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 Ok, what about this combo as a possible replacement for the too-long necklace? I like the hammered metal look, but they're not made by the same person, so I worry that the gold won't match, color-wise. Think that matters?
It's been so long since I bought jewelry for myself! I'm a little giddy. Normally, I make Nick do it. As Oscar Wilde says, "One should never give a woman anything she can't wear in the evening." And I hold Nick to that. But there's a special thrill in having money of your own, and spending it on something sparkly and frivolous. I got paid for my first big freelance writing job a few months ago, and didn't spend the money on myself.
Well, I'm making up for it now! If you want to help me spend my money (and what kind of friends would you be if you didn't?), weigh in with an opinion. To see the dress this jewelry will be worn with, go here, and imagine it with three times the cleavage. The second jewelry option is the earrings I already have, in gold, and this necklace:
So I bought the dress. For one thing, my date, daring diva Kristen Painter, is wearing brown as well, and as you all know, there's nothing sexier than color matching your companion for the evening. The dress arrived today, and it looks fab, although significantly more boobalicious on me than on the tomboy/neuter/ironing board model pictured below. I may look knocked up in it, I can't really be sure, but what I do know is, there's some very distracting real estate directly north of any potential b aby bump action, so I don't think anyone is going to be too worried about it. Plus, I plan to have a cocktail in hand the entire evening, so that should put to bed any questions. Right?
The shoes look great with it, ditto the earrings, but the necklace (shown left) is waaaay too long. Seriously, the pendant drops to nipple level. It gets trapped in my cleavage. What is that all about? What sort of giraffe woman was this necklace intended for?
Going to have to rethink the jewelry. I've got a gorgeous necklace I never get to wear here in the wilds of Ohio, because it's too dressy for any event that could even be conceived of here. So maybe I'll give that piece an evening out. What will probably happen is that I'll bring every piece of jewelry I own, intending to make Kristen help me decide, and then I'll end up borrowing something of hers. (hint, hint, K.--bring all your jewels!)
So what do you think: maternity wear? or babydoll chic?
I'm feeling the need for a new dress, in case I get invited to a swanky book release party, or something. : ) Thoughts? My biggest concern is that sexy brown heels are oddly hard to find. I don't own any. The closest I've got are metallic open-toed sandals. Could I get away with the combo?
We are officially living the midwestern dream! Our basement is finished. There's a wet bar, a gym room, space for a pool table or poker table (haven't decided yet), and a 100-inch projection screen.
That's right, 100 inches. It's ludicrous.
For the last few months, while the project was underway, the honey and I have been making mental lists of the movies we wanted to watch on this mammoth screen. Old favorites, classics, big action features--the main requirement, though, for high status on the list, was that we didn't catch it in movie theaters. So the first thing we watched was Band of Brothers. (Okay, not quite the first thing--because I'm completely addicted to Gordon Ramsay, and couldn't wait, we watched Hell's Kitchen before anything else.)
Anyway, Band of Brothers. I'd seen it before, some parts more than once, because my little sister is strangely obsessed with it. Although, it's not that strange, because I'm kind of obsessed with it, too. It really improves the more times you watch it. Not that it isn't engrossing the first time, because it is, but the storylines are so complicated and there are so many characters who look so similar in their soldier garb, it's just easier to follow it all the second or third time around. And it's so immense, you notice new details every time. For instance, this time I noticed that the other times I watched it, I'd missed an entire episode! Yes. And it was the really sweet one, too, featuring the adorable Cajun medic. So it was very rewarding, and now I'm all interested in WWII again. Do you think there's a market out there for a WWII-era historical romance?
My fabulous agent, Deidre Knight, is judging a very cool new contest run by a young writer with Tourette's Syndrome. Jonathan Friesen debuts in hardcover this September with Jerk, California, the story of a kid with Tourette's who takes off on a road trip, accompanied by the girl he's had a hopelessly unrequited crush on, to find out who he is. It sounds fabulous--for intriguing details and cool stuff like a blog by the main character, check out Jonathan's website.
The 2008 Reclaim the Name contest he's sponsoring is tres cool, and of interest to anyone who knows a kid with a great imagination, who loves to read and dreams of being a writer someday. Well, why wait? Encourage that kid to get started now. See below for contest details:
Wanted: Your original stories. Write a short story about a character who discovers, through a personal journey, who he/she truly is. Eligibility: The contest is open to young writers of all genres. Entrants will compete in one of two age categories. - Category A - Ages fifteen and younger
- Category B - Ages sixteen to twenty
Prizes - Category A (Age 15 and Under): First Prize: - $1,000 Cash
- 4 months of personal writing coaching from author Jonathan Friesen or a video book trailer made for your story
- Your story will be published on this web site
- You'll have the opportunity to record your story at a professional recording studio and will receive the audio file for promotion on MySpace or anywhere else you choose
Second Prize: $200 Cash Award Third Prize: $100 Cash Award
Prizes - Category B (Age 16-20): First Prize: - $1,000 Cash
- 4 months of personal writing coaching from author Jonathan Friesen or a video book trailer made for your story
- Your story will be published on this web site
- Your story will be read and critiqued by a talented literary agent from the Knight Literary agency
- You'll have the opportunity to record your story at a professional recording studio and will receive the audio file for promotion on MySpace or anywhere else you choose
Second Prize: $200 Cash Award Third Prize: $100 Cash Award
More prizes are being added all the time, so keep checking Jonathan's site for updates. The submission guidelines are there, as well. Have fun!
Okay, guys, I'm trying to fill up my McStarter Castle, here in Back of Beyond, Ohio. I drove more than an hour to the chi-chi east side of Cleveland yesterday, and spent hours poking around furniture stores. Here are a couple of my favorites:
 This is a crappy image, but see that dresser in the back? I bought that yesterday for our bedroom. For the last three years, since we moved to Ohio, Nick has been running nude to the guest bedroom to get his clothes out of the old dresser. I'm sure the neighbors will be sad to miss their free show every morning (I know I will), but Nick is looking forward to being able to get dressed in his own room like a civilized person.
This is a sideboard from a nifty little company called Jonathan Charles, that does sort of updated reproductions of antiques. His family's been in the antique business for three generations, so he's clearly got a lot of ideas. I like this console table because it's delicate without seeming fragile. Drawers are always useful. And I don't know if you can really see it in these pictures, but those are hand-painted butterflies accenting the table. In person, they really pop. Also, it's on sale. What do you think--should I buy?
We had snow today. In case anyone is confused, it's APRIL. Ohio is a wasteland. What am I doing here?
On the other hand, I had stunningly good Czech food last night. Something called halushki (sp?), which involved shredded roast pork and sauerkraut, seasoned with spices like cayenne. It was sort of like Czech barbecue. Really tasty. Good, warming winter food.
Sigh.
I can't believe it's been more than a week since I've blogged! I'm bad. But you'll forgive me when you hear what I've been doing. I had the newest installment of Kresley Cole's nationally bestselling Immortals After Dark series to review! Lucky, lucky me! Dark Needs at Night's Edge hits shelves April 29th, but you can preorder it now. I strongly suggest you do so, because this one is not to be missed. See below for my review:
 Celebrated ballerina Néomi Laress has been haunting her New Orleans estate since a jealous ex-lover murdered her there in the late 1920’s. In the last eighty years, no temporary tenant of Elancourt has fascinated her as much as the most recent arrival—Conrad Wroth, a mad vampire being held captive by his brothers. Amazing enough to find out about the Lore, the supernatural underworld of Valkyrie, nymphs, werewolves and the like—but even more astonishing is Conrad’s ability to see and hear Néomi in her ghost state.
Conrad is one of the Fallen: a vampire who has surrendered to his bloodlust and drunk straight from the living vein. With that blood, he receives his victims’ memories, crowding into his own mind and distorting reality to the extent that he thinks he’s hallucinating the ephemerally beautiful Néomi. Her presence calms him as his brothers’ drugs and lectures can’t, and Conrad begins to believe she’s real. He also wonders if she might be his Bride, the one woman who can bring his heart—and other parts—back to life. When Néomi strikes a deal with a witch to become corporeal again, Conrad must fight to protect her from his enemies—and even more, from himself.
Kresley Cole is a uniquely talented author, with a gift for twisting romance clichés into fabulously original plots. In Dark Needs at Night’s Edge, the ghost protagonist is the heroine, rather than the hero—and not only that, she’s a sexually liberated woman full of independence and verve, who really should write a self-help book. Her words of wisdom on life and love are priceless—e.g. “People think happiness will simply fall into their laps. You have to aspire to it. And sometimes you have to seize it when it’s kicking and screaming.”—but she never comes across as preachy or smug. She’s someone you’d love to have as a friend. While Conrad, on the surface, appears to be all the hero no-no’s rolled into one; he’s psychotic, a violent killer, an addict, and to top it all off, a virgin! And yet. Conrad leaps off the page and into your heart. He’s unexpected and unpredictable, fiercely determined to get better and to protect his mate, and an absolute fantasty lover in his devotion to Néomi’s pleasure. Their sizzling attraction transcends the limits of the physical; Conrad loves her before he ever touches her, and the evolution of their romance is among the most believable and engrossing I’ve ever read. Cole’s Immortals After Dark series continues stronger than ever with this latest installment.
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