Reading, Writing and Reducing

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T20:14:00.002-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to all my friends - female and male. At a certain point in time, I am sure everyone has had some "mommy duty" of some kind. So, I salute you and thank you for your generosity!

It's been awhile since I blogged, I know. I am still losing weight, albeit not at a rapid pace, and I am still fundraising for the cure. My teammate, Helen, and I were talking last week about our (so far, non-existent) training schedule. She had a lot of family commitments this week, but we are planning to start training in the mornings before work. I am not a morning person. I have been told that I do not even speak coherently before 24 ounces of coffee and 10 am. So wish me luck.

I am about 30% of the way to my goal of $2300 in donations. There are several ways you can help!

1. If you haven't already done so, please go to my page at Susan G. Komen and donate. Even $5 or $10 will help.

2. Need a magazine? Click here to subscribe or renew your current subscription. When you do, up to 40% will be donated.

3. How about hosting a cooking show or catalog show? I had such great success with hosting a Pampered Chef cooking show, I became a consultant. If you book with me, I will donate a portion of my commission in your honor. You will get lots of free and half-priced items. It's a win-win. Email me at barbara.gisondi@gmail.com to sign up for my newsletter or drop by my website at www.pamperedchef.biz/barbaragisondi.

A great big Thank You to all who participated in the Insider Pages fundraiser. I am expecting the check from Insider Pages any day now.

Thank you to everyone for your support and love. I know we can find a cure for breast cancer and ALL cancer!

Love, Barb

My Weight Loss Journey Began

2010-03-11T21:49:00.002-05:00

I just realized that today is March 11th. Last year on March 11th, I spent most of the day at the Barix Clinic in Langhorne, PA for my pre-admission testing. I was scheduled for gastric bypass surgery on March 26th, and I was petrified that my doctor was going to cancel my date. When I went for my initial appointment, naturally, they weighed me. I weighed a lot. A whole lot. A whole lot more than I thought I did. A whole lot more than I ever thought I would. And certainly a whole lot more than anyone should. That was in November 2008. My surgeon, Dr. Pupkova told me I had to lose 5 pounds before surgery. But, instead of losing 5, I had gained 20 pounds.

She did not cancel the surgery, but I was informed that I'd better get to losing. The reason the doctor wanted me to lose a little weight prior to gastric bypass is to reduce some of the fat around my liver. Dr. Pupkova prefers to do this procedure laparoscopically, and without some weight loss, she would have to do an open procedure. Believe me, I didn't want that!

It's amazing what a difference a year makes. Last year, I hoped I would lose 100 pounds. So far, I have lost 126. Last year, I wore size 4X sweatpants. This year, I can fit into one leg (yes, I still have them as a reminder of how far I've come). Last year, I couldn't walk up the stairs in my house or around the block without having to stop and catch my breath. This year, I'm walking 60 miles in 3 days to help end breast cancer. Last year, I wouldn't have even tried!

Thank you family and friends for supporting me and cheering me on!

Busy, Busy, Busy

2010-03-02T19:54:00.002-05:00

Well, I am happy to report that the snow on my front lawn is almost completely melted. There's talk of snow tomorrow or Thursday - naturally, I am not thrilled about it. Still, my favorite TV weatherman promises spring is just around the corner, and I am looking forward to being a training walk leader in my area. Of course, I'm not entirely sure what that exactly entails, but when I find out next Tuesday night, I will be sure to report back to you.

So, besides being swamped at my fabulous day job, I have been busy with fundraising for the 3 Day Walk. This past Sunday, I hosted a Pampered Chef fundraiser at my home. By doing the party, I've earned a boatload of free products which I am going to raffle off to help raise the money to meet my $2300 goal. Click Here if you would like help me out by placing an order. If you can't place an order right now, do not worry. I love the Pampered Chef so much, that I am signing on as a consultant. It combines two of my loves - cooking and public speaking. Let me know if you are interested in booking a party. I will donate a portion of my commission to the cause, and you will get a ton of free products. But again, do not worry, I will probably ask you anyway.

Also on the fundraising front, is my team's magazine fundraiser. (Granted, right now the team is just my friend, Helen, and me, but we hope to gain some more Philly Girls for the Cure members during our training walks.) Here's how it works: When you buy, renew or extend your favorite magazine subscriptions on our online store, up to 40% of each purchase goes back to Philly Girls for the Cure! We offer over 650 magazine titles at up to 85% off the newsstand prices and the opportunity to buy online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And magazines are a great gift idea! If you have not already done so, I hope that you will take a few minutes of your time to help support us. Just click here to go to our online magazine store and help support the cause!

Lastly, I wanted to ask for your help starting on March 15th. I am doing a fundraiser with InsiderPages.com and hope to raise $500. Basically, all you have to do is sign up on my page, and write reviews of local businesses. For each review you write, Insider Pages donates money in my name to the Susan G. Komen 3 Day and that money goes toward my $2300 goal. Please take a minute to check it out. This fundraiser runs from March 15th through April 3rd. It doesn't matter if you live in Philadelphia or Florida or North Carolina or even Poughkeepsie , I just need reviews! If you could help me raise $500, I would be well on my way. But wait until March 15th! Insider Pages will only pay for reviews written in our 3 week period of March 15 through April 3rd. I'll be giving away some fantastic prizes - so ask your friends to sign up, too!

Well, that about covers everything. Thanks for your friendship and support!

Did I Really Say I Was in Decent Shape?

2010-02-12T23:18:00.003-05:00

The plan was to step up my training this week. Normally, I walk 2 miles at a pace of a 3.7 - 4.0 miles per hour. Then I do some strength training and maybe a few laps in the pool. But, I need to start increasing the walking distance and aim for a pace of about 3 miles per hour. Times I've been to the gym this week? Big. Fat. Zero.

Instead of going to the gym, I have been researching fundraising ideas. Since, I'm already booked for a Pampered Chef party, I called my consultant, and we are going to make my party a fundraiser. If you are interested in some great cookware or gadgets (I love the crinkle cutter!), click Here
for my Pampered Chef party page. Or stop by on Feb. 28th. My proceeds will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

I actually have a pretty good excuse for not working out. It's not that I'm too busy with fundraising - it's snow. Last Saturday, we got pummeled with 28 and 1/2 inches. Then on Wednesday, another 18 inches. Now, I'm no math genius, but that's almost 4 feet of snow! It's been kind of hard to get around the city. And that's not mentioning the injuries.

Right, the injuries. Somehow, I managed to throw my back out. Not from shoveling snow, of course. I threw my back out just getting out of bed Thursday morning. Now, I know it probably is from all the shoveling. That snow is heavy. I really have a long way to go in the upper body strength department.

As long as there's no snow, it's back to the gym I go.

My Amazing 3 Day for the Cure Journey

2010-02-07T21:55:00.001-05:00

I’m calling my first blog post for my 3-day web page, ‘The Amazing Journey Begins’. Honestly, I’m not crazy about the title. It kind of sounds a little like reality TV to me. Now, I am not dissing anybody who likes these shows. If you are an American Idol or Survivor or The Bachelor or Amazing Race or even Jersey Shore fan, I completely get it. As much as I loathe admitting it, reality TV is a hoot. Where I personally draw the line, though, is the lack of creative vocabulary from the contestants. They all say the same thing… “It’s been such an “amazing journey.” Really? These are the words used to describe acting and dressing like a skank and throwing yourself at some random bachelor or even worse, Bret Michaels?

That being said, I’m sticking with the title, because this does feel like the start of an amazing journey. I’ve never done anything like this before. So, how did I come to the decision to walk 60 miles? I knew I wanted to take on a challenge. First off, I’m in decent shape for the first time in a long time. I’m at the gym several times a week, and once spring comes, I plan to start training specifically for the event. Secondly, losing over a hundred pounds has boosted my self-confidence big time. I’m a little nervous about trying to raise $2300. But in years past, I would have never even attempted to fundraise, not to mention that I couldn’t physically walk 2 miles, much less 60. Thirdly, I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself. As corny as this may sound, I wanted to give something back. I requested a brochure on the 3 Day for the Cure, and after dragging my friend, Helen to the getting started meeting, I signed on.

Since then, I’ve sent out a ton of e-mail, snail mail, and Facebook messages. I’m so grateful for the support of my family and friends. I’ve even reconnected with a few friends from my old writing group (I’ll be rejoining the group this Saturday), and some friends who I haven’t seen since high school. Thanks so much for your pledges, donations and encouragement! So far – it’s been amazing, and my journey is just beginning!

And Bret Michaels? Nowhere in sight.

Wonder Woman has Left the Building

2009-05-31T20:34:00.002-04:00

I suppose if you read the previous post, you may be wondering what happened to Wonder Woman. Well, I cannot figure out how to get the blog skin to work. And now, I have discovered that since I've been gone, blogger has changed from an html to xml format. I decided the best course of action was to just find a new template. And here it is... it's from shabbyblogs.com. I consider my decorating style a modified shabby chic, so for now, I am rolling with the shabby blog.

I did write in my last post that I would talk books, but to be honest, I worked so long on trying to get the blog template looking decent that I am now out of creative mojo. Besides that, I have read several interesting books lately... it is so hard to pick just one to blog about. This I will have to ponder.

Blogging Redux

2009-05-27T22:32:00.003-04:00

Well, the writing bug has finally bitten again. For now, I am blogging about my weight loss surgery (WLS), books I'm reading and hopefully, new writing projects.

I spent most of the evening trying to get my Wonder Woman blog skin working. Hmmph! It is not looking exactly how I want. There is something wrong with the html code, but I can't figure it out. Funny, this used to be my old blog template - it worked perfectly! Not now, though.

My weight loss is going along pretty well. I have lost over 50 lbs. so far. Today, I felt hunger. I was told that eventually I would feel hungry again. I just didn't expect it to happen so soon! At least a small amount of food now satisfies me. It's not the old tapeworm I used to have in my tummy.

Next time, let's talk books!

Moving....

2007-05-05T23:01:00.000-04:00

to a new blog....

Enslave Me, Baby - Yeah!

2006-05-31T09:11:00.000-04:00

Enslave Me Sweetly by Gena Showalter

She has the heart of a killer, and the body of an angel. . .

Eden Black walks among humans, protecting them from the murderous evil of other-worlders who abduct and enslave. And though she appears to be human herself, Eden is an alien, a Raka, distinguished by her golden hair and skin, and gifted with the ominous ability to kill without remorse – and with total accuracy. That is, until the fateful night she has one shot to eliminate her target, a human slaver – and misses.

“Failure” is not in Eden’s vocabulary. Neither is “partner” – but that’s what she is forcibly assigned after recovering from her disastrous mission. A sexy, steely-nerved human agent, Lucius Adaire enjoys nothing more than sparking the fury – and rousing the desire – of the fiery female assassin to proud to admit defeat. Locked in an assignment they cannot afford to lose, Lucius and Eden find themselves bound in two high-stakes, heart-pounding games: the dangerous web of kill or be killed, and the erotic dance of seduction. . .

Showalter first demonstrated her skill at blending sizzling romance and nail-biting suspense set in a convincing futuristic society in Awaken Me Darkly (2005). She now continues the roller-coaster-like adventure in an equally entertaining tale that will please a wide cross section of readers. *Starred Review* Booklist.

Order your copy from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or BooksAMillion. For more information, visit Gena’s website at http://www.genashowalter.com/ and her blog at http://www.genashowalter.blogspot.com/

Party on Bebe's Blog

2006-05-25T00:59:00.000-04:00

Author Bebe Thomas is giving away free stuff to celebrate her new website and blog. Why not stop by and say Hi? I know she'd love to see you!

STRESSED... I mean that in a good way

2006-05-21T14:06:00.000-04:00

Well, I've had a busy month. The day job has been a little crazy - but in a good way. In the evenings, my alter ego has taken over. She's been busy writing, editing, and working on getting a website together.

It seems strange. I've worked so long and hard to get my romance fiction noticed. And in a couple of weeks, I'll be published under my pen name.

In a way, it's happening so fast.

AND I AM TOTALLY STRESSED OUT!!!! (but in a good way)

Sunset Key

2006-04-29T22:48:00.000-04:00

It's $2.00 people - go buy it!!!!!!

Sunset Key
Cassidy Kent
ISBN 1-59426-563-1

Freesia Daniels, personnel specialist and consummate planner, wasn't prepared to get the boot from her company for possessing a heart. When she decides to return home from Boston to the sunny beaches of Key West to lick her wounds, she discovers her heartbroken past has finally caught up with her in the form of Zachary Gray, her childhood sweetheart. He lures her to his island getaway and lands them smack in the middle of a raging hurricane. Lightning doesn't often strike twice, but this storm might give them both a second chance at love.

Size: HeatSheet
Rating: Pulsar
Excerpt: http://www.phaze.com/Excerpts/SunsetKeyExcerpt.htm
http://www.phazebooks.com/catalog/product_...?products_id=87

So... what have I been up to?

2006-04-20T00:46:00.000-04:00

It's been a wacky few weeks for me. I finally got the position I've been after for the 12 years I've been at my day job. So, I've been learning the ropes.

Then, my car broke down. It was a verrrrrrrry costly repair.

And I've been sick. It started out as a sinus infection, then morphed into bronchitis.

But I do have good news: I recently contracted with Freya's Bower publishing to write two mini e-books. They'll be published under my super secret pseudonym*, hopefully this summer.

*I'm in the process of setting up my website and blog for my alter-ego. I'll let you all know when she's ready for her debut.

In the meantime, I hope everyone had a joyous Passover or Easter.

Babelfish Friday

2006-03-25T00:42:00.000-05:00

A lenten special for you... Babelfish Friday. I've taken some song lyrics and used babelfish to translate them to Spanish. Then Spanish to French. French to German. And finally German back to English. Can you name this tune?

including now, if it a another give will, which watch out, if it someone give will, which have, me expect, as soon as I including now of you think, how/as me climbin ' on the stair it be, and they require, that it so much make he that not even see will, if I correct now know, and I a good life find have than, what I including now we have réveillons the cryin ' in center the night, and I not believe can, that he still so bad inclusively now hurt can, if I me me until today come be will he have pregúntese, where They are, I ask, because he will shine if I at crossing, schw50re I that food in you knew and like demands you including now, I hear that its name and the world changed so much, since it including now gone I to remind still of it and one ignite directly and this pain still the ignited feeling within mo ' and, inclusively now inclusively, if I will have come myself have to today pregúntese now, where you are I ask, because she inclusively now is still so hard without you in lesquel I comes shinin ' that I at food crossing in you and God schw50re, wishes, that you knew inclusively now

My thanks to Lynn Daniels for this groovy idea.

A Happy Belated St. Paddy's Day to Ya

2006-03-22T00:05:00.000-05:00

AKA - in lieu of a real post...

Your Irish Name Is...

Shauna Sheehan

What's your Irish Name?

Still Bored, but Rested

2006-03-11T17:01:00.000-05:00

I just woke up from my nap. I took this blogthings test:

You Are a Visionary Soul

You are a curious person, always in a state of awareness.
Connected to all things spiritual, you are very connected to your soul.
You are wise and bright: able to reason and be reasonable.
Occasionally, you get quite depressed and have dark feelings.

You have great vision and can be very insightful.
In fact, you are often profound in a way that surprises yourself.
Visionary souls like you can be the best type of friend.
You are intuitive, understanding, sympathetic, and a good healer.

Souls you are most compatible with: Old Soul and Peacemaker Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?

I loooooooove blogthings! Sometimes I have nothing interesting to write, so I post a blogthings quiz. Like today.

I have almost completed my first week of The Writer's Way program. I feel like the morning pages are helping, although, admittedly, I do not always do them in the morning. Sometimes they are afternoon or evening pages. And more than once, they have been almost the stroke of midnight pages!

Bored...

2006-03-11T14:23:00.000-05:00

Ha! I typed the title of this post and published it without any of my usual scintillating commentary. I am almost tempted to keep it.

You may have noticed I went back to my old blog design. I love the Wonder Woman blog, but this design has a better flow with my website. I've even thought about publishing the blog as a separate page on the site, but changing the address can't be good. And you know, it's conference season - which means networking and handing out business cards. Yes, my business cards even look like my website.

And just what does this have to do with my being bored? Absolutely nothing. I have plenty to do. I just don't feel like doing any of it. Maybe I will take a nap. I haven't done that in a gazillion years. Um. Well, since last week, but it feels like a long time.

Food for Thought

2006-03-09T22:42:00.000-05:00

I got this in my inbox. Naturally, I have no idea who originally wrote it.

MAYONNAISE JAR and 2 CUPS OF COFFEE

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

Next, the professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "YES."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - God, family, children, health, friends, and favorite passions -- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car.

The sand is everything else -- the small stuff.

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

So...

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play With your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. "Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Randomness

2006-03-08T22:49:00.000-05:00

A Completely Random List of Favorite Songs
What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
Beauty School Dropout
Even Now
Moon River
Lips Like Sugar
The Promise
How Soon is Now
Please Let Me Get What I Want
Baby Girl
Wanted Dead or Alive
Everyday is Like Sunday
Age of Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In
You Don't Have to Say You Love Me

Mercury is in Retrograde!

2006-03-05T13:16:00.000-05:00

According to Astrology.com:It's that time again: Mercury turned retrograde on March 2, and will continue its apparent backward journey until the 25th. Better dust off all the standard Mercury-retrograde cautions: Back up computer files and go the extra mile to express yourself clearly. When the Communication Planet is in reverse, it can feel like productivity is in park! But no two retrogrades are the same -- and Mercury's latest move makes this a crucial time to strike new balance.

Mercury retrograde is always cause for introspection -- even more so as it takes place in Pisces, the imaginative final sign of the zodiac. The Fish swim through deep, dreamy waters, so pay close attention to your subconscious cues for the next few weeks. Reason may be particularly obscured, but as typical modes of communication become tricky, we'll all benefit from indulging those creative sides!

Of course, the planets love a good curveball: On March 4, Jupiter, ruler of values, also turns retrograde (until July 6). With Jupiter's social aspects highlighted -- and its typical grandeur toned down -- now's the time to realistically reevaluate your belief system: What's crucial to your role in the bigger social picture ... and what's holding you back?

Put it all together, and what do you get? A golden opportunity not only to immerse yourself in your dreams, but also to season them with a pinch of reality.

Eureka! This explains everything. Miscommunication of all sorts has been happening this past week. Well, I'm taking a deep breath and will be sure to be extra careful in this respect.

I started working through The Artist's Way this week. It's a 12 week process to recover your creativity. A big part of the program is Morning Pages. It's three pages written in longhand each morning - a journal that I'm not supposed to re-read for eight weeks. It's about getting all of the crap out of the way, so I can then focus on my writing. Of course, the three morning pages are probably the most I've actually written in the past few weeks, so I feel pretty good about it. Another important step is taking my inner artist out on a date once a week. Just the two of us. So, last night, I bought my inner artist the Pride and Prejudice DVD, and we watched it together and ate Ben and Jerry's Mint Chocolate cookie ice cream. I think my inner artist liked it.

But there is the problem. With this Mercury Retrograde thing happening, how can I possibly be sure?

Keep An Open Mind About This...

2006-03-04T00:46:00.000-05:00

You Are 68% Open Minded

You are a very open minded person, but you're also well grounded.
Tolerant and flexible, you appreciate most lifestyles and viewpoints.
But you also know where you stand firm, and you can draw that line.
You're open to considering every possibility - but in the end, you stand true to yourself.

How Open Minded Are You?

What is my blog worth?

2006-03-03T00:03:00.000-05:00

My blog is worth $8,468.10.
How much is your blog worth?

Just Because

2006-02-27T23:26:00.000-05:00

Now that I have succeeded in preventing Sela from quitting writing, I find the prospect more and more appealing. Actually, it's not that I need a break from writing, more like I need a break from "writing related activities". I need to scale back on my extra-curricular activities. I need to learn how to say no.

I cleaned my side of the office yesterday. I've got new files, pretty storage baskets, and a reduced TBR file. Two fabulous finds in my clutter: a $60 rebate form from CibaVision, which I sent out today (one day before the deadline), and my copy of The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.

It occurs to me that these are signs. I ask for signs all the time, but I think God usually sends them in Japanese. I don't even need them to be in English. I could make it out in Spanish, but Japanese, nope. Anyway, I am grateful. And I know I have to get back to basics, back to the joy of writing, back to feeling creative and special. Not because I must. Just because.

What does your name really mean?

2006-02-19T10:09:00.000-05:00

Happy V-Day to You & Happy B-Day to Me

2006-02-14T22:59:00.000-05:00

Your Candy Heart Says "Marry Me"

For you, love is serious business. You don't take dating lightly.
And even if you haven't met the right person, getting married is something you expect to do soon.

Your ideal Valentine's Day date: a romantic picnic in the park

Your flirting style: subtle and calculating

What turns you off: short term flings

Why you're hot: you're a hopeless romantic with each new relationship

What Does Your Candy Heart Say?

A Bit of Humor to Start Off the Week

2006-02-13T08:22:00.000-05:00

Courtesy of my mom...

No. Really.

THINGS STRESSED WOMEN SAY AT WORK

1. Okay! Okay! I take it back. Unfuck you.

2. You say I'm a bitch like it's a bad thing.

3. Well this day was a total waste of makeup.

4. Well, aren't we a damn ray of sunshine?

5. Don't bother me, I'm living happily ever after.

6. Do I look like a people person?

7 This isn't an office. It's hell with fluorescent lighting.

8. I started out with nothing and I still have most of it left.

9. Therapy is expensive. Popping bubble wrap is cheap. You choose.

10. Why don't you try practicing random acts of intelligence and
senseless acts of self-control?

11. I'm not crazy. I've been in a very bad mood for 30 years.

12. Sarcasm is just one more service I offer.

13. Do they ever shut up on your planet?

14. I'm not your type. I'm not inflatable.

15. Stress is what you have when you wake up screaming and you
realize you haven't gone to sleep yet.

16. Back off! You're standing in my aura.

17. Don't worry, I forgot your name too.

18. I work 45 hours a week to be this poor.

19. Not all men are annoying. Some are dead

20. Wait... I'm trying to imagine you with a personality.

21. Chaos, panic and disorder... my work here is done.

22. Ambivalent? Well, yes and no.

23. You look like shit. Is that the style now?

24. Earth is full. Go home.

25. Aww, did I step on your little itty bitty ego?

26. I'm not tense, just terribly, terribly alert.

27. A hard-on doesn't count as personal growth.

28. You are depriving some village of an idiot.

29. If assholes could fly, this place would be an airport.

30. Look in my eyes... do you see one ounce of gives-a-shit?

Currently

2006-02-12T00:50:00.000-05:00

Oh boy. I've been tagged by Karen.

Currently...

current clothing: pink thermal nightshirt
current hair: long, dark brown
current mood: discontent
current refreshment: diet cherry vanilla dr. pepper - it's yummy
current annoyance: I just wasted 2 hours watching The Wedding Date when I could have been writing
current avoidance: character sketches
current smell: cucumber melon dove
current thing you ought to be doing: sleeping
current thing or things on your wall: a wonderful photo of the beach at Ocean City
current IM/person you're talking to: does my cat count?
current jewelry: wedding ring, engagement ring, emerald ring, tennis bracelet, diamond earrings, gold chain and 4 leaf clover charm
current book: Monkey Love
current worry: don't worry, be happy
current favorite celebrity: Colin Firth
current obsession: Bejeweled 2
current love: my hubby
current longing: to work part-time outside of the home and part-time on my writing
current disappointment: My trip to Minnesota may be postponed again
current lyric in your head: No time left for you...
current music: I Believe in a Thing Called Love by The Darkness
current favorite book: Pride and Prejudice
current favorite movie: Casablanca
current wish: to win the powerball jackpot
current happy thing: luxurious sheets
current undergarments: lacy panties
current desktop picture: Landon and Santa
current plans for tonight/weekend: digging out from the blizzard

So what are you currently doing? Who will I tag next?

Play That Funky Music

2006-02-10T08:40:00.000-05:00

It's time for me to admit, I am suffering from one of the worst writerly afflictions - A FUNK. I'm pretty sure the only non-writer who reads my blog on a semi-regular basis is my mom. (Hi, Mom!) So, I'm fairly certain everyone experiences this phenomenon every once in a while.

Really, I've got a ton of ideas floating around in my head. And if I don't work on my own projects, I've got a ton of book reviews to edit, two books to review myself, and a crit to complete. I just don't get it done. I'm not "blocked". I'm funked.

You know what I think I need? Cher.

I might actually pay Cher at this point to reprise her role in Moonstruck. She could slap me across the face and say, "Snap out of it!"

Anyone want to share her cure for the funk?

Or Cher's phone number?

Rejected!

2006-02-05T00:26:00.000-05:00

I really, really, really wanted to get an interview with Jennifer Weiner for Romance Divas. I'm a big fan of chick-lit in general and J.W. in particular. So, I sent an e-mail to her via her website. I got one of those automatic replies with some general information and an e-mail address for J.W.'s publicist. Of course, I promptly sent a copy of the message to J.W.'s representative.

One week later, the following message was in my inbox: "At the moment she is on deadline for her next book so it is a pass". To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. But I tried, right?

My Office

2006-01-20T23:44:00.000-05:00

We've been comparing writing spaces over at Romance Divas Forum. My office is fairly chaotic, but it works for me. I do a lot of writing on my laptop and web-surfing on the desktop. Max likes to spend time with me while I'm working, so sometimes the laptop is not the best choice.

I'm back in Philadelphia. We ran into some car trouble in Florida and had to replace our transmission. Of course, it did give me another week to work on my tan!

I'm going on a business trip to Minneapolis in February. I'll finally get to see the Mall of America. Apparently, I'll get to see a lot of snow, too. Shiver me timbers.

I finally finished my backlog of editing for my book reviewers. Now I have to catch up on writing my reviews. The writing life. Glamorous and then some!

Hello from Sunny Florida

2005-12-28T13:37:00.000-05:00

Hubby and I are in Florida visiting family for the holidays. We had a lovely Christmas/Hanukkah and hope you did as well.

I do realize that I haven't updated my blog in quite some time. I haven't updated my website either. Let's just say, life happens.

And when life happens, I don't do much writing.

But I've been thinking about writing a lot lately. I have a couple of projects brewing in the recesses of my brain. And I have a new sense of purpose - I have been praying to St. Jude about my situation (see life happens) - and I feel my writing is the way.

So, I'm putting together some personal and professional goals. New Year's Resolutions, I guess. I know you will help me keep the faith - and the goals - just like you always do.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

2005-11-15T23:58:00.000-05:00

We took Landon to meet Santa over the weekend. Fortunately for Santa, Landon didn't freak out. On the contrary, Landon liked Santa very much. We even taught him what Santa says, "Ho! Ho! Ho!"

A typical Landon and B.B. conversation:

"Hiya, Bee Beeeeeee!" (Taught him to say hiya, too! - I'm so proud).
"Hi, Landon."
"El-mro?"
"You want to watch Elmo?"
He nods.
I distract him. "What does the ducky say?"
"Crack, crack!"
"What does the kitty cat say?"
"Ma-ow, ma-ow"
"What does Santa say?"
"Ha, ha"
"Ho, ho, ho?"
"Ha, ha"
"Right. Ho, ho, ho!"
"El-mro! El-mro! El-mro!"
Whatever.

Finally...

2005-11-11T22:07:00.000-05:00

The sound you just heard? My sigh of relief. That's right kids. I have found a critique partner, and so far, we are getting along famously. Tara is a Canadian living in Norway, and she is writing a WWII epic romance. She's a fantastic writer, and I feel pretty lucky that she wants to work with me.

I'm kind of stressing about my NaNo. It's morphed into a YA. Yipes. I only have 4 days to see where it's going. I really wanted to enter my NaNo into the GH this year. I need to get cracking.

Good news. Tomorrow, I'm having 4 brand new windows installed in Casa de Barbara. Adios, cold winters!

The new forum launches at Romance Divas Saturday. I got a sneak preview, and it looks mahvelous!

It's All About Me

2005-11-03T22:46:00.000-05:00

Nabbed from Annalee!

1. First name? Barbara aka - Barb, Barbie, Babs, BeeBee, Babette
2. Were you named after anyone? My Aunt Barbara, my father and my mother - it's a long story.
3. Do you wish on stars? Yes
4. When did you cry last? When my friend Lisa's kitty died.
5. Do you like your handwriting? Most of the time. Unless I'm tired or just plain lazy, then it's chicken scratch.
6. What is your favorite lunch meat? Don't have a favorite. Does cheese count?
7. What is your birth date? Valentine's Day February 14th
8. What is your most embarrassing CD? Nelson, After the Rain
9. If you were another person, would YOU be friends with you? Of course. I'm a fabulous person.
10. Do you have a journal? You're reading it.
11. Do you use sarcasm a lot? Not out loud. I'm really sarcastic in my head, though.
13. Would you bungee jump? HELL, NO!!!!
14. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? No.
15. Do you think that you are strong? Mentally and emotionally, yes. Physically, I'm a wimp.
16. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
17. Shoe Size? 11
18. Red or pink? Pink
19. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? I watch too much TV.
20. Who do you miss most? My mom. I wish I lived closer.
21. Do you want everyone you send this to, to answer? I'm putting this in my blog. It'd be cool to see who lifts it.
22. What color pants and shoes are you wearing? I'm not wearing pants or shoes.
23. What are you listening to right now? The ticking of the clock.
24. Last thing you ate? Swiss cheese and wheat crackers.
25. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Periwinkle.
26. What is the weather like right now? A little chilly.
27. Last person you talked to on the phone? Helen S.
28. The first thing you notice about the opposite sex? Maturity and brain power.
29. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Annalee is very funny and cool.
30. Favorite Drink? Diet Sprite.
31. Favorite sport? Hockey.
32. Hair Color? Dark brown, I think. It's hard to tell, I'm growing out a few dye jobs.
33. Eye color? Hazel - green/amber/brown.
34. Do you wear contacts? Yep.
35. Favorite Food? Macaroni and Cheese.
36. Last movie you watched? All of Me with Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin.
37. Favorite day of the year? Thanksgiving.
38. Scary Movies Or Happy Endings? Happy endings.
39. Summer or Fall? Tie.
40. Hugs OR Kisses? Hugs.
41. What Is Your Favorite Dessert? Creme brulee.
42. Who Is Most Likely To Respond? Hmm...
43. Who Is Least Likely To Respond? Hmm...
44. What Books Are You Reading? Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner and A Wedding in December by Anita Shreve and Public Domain by Bridget Midway
45. What is on your mouse pad? A cat wearing shades.
46. What Did You Watch Last Night? Martha Stewart Apprentice
48. Favorite Sounds? Bamboo wind chimes.
47. Favorite Smell? Roses
50. Favorite animal. Dolphins. Of course, if you mean domestic animal, I like cats and dogs. No birds or rodents, please - I'm afraid of them.
51. Where is the farthest you have been from home? Reno, Nevada
52. Do you have a special talent? Other than writing? Hmmm... public speaking, teaching/training, cooking, telling bad jokes. I'm multi-tlented. lol

I'm Making Some Progress

2005-11-01T23:42:00.000-05:00

NaNo Progress Report - Day One

Word Count: 1680 (3% of 50,000 word goal)
First Word: Even
Last Word: Manilow
Favorite Line: It was time to change my life. Really. What other choice did I have? Although, suicide was always an option.
Treat: Nachos
Tip: Write in a different location. I took my laptop and sat in hubby's comfy chair in the living room.

Happy Halloween

2005-10-31T19:03:00.000-05:00

First, let me just say this time change thingy is really messing with me. It always takes me a long time to recover.

Second, if you haven't visited my blog lately, you may have noticed I changed the look. My website is all business, but writing isn't ALL business, it's fun, too! I think Wonder Woman is retro-groovy and very me.

The picture on the left is of my grandson, Landon, out at the mall trick or treating. He's 18 months old and frankly he was not digging it. He did like the lollipops, though. The one on the right is of my nieces, Sarah and Katie. Sarah is dressed as Snow White, and Katie is Sleepy!

NaNo-NaNo

2005-10-29T23:34:00.000-04:00

November is going to be a super busy month for me. I've been assigned to a district wide training project for November and December. I'm tres excited about it - I love training and public speaking!

I've also signed up for NaNoWriMo. I'm going to be writing a chick-lit. It's in first person, and I'm a little nervous about this - I haven't written in first person in many, many moons.

I've got a ton of stuff to complete by Tuesday. Two reviews to write and two to edit for Romance Divas, finish some character sketches, and get my story board together. Oh, and clean up the office! My desk is a mess as usual. I've been blogging on my hubby's computer.

Speaking of Romance Divas, our Tuesday night brainstorming chats are a big hit. We'll be continuing these chats indefinitely, so stop by the chat room Tuesdays at 9:30pm ET to check it out.

Ode to Fuzzface

2005-10-26T00:58:00.000-04:00

My friend, Lisa, lost her precious 16 year-old kitty cat today. Fuzzface got out last night and never came home, apparently the victim of a coyote attack.

It's never easy to lose someone you love. And I hope Lisa can take some comfort in knowing she gave Fuzzface a good life.

Blah, blah, blog

2005-10-22T22:04:00.000-04:00

It's rained all day here in beautiful Philadelphia. I didn't do anything productive. I just lounged around on the couch, ate whatever I felt like, whenever I felt like it. I watched stupid, stupid TV shows and took 2 naps.

I feel like crap. I want to write. Need to write. But I feel like I don't have a creative bone in my body.

Yeah. Mars is in retrograde. And it shows. Most of my writer friends are going through the blahs, too. At least we're going through it together.

Welcome to the World, Katie Schweers

2005-10-21T23:01:00.000-04:00

I'm an auntie again. My baby brother and his wife have graciously added to my ever growing Christmas shopping list.

Katie was born 10/20 at 9:43 AM, weighing 7 lbs 10 oz and measuring 20 inches long. Isn't she perfect?

Here she is with her big sister.

*****I'm Hosting a NaNoWriMo Brainstorming Chat*****

That's right. I didn't think I had enough to do to prepare for NaNo. Bwahahahaha! Stop by Tuesdays at 9:30 pm in the Romance Divas Chat Room.

You will have to become a member of RD to access the chat. But it's totally free. Come on. You know you want to.

*****I guess I'd better come up with a plan B*****
Nope. I did not win the powerball jackpot on Wednesday.

*****And Finally...*****

Another procrastination device. Mrs. Fields email blender.

First you type in some text. Then blend it! This is what the first paragraph of my post looks like blended: Beauty! I'm brainy, boring anathema. Acidify lavish dog-eared unwashed. Groovy! I'm smarting wretches. Lost shipping.

Uptown Girl?

2005-10-13T23:37:00.000-04:00

I've always wanted to live in Manhattan.

You Are Midtown

You love so many things, you don't fit into any one label.
Your city girl persona goes to a fancy restaurant one night and a dive bar the next.

Are You Uptown or Downtown?

Remembering Dawn

2005-10-11T22:55:00.000-04:00

I received an e-mail from my friend, Lisa today. One of our post-college gal pals was murdered on Sunday. By her husband. In front of her 3 year-old daughter.

I haven't seen Dawn in nearly ten years. And I would never say we were close friends, but rather, friendly acquaintances. I didn't know she was married or had a child. But I'll always remember the laughs we had dancing at Kasey's Cove and hanging out at Raquel's house. And her smile. She had the best smile.

Shakespeare? NOT

2005-10-11T03:58:00.000-04:00

LITERATURE! - You have a story...oh yes, you do!
You are not quite sure what it is, but it
burns! It burns to be poured onto the page!
Write! Write I say! And thrill us with your
unique view of the world. YOU are your own
inspiration!

What Kind of Novel Should I Write?
brought to you by Quizilla

YA not?

2005-10-10T23:42:00.000-04:00

Andi (my step-daughter) has me hooked on Laguna Beach. And as strange as it is to watch a bunch of spoiled, rich kids half my age, it got me thinking. Maybe I should try writing a YA for my NaNoWriMo project.

Which Astrological Planet are You?

2005-10-09T22:34:00.000-04:00

I saw this in Silma's blog. She saw it in Bonnie's blog. And I'm borrowing it.

.:Mercury:.

"Your personality often has two sides. You
have no trouble taking things in stride, but
you like a peaceful balance in your life. You
have a lot of creativity, especially when it
comes to the written word. You are a great
communicator and are very open to new ideas.
You also have a strong desire to learn."

. : : Which Astrological Planet are You? : : . [10 Gorgeous Pics!]
brought to you by Quizilla

My Personality

2005-10-08T17:33:00.000-04:00

Your Personality Profile

You are dependable, popular, and observant.
Deep and thoughtful, you are prone to moodiness.
In fact, your emotions tend to influence everything you do.

You are unique, creative, and expressive.
You don't mind waving your freak flag every once and a while.
And lucky for you, most people find your weird ways charming!

The World's Shortest Personality Test

My Animal Personality

2005-10-08T17:24:00.000-04:00

Your Animal Personality

Your Power Animal: Deer
Animal You Were in a Past Life: Panda
You are a fun-seeker - an adventurous, risk-taker.While you are spontaneous, you are not very rational.

It's Not The Heat -

2005-08-02T22:36:00.000-04:00

It's the humidity. Yep. I'm back in the City of Brotherly Love. It's 91 degrees F here tonight and it's stifling. I was in Reno for the RWA conference last week and the weather was in the 90's there, also. But it was surprisingly pleasant.

I began my Reno adventure last Tuesday night. I finished packing two suitcases, a backpack and my laptop case and thought it might be a good idea to confirm my flight for Wednesday morning. So, I pop on to the airline website and discover that while I am booked on the flight, I don't have a seat, and all that is available is the dreaded middle seat. Oh-my-God! I was freaking out. 5 hours to Vegas in the middle seat. No way. The only option available to me was to upgrade to first class for a fee. It wasn't cheap. But my darling hubby felt I should go ahead and buy the upgrade. Isn't he great?

Let me tell you first class is the way to go. If you ever have the opportunity - take it. It was wonderful.

I actually met my first author in the Las Vegas airport. Melanie Jackson writes fantasy romance and she was super groovy. I don't even read fantasy and I bought her book at the literacy book signing.

Anyway I arrived in Reno on Wednesday afternoon. After collecting my bags, I headed out to catch the Hilton shuttle. It was me and like 100 of my closest RWA sisters. I figured it would take me close to an hour to even get on the bus, so I shared a cab with Erin from Phoenix. I checked into the hotel (it's not at all what I was expecting - think 1950's Vegas and The Godfather) and found my roommate, Sherice.

Sherice and I hit it off immediately. She is a fantastic person! We went down to the Passionate Ink party and met up with Sasha White and Sylvia Day. Then we went over to Johnny Rockets for burgers. Yum.

I met up with Sherice again at the literacy signing and we ran into Becca from Romance Divas forum. It's a huge event with tons of authors and the proceeds are donated to help national and local literacy organizations. It was total chaos. I couldn't even get close to Nora Roberts. I did get to meet Julie Elizabeth Leto. She lives in Tampa near where I went to high school. She was really friendly and encouraged me to join TARA when I get back to Florida.

Next we were off to the RWA Online party. I'm not a member of RWA Online, but Melissa the chapter president was gracious enough to let me stay. She even fed me. I chatted with Scott Eagan of the Greyhaus agency for a while and then headed off to bed. I had been up for almost 24 hours by that time and desperately needed my beauty rest.

Tune in tomorrow for the low-down on Thursday workshops and Diva sightings (including a VERY interesting slot tournament)!

Life is Good

2005-07-04T21:48:00.000-04:00

Something really cool just happened.

I live a stone's throw away from the Delaware River and I saw an awesome fireworks show from my deck. While it didn't inspire any great patriotic feeling, it was ultimately a relaxing forty-five minutes. Just me sitting in the dark, with a breeze to keep me cool, and a free light show. Sometimes it's the little things that matter. Sometimes life is good.

Countdown to Launch

2005-06-21T21:52:00.000-04:00

My web designer, Jax, has made excellent progress on my site. I'm working on getting her the info for my works in progress page. And I'm still toying with the idea of a new picture. Anyway, once it's all done, I'll have my official launch party. I'm thinking theme party - any suggestions?

My TBR pile

2005-06-17T23:45:00.000-04:00

I went to Barnes & Noble this evening. I bought 7 books (5 for me, 2 for hubby - although, I'll read his books, too!), and it occurred to me that while the name of my blog is Reading, Writing, and Romance, I never write about reading.

I read a lot more than I write. And I have my reasons.

I can read a book in about a day. I can write a book in about a year. (But, I'm really, really, really going to try to finish the NaNoWriMo this year)!
I can read a book, write the book review and add a publishing credit to my resume.
Reading is easier to multi-task than writing. For instance, I can read while walking on the treadmill at the gym where writing is just not an option.

So there you have it - What I'm currently reading:

The Rebel Bride by Catherine Coulter (My first Regency!)
The Laser Age by Justin Tussing (A short story in the current New Yorker).
True to Form by Elizabeth Berg

My TBR pile:

The Lie That Tells a Truth by John Dufresne
The Big Love by Sarah Dunn
Remember When by Nora Roberts & JD Robb
All He Ever Wanted by Anita Shreve
Dirty Little Secrets by Julie Leto (Go Tampa!)
How I Stole Her Husband by Liz Ireland
Plus, a shopping bag filled with books my friend Janet gave me.

- and I've finally written about reading!

Working on My Website

2005-06-15T00:16:00.000-04:00

I've been busy writing copy for my website. Jax has the design finished, and it's way cool - it matches the blog. I'm working hard to get everything done so I can have my first-ever launch party.

I am a Writer

2005-06-10T22:51:00.000-04:00

I attended day one of the Philadelphia Writer's Conference today. The thing that I really like about this particular conference is the diversity of the attendees. There's very little snobbery here. Published, pre-published, fiction, non-fiction and poetry writers mix, mingle and encourage each other. I chatted this morning with a Science Fiction Writer. This afternoon I met a writer who at age 50 is finally realizing her dream of writing about food. She's working on The Food Lovers Guide to Philadelphia. (And let me tell you, Philadelphia is all about the food).

I had appointments with two agents. One asked for a partial and the other wanted a query.
I also reconnected with a former writing teacher and mentor. He asked me to write some book reviews for a new magazine he is editing. I feel revitalized and validated as a writer.

I feel especially fortunate to be a Philadelphia writer today.

Happy Thoughts

2005-06-09T22:18:00.000-04:00

Can you believe all the haters? I don't know what's going on at those RWA board meetings, but these so-called Graphical Standards has everyone in an uproar. I don't write erotica, but if I did, I'd be pissed when RWA took my money and then tried to exclude me.

It's a shame that we as women writers do not support each other.

Curtis Sittenfeld(a woman and author of Prep), virtually bitch slapped Melissa Bank in the New York Times Book Review this past Sunday. (Thanks to my fellow Philadelphian, Jennifer Weiner for translating said review).

And consider Word of Mouth, an Association of Women Authors, actively lobbying Oprah to include contemporary fiction in her new book club offerings. But they should call themselves an Association of Women Authors Who Write Literary Fiction Only Thank You Very Much because they failed to include commercial authors in their collective.

I always thought RWA was inclusive. Really, we Romance Writers are the bane of the literary world, but our organization respects and supports us. At least I thought they did. Hmmm.

Reading, Writer's Block, and Romance Divas

2005-05-31T21:34:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I don't feel like writing. Sometimes I just want to watch HGTV and eat tortilla chips. I've been experiencing this quite a bit lately. Normally I might feel this way between projects or if edits are due. But I have a lot of work to do. I'm just exhausted. Exhausted by my writer's block, I guess.

Projects I should be working on, but I'm not:

Book reviews for Romance Divas

Outline/Notes/Book Proposal for memoir my dad wants me to co-author

Outline/Notes for WWII Epic Romance

Notes for Romantic Suspense

In other news, my web designer says my website should be ready for launch in June. Hey, June is tomorrow. Cool. I have a short story coming out in the next issue of Moondance, and I am currently waiting for an answer on a story I sent in to Philadelphia Stories.

Well, it's on to the book reviews.

I'm Not a Techie

2005-05-30T18:05:00.000-04:00

I just spent 2 hours trying to get this blogskin right. Now that I've got it, I'm not sure I like it. But I'm done. For now.

New Website

2005-03-06T20:55:00.000-05:00

I am creating this new blog for my new website. When will it be launched? In about a month. I am so excited.