What freaks you out?

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OK, so you already know that I'm a little claustrophobic, but did you know that gingerbread men freak me out too? I know, crazy huh? It's true though.

Around this time every year people pull out their gingerbread men ornaments for Christmas and I just can't stand it! There's always someone who thinks it will be cute to buy me one of those ornaments since my name is Ginger. It's not cute and you shouldn't do it!

I know everyone looks at all the little Gingerbread men ornaments and sees cuteness. I just see evil. I really think they come to life after one is asleep and go out to do bad things in the world. I bet someday we'll learn that gingerbread men are responsible for a large part of the world's unsolved crimes.

A few years back I worked with a girl who had her kitchen decorated with gingerbread men. Her kitchen was like this all year long, not just for Christmas! I visited her house one time and never went back.

Anyway, I'm bringing this up now because I had to explain my fear to someone today that laughed hysterically at me. I'm pretty sure he thought I was joking, but I wasn't. Those creatures really do freak me out!

So, what freaks you out? Don't be afraid to talk about it. We're all friends here.

PLEH!

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I should have saved yesterday's wordart for today, because today truly was a waste of make up and I wasn't really wearing much. Of course, I guess the "Bless this mess" works too because today was a messy waste of make up. lol!

I ran out to the store earlier today and made it home okay. There was some kind of hold up at the gate when I got home and I sat there waiting. I had my window down and I was thinking about what a great job I've been doing of not losing my resort pass for the past two weeks. The guys at the gate are still giving me a thumbs up and saying "Good for you" when they see I have it.

Anyway, I'm waiting for my turn to get into the gate, with the window down, holding my resort pass thinking about how these guys are probably going to plan a parade in my honor if I can go for just a little while longer without losing the stupid thing. That's when I did it---I dropped the pass. I dropped the pass and it fell down into the window part of the door. I was pretty amazed that it fell into the door like that. I mean I couldn't have gotten it in there if I had actually been trying to.

I pull up to the gate and tell the guy that the good news is that I do have my pass and the bad news is that it's inside the car door. He laughed at me. He asked if I would believe that it happens all the time and I said no. He said, "Good, because it doesn't." Then he laughed some more and opened the gate for me.

I take off in search of Orange Croc Guy to see if he can get the stupid pass out of my car door and he acted like I did it on purpose. I didn't do it on purpose. I couldn't do it on purpose. My aim isn't that good!

OCG had to take the inside panel off the door to get my pass and he complained the whole time. I asked him where all the anger was coming from and what he was really mad about. Wrong question!

OCG informed me that when I leave for school in the mornings he lays even odds on whether or not I'll be able to find my way back home. I informed him that I used to get lost, but some nice person painted lines in the middle of the road and now I just follow those lines and they always lead me straight home. He was not amused!

Later in the day I ran into someone that I had met years ago with Charlie. They went to school together or something. I didn't even remember him, but he remembered meeting me and asked about Charlie. That's how long ago it was that we met. He didn't know about Charlie passing away. I managed to choke back the tears and tell him, but it wasn't easy. Over four years later and I still cry. I'm such a baby!

I know that someday I'll be able to talk about Charlie dying without crying, but today was not that day. The only problem was that I was in a place where I really couldn't cry. I was around people who barely know me. People who never knew Charlie. People who have no idea that at one time in my life I was lucky enough to be loved by such a wonderful man.

I tried my best not to cry and to think about other things. I managed to hold the tears back for a few hours. But, in the end, I broke down and cried in front of about six people I don't know well enough to cry in front of.

It was the kind of crying where you're trying to stop but can't so you just cry more. They were trying to figure out why I was crying and I couldn't say the words again so that made me cry even more. Then they just kind of looked at me like I was a freak because I was crying and no one knew why which also made me cry more. It was awful!

On my way home, I threw my cell phone onto the seat beside me. Now, I have no idea where my cell phone is because I somehow managed to lose it in the car. How does that happen? I swear I spent five minutes looking for it when I got home before I just gave up and went to sit by the water.

I had been sitting outside for quite a while with my thoughts and memories when Orange Croc Guy joined me. He had been looking for me and was just starting to get worried when he looked outside and saw me. He could tell that I was not in the best of moods. He just sat there beside me for a few minutes before he started talking.

OCG: I've been trying to call you.

ME: I didn't hear the phone ring.

OCG: Where's your cell phone?

ME: I lost it.

OCG: Where did you lose your cell phone?

ME: In the car.

He waited a minute while he thought of the best reply, then told me to look on the bright side.

ME: What's the bright side?

OCG: You found your way home.

I think that was the only time I smiled all day.

HELP! I need HELP!

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Yesterday I finished my novel! It was such a great feeling I bragged about it to all my friends. Orange Croc Guy pretended to be unimpressed, but later told me how proud he was. (He hasn't read it yet. LOL!)

Today I uploaded it to the NaNoWriMo site for the official word count only to find that I was almost 5,000 words short. After freaking out I read lots of posts about how the word count can be off for different programs. Some add words and some take words away.

How can that happen? I mean a word is a word, right?

Anyway, the only word count that matters is the official one at NaNoWriMo and their's says that I need more words. Lots more!

I've been going back to add stuff, but I think I'm taking out just as much as I'm putting in. (That's why they tell you not to edit now!) I've decided that I need to just add another chapter. That means I need another loser boyfriend for Ginger to meet up with.

Now, I know you guys haven't read about any of the losers from her past yet, but there are some big ones. lol! I need help thinking of another one. I thought about writing a fajita delivery guy into the book, but I just can't make him a loser. My delivery guy is just way too hot for that!Plus, I plan on marrying him someday. He just doesn't know it yet. lol!

Want to help me out? Tell me some stories about the losers you've dated in the past. You know the ones you thought were "all that" at the time, but looking back you say, "What the heck was I thinking?" You can also share stories about the guys your friends or children have dated. Don't be shy! We've all dated "those" guys.

I'm hoping to get some ideas that I can combine together for the ultimate loser!

I've got until midnight on November 30th to finish up and get another word count. Please help!

Just think of all the laughs we can share while telling our stories!

11-27-10

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The Day Ginger Snapped part 2

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After that super long post last week I thought I would give you a shorter one this week. Plus, if you're like me, you're too strung out on turkey to concentrate on a longer post. lol!


Encouragement. That's what I need. Encouragement with a little
salt around the rim. Airport bar...here I come!

"Excuse me, could I get a..."

"I believe the lady would like a Margarita and I'll take a Seven &
Seven."

Wow! This guy is good looking. That hair. That smile. That voice.

"My name is Alden Cassidy and it would be an honor if you would let me buy you a drink."

Breathe.....talk.....don't fall off the bar stool

"I'm Ginger. How did you know what I wanted to drink?"

"I was sitting behind you on the plane."

Die...die now

"I'm sorry about that"

Laughter.....nice laughter.....beautiful dancing blue eyes

"Don't be sorry. It was the most entertaining plane ride I've ever
had and since I travel a great deal that's saying a lot."

Embarrassment.....disappointment

"I'm glad I was able to entertain you. Live it up! Enjoy the laugh at
my expense!"

"No, you don't understand. I think what you're doing is very brave. I
like the way you're taking control of your life. I could never do what
you're doing."

He touched my arm...he touched my arm...he touched my arm

"Oh, I'm sorry...I thought..."

"Let me guess. You thought I was just another loser, right?"

"No! You're not a loser. You're beautiful."

Laughter...foot in mouth...die...die again

"Thank you. I would prefer handsome, but beautiful will do."

Change...subject...now

"So, do you make a habit of buying drinks for crazy women or am I
just some kind of experiment?"

"Actually, I wanted to meet you."

Score

"I'm a writer and I was wondering if you would be interested in
letting me do a story about you."

Fumble

"I think a lot of people would get a kick out of your story and what
you're doing."

How many times can a person die in one day?

"No,thank you, but I'm already embarrassed enough."

Standing now...his hand on my arm...beautiful, dancing blue
eyes...can I jump into them and swim a few laps?

"Here, please, at least take my card. If you change your mind...if
you would like to talk...if you would like another Margarita...anything,
Call me."

Take me...take me right here...right now

"Thanks"

Walking away now...walking away from a beautiful, blue eyed
man who is willing to buy me Margaritas and listen to my sad life
stories...I think I love him

QP Freebie

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I've got a QP freebie for you on the Stars of Ellay CT Blog. I made it using the beautiful Daydreams and Wishes Kit. Just click on the preview to go get your download.

The download link should be working now. SORRY!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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I hope you have an awesome Thanksgiving Day!

If you're looking for something fun to do after all the food has been eaten and and the dishes are put away check out the progressive scrap on FlowerScraps Blog. You may need to scroll down to get instructions that you've missed, but you have until Monday morning to complete a layout and earn a chance to win a free kit.

My kind of day!

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I knew I was going to have a great day when I stopped at the grocery store. I promised my class ice cream and was on my way to Publix to pick it up. There was some kind of filming going on at the top level of the parking garage. There was extra traffic going in, a posted sign that directed the "talent and crew" to the seventh level, and some guy giving parking passes for those going up to the seventh level. Guess you got stopped from heading up that way if you didn't have the pass. I saw a couple of the people he gave passes to and they were "pretty people"!

Now, most days, things like this are a pain! But not today! Today, the nice guy giving out the parking passes tried to give me one. He thought I was one of the pretty people! I wanted to kiss him right on the lips and then I wanted to ditch work and hang out with the pretty people. I decided against that though when I got a mental image of the poor sub after my class learned they wouldn't be getting the ice cream they earned. lol!

While I'm sure I would have totally enjoyed my day with the pretty people, I would have missed out on two really good laughs that my class provided.

The first laugh came when I turned on the music today and accidentally hit the button that slowed it down. The noise that came out was slow and deep and funny sounding. As I was going to turn it off I asked why it sounded like that and half my class answered by saying, "It's angry!"

My second laugh came later in the day when one of the boys bragged that he could spell "car" without looking. I told him to go for it and he spelled "car" ------

B - M - W

I bet the pretty people didn't get those kinds of laughs today!

OK, so.....

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Remember how I thought I left mt phone at school? Yeah, well, I didn't. I actually had it the whole time and just didn't know it.

I made the mistake of throwing some things in a bag to bring home to work on over the weekend. Apparently, my phone was one of the things I threw into the bag. I didn't realize that my phone was in the bag because I didn't touch it until I picked it up to take it back to school this morning.

I get to school with my charger in hand and can't find the phone. That's when it dawned on me that I should check the bag and sure enough that's where my phone was.

The moral of this story is.....NEVER bring work home on the weekend! You're not going to do it anyway. lol!

Why is cooking so hard?

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Pancakes! That's all I wanted---pancakes. Why are they so hard to make? Why can't I make delicious and pretty pancakes like you get in restaurants?

I bought the Bisquick Shake 'n Pour pancake mix. I added water---to the line. I shook and shook the container. I poured the mix into the pan.

It wasn't pretty!

Instead of a beautiful golden brown pancake I got this thing that was full of air holes and every shade of brown except golden. I remember hearing my mom say that the first pancake never turns out right, so I didn't let it bother me too much. I just shook and poured more mix into the pan.

I managed to make two pancakes that weren't pretty, but didn't taste too bad. Of course, if I had ordered them in a restaurant and they came out looking like these I would have refused to eat them sent them back to the kitchen. My house is no restaurant!

I decided to go ahead and use the rest of the mix instead of saving it for another day in the frig like the label says you can, because I wasn't going to be getting the 6 to 8 pancakes they advertised.

I shook the container and poured the mix into the pan. Except, this time, with the last of the batch there was more dry power than mix. How did that happen?

I tried stirring the powder around in the pan to mix it up. It was kind of like a stir-fry pancake. Don't ever try that! It's not good or pretty!

Why is cooking so hard?

Oy vey!

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I think I've once again left my cell phone at school for the weekend. I've tried calling it just in case I laid it down in some weird place, but it's set on vibrate. So even if it is laying around the house somewhere calling myself isn't going to help me find the phone. lol!

The up side of not having the phone is that I'm having a fairly quiet weekend. Most people call the cell phone and I can still use the house phone to order fajitas. lol!

The down side to not having my cell is that I don't know anyone's number. Seriously! I don't even know my own cell number. It's a good thing Orange Croc Guy has my cell number saved in his phone. lol!

The other down side is having to carry my own packages and shopping bags into the house. I was out shopping today and stopped at the grocery store before coming home. I must have gotten to the security gate as the guards were changing shifts cause there were three guys standing there talking. Before swiping my resort pass, I held it up to brag to the guys that I actually had it. At one time or another, all of them have had to let me in because I forgot or lost the stupid thing. They were all proud of me. They even clapped!

I parked the car and wondered how I was going to get everything inside, since I didn't have my phone to call the valet. My original plan was to ask the guys at the gate to call them for me, but I got side tracked and forgot when they started clapping. I thought about walking back to the gate and asking them to call, but decided that only a REALLY, REALLY spoiled person would do that. I'm only a little spoiled, so I ruled that out.

This meant that I had to carry everything in myself. Now, I don't feel guilty about that Ben & Jerry's I bought. I totally earned that ice cream!

Note to self: DO NOT buy heavy things when you have to carry them in yourself!

The Day Ginger Snapped

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Here's the entire first chapter of the novel I'm writing for NaNoWriMo. It's a lot to share now, but you kind of need the whole thing to get what's going on.

I gave the main character my name, because it's my novel and I could. lol! We're similar, but she is not me and I am definitely not her. We both like margaritas but I would never EVER look up old boyfriends. I believe in letting sleeping dogs lie. lol!

Feel free to leave me all kinds of encouraging comments!

The first thing I noticed was that the front door wasn't completely
closed. I stood there with the wind beating the rain against my face. I
had Chinese take-out in one hand and my broken heel in the other.
My cheap, no name brand, water proof mascara was running down
my face.

I didn't want to go inside. It's my house and I hate it. Well, I
don't really hate my house. I hate my life.

Then I heard him talking. He was on the phone. He was making
arrangements for a trip to Hawaii!

I threw the Chinese food behind a bush on one side of the door.
Then I threw my broken heel and shoes behind a bush on the other
side. I tried to fix my rain soaked hair and wipe away some of
the horrible mascara streaks.

Then I slowly opened the door a little wider and floated inside.
Yes, I said that I floated. I was so happy that I actually floated into the
house.

He was still on the phone and his back was turned toward me. He
didn't hear me come up behind him. I slid my arms around his waist
and whispered, "I love you. I love you more in this moment than I have
ever loved you."

He tensed up right away. Then he mumbled something into the
phone and hung up. He turned around and pushed himself away from
me. Then he looked at me and said, "I was hoping I would be gone
before you got home."

And I'm so dumb that I didn't catch on. I didn't notice the hateful
look on his face or hear the nasty tone of his voice.
I moved in to hug him again while trying to look as sexy as my rain
soaked, mascara streaked face would let me.

"It's Okay, baby." I told him. "I found out about the surprise a little
earlier than you wanted me too. It's still the best, most romantic thing
anyone has ever done for me."

He twisted out and away from me as he said, "I don't think you
understand."

Again, I moved toward him, but he did this really weird jump and
twist move that put him behind me and close to the door.

"I'm going to Hawaii. You aren't." He almost shouted.

I thought he was still playing some kind of silly game with me to
keep me in suspense. So, I turned and tried to give him a very sexy
tilted head look and said with a giggle in my voice, "But I heard you
on the phone. You were making arrangements for two."

"Like I said, I'm going to Hawaii. I'm not going with you, but I'm not
going alone either. Then he spread his hands out in this really weird
motion like he was marking off his personal space or something.

It was when he did that, that I first noticed the suitcases. His
suitcases. Packed and sitting by the door.

I gave up on trying t look sexy and I guess I just stood there looking
pathetic. I managed to whisper the words, "What are you doing to
me?"

"There you go again! Everything has to be about you. Listen up,
this isn't about you. It's about me! I've wasted eight years of my life
on you and I'm not going to waste another day."

".....what.....wasted?"

"Yes, wasted! Now, I'm moving on and I'm moving on without you."

"But.....what will you do? You don't even have a real job."

"See, that's what I mean! Every chance you get, you insult me. My
life is going to be so much better when you are no longer a part of it."

"That...that's not true..." I began to sob.

By this time he was actually yelling at me.

"Oh yes it will! Everyone leaves you and moves on to a bigger
and better life. That's why you're forty years old and have never been
married!"

Then he grabbed his suitcases and walked out the door. Once he
got outside, he looked over his shoulder and said, "Oh, and don't
freak out when your credit card statement comes and you see that I
charged my airline tickets to it. Just consider it my one time palimony
payment and be glad that I'm not asking for more. God knows that I
deserve it!"

That was when he noticed the discarded Chinese cartons behind
the bush. He turned all the way around to look at me with this really
heartless stare on his face. It was scary.

"Throwing that food away was probably the smartest thing you've
ever done. You really should consider losing twenty pounds."

Then he got into the truck that I paid for and just drove away
without even looking back.

There was a loud group moan and that's when I realized that the
entire bar had been listening to my story and not just my friends from
work.

"That's the saddest story I've ever heard," our waitress said. "All
of your drinks are on me today."

"Thank you," I said as I sat there and tried to become invisible.

"If you need someone to kick that guys ass, just let me know, "
called out some very large, hairy man that I had never seen before.

"Yeah, we'll be glad to help," echoed every other drunk redneck in
the place.

"Um...thanks guys, but right now I just want to get drunk with my
friends."

Everyone mumbled kind sentiments then moved back to their own
tables and booths. The waitress showed up with a new pitcher of
Margaritas. She placed it on the table and rushed off without even
looking at me.

"You're better off without him. I never liked him anyway."

"That's easy for you to say, Linda. You're thin and beautiful and
married to your high school sweetheart."

"Well, I'm fat, ugly, divorced three times and I agree with Linda."

"Gail, you're 5'7" and weigh 125 pounds. Most women, including
me, would give their right arms to look like you."

"Well, thanks, but what do you have to say about my divorces?"

"Each man you married had more money then the one before him.
You were the one that wanted to get divorced not your husbands.
Plus, they all still send you flowers every Valentine's Day."

"That's only because I married each of them on Valentine's Day.
It made it easier for me to remember the anniversaries."

"Ginger, I got dumped after eight years too."

"Oh Bonnie, I know..."

"I agree with Linda and Gail. We're your friends. We wouldn't lie
to you."

"But what if he's right?"

"Right about what?" The three of them asked in unison.

"What if men leave me and then have a better life because of it?"

There was group laughter and then another pitcher arrived. I didn't
even remember drinking the last pitcher, but it was empty when the
waitress took it away.

"Look over there," Linda said. "That guy is totally cute and he is
watching you."

"Yeah and he's probably thinking that I'm so desperate right now
that it will be easy for him to get me into bed."

Gail winked and asked, "Well, will it be?"

Everyone laughed except for me. Bonnie decided it would be a
good idea to call him over. So, she stood on her seat and called out
to him. But it turned out that he was checking out a girl in the booth
behind us.

That was when I did it. I announced that I had just made a major
decision. Bonnie stood up again and told everyone to get quiet
because I had something to say. Another full pitcher arrived and the
empty one was taken away. I asked my friends who kept drinking all
the Margaritas but they just laughed at me and so did everyone else
in the bar.

I managed to get up enough nerve to stand on my seat and tell
everyone that, "I'm going to prove that loser who just left me wrong."

There were cheers and boos from the bar. My friends looked
worried. Linda told me to sit down. Gail laughed and pointed at me.
Bonnie raised her glass and yelled, "Amen, sister!"

Then someone asked me how I was going to prove him wrong and
I just started crying. I had no idea what to do next.

I sat back down and whispered, "I am going to prove him wrong."

"Oh honey, just have another drink," my friends all said at the
same time.

"I need to know that it's not true. I need to know that he's wrong."

Linda looked at me and with all seriousness asked how they could
help.

"There's nothing you can do. This is something I have to do on my
own."

"Okay, Ginger, you're starting to freak me out!" Gail did have a
worried look on her face when she said this.

"Yeah, what is it you have to do?"

"I have to look up some old boyfriends and see what their lives are
like now."

"Are you kidding?" Linda wasn't sure if I was serious or not.

"Oh my God! The girl has snapped! Someone write this down!

"March 19, 2010, 5:19 PM. The exact date and time that Ginger
snapped!"

"You should do it!" Bonnie yelled as she jumped up and down and
clapped her hands together like a little girl.

"See Bonnie, that's why I've always liked you best. You always
support me, no matter what."

"You should probably know that I'm very drunk right now."

"How do you plan on doing this? Just show up at their houses and
say, 'Excuse me, but you dumped me a long time ago and I was just
wondering if your life sucks or not.' "

"Of course not! I'll be more subtle than that."

"You? Subtle?"

There was laughter all over the bar and another pitcher of
Margaritas was placed on the table.

"I said it before and I'll say it again...You should do it!"

"Well, I said it before and I'll say it again...The girl has snapped!"

"Listen to me! I've got a plan."

The entire bar got quiet and everyone was watching me.

"We are now officially on spring break. School is closed all next
week. I can travel. I can look up some of the guys who have dumped
me through the years and just check them out."

"You should do it!"

"Snapped! March 19. Snapped!"

"I have to pee!"

"I'll meet you guys here next Friday for our usual happy hour and I'll
deliver my findings."

"Go, girl, go!"

"Into a million pieces.....snapped!"

"Could someone please let me out? I really have to pee!"

The whole place was quiet. Another pitcher showed up on the
table. Linda tried to crawl under the booth to get to the bathroom.
Bonnie was smiling. Gail was mumbling something about a cookie
crumbling.

The owner of the bar approached us carrying a chalkboard. He
placed it on the corner of our table and stood on a chair.

"May I have your attention, everyone. I'm Hal, the owner of
Jersey's. It seems that one of our own is about to go out into the
world on an adventure. Since this is a sports bar, I think we should
make a game out of it.

I have divided this board into two categories. Winners and
Losers. We'll update it next Friday when Ginger returns with the
result of her soul searching."

There were cheers from all over the bar. People were shouting
out what they thought the results would be. I couldn't believe how
many people thought I would find more winners than losers.
I was sitting there thinking about how I seriously needed to find a
new place to hang out in when another pitcher was placed in front of
me.

"Are you really going to do this?"

"S-N-A-P-P-E-D!"

"Where will you start?"

"I'll start at the beginning. In Charlotte, North Carolina, with my very
first boyfriend ever."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"So, that's what I'm doing on this plane heading to Charlotte."

"Lady, that's way more information than I wanted to know," replied
the grump sitting next to me.

"Well, you're the one who asked what I was doing."

"No, I asked HOW you were doing."

"Oh, well, as you heard, I'm not doing very well. Thanks for
asking."

"I always end up sitting next to the crazy person when I travel."

"Yeah? You should talk to your travel agent about that!"

You're creating a monster!

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I can't thank you enough for all the kind emails and comments on my novel. You've got me feeling like a real writer. Plus, I'm having so much fun listening to Orange Croc Guy moan, "Oh no, not another one!" everytime I read one of them to him. Of course, he's accusing me of writing all the comments myself. lol! I let him know that I didn't write them and neither did my mom!

Now, I don't know if you really liked what I shared or if you're just being nice so I won't cry and I don't really care cause you've made me happy either way. Here's my plan, I'm going to start sharing what I write with you in my Friday night/Saturday morning post. I'll do it until you get tired of it or I get discovered and become completely famous. lol!

Today was just an awesome day all around! We received two more post cards at school. One from Arizona (Thanks, Shirley!) and another from The Bahamas. Both cards are just beautiful!

I also received my Christmas cards today. Shutterfly totally rocks! I'm not going to be the last person to get my cards out this year. YIPPEE!

Update on my novel

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Earlier tonight Orange Croc Guy tried to talk me into watching a movie with him. I explained that I just didn't have the time because it's already the 17th on November and I am behind on my novel. He got this really strange look on his face and I thought his feelings were hurt so I quickly explained that I would make it up to him as soon as November was over. He had the nerve to say, "You're still doing that novel thing?"

How mean is that? He didn't think I would see it through and so now I really, really have complete the 50,000 words by the 30th. I'm behind, but not so far behind that I can't catch up. Plus, I've got the long Thanksgiving weekend coming up so I can write while I'm not eating or sleeping or thinking about eating and sleeping. I can totally do this!

I just love telling people that I'm writing a novel. Most people think it makes me sound smart, but there are some like Orange Croc Guy who think it's dumb. I'm just dumb enough to think it's smart!

The other night I got a fright though. I was worried about my poor novel. Now, I'm only writing it for myself and for bragging rights so I shouldn't let things worry me. What can I say though, we writers are sensitive people. lol!

The rules on NaNoWriMo clearly state that it's about quantity not quality,enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft. They give you permission to make mistakes!

I've been following the rules! I've got lots of mistakes and basically no craft. Since I'm behind, I may be slacking on the quantity rule but I'm making up for that with enthusiasm. Lots and lots of enthusiasm!!!

I am the only one who has been following the rules!

You see everyone else has quality. I think they're all real writers and not just normal people like me.

My novel is totally Chick Lit, very cheesy and if you don't like my sense of humor you won't like what I've written. I happen to like my sense of humor and I'm only doing this for myself so I shouldn't be sad, but I am. I secretly wanted my novel to be awesome.

There's a forum on the NaNoWriMo site and in the forum is an area where people can post a line or paragraph or even a chapter from the novel they were writing. I read what everyone has posted and it's awesome! I wanted to post that they weren't following the rules because it's not supposed to be that good, but I decided not to be a hater.

Instead, I posted the opening of my novel and waited for someone to comment on it. I made my post on my birthday so I just knew that would bring me good luck and lots of motivational comments. I waited and waited.....and waited. I thought I was going to have to get my mom to go onto the site and comment about how awesome mine sounded, without letting anyone that she's my mom.

Over 19 hours later, just when I had started to believe I had killed that thread in the forum someone commented on my post. Someone commented and it wasn't my mom! Here's the comment I got:

Oooh ouch! Nice slow reveal there!

She said "nice" and used exclamation points!!!

Isn't that awesome?!?!

Now, aren't you just dying to read what I wrote and shared in the forum. Well, it's your lucky day cause I'm going to share it with you!

This is the beginning and I promise it gets funny and has a happy ending. Feel free to tell me how much you love it and maybe I'll share more with you later. If you don't love it, lie to me and say that you do or I'll share more just to punish you for hurting my feelings. lol!

The first thing I noticed was that the front door wasn't completely
closed. I stood there with the wind beating the rain against my face. I
had Chinese take-out in one hand and my broken heel in the other.
My cheap, no name brand, water proof mascara was running down
my face.

I didn't want to go inside. It's my house and I hate it. Well, I
don't really hate my house. I hate my life.

Then I heard him talking. He was on the phone. He was making
arrangements for a trip to Hawaii!

I threw the Chinese food behind a bush on one side of the door.
Then I threw my broken heel and shoes behind a bush on the other
side. I tried to fix my rain soaked hair and wipe away some of
the horrible mascara streaks.

Then I slowly opened the door a little wider and floated inside.
Yes, I said that I floated. I was so happy that I actually floated into the
house.

He was still on the phone and his back was turned toward me. He
didn't hear me come up behind him. I slid my arms around his waist
and whispered, "I love you. I love you more in this moment than I have
ever loved you."

He tensed up right away. Then he mumbled something into the
phone and hung up. He turned around and pushed himself away from
me. Then he looked at me and said, "I was hoping I would be gone
before you got home."

I just love my Birthday! lol!

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I just love my birthday! I know I sound like a kid, but maybe that's because I hang out with 5 year olds all day. lol!

The phone calls, the text messages, the cards, being the center of attention, the presents, the cards...and they're all mine! lol! I love it!

Apparently, my class was even good for the sub while I was out of town.

I starting to think that the poor kids in my class are getting tired of hearing me announce that November is "The Best Month Ever!" because today I noticed that some of them put their hands over their ears and one little boy even remarked that, "It's not Christmas." lol! But I still love them because they totally believed me when I told them I turned six!

11-16-10

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Happy Birthday To Me!

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11-14-10

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11-13-10

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Shutterfly Christmas Cards & Blogger Freebies!

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Every year I plan these beautiful and elaborate or silly and cute Christmas cards that I am going to make and send to everyone I've ever met. In my mind the cards are just so awesome that everyone leaves them up year round so they can look at them everyday and I practically become famous.

That's my plan...every year...but what I actually do...every year...is run out on December 20 and buy whatever ugly cards are left in the store. These cards make me more infamous than famous and that's not a good thing!

That is every year until now! Because this year I'm sending everyone I've ever met a Shutterfly Christmas card!

OK, raise your hand if you love Shutterfly! Let's see...that's one, two, three....oh there's just too many of you to count!

I was first introduced to Shutterfly several years ago after seeing a photo book that a friend put together of her vacation. I had to make photo books of my own. I've got one that I made with my Paris pictures, one with my London pictures, one with lighthouse pictures, and several with just random pictures of family and friends. I love me some Shutterfly! lol!

Shutterfly can be your one stop shop for Christmas! Just check out their Christmas Cards, Christmas Invitations, and Holiday Gift Tags. Need the perfect present for someone special? Just look at the Calendars and Personalized Gifts.

I just love, love, love this folded card with the large photo on the front. It's adorable!

I also like this photo card. The "merry & bright" sentiment will go well with a Florida lighthouse picture.

If you're hosting a Holiday party you may want to use this adorable invitation.

Don't forget to check out the gift tags! I love this cute Rudolph tag!

Now, if all you bloggers want 50 free shutterfly cards just click here to get the details.

Oh, and if you want one of the cards I pick out just send me your address!

Thanks by Flowerscraps

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This is not your mama's Thanksgiving kit but it is super cool and very retro! Check out this preview...

Here are a couple of layouts that I put together using this kit. I made this first one for the quote challenge at Stuff to Scrap.

Check out the FlowerScraps blog for more layout inspiration and head to her store at Stuff to Scrap to buy this super cute Thanks kit.

Heading out of town

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OK guys, I'm heading out of town for a long weekend to celebrate my birthday. I've got the wordart preposted so hopefully everything will work ok. I'll have internet access, but can't guarantee how often I'll check in.

Stay out of trouble and I'll see you again on Tuesday.

11-9-10

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Cool weather weekend!

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We've had some cool weather lately and it's been great. Of course, Friday when I took my class outside all they wanted to do was go back inside because it was cold. I tried telling them that it was colder in our classroom then it was outside but they didn't listen. lol!

I didn't accomplish everything on my to do list this weekend, but I did get quite a few things done.

I slept way too much and it was awesome. The cooler weather was perfect sleeping weather!

I didn't find my resort pass, but I do have the cash to pay for a new one tomorrow.

I finished the book I was reading and started a new one.

I've prepublished the wordart for my trip out of town.

I didn't get the table cleaned off. I actually added more junk to the pile.

I got the laundry done, but I haven't started packing for my trip yet.

I got all caught up with the novel writing and even got a little bit ahead. So far I'm on schedule to finish by the end of the month. That would be so cool!

All in all, I would say that I've had a very productive weekend. Now, four days of work and I get a mini vacation! Here's hoping time goes by quickly!

11-7-10

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This weekend I will....

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This weekend I will....

1. Sleep!

2. Find that stupid resort pass that I haven't seen for almost two weeks .....or..... withdraw $50 from the ATM to pay for the new one that I'll pick up on Monday.

3. Catch up on the writing for my November novel writing experience. That means that before I go to bed Sunday night I will have written at least 11,669 words. (Maybe I won't be sleeping as much as I would like)

4. Get some wordart prepublished since I'm going out of town on Wednesday.

5. Finish the book I've been reading.

6. Clean the mess off of the table so that I can once again see the table.

7. Get the laundry done so that I can start packing for my trip.

So, if you don't hear from me for a couple of days...don't worry! I'm just somewhere doing something that is NOT on my to do list. lol!

I'm at war with Ellay

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I had to do it! I had to declare war with Ellay today and I need your help to defeat her.

This morning I very innocently logged onto Facebook before leaving for school only to learn that Ellay had maliciously posted lines from Muskrat Love on her wall.

I spent the rest of the day singing those stupid lines outloud and in my head. It was awful! As I was driving my car I could feel the other drivers staring at me. They knew what I was singing and they were judging me!

Here's how you can help! Tell me the best "worst" songs you can think of. Those stupid songs that you just hate but can't stop singing once you hear them. I will pass them on to Ellay and hopefully drive her completely crazy----one bad song at a time.


P.S. Ellay, if you're reading this-----I'm not talking about you. It's another Ellay that I know so you have no reason to worry! No reason at all. Trust me!

I'm a barbie girl, in the barbie world
Life in plastic, it's fantastic!

11-4-10

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What have I done now?!?!

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Did you know that November is National Novel Writing Month? Well it is and I've signed up to write a 50,000 word novel by midnight on November 30th. That's roughly 1,667 words a day and so far I have.....well, lets just say I'm behind. lol!

I'm not really sure why I've signed up for this. I'm already really, really busy and I've just started my month long celebration of me. lol! There are no prizes or awards for completing the task other than bragging rights.

If you were to ever meet my mom---which you never will, because you know too much---she would tell you that when I was younger she always thought I would be a writer someday. So, maybe I'm trying to finally live up to her expectations. When I'm a little old lady and someone asks, "What did you do with your life?" I can answer, "I once wrote a novel. It was really bad and no one ever read it but me, but hey, I still wrote a novel." lol!

Of course, I could also just be trying to avoid looking for that resort pass that I still haven't located. I really need to find it too! Not only to keep from paying the $50 replacement fee, but because yesterday there was a security guard on the back gate that was immune to my charms. I'm not really sure what his problem was, but he wasn't as quick to open the gate after seeing my smile and poor me head tilt as the other guys are.

Now, I've got to get some sleep because I've got a long day of working and novel writing ahead of me. lol!

11-2-10

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Brag Book page freebie

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Clcik on the image below to head over to April's blog and pick up the brag book page freebie!

Enjoy and have a great day!