General musings

So, I’m planning on going to the RWA National Conference in Dallas this year. The problem is that I live about 1,000 miles from Dallas. So, I can either spend about 18 hours in a car both ways – or I can fly.

Gulp! 😯

I’ve never flown before. (Well, one time when I was three, but that doesn’t really count.) To say I’m nervous would be a severe understatement. Terrified. Petrified. Racing heart. Sweaty palms. Upset stomach. Three seconds away from a major freak out. That’s me when I think about flying.

In an attempt to overcome or at least lessen my fears, yesterday I went out to the Tri-Cities Regional Airport. Marketing director Melissa Thomas was nice enough to walk me through the whole flying process, from arriving at the airport, to going through security, to actually getting on the plane. I also got to look inside a 30-seater plane, which was cool. A big thanks go out to Melissa and the airport. You guys rock! 😎

I still don’t know if I can suck it up and get on a plane, though. Then again, I don’t want to spend the better part of a week driving either. My significant other wants to fly. He says we’ll have a drink before we get on, and everything will be fine.

Sure it will. Until I start hyperventilating and/or screaming and clawing at the door. He’s threatened to bring along some duct tape to take care of those potential problems, but I think security might have a problem with that. 🙂

What about you? Anybody out there have any flying tips for me? Hate flying? Love it? Is it worth the hassle? Inquiring minds want to know …

Today is my friend Keri’s 29th birthday — also known as the last one she’ll ever have.

Because, of course, next year is the big 3-0. And the age I think when most folks finally realize that their 20s are gone and they are officially moving into middle age.

And that getting old can really suck. Wrinkles. Gray hair. Creaky knees. It certainly ain’t no picnic. 

But mainly, I think it sucks because we lose so much of the silly, goofy joy we had as kids. There was a time when I was insanely proud of the fact that I had eight pieces of pizza for dinner. Now, it’s more like Hey! Guess what? I only consumed 127 calories the entire day! Do I really want to be proud of self-starvation?

When I was a kid, I didn’t mind getting sweaty and dirty if it meant I could go play in the creek and look for crawdads. Now, I don’t even swim, except maybe once a year. Part of this is lack of opportunity. But part of it is the fact that it seems like it’s just so much trouble, and there’s so much stuff to drag around. Bathing suit, towels, sunscreen, flip-flops, cover-ups … It just doesn’t seem worth the effort anymore.

When I was a kid, I’d spend hours in the woods behind my house just wandering around and looking at trees and rocks and leaves. Now, just about every single minute of my day is already planned out. Day job. Exercise time. Dinner. Book work. Maybe watch a little TV. Maybe read — if I have time. I never just sit around and relax or do whatever pops into my head. I always feel like I need to be productive. To be doing something important. 

Yeah, getting old can really suck.

What about you? Does the march of time bother you? Inquiring minds want to know …

I’ve been meaning to do this for a while, but today, I’d like to spotlight some people who’ve helped me out during this whole book process.

There are mean and nasty and ugly people in the world, but there are also lots of nice, thoughtful folks who are willing to help out a newbie like me, especially within the romance writing community.

So, here we go, in no particular order:

My agent and editor, of course. Without them, there would be no Karma Girl.

Margaret Elsea, Kathryn Nichols, and Dottie Leonard with the Sullivan County library system, along with the Friends of the Thomas Memorial Branch Library for always being interested in and asking about my work.

Meljean Brook, who gave me some great information about comic sites.

Edie Ramer and the other gals at Magical Musings for letting me guest blog — and for always having something interesting to say themselves.

To everyone (like the folks at RWA or Romantic Times) that I have ever e-mailed with a stupid question. Thanks for answering.

To the folks who’ve e-mailed me and said how much they were looking forward to the book. Thanks for your notes. I really do appreciate them, and I hope that you enjoy the book.

To my significant other, for putting up with my insanity this last year, listening to me babble on about contracts and deadlines and other things, and telling me to just relax.

And to my mom, because everybody knows, you always gotta thank your mom. 🙂

What about you? Who’s given you a helping hand recently? Inquiring minds want to know …

Colts 28, Bears 21.

That’s what I think will happen on Sunday. Not that I particularly care one way or the other. They’re not my teams. I’m mainly tuning in for the commercials this year. C’mon Budweiser Clydesdales. Do something clever this year.

What about you? Do you care who wins? Inquiring minds want to know …