webb, Shannon Hale, Jessica Day George (The Red Head)

Brandon Mull was on the other side. He's like 7 feet tall!!

Totally worth it!! Next year my goal it to BE one of the authors invited!
Wish me luck!

Stinky!

2009-08-30T12:39:00.000-07:00

Mommy: I going to go take a shower. I'm all stinky and dirty.

Later -

Julia came up and patted my bum.

Julia: You still poopy Mama?

Mommy: What? oh... no honey. I'm not stinky anymore.

First Day!

2009-08-23T10:27:00.000-07:00

My Mia started Kindergarten this August. Everyday I ask her what did you learn in school and she tells me, "I don't really what to tell you."

Here she is in front of Stansbury Elementary, the same school her daddy Kevin went to school.

And here is Derek Walbom, a freind and neighbor in her class... and if you knew Christian Walbom he is his son, which helps explain the mohawk.

They all lined up before entering. Julia lined up right with them. It nearly broke her heart when I pulled her out of the line. She slunk her shoulders back and put her head down like Charlie Brown. It was so sad.

Book Cover Take 2!

2009-08-16T21:53:00.000-07:00

Sorry to keep boring everyone with my stupid book, but I'm so sick of it, I just want it to be done. Here is the cover... take two. I had to try and make my niece older. I think I got it pretty good, without making her look like a heroine addict. I'm getting ready to sell it on Amazon.com. I'll let everyone know when I have a release.

Book Cover take 1

2009-07-29T20:56:00.000-07:00

Here is my first attempt at my book cover. I'm trying to gear this more as a teen novel then a juvenile. But if I want boys to read it, I might need to change it. It is made long for the jacket cover. Maybe I'll write a little blurb on the other side and make it look totally official. And yes, that is my beautiful niece Lily posing as the heroine Naomi. I'm still sticking with my goal of having the final edit done on Friday. After that I will be formating it for sale through Amazon.com. But more on that later. Love to know what you all think.

Midnight Madness! HP style!

2009-07-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

-The HP6 midnight crew with our awesome shirts! The girls got Wonder Witch Love Potion shirts and the boys got Weasley Wizard Wheezes shirts.-

I love my dorky side. I lot of people might think I am eccentric, making shirts and getting tickets for the midnight show for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and everything, but it really was an awesome experience. My friend Ken told me he was afraid he might look dorky wearing his Weasley shirt, but all of that was laid to rest when he arrived and saw all the FREAKS. And that is what the experience is about... being a part of the FREAK SHOW!

We saw -

The Whomping Willow (a guy with tree branches tied to his arms and he went around whomping people, including some of our party)
The Golden Snitch (a guy painted gold)
The Owl lady (YES! She had a REAL OWL. I have no idea what she did with it while watching the movie)
Gandalf, Bilbo, and Frodo Baggins
2 Jedi Knights (and they fought with their light sabers)
numerous school girls - (with very short skirts I might add)
and Dobby - the house elf... he was so cute.

It took me 2 days to recover my sleep, but it was worth it! I'll be doing it again for New Moon. Save the date!

One side of the theater. The Family!

The other side. The friends and Co-workers!

Christmas in July!!

2009-07-05T17:19:00.000-07:00

It's coming... I'm sooooo excited!! This is a picture of my background. Julia saw it and was excited too!

Julia: Mama... iz Harry Podder! Izz Harry Podder!!

Mom: Do you know who's next to him?

Julia: Izz Santa!

Early Riser

2009-06-19T19:37:00.000-07:00

4:00 am...
Julia comes walking in our bedroom.
Julia: Come on Mommy. Get up! Get your Ipod, your keys mama. I get your purse.

I woke up and looked at her. She had dressed herself with the clothes I had set out for her, but she was wearing Mia's skirt. She had even changed her pull-up and put on her shoes.

Me: Jules, it's really early. You need to go lay down.

Julia: No mama, I go to crass. You go to work. Get your Ipod mama.

I got up and got her a drink put on some cartoons for her and went back to bed.

4:15 am...
Julia: I want Goofy Baby, mama.

4:35 am...
Julia: I no watch manny, I watch Goofy baby.

4:55 am...
Julia: I go potty mama. I watch Mickey mama.

5:00 am...
Alarm clock goes off.

5:10 am...
Julia: no sleep mama. Come on get up. I watch Goofy Baby.

5:20 am...
I get up.

Julia: you up mama. I help you. You want make-up on you.

I dress and get ready for work. Julia tries to help me.

6:00 am...
I wake up Mia and get her dressed.

6:15 am...
I'm ready to leave for work and I go get Julia.

........She's sound asleep on the living room floor.

Pomp and Circumstance

2009-06-14T22:26:00.000-07:00

Mia is the second on the right. Thought is was so funny to see them in the cap and gowns. Enjoy!

There was a little house... in the middle of the woods...

2009-06-07T18:28:00.000-07:00

So I got a hair-brained idea about trying to get my kids outside more. I think it started when I told Mia I was getting rid of her TV and she hugged it and cried. My great plan comes first with a magical-in-the-woods-old grandma-hidden-princess cottage, and I was on the hunt. I finally found something I was happy with and when I brought it home Kevin looked at the instructions and said, "What did you get me in to?" The Instruction book said that 2 adults could do put it together in 3 hours. 2 adults plus Mia add an hour... 2 adults add Julia - 10 hours later... The instruction manual lists 70 different phases of construction and 7 different bags of hardware...

Here are some pictures to help illustrate...
The box barely opened and all there was inside was lumber. But I cleared my huge stick pile and all the wild animals and not to mention the centipedes all were very upset.

This was when we realized our mistake. We should have just bought the girls a box.

I'm trying to sort the lumber. Everything was marked P6, P7, Q4, O2, N1, R17, etc... there were about 40 different sizes to sort through.
Progress. This was before Kevin realized her used the wrong size of screw and had to rescrew every side piece.

When the roof started coming together we couldn't get the girls out. Julia could see her daddy through the roof.

And finally we finished around 10 pm. This is the next day and the kids wouldn't stay out.

Here Mia is looking through the bay window... that's right, real style...
...and here is the breakfast bar, or what I call -the first thing to break. What would make it more perfect... We just need a witch to move in and we're set.

Girl-illas in the Mist

2009-05-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

Mia thought I was pure magic. I was spraying our deck and the sunlight created rainbows.
Mia was absolutely enchanted...

...then she took the hose from me and started a water fight.

Julia was not excited about the water... and she stripped off her clothes in the house sometime... before the water fight broke out...
sigh - She does that a lot...

Conversations with Mia

2009-05-24T17:54:00.000-07:00

A Tongan Singles Branch just moved into our Ward building and there was a girl with the coolest wavy curls with a blond streak in the front.

Mia: Mom, look at her hair!

Mom: Wow! It's so pretty.

Mia: Yeah, like a skunk pretty.

***********

Later while making dinner I tried to talk to Mia about people and how we should always be nice.

Mia: Mom, the Skunk girl was really big.

Mom: She's just made different then us.

Mia: Yeah, people are made different. Some are big and squishy and some are skinny and heartless.

Mom: Did you say "Heartless?"

Mia: Yeah, it's pretty sad.

Half-Blog Prince

2009-05-24T17:45:00.000-07:00

Getting go excited....

http://www.comcast.net/entertainment/reelnews/4251/insideharrypotterandthehalfbloodprince/

Where's the ROCKBAND When You Need One?

2009-05-04T15:46:00.000-07:00

We were singing "Songs for Swingin' House Mothers" when we decided we really needed to get out and play "Rock Band." This is why...

Itsy Vs. Foo Foo

2009-04-19T18:53:00.000-07:00

Here is Julia's version of "Itsy Bitsy Spider"

-Izztee bee Spiiidur -- up wadder spouwt
-pickinn' up da feeedl miice and boppinin on da head
-Down camm da faerree and say
-no no don't do dat izztee spidur
-I turn yoo to a goon

- Poof! Goon!

-Then Izztee bee Spiidur -- up spouwt again...

Yay!! Me!!

The Tale of a Tail-less cat

2009-04-01T20:32:00.000-07:00

So Marduk, our overly-friendly, tree-climbing, brainless, tall-less cat ran away on Saturday before the snow storm. TO his credit, it was a Lovely day on Saturday and we were all outside, so when he didn't come home, I wasn't too worried.

But when the storm came, I did get worried, it was a really bad storm which snowed a lot. We had 3 days of storms and I figured, stupid cat froze to death while climbing a tree he couldn't get down.

We went to the shelter... not there. We went to the Humane Society... nope!

So I figured.... no more cat... best of luck to you... Murphy was super happy loving me again, but he's so so so stinky...

...well, I got a call tonight from a neighbor, a couple that live on Mock Orange behind me about kiddy-corner. YES! They had Marduk and were loving him to pieces. They had a tail-less cat themselves named buster and were wondering what to call her?

Wait! What? Her? I said his name was Marduk and she told me what a strange name for a girl. This lady's daughter was a vet tech who came and checked out the cat for them and confirmed, SURPRISE IT'S A GIRL!!!

So now I have m kitty back, but I guess I better rename ....um...her? Get those ideas to me, I need them. We'll have a small contest or I will end up naming her Griselda.

... well, back to Square One.

2009-03-19T18:38:00.000-07:00

The Agency who inquired on my stuff turned out to be "Questionable." So I decided against it. Shucks! And I know you were all excited. But I want to work with someone who I can trust. It took me long enough to create the darn thing... it contains part of my soul. I can't sell my soul to the devil now can I?

So the search continues...

Wish Me Luck!

Dancing Queens!

2009-03-12T21:32:00.000-07:00

This was Sunday morning when I tried to get my girls dressed. This is very typical for them to stall. I turned on some music and they pranced on my bed like they were born in the 70's.

Presented by....

2009-03-05T21:14:00.000-08:00

Mia: Mom, who is "Carl's Jr." presented by?

Mom: What? Presented by?

Mia: Yes! Presented by, Mom.

Mom: Oh... I get it! Green Burrito, I guess.

Mia: Thought so!

March Book Club!

2009-02-28T21:03:00.000-08:00

We had a TERRIFIC time at our Book Club yesterday. And thanks to Laurie for Hosting. It was AWESOME! If anyone needs a good movie watch the Masterpiece Classic "Jane Eyre" 2007 version. Great, GREAT movie!

Here is what we are reading for March:

Driving the "Four-way"

2009-02-18T21:12:00.000-08:00

Mia and I had this conversation driving home from work today:

Mia: Mom, are we on a Four-way?

Mom: What are you talking about?

Mia: Are we driving on a Four-way?

Mom: No, this is the "Freeway" honey.

Mia: Not three-way Mom. Four-way!

Mom: Yes, I know, but it's called a Freeway.

Mia: What? Are you kiddin' me? Look, one... two... three... four... Four lanes Mom. Geez... when did you learn to count?

Nibble Nibble little mouse. Who is nibbling on my "Manuscript?"

2009-02-11T15:00:00.000-08:00

I feel like the witch in Hansel and Gretal, reeling in the Literary Agents with a piece of candy.

Writing a query letter is worse than writing a resume. It was harder than writing the book! My first very amateur attempt at a query letter crashed and burned like the zeppelin. I mean, how do you sum up three years of writing into a few paragraphs? After I got my rejection letter I reread what I had written and they were right, I wouldn't want to read it either.

So I worked around and around until I had something I liked. I needed an introverted look and I really had to spoil the entire plot to make it capturing.

But the worst part was talking about me. What would I say? I'm a Cancer, my favorite color is green, and if you don't look at my stuff, you're stupid. In the first one, it was something like, "I'm a mother of two beautiful girls. They are my sincere inspiration... married for twelve WONDERFUL years to the man of my dream... blah, blah, blah..." I really wanted to vomit. It wasn't me at all.

So this is what I wrote straight from the letter,"I was born and raised in Utah. I am the forth of six children, the oldest girl and unknowingly the cause of my mother's semi-mental breakdown. I love humor and wit, the smarter the better. I love laughing at lame movies and geeking out at nerdy shows, books, whatever is silly."

I got my first nibble. I think it was the "Geeking out" part. That or the "Mental Breakdown."

Wish me luck!

This is a drawing of Naomi's mark on her neck done by my friend and neighbor Beth Ipson. I'm going to send it in with the manuscript. I love it! Those who have read it will understand.

Sc"Hair"y tales!

2009-02-09T12:52:00.000-08:00

I know news travels fast... but yes it is true, I cut my hair. I tried my best to get a good picture for everyone, but if I liked the hair cut more, maybe that would help.

I went in to the Salon with an idea that I wanted a change, but not 9 inches of change, just maybe a little shape from my boring straight. The lady, no offense to her, but she had the idea that I wanted a "Mommy-Do!" You need to know that is the last thing I wanted. But she cut and styled it for me. I was embarrassed to exit the mall. It just didn't look like me. She round-brushed it in and made my head look like a big football helmet. YIKES!!!

So, I am coping and getting used to it everyday. It really isn't that short and I don't think I look awful. I figure for this haircut to work I need to change my wardrobe, start having mommy play groups, shop at Gymborie and Baby Gap, wear taller heels, have streaks, actually care about my children's hair style, and wear a LOT more make-up.

That seems like too much, so this is what I've done so far...

Mia took the picture, pretty good for 5.

The "TERRIBLE" Towel!

2009-02-01T22:10:00.000-08:00

It's Back up! ...and I wish I could tell you when it's coming down. I kinda was rooting for the Cardinals, only so I didn't need to see the Terrible Towel again. Would it be so bad if it didn't say, "Terrible Towel?" Yes...yes it would.

Green Beans Dilemma

2009-01-25T19:44:00.000-08:00

Mia: Mommy, do I have to eat the green beans?

Mommy: Yep!

Mia: But, I hate green beans.

Mommy: You need to eat at least three on your plate. That's not too bad.

Mia: But, Mommy, I can't eat this one.

Mommy: Why?

Mia: It's really cute mom, I just can't eat it.

Mommy: Well, you'll just have to eat one of my ugly ones.

Mia: (grumbling...) Well, that one looks really cute too.

A Year of Books!

2009-01-18T08:23:00.001-08:00

For those still interested in joining our Book Club,here is a rundown of the books we picked for this year. Also, if I see you, I will give you one of our fabulous Bookmarks, created with LOVE...

January - The Book Thief,

by Markus Zusak

February - Jane Eyre,

by Charlotte Bronte

March - Peter and the Starcatchers,

by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

April - The Goose Girl,

by Shannon Hale

May - Rebeeca,

by Daphne du Maurier

June - The Candy Shop War,

by Brandon Mull

July - Wednesday Wars,

by Gary D. Schmidt

August - The Three Mrs. Parkers,

by Joan Medlicott

Sepember - The Hiding Place,

by Corrie Ten Boom

October - The Graveyard Book,

by Neil Gaiman

November/December - The Christmas Sweater,

by Glenn Beck

My Snow Angel!

2009-01-12T22:03:00.000-08:00

Here is the first snow fall in December. Mia was so excited, she got completely dress in snowpants and boots, gloves and scarf to play in the lightly dusting snow.

She really wanted to make a snow angel.

There it is...
She was inside 2 minutes later.

Christmas Kookies!!

2009-01-05T21:24:00.000-08:00

I'm behind on my Blogging, so forgive me if I slam you with stuff.

For Christmas Mia got a small baking set, so we made Christmas cookies together...

Here we are in the kitchen making our Sugar Cookies.

Don't our cookies look so cute...

Mia had the best time cutting out the shapes. And the cookies were really good.

I woke up the day after Christmas to Mia yelling, "Mommy, Julia is making a mess."
So I asked how, and all she needed to say was, "Well, she got into the flour...." and I was up. She managed to get her top off and put on the Blinking Rudolph Nose. She's so talented.

Mia's Christmas Tales

2008-12-25T22:47:00.001-08:00

The Halloween Car

Mia: What if there was a Halloween car and it had a scary girl driving it? And what if I said to her, "Hey, it's not Halloween! Put a Christmas tree on your car!" Or "Put a Snowflake on your car, it's Christmas time!" And then she said "Okay." That would be so funny.

Mommy: That would be pretty neat.

The Christmas Crab

Mia: Hey mom, is there a Christmas Crab?

Mommy: A Christmas CRAB?

Mia: Yeah, and he used his claws to snip off the wrapping paper.

Mommy: That's cool, Mia. Is his name Sandy Claws?

Mia: No it's not Santa, mom. The Christmas Crab!

Mommy: Oh, sorry. So what is his name?

Mia: I think his name is Jordan. Yep, Jordan the Christmas Crab. And he lives on the beach and he is Blue, mom, blue not red. I hope he comes to visit this year.

Mommy: For being the Christmas Crab, does he get to do anything?

Mia: Yeah, he snips all the wrapping paper off the Presents!

Exciting... Delta?

2008-12-07T22:23:00.001-08:00

Kev and I just celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary and it was Kevin's year to plan it, so what does he decide to do... Take me to scenic Delta? He wanted to show me where he has been working and some of the cool ROCK FORMATIONS down in the region. It really is adventurous being married to a Geologist.

The Road to Nowhere...

The Intermountain Power Plant, that powers California. You can see the steam from anywhere across the valley.

Here is Notch Peak, a jet stream, and the Moon.

Kevin at Topaz Mountain. See the Power Plant?

Topaz we found

This really cool rock at Topaz Mountain that was crazy and fun!

Marjum Pass is huge. The depth was amazing! Like going through Zion.

Here is the awesome sunset.

And last, but definitely not least... Our Beautiful MOTEL room. There was the Great Basin Drill Team Competition on Saturday and everything was booked, but the Rancher Motel. It really was like sleeping in Grandma Thomas's basement, even down to the art work. It was really an adventure.

Spiiiduuurr ... Biite.... Legg... Huuurrt!

2008-12-05T08:55:00.001-08:00

I thought that Jules has a spider bite and had irritated it by scratching and what not. Well, the bite grew and then there were other little red marks on her little legs that I couldn't figure out. By Sunday night, when I threw the kids in the bath, the swelling had grown so it looked like a golf ball was hidden inside her thigh. So Kevin took her to the hospital.

Turns out she has a serious Staff infection that entered her body when she go her immunizations. She's on severe antibiotics for the next 2 weeks. They are NASTY and she hates taking them: one she can handle, the other we have to disguise.

Poor girl...

Midnight Madness!!! An evening with Kooks and Tweeners!

2008-11-22T22:37:00.000-08:00

Twilight finally came and we had a blast. The evening started with Cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory with a few friends: Katie, Jan, Becka, Me, Andrea Colby, and Annette and Brandon Neily. The place was swarming with women and most supporting a Team Edward shirt. Our shirts were a little more tasteful. But it was nothing compared to the gaggle, that's right Gaggle of women that came dressed up in their PROM DRESSES. Not teens may I clarify, but grown women. I laughed out loud and them. I know they heard m, but I couldn't help myself. That was exactly what I wanted to see: people forgetting this is FICTION and living in the stupid FANTASY that Stephenie Meyer created.
Here are friends from work: Cassidy and Brie and Brie's sister Jacylyn. Cassidy I currently work with and yes, he is a boy, one of the only boy's there. He is dating Brie, who I use to work with, but is now in Pharm School. Brie's other friend had to bale, so she brought him. I don't know if he even knew what he was getting into, but I got the hint that he was kinda embarrassed.
Here we are with Andrea in our Forks, WA shirts. Katie and Jan's read on the back: ...Meanwhile in a town called Spoons... and Becka and I's shirts read: If you don't know where Forks is, your on the wrong map, but it had Forks crossed out and Spoons written in. We were very proud of those, but we were just trying to be stupid. I know it worked since we went to the Midnight show.

We all had an amazing time! I really loved watching the KOOKS and the TWEENERS. I had to work the next day and my little hour of sleep really sucked the next day, I was very delirious, but I'm glad that we reached this point in the year. It just made me miss Harry. The Harry Potter trailer was so amazing, I had to post it on Facebook for everyone to see. Everyone cross your fingers that they don't push it back again!

Lucky Day!

2008-11-18T21:10:00.000-08:00

We went out to eat at Jim's restaurant the other day and as Mia was leaving she saw the Wizard gumball machine that tell you the future.

Dad: Should we ask it a question?

Mia: Sure!

Dad: Is Mia a good girl?

Wizard: YES... Definitely. And by the way, tomorrow is your Lucky Day...

Mia: (with absolute astonishment) How did he know Joe was coming?

Get a "Clue!"

2008-11-05T18:56:00.000-08:00

My new passion. Since the movie isn't coming out until JULY (argh...) I need to fill my time with other ridiculous things. I bought this on a whim, but it is really fun. It has secret passages, spinning home rooms, and cool evil dudes.

Our first time playing we invited Mia to play, since it was complicated and we were still trying to figure it out. Well, big mistake. By the forth turn she guessed it right and the game was over.
Here are the winning cards: It was Peter Pettigrew, in the Great Hall, with Impentimentia.

And here is Jan laughing about it...

I don't know if I will allow Mia to play anymore. It does say 9 and up, probably so you don't get embarrassed when your five year old beats you.