100 Things a la Heidi

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars In a tent only :)
3. Played in a band - Yep... 2 rock bands!
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity - I can never afford it, so I guess so!
7. Been to Disneyland - Oh yeah... the original in California!
8. Climbed a mountain - parts of them... never to the top
9. Held a praying mantis - 2 of them, and kept them as pets, too!
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - LOTS
15. Adopted a child - thinking of fostering in the future
16. Had food poisoning - oh probably
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables - of course! Lots!
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train - yes, from Italy to Germany with a scary car mate
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked - oops, yes.. twice to school in high school when I missed my bus
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping - yes, a few times, most notably in the Mediterranean Sea at night

27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse - yes, as a child
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run - don't remember... probably not :)
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community - have been to a Hutterite community, which is similar in Alberta, AND bought amazing bread from an Amish man with horse and buggy on my way back from Chautauqua
36. Taught yourself a new language - well, I know some German--does that count?
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. - have never had enough money, but have been satisfied :)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke - of course, I love it!!
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted - I had a caricature done... don't suppose that counts?
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain - of course, it's the best :)
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie - nope, only theatre
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class - karate and kickboxing
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma - can't, since I lived in England during Mad Cow time
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle - it was probably only speeding a little
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life - a little kid on a beach when I was 14... he was drowning and I was the only one who noticed
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day. - gosh, I do that all the time!

I am so proud of you guys!!

Look at all the activity we've got going on! I love reading about everyone's goods and bads, successess and dreams. I feel like I know everyone a little better. Thanks, Susan, for recycling the 100 things Meme. That was a really fun one--hopefully some others will be inspired to fill that out.
Best, Happy, Magical Wishes for a Wonderful New Year. I love you guys!!
-Moron

Post from Susan
Oops - I'm used to email where everybody knows who sent it. That's my post about 100 things I have (and haven't) done. Sorry about that, guys! Lesson learned. The 100 things is from Amy's blog - very interesting read, by the way!

Okay, Amy - this is for you. I'm finally blogging, and you can all see how uneventful my life has been!

Things I've done...
...snagged from ColoradoWriter's blog...Things I've done are in red. What about you???
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland -- I'm not sure if it was Disney World or Disneyland - the one in Florida
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day.

Meme from Susan

(this is only my second post ever, so I hope this works and is readable)

5 Bestest things in 2008:
1. won partial scholarship to Chautuaqua and met the Wad
2. finished my novel Mark of Gideon
3. asked for full manuscript and received detailed critique from Leucrota Press for Mark of Gideon
4. kids all a year older and still healthy and wonderful
5. got a new dog

5 Worst things in 2008:
1. went to funerals for two cousins
2. my good friend Sharon moved away (sniff sniff)
3. nothing published yet
4. backed into my parents car, damaging both our vehicles (and almost gave husband an anger stroke)
5. got a new dog

5 proudest moments of 2008:
(I agree with Tess - this one is hard)
1. finished my novel Mark of Gideon
2. stayed devoted to (obsessed with) writing, despite lack of publication
3. won partial scholarship to Chautauqua
4. tamed the wild beast (somewhat) - our new dog
5. read a whole bunch of books on my reading list from Chautauqua

5 resolutions for 2009:
1. finish Leucrota Press revisions to Mark of Gideon and resubmit
2. finish revising Secrets in the Stable and begin submitting
3. plot out and begin rough draft of newest novel
4. continue to run on treadmill regularly (I would say eat healthier, but that's a lost cause)
5. get my priorites straight, and devote time accordingly

Meme from Tess

I have a lousy memory so hope I can do this justice.....ok, here goes:

5 bestest things in 2008:
1. I wrote (and finished!) my novel Ollie Love
2. Won free airfare to Chautauqua and met the wad
3. Spent a week on Newport Beach with my family
4. reconnected with lost relatives
5. had lots of fun songwriting and even placed in a contest

5 worst things of 2008
1. My dad died
2. My grandpa died
3. David's grandpa died (his last surviving grandparent)
4. Bloomsbury laid off the editor who had my ms in January and it was subsequently dropped (not Ollie Love - another ms called A Pocket full of Snowflakes.)
5. That's all I can think of, but I think that is enough!

5 Proud moments or things of 2008:
hmmmm.... this is a hard one
1. finished my novel
2. hearing my oldest play at a state wide harp festival. I know it is her talent, but it made me so happy and proud!!!! Plus, I force her to practice so should be able to take a little of the credit!
3. Forced myself to get out of bed on the eleventh day after my dad died and absolutely refused to let the cloud of depression waste any more of my time and energy. Some days I slip, but overall have been really good with this one.
4. Kept my resolution of consistent secret service.

5 resolutions for 2009:
1. Submit more agressivly to editors/agents/whoever will read my work!!!!
2. Start and finish (at least through one or two re writes) another novel
3. keep active
4. keep positive
5. be a better friend to others

Meadow Blogging-Virgin Pepper here. And not quite sure what the heck I'm doing. But I'm still doing it.

The five best things that happened to me in 2008:
1. Well, what the heck do you think? I met you wonderful guys!!
2. Had a wonderful trip to Chautauqua--one of the best times of my LIFE.
3. I found a new passion in May--art trading--and have been steadily making art and improving ever since.
4. Ten day trip to Calgary to stay with grandma. All the more special because she had been so sick prior...
5. First niece and godchild Addison was born in August.

The five worst things that happened to me in 2008:
1. Depression. Life came to a bit of a standstill.

The five things I did in 2008 that I'm most proud of:
1. *thinking*

Five things that will be at the top of my resolution list for 2009:
1. Be more active each day.
2. Be better at keeping in touch with the people I love!
3. Go have more fun--dancing, games, whatever--and this may include a man if he's special enough and I decide to give him the time of day.
4. Organize the things in my life that need organizing.
5. Immerse myself in writing again, the way I do in art. I will write. I will write. I will write. I will write.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

By Mama Wad:
Whatever you do, don't forget to eat hog jowls and black eyed peas for New Year's! You'll NEVER get published if you don't!

For you Yankees, hog jowl is basically bacon, a bit saltier than regular bacon, but yummy. We buy the sliced, smoked hog jowl, pat a little flour on it and fry it until crispy, just like bacon. You can cut it into pieces and use it to season the black eyed peas.

Or make Hoppin' John - black eyed peas, onion, hog jowl, Rotel, rice. Yum yummy!

God bless you all through the new year. May you be published often. May those who reject your work have itches in places not easily scratched.

2008 Fives-Meme

WAD CHALLENGE: Answer the questions to the Meme below.

The five best things that happened to me in 2008:

The five worst things that happened to me in 2008:

The five things I did in 2008 that I'm most proud of:

Five things that will be at the top of my resolution list for 2009:

My answers are on my blog: here

Oh for Pete's Sake

Nobody is posting anything here. Only two of us have posted our submittals (plus one person has a note from their psychic saying they don't want to jinx themselves). AND WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR HALF OF YOU TO POST YOUR WRITING SPACES!

You people are the most bloggingly uninspired group of people I've ever had the misfortune to care deeply about.

SOMEBODY POST SOMETHING!! ROBIN--DON'T YOU HAVE SOME NEWS!!???