Birthday Wrap Up

I took it nice and easy and even took a day off for my birthday. Which meant that I've been buried in work to catch up since I got back (it's that time of year--but honestly, it's always that time of year in PR). So instead of blogging, I've been working off cake and a week of decadence.

But here is the long overdue recap of the wonderful, awesome, super relaxing birthday that I got to share with Chef.

Nothing says party like some bubbly on the actual birthday. 

It sparkles so nicely. Champagne went well with the dinner he cooked me.
Apparently I ate that too fast to take a picture. 

The beautiful flowers he also surprised me with. 

This was not about cat CPR, but a book on screenwriting I've wanted forever. Good call by Chef. 

I managed to work in a much needed root touch up. Gotta keep red on the head.

I used my Sephora gift cards to do my annual "on my birthday" Sephora trip.

But the birthday just kept on going! I took off Friday to have some fun and we celebrated on Saturday too. That's how we roll in our household.  Below are more spoils from being spoiled (that included a two hour massage--somehow I've managed to tighten up again). I'm a lucky gal! Thanks for the birthday wishes everyone!

Viva La Resolution!

Not mine, but funny. 

It's the day, time of year, frame of mind to think about beginning again. I like new beginnings. Even if it's only on the calendar. New beginnings mean new possibilities and what's life if we aren't thinking of how it could be even better.

Or maybe that's just me.  Maybe you've already accomplished all your dreams.

I, on the other hand, have not. So instead of just wishing things were different, I pictured how I wanted things to be different by the end of 2014 and worked my resolutions from there. Not sure it will be any different, but I'm trying it.

By the end of 2014, I will:

1. Have a literary agent. So to do that, it means that I have to have something I want to show an agent, which means I need to get to work. I'm dreaming big here, so go with me. . . 
2. Have 1,000 per week visiting my blog. I'm halfway there now, so really it means that I'll just have to post more, read more, share more, and generally be more engaged. I think I can do that. 
3. Be down 40 lbs. I'm beyond pudgy, and I don't have to be. I run consistently. But I also eat consistently. Consistently bad. I'm over it. Time to hunker down and shed some lbs. 
4. Say 'no' more often. Specifically 'no' to a few things: 1) time-wasting activities like TV for the sake of TV and Candy Crush. 2) Events or activities that I get guilted into doing or going to. 3) People who are draining without any benefits. 
5. Say 'yes' more. Specifically to new things that I've wanted to do but might be too chicken try and to hanging out more with friends who I say 'no' to for no good reason. Additionally, this also means that I'm going to ask more of others, specifically to take Chef up on his offer for us to go out to eat more. 
6. Made unplugging from technology a habit. No more answering emails at 10 p.m. because my phone is by my side. I will use the sleep mode on my phone. I will learn what items are truly emergencies and what ones are just other people's emergencies.
7. Put more into my time instead of putting more time in. This includes writing, reading, working, and being present for my time at home with Chef. 
8. Use my money for good instead of evil. This not only means spending or saving more wisely, but also not buying stuff that leads to negating other resolutions--like toys to waste time. My one exception is the aforementioned dinner dates with Chef. 

So that's it. That's my list. What's on your list?

Ready to Be Off For a While

Only one more day of work and I'm working from home to avoid the commute. (It's my Christmas present to myself). I'm totally ready for some time off. Who's with me?

My Christmas Cookies:
can you spot the two non-
holiday ones?

• Pages of fiction read: 93% of a 320 page book--27 percent more than last week (The Family Fang)That's 86 pages. Uh oh.
• Fiction read:  The Family Fang  (a Greg recommendation).It's getting to the end and has given me lots of ideas.
• Fiction listened to via audiobook: None. Want to wait until after the holidays to start the next one.
• Five pages written: nope. I suck.
• Calorie tracking: Check. 
• Exercise: 150 minutes of exercise in the last week. 
• Current 5K best (on elliptical): 23 minutes, 32 seconds (same from last week)
• Friends and family: Yup. Called two friends and actually talked to one. 
• Weight Loss: 0 lb.
• One revised section of novel per week: Edited 11 pages and sadly am now changing a ton of stuff. It's gonna be a long process, but hopefully the end product will be better than before.

I Blame my Lack of Goals on my Time in Traffic

What I was doing about
a year ago.

I don't know if it's the change from Daylight Saving Time or what, but traffic has been nuts the last two weeks. I've been averaging about 90 minutes for the trip home when it would typically take me 60 to 65. It's driving me insane. And the nearly 3 hour drive last Thursday about put me over the edge and at least had me considering drastic changes.

Until then, I'll just use the commute to have something to raise my fist up to the heavens and an excuse for my lack of productivity.

• Pages of fiction read: 20% of a 432 page book (World War Z) So, that's technically 87 pages. 
• Fiction read: World War Z by Max Brooks. I might be over zombies. Or just need a break.
• Fiction listened to via audiobook: 13 hours into The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larrson. 
• Five pages written: Nope. 
• Calorie tracking: Check. Could still do better but at least I'm being honest on my calorie intake. 
• Exercise: 221 minutes of exercise in the last week. 
• Current 5K best (on elliptical): 23 minutes, 44 seconds
• Friends and family: Yup. Two calls and one more email.
• Weight Loss: 0 lb.I suck.
• One revised section of novel per week:  Check! Still working it.

Trying to Challenge Myself. . .Still

Happiness is an empty gym at 5 a.m.

I'm getting complacent in my exercise so I started challenging myself to do a 5K on the elliptical every morning before work.I also try and beat my time from the day before. I'll keep a best record here because, well, I can and I have no where else to put it.

• Pages of fiction read: 23% of a 432 page book (World War Z) So, that's technically 99.63 pages, but I'm rounding up to 100 for my goal's sake. 
• Fiction read: World War Z by Max Brooks. Pretty good so far.
• Fiction listened to via audiobook: Eight hours into The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larrson. 
• Five pages written: Yup.Yay me!
• Calorie tracking: Check. Ate very well, but not very healthily. But got better since I've been back. 
• Exercise: 144 minutes of exercise in the last week. Not so hot.
• Current 5K best (on elliptical): 31 minutes, 32 seconds
• Friends and family: Yup. Called two friends and returned another call. 
• Weight Loss: 0 lb. I'm determined to change that this week. 
• One revised section of novel per week:  Check! Revise. revise. Revise. 

Day One: Charleston

Coast Restaurant
--very French Quarter feel,
except less smelly

I'm travelling to Charleston, SC for work and although I've only been here a few hours, I have to say the place is pretty darn cute. And there are a plethora of little local restaurants and shops within walking distance of my hotel. If I can successfully navigate a business trip so that I don't have to drive once while being there, it's a good thing. 


Hit a restaurant called Coast tonight that was just a block down the way. Seafood which is awesome. I had a lobster and crab gratin with blue cheese mashed potatoes and green beans (pictured). They helped make up for the calorie gap since I ate two Fiber One bars while travelling today. Calorie gap and belly successfully filled. Delicious. If I didn't already have dinner plans, I'd probably go back tomorrow night. YUM!!


 Hopefully I'll have a few more pictures to post tomorrow after the conference, but in the mean time, here's my weekly update:

Lobster and Crab gratin.
Was much better than it looks.
Bad lighting.

• Pages of fiction read: 33% of a 432 page book (World War Z) So, that's technically 143 pages. 
• Fiction read: World War Z by Max Brooks. Pretty good so far.
• Fiction listened to via audiobook: Six hours into The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larrson. Maybe I can do via audio what I couldn't do reading--finish it!
• Five pages written: Yup. Had 6 on the plane trip alone last week.
• Calorie tracking: Check.Crappy road, world series eating.
• Exercise: 225 minutes of exercise in the last week. 
• Friends and family: Yup. Called a friend to chat and tell her that I was missing her lots!
• Weight Loss:0 lb
• One revised section of novel per week:  Check! Have bridged the beginning to what I've previously written, so now it's just revise, revise, revise.I will get a rough draft done by my Birthday. I keep chanting that.

"He laughed at pretty much everything I said"

The above is a quote from Sara Leal, the 22 year old who reportedly slept with Ashton Kutcher a few weeks back. US Magazine is doing a teaser on the affair and promoted it as "the duo talked astrology (they're both Aquarius), religion, love, even politics. I'm having a hard time wondering why Ashton Kutcher would give two shits about the political affiliations of his latest piece of tail, but maybe that's just me. Maybe I'm not giving him enough credit. Either way, I love that she explains his encounter with her as a way for him to break away from it all and be "real." I'm thinking it might've had something to do wtih you being hot, honey. Just sayin'.

Anyway, I do not have a goal around sleeping with celebrities, but I do have other goals. Here's where I'm at:

• Pages of fiction read: 65% of a 391 page book (Catching Fire). So, that's technically 254 pages.
• Fiction read: Catching Fire. Page turning (or page clicking on the Kindle).
• Fiction listened to via audiobook: FINALLY finished Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner.
• Five pages written: Yes!!! Reworking a new beginning to the book. Am at 16 pages (mostly new) so far. in fact, since I started concentrating on the writing/ revising, I have finished 37 pages of NEW material in three weeks!!!!
• Calorie tracking: Check. a whopping 54 calories lower than my daily goal. 
• Exercise: 345 minutes of exercise in the last week. 
• Friends and family: Done. 
• Weight Loss:0 lb
• One revised section of novel per week:  Check! Got about 16 pages of a new beginning finished and a transition to the main story.

Hungry for The Hunger Games

I started it late and I'm loving it now. The Hunger Games rocks my world. It's throwing my reading into overdrive, for sure. Plus it helps that it's aimed at someone half my age (or less--stop laughing). 

• Pages of fiction read: 41% of a 384 page book (The Hunger Games) and 35% of a 391 page book (Catching Fire). So, that's technically 294 pages.
• Fiction read: The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. Page turning (or page clicking on the Kindle).
• Fiction listened to via audiobook: Trying to finish Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner, which I started over a month ago. It's hard to finish it. It's not really good, but I have the same compulsion to finish fiction on audio as I do on page.
• Five pages written: Yes!!! Reworking a new beginning to the book. Am at 12 pages (mostly new) so far.
• Calorie tracking: Check. 289 calories lower than my daily goal. 
• Exercise: 315 minutes of exercise in the last week. But I missed two work outs because I was sick.
• Friends and family: Done. Called my lovely, remarkable grandmother.
• Weight Loss:-0.8 lb
• One revised section of novel per week:  Check! Got about 12 pages of a new beginning started. Working on finishing that and one more section for next week.

Should I Google+?

All week I've been getting invites to Google+ and seeing other people on it, but I'm not quite convinced I should do it. I know they just hit 43 million users and all, but is anyone out there on Google+? What's good about it? I'm thinking I'm about at my social media limits right now, but as a marketer and PR person, I'm curious. 


Anyway, on to what I've done for the week!

• Pages of fiction read: 59% of a 384 page book. So, that's technically 226 pages. That's one thing you lose with a Kindle. The actual page count. 
• Fiction read: The Hunger Games. I'm an idiot. I should've listened to my friends months or years ago when they told me to read these. Very entertaining.
• Fiction listened to via audiobook: None. Still enchanted by Pandora. 
• Five pages written: Yes!!! I revised a section of the novel that went from 6 pages to 12. Which is good because I tend to write at too quick a pace.
• Calorie tracking: Check. But I ate horribly. I really and truly am back on it this week. And the whole week. Not just Monday through Thursday as I have been. (She writes after having half a bagel today.)
• Exercise: 290 minutes of exercise in the last week. But I missed two work outs because I was sick.
• Friends and family: Done. Komen walk time brings us all closer. Or at least me more nostalgic.
• Weight Loss: Zero. But this week will be different!
• Story submission:I did it. I submitted an edited version of my short story for the NPR Three Minute Fiction contest. I'm already a winner because I actually accomplished something. 
• One revised section of novel per week:  Check! Now I'm reworking the beginning of the novel. I've read beginnings of six of my favorite books to see what it is about them that cpatures me. Now I'm trying to do it. 
• Anyone have any examples of good fiction beginnings they'd like to share? (Other than "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.")

I Have a Fever. . .

. . .and I wish more cowbell could cure it. I woke up this morning feeling okay, but tired. More tired than normal. I chalked it up to getting to bed later than normal. (Kinda glad new TV is on!). But by the time I got to work and got started on my day (which had only about a 30 minute break from meetings, interviews and webinars before lunch and not much more time after lunch), I realized I was a little under the weather. Fever yet still cold and a craving for soup for lunch. Add to that other coworkers (who sit in close proximity) who've been sick and I think I'm doomed.

But I will fight it tonight with soup and rest, and not doing too much of anything. The only benefit of being not quite sick yet.

Despite any pending illness, I have managed to do some things right.

• Pages of fiction read: 93. I'm under for my second week, but my excuse this week is that I finished one book and the book I'm starting next is on my Kindle, which was dead and my charging cable recently broken. So I'm on hold until my new charger comes today! 
• Fiction read:  Finished Eating the Dinosaur by Chuck Klosterman. Am starting the much anticipated The Hunger Games tomorrow. 
• Fiction listened to via audiobook: None. Ugh. I need to load up my ipod or have my memory erased about the awesomeness that is Pandora. 
• Five pages written: I'm gonna say yes. I wrote three pages for a story and am revising another so I don't know the exact word count.
• Calorie tracking: Check. But I was just over my daily average for weight loss for the second week in a row.
• Exercise: 355 minutes of exercise in the last week.
• Friends and family: Done. Everyone's having babies. Makes the reaching out easier!
• Weight Loss: Lost 0.8 lbs. (Total since LA move: 26 lbs)
• Last week's NEW goal: Have 600 word story for contest completed, edited, and submitted.- It's Completed and Edited. Will submit this weekend. 
• New Goal: I've decided to focus on FINALLY finishing the novel. So I'm now committed to combining feedback from my old Writers' Group (I miss you guys!!) and revising one small section at a time. Goal is to have at least one sectioned revised per week.  

What I did this week. . .

Between locking myself out and being busy at work, my personal goals are taking a hit this week. There are times that that's just the case, aren't there? Here's to doing better next week!


• Pages of fiction read: 71
• Fiction read: Eating the Dinosaur by Chuck Klosterman
• Fiction listened to via audiobook: Still none. Pandora.
• Five pages written: Nope. I'm slacking.
• Calorie tracking: Check. But I was just over my daily average for weight loss :(
• Exercise: 370 minutes of exercise in the last week.
• Friends and family: Done. One good thing about the Colts loss.
• Weight Loss: Lost 0.2 lbs.
• At least 5 pages types on a new story/ essay: Nope. Only one page done. FAIL sauce.
• NEW goal: Have 600 word story for contest completed, edited, and submitted.

What to Finish

Here's my progress to this week's goals:

• Pages of fiction read: 127
• Fiction read: Eating the Dinosaur by Chuck Klosterman
• Fiction listened to via audiobook: Still none. Pandora comedy is doing me right right now. 
• Creative writing every day: yes
• Five pages written: Yes-- and then some!
• Calorie tracking: Check. Averaged 179 calories under my daily goal.
• Exercise: 310 minutes of exercise in the last week.
• Friends and family: Done. mostly because my friend Julie had an adorable little son this week and I did some virtual cheek squeezing until I can lay my hands on those chubby cheeks in person. 
• Weight Loss: Steady. Which is weird considering I think I ate everything in sight.
• At least 5 pages types on a new story/ essay:I've got three on one story, two on another. Does that count?

Okay, here's the most recent dilemma. I seem to have writing ADD right now. I've got a short story that needs some major work waiting to be reshaped, a novel that needs some good flushing out and an ending, a short story that is written in my head but no where else, and a new creative non-fiction essay that I'm dying to get out. And now I'm hankering to write a screenplay. It is LA, after all. Doesn't everyone have a screenplay? 

So do I continue starting stuff or do I hunker down and finish a few things? Am I really this disorganized?

A Frozen Hot Chocolate But No Weight Gain. . . Maybe Vegas isn't all bad

I'm a day late on my weekly update, but I'm a little late on everything this week because of the Vegas trip. For the record, I lost a dollar but won in the Forum shops because there was a cute jacket and tank on sale that I snapped up. Most amazingly was that I ordered and ate some of Serendipity's famous frozen hot chocolate. It was good, don't get me wrong, but I thought it was going to be an ice cream dessert and it was actually like a chocolate slushie, but better. All of that, I enjoyed some good food, but didn't over indulge and ended up breaking even on my weight for the week. Viva Las Vegas for that!

• Pages of fiction read: 153
• Fiction read:State of Wonder (got 100 pages to go)
• Fiction listened to via audiobook: Jennifer Weiner's Fly Away Home (Haven't listened this week as I've not been commuting)
• Creative writing every day: yes
• Five pages written: Yes
• Calorie tracking: Check. Averaged 236 calories under my daily goal.
• Exercise: 455 minutes of exercise in the last week.
• Friends and family: Done.
• Weight Loss: Broke even.
• Short story done by August 27th: I'm about 3/4 done so it looks like I'll be cranking some out on Saturday.

Have a great week!

Whatcha Doin'? Oh Me? Just Hittin' Some Goals

I've decided for the sanity of myself and anyone else who might read this that I'm going to combine and condense my updates on the status of my goals. But I have to say that I'm pretty stoked so far.

• Pages of fiction read: 104
• Fiction read:- Finished up Everything Is Going to Be Great: An Underfunded and Overexposed European Grand Tour and began Big Girl Small.
• Fiction listened to via audiobook: Downtown Owl by Chuck Klosterman (and finished an abbreviated version of The Paris Wife)
• Creative writing every day: yes
• Five pages written:You betcha. And some more stories started.
• Calorie tracking: Not only tracked, but UNDER my allotment.
• Exercise:Every day and have started going back to two-a-days.
• Friends and family: Made several calls, sent a card and an email.
• Weight Loss: Down 1.4 lbs. Only 3.6 before my pedicure.

So SUCK IT any doubters out there.

This Week's Breakdown

I'm still working towards my goals. Here's my breakdown for this week:

• Chats with Chef this week: every day, multiple times a day. YAY!

• Pages of fiction read: 252

• Fiction read: One Day by David Nicholls- FINISHED; The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein(?)

• Fiction listened to via audiobook: Freedom by Jonathan Franzen (about 15 hours in)

• Creative writing every day: done and DONE

• Five pages written: Yes! I've been so move to write this week that I've actually done it longhand. In meetings that bore me. Maybe not the best, but still very exciting.

• Calorie tracking: done and done honestly.Even though I've lost 1.6 lbs this week, I've had cheeseburgers for my last two meals. So what of it?

• Exercise: Yes every day. Not twice daily as some days I actually had to live (or go see Ann Patchett or have extra Chef time).

• Friends and family: two nice emails, two nice calls. All in all, not a bad week.

Doing better this week. And I'm happy. So I guess that's not too shabby.

I Make Time Because They Make Me Happy

Going along with the falling back in love with books theme, I also did a little personal inventory of things that I am making time for because they make me happy. Or maybe the actions themselves don't make me happy but the end results do. So here are my weekly goals that I hope to keep track of things that make me happy (Yes, I realize it's a little sad that I have to have goals to do things that I enjoy, but I'm a goal-oriented person):

• I will chat with Chef every day. Pretty easy most days. Not so easy when I'm travelling.
• I will read 100 pages of fiction each week.
• I will write something creative (fiction, non-fiction, blog) each day.
• I will write at least 5 pages each week of something for my fiction or non-fiction pieces.
• I will record my calories-honestly-each day.
• I will try to be honest with my self, even when it's hard.
• I will do some form of exercising each day even if it's just walking (more than normal, of course).
• In my off hours, I will try and let go of having a "schedule" in my head and just enjoy the moments.
• I will email a friend or family member each week just to see how they are.

I've had these in my head for a while and will post how I did on Saturday. There are some other ones, but those are private. I know I've met some of the goals already. Others. . . well, I still have two days.

I Need To Find My Freak Flag

I've been thinking the last couple of days about how normal I seemed to have gotten. And I'm not so happy about it. Maybe "normal" isn't the right word. What I think is that I've become too much like who I thought I was supposed to be at 30 and not enough like who I was at 20. Or something like that.

I need to find my freak flag again so I can fly it. And I think part of that goes into finding what it is that I like to do and doing it. Which means that I need to get back (again and always) into the habit of reading and writing. The writing is all on me. I can do that by getting my butt in gear and getting in front of the computer.

The reading is a different matter. I read every day. But right now I've been reading magazines. And not particularly creative ones. I can't give up Business Week. There's a part of me that just likes to be prepared for when I might need to know that TARP bailout money is being paid back quicker than expected and will produce a multi-billion dollar profit.

But I need to take more time to read some weird, fun, funny things that I used to. Suggestions are always welcome.

Once the reading and writing start, the juices start flowing and my mind starts going to weird places. It's those weird places that I miss right now. I miss the odd things that pop into your head and stir up even more odd things. My thoughts are way too vanillla right now. And not in a delicious way.

I'm going to start with the books and reading, but also am actively looking for ways to find my freak flag. I'll write about them as I figure them out. But if you have any ideas, let me know.

Fine. I'm Hooked. Dammit.

I tried to avoid it, as I do most popular literature. Not because I'm a snob or because I think I know better. Because I don't know better. Anyone who knows my crappy taste in music knows that I don't think myself above craptasticness. However, I tend to avoid things everyone loves because I get disappointed if I don't love it too.

Case in point: A Prayer for Owen Meany. It was suggested to me by at least 6 people so I caved and read it. I hated it. I mean, I absolutely found little redeeming value in the novel. People LOVE this book and I couldn't see the appeal. It took great convincing to read another John Irving novel, but someone swore to me that The World According to Garp was more up my alley. And I'm glad they did, because I really enjoyed that one.

So it was with some trepidation that I started Girl With a Dragon Tattoo. The first 20 percent (I can't say "pages" because I downloaded to the Kindle and therefore there are screens, but not pages) was long and little tedious. And it took more than halfway through before the two main characters met. It's set up to happen the entire book and you're waiting, but it seems to take forever to get there.

But I digress and to avoid spoiling this book that's been out for 5 years, I'll just say. It's getting good.

Why Can't I Do Everything At Once

On my run this morning, I was pondering the big spheres in my life and started wondering why I can't get my shit together to do everything at once. I can write daily and work out. I can eat right and work out. I can work like hell, but not spend enough time with friends. I can spend time with friends but not accomplish everything that needs to be done. I can have a clean house or cook, but not both. I can catch up on TV or read.

I don't like that I can't do everything. Damn you, eternal limitations.