My Top 10 List for 2010

 

As 2010 comes to an end, I found myself looking back at the many things that happened this year. 
Here are a few that made my top 10 list for 2010, in chronological order from start to finish throughout the year:

1. I started my blog A Little Of This & That in February, 2010.
2. Against all better judgement, I crossed over to the dark side and joined Twitter. I never thought this would be something I'd do - but I've found some amazing connections through this form of social media, and I'm glad I succumbed!
3. I said I Love You for the very last time, to the most amazing woman in my life: my Mom. Miss you, every day.
4. I met several wonderful people this year:
   a. Heidi Sinnett, my a-mazing critique partner extraodinaire from Canada, that helped me through a bit of a messy year. 2011 is our year, Trixie!
   b. Bridgid "Boom" Gallagher, another fab-u-lous critique partner and talented web page designer - I'm so glad you live in my neck of the woods! Here's to author signings, and when they're finally for us - I'll be the first in line for your autograph!
   c. Karyn Johnson - another incredible writer and friend, that enjoys Mexican fried ice cream, just as much as I do!
   d. Maureen Dunn - lover of all things shopping (I heart your shoe fetish that matches my own!), YA writer, and wonderful spirit.
   e. And to all my new blog followers - you've all been fab!
5. I survived the query process for another WIP, that led to 14 partial requests and 9 fulls - and learned a plethora of invaluable information that I will take with me the next time I venture into the slush pile.
6. I attended my very first writers conference in July - the Pacific Northwest Writer's Association writer's conference. It was amazing and eye-opening, to say the least.
7. I decided to get my rear, back in to gear and joined the CrossFit Basic box in September. It's been one of the hardest endeavors I've ever taken on - but I'm so grateful for the mass amounts of wonderful people I've met, and how great it really makes me feel. CrossFitters are truly in a league of their own.
8. I attempted and won the NaNoWriMo challenge for the first time. 50,000 words in the 30 days of November. Oh, I'll be doing that one again next year!
9. I completed my third Young Adult novel - THE CHOSEN, which I'll be editing like a mad woman over the next couple of months, when my CP's have finished tearing it up...and then, I'll unleash it to the Query Gods! 2011 is the year, I feel it!
10. I realized for the second time in my life, that writing and becoming a published author, is what I really want to do when I grow up. But unlike the first time I thought that (I think I was three), I'm actually going to do something about it this time.
    

What made your list this year? I'd love to hear your comments!

I wish everyone a very Happy New Year's - and with that, I leave you with a funny list of the Do's and Don'ts of New Year's:

Do

Go out and have a fab-u-lous time!

Don’t

Do drunken status updates - no matter what the social media venue. They’re like drunk dials, but for the whole world to see.

Do

Kiss someone under the mistletoe.

Don’t

Kiss someone with your beer goggles on - you'll inevitably regret it in the morning. And the walk-o-shame is fun, for no one.

Do
Attend a party in a glittery miniskirt or tank top.

Don’tAttend a party in a glittery miniskirt AND tank top, especially without wearing underwear. You’re not Paris or Brittney - and you won't become a celebrity for flashing the world.

Do

Document the evening in a few tasteful snapshots.

Don’tDocument the evening in 243 not tasteful photos, throughout which you deteriorate from posing with your girlfriends, to puking in the coat closet.

10 Random Things About Me for the Month of June...

I thought I'd start writing 10 random things about me, for every month that I blog.  Maybe it will give you a little insight, to my crazy antics...maybe?  
Should I let you know that I'm also writing this at 3:30am?  That might explain a few of the below:


1.  There is one word in the English language, that I absolutely detest - hands down.  I can't even bring myself to spell it out - so I'll only say, that it's an adjective usually used to describe warm, chewy and _____ brownies (or cake, or anything that's slightly "soggy", for that matter).  Don't ask why, I just can't stand the word.
2.  However, I have several favorite words:  glockenspiel (just because it's fun to say), abominable (yes, as in the snowman from the classic cartoon Rudolph), quiche (because it looks nothing like it sounds, but tastes oh, so good!), and clandestine (cause I feel sneaky, just saying it), to name a few.
3.  Here's a little math (and no, it's not a trick question!):
  a.  My husband Neal and I have been married for 5 years, this year.
  b.  But we've been together for 11.
  c.  And we've known each other for over 22 - since the 7th grade.  
4.  One of my absolute favorite authors is Roald Dahl.  He is who inspired me when I was a little girl, to become a writer.  The BFG, The Witches, and of course, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are some of my favs.
5.  I for some reason have an issue with putting the caps back on my pens.  I have no idea why...just can't seem to do it - and it drives my husband crazy.
6.  I also tend to leave random lights on, around the house - again, drives my husband batty, and he follows me around, turning them off.  I must be afraid of the dark?
7.  I spent almost 11 years as a Senior Buyer for Eddie Bauer, where I pretty much had every girls dream, of shopping for a living.  But alas, the politics and the constant travel, chewed me up and spit me out.  So for the past 3 years, I've worked in the marketing department for a large cellular company, where everything (and I mean everything!) is magenta.
8.  I now hate pink.
9.  My favorite movie is The Princess Bride.  I know, I know...but it goes way back with my family - and thanks to my brother, my sisters and I can recite almost every line.  No more rhyming I mean it...anybody wanna peanut?  Come on...tell me that's not funny!  Just a little?
10.  I took scuba diving as a class in college - and my Dad called it my underwater basket weaving course.  What can I say, I went to Hawaii Pacific University, lived in Honolulu, couldn't really swim, and was incredibly intimated by the ocean.


So there you have it!  10 random things about me, for the month of June!  Until next month...

Another Query Rejection...

Another day...another query letter rejection, and from a favorite hopeful, no less.  Blah.
Dust it off, I say...just dust it off.  There are bigger things happening in the world right now - and I need to keep that in perspective, because I can't control most of it.
But I can control how I react to a query rejection.  It's simple - chalk it up to a learning experience and move on.  Easier said than done, I know...but today is a good day regardless and that's just how I see it right now.  Tomorrow might be a different story - but here's to hoping it's not.