Happy Thursday!!
AWESOME GIVEAWAY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Shannon Whitney Messenger is having a giveaway of The Body Finder and awesome swag to go with it! It is super awesome, she even got a picture for her blog, which is frickin brilliant! You must check out her blog, she's rock, and of course does the giveaway! It ends June 12th so be sure to drop by!
Sharon Shinn is having a giveaway on a copy of Ally Condie's Matched in lieu of her 100+ followers! Since it's not out until 11/30 she'll be pre-ordering it so that it's shipped to you in December! Isn't that awesome?!
Sarah B. Larson is having a giveaway that ends on Sunday for a new book by Stephanie Meyer on a story about Bree!! Be sure to check it out, she's a sweet blogger!
TRUTHS FOR THE WEEK!!!!!
1. I've decided to start something I'm calling Project Jen. A project that allows me to be a little be more - fly by the seat my pants - type of self. I am normally very structured and by the book but I want to live a little more, like the days when I was 19. Since moving to Houston I lost some of my awesomeness, and now I'm fighting to get some of it back!! You'll be hearing a lot more of this when I'm finished reading Eat Pray Love which is giving me inspiration to start this journey! Wish me luck!
2. I've always wanted to learn french. So I've decided I'm going to start. I've bought CD's about a year ago and I'm going to bring them out and start listening to them and studying, then I'm going to take a class and then join a meetup where people get together on Wednesday evenings and speak French so they don't lose their language! Great idea on paper right? Well part of Project Jen is to do something outside of the box... and this my friends is it!
3. So Harry Potter World will soon be opening up and as much as I'd like to go to the grand opening that just won't be happening. Fear not though, I'll be going next year and you bet your butt I'm going to have the time of my life! My new blog buddies Ramona and Melissa love Harry Potter as much as I do. In fact they are wonderful artists and writers who draw and write their own stories about getting to Hogwarts, along with other awesome things! You must check out these two sweet girls!
4. I'm exhausted this week, and the exhaustion is worse than most days because I told my husband the other day "Honey, I think our cats should be us for a day, I mean they live here rent free and lounge around, doesn't it only make sense that every once in awhile they take care of us?"... he agreed, because he's just as imaginative as I am, and because when a crazy person is that tired they shouldn't be messed with!
5. I'm looking forward to tomorrow nights author signing and hope to meet a couple of my blog buddies over there!!! Author Tera Lynn Childs will be talking about her latest book Forgive My Fins and my sister Kim and possibly Kristin Rae will be meeting us there! Pictures to come!
So what are your truths??? Feeling like you need a change in your life, are you going to do something like Project Jen? Want to learn a new language? Have a love of Harry Potter? Exhausted to the point of insanity? Books that you are dying to read? Share anything here!
52 comments:
I'm with you on the Project Jen (ahem, Project Vic). I am painfully aware that I haven't been pushing myself outside of my comfort zone (err rut) for awhile now. Just not sure where to target my energy first.
I totally agree. I think the cats should take care of us when we are under stress. It's only fair.
I used to speak French when I was a kid and would so love to do it again. Maybe if I go to France and just take it all in? Non?
Oh, fly by the seat of pants in life? I don't know if I would know what do with myself! I'm a little too controled for that. I can't even "do nothing" on a weekend day. I won't let myself just veg. It's pathetic. ;-)
I took Spanish in high school and I wish I would have stuck with it.
And I think my cats (and dogs) should run the house for few days. See how hard all that work is. Hmm....then again, they would probably mess everything up- they are very smart. LoL
~JD
I'm skating on the razor's edge of life right now and at first I hated it... but now I'm starting to really like it...
My sister is about to pop a baby, and I'd really love to skip over to the part where the baby is crying in it's hospital crib and my sis is ordering me around the room... is this a normal wish? Or am I being too fearful?
I'd really love it if someone with some 'authority' in the writing/publishing industry to tell me that I AM as good as I think I am... Because sometimes I wonder...
Project Jen sounds like a great idea.. we all need a little push now and then, and it's best when it comes from within. Thanks for your kind comment when you visited my blog. Et bonne chance avec le français!
I need some BIG changes to happen soon. I'm so bored with life right now!
(PS Don't forget about my Elana J query contest that ends next week!)
I hated French! I took four years of it and all I can say is "telesiege": Chairlift. Languages are hard for me, and French sounded all connected together and I couldn't tell the words apart.
Oh well! Good luck to you on learning French!
I can't wait to see Hogwarts live as well! I am feeling restless this week! So I need to do something about that-lol!
I love the idea! Project Jen--breaking out of the norm to try something new :-) I have a great source for learning Spanish, my daughter is a Spanish university instructor, maybe I should start there? Or maybe Twitter :-)Or maybe just really really start that second book?! Thanks for the prod!
Yes, your cats should totally be taking care of you. I'm trying to get my dogs to do that too :) My niece gets to go to Harry Potter world when it opens, I'm so jealous! i have to go check out those blogs you talked about sounds fun!
I want to start something new, but I don't know what yet. You've inspired me to get thinking about it!
Lots of great stuff happening. And I'm so impressed with you deciding to learn French! Go girl!
Lots going on here. But I think your cats would argue with you. Because in fact, it is THEM letting you live in their house ;)
Yay to meeting blog buddies (I'm meeting some of mine tonight!). I'm giving away a signed copy of 13 Reasons Why on my blog if you want to check out that contest too!
http://freckle-head.blogspot.com/2010/06/mini-contest-for-start-of-summer.html
Oooh, I love the sound of Project Jen :) Let us know how it goes!
I've wanted to learn French for years too - I'm going to find some free online podcasts to start with. Maybe we can encourage each other? :) I have *no* French at all, I did German in school and have forgotten it all!
Awe! You're the sweetest! Thank you for mentioning Ramona and I on your blog. There's a new comic tomorrow, just another reason to love Fridays.
Project Jen sounds like an amazing idea. I can't wait to hear more about it. And cats really should take care of us when we're sick, it would only be fair.
Man, I learned French in school before I learned English (Though English is still my first language). My Mom thought it would be better for my future if I had two languages so she started me in preschool. I still sometimes, automatically think in French (this is kind of annoying). But good luck, and it may be hard at first but English is a more complicated language! Trust me, I know!
Have fun at your book signing.
And thanks again.
Hmmm. Need to start book two, need to clean out basement before I end up on TLC's Hoarders Horror show, need to clean shower before mold develops consciousness and takes over.
But first, must pet the kitty. Then the other kitty. Yes, when the children are away, they rule my life. 'Scuse me, fluffy needs some nip.
Project Jen sounds like a great idea. I have slipped into a comfort zone that leaves me restless most of the time. I went so bonkers in my early 20's that I think I did enough living to give me a few years break, and after back surgery have had to take it easy. So I have been more concerned with the physical part of life for a year. Um, time to get out of that frame of mind!
LOL, my dog actually does pull some of his weight around here, he knows how to go get me things and turn on lights. We trained him after surgery for when I would be living alone and incase I needed something like the phone. Have fun at the book signing! Keep us up to date on project Jen, preferably in mostly English ;) I suck at other languages haha.
Good luck with Project Jen!
And I hear you on the exhaustion part, there's too much going on and all I want is some down time to relax and write.
Um, project Jen sounds awesome!
Good luck on the French! I've always loved languages, but the four semesters of Japanese I took in college just about killed me. I just didn't have the time to devote to studying it like it required.
But I'm planning on dusting the cobwebs off my Spanish pretty soon here and will be looking for a class to join. Bilingual nurses are in high demand in my area.
Good luck with Project Jen (PJ--hmm, that could be promising)!
I feel like my writing is Project Rebecca and this last third of the first draft is taking forever. I think I want to renew my focus on Project Rebecca so I can get this damn draft done!
Great post. And, I totally agree about the cats--it's time they step up to the plate. I have a guinea pig that is a total mooch, and it's time. Yes. It's time.
I'm working on a picture book right now, and I'm trying to get a little more free with it and see where it goes. This is a tricky thing to do in a picture book since you only have about 800 words. If you let yourself go too "stream of consciousness" it turns into an epic poem. Not the goal.
sf
Oooh, I am so going to steal your Project Jen idea! I've been haphazardly creating a sort of Bucket List for a while now, and I want to start acting on some of it. I'd love to keep up my French, and I want to learn Italian so that I can go live in Italy for a season (lifelong dream). I also definitely need to start a book club. And take Zumba classes. So many things to do!
Good luck pushing yourself out of your comfort zone! Such an awesome idea.
I want to hear more about this project Jen. Sounds intriguing. :)
Project Jen is a great idea! I need to start Project Sara. I used to be so much fun, now not so much. I'd love just to be able to let go and enjoy things again. Hope you let us in on how Project Jen comes along, it would be a huge source of inspiration to me :-)
Yay for project Jen. Sounds interesting. And it's so cool you're learning French. :)
My truth for the week: I spent the wee hours of the morning finishing Bree Tanner. :)
Good for you and your truths. French sounds great. I wish I cared enough to learn another language. Sadly, I do not. And where are you going for the signing? Sounds so fun!
Gosh, I better read Eat, Pray, Love ASAP! I'm very interested in your Project Jen. Well, except it would be Project Laura, haha!
I want to go to the Harry Potter theme park sooooo much!!!!! If it had opened two years ago, I would've begged my hubby to go there for our Honeymoon. So probably it's good it's opening now, lol!
Go Project Jen!! (love that. :)
I can't wait to go visit HP World!
Yeah, I'm exhausted and stressed.
I don't have cats (allergic) but our two dogs lounge and live the pampered life I was meant to live.
Have a wonderful weekend, love.
I love honest posts like this!
Aw, I'm sorry you're feeling tired! Take care of yourself and relax. And Project Jen sounds like a great idea - I love French too and mine is extremely rusty; I need to practise it more for sure!
Harry Potter World? For real? They don't even have that over here!
Thanks for the info. I'm with you on the cat thing. Don't have any now, but I see your point. Maybe if you posted a job chart on the fridge they'd pick up the idea and run with it? :)
Thanks for mentioning us in your post! I agree with the whole cat thing haha. Maybe I'll try and get melissas cat to take care of me.. heh heh.
The signing sounds like fun! But I hear you on the tiredness—it can be so hard to still be creative when you feel drained.
Good luck on studying French. That's a language I'd love to learn (and a country I'd like to visit!) so have fun!!
Thank you for your friendship!!
Thanks for sharing the giveaway. :)
Project Jen sounds awesome. I learnt French for 3 years in HS. I still can't speak it. I wish I could though.
LOVE!
Yes, very tired over here. But so proud of you in your Project Jen!
Thanks for the links, so many wonderful ones I have to check out now! Cheers!
I want to learn French too! And I want to get my Italian back. After just being in France, I was annoyed over how little I could communicate. I love it there so much and want to go back, so I want to be prepared.
Lost your awesomeness in Houston? Sounds like a song.
I'd love to go to the Harry Potter exhibit too. I hope you can go soon!
I'll check out the links.
hey! I posted my contest! come check it out.
I'm in the midst of Project Guin, Phase I. I dropped my summer class to try and restore a little balance in my life, so that I could focus on my writing and getting back in shape (on top of the day job, of course). Phase II begins when I finally finish with grad school! And one of the things on my list is to learn a language - I'm leaning towards German.
Love the idea of project Jen. Maybe I need to start project Kim. LOL. And that Harry Potter world looks soooooo cool! :)
Project Jen sounds terrific :) As does Harry Potter World!
All my kids are learning Spanish. Sometimes they will run around the house saying things that I can't understand at all. I think I need to start some Spanish lessons. =)
what a great idea, project Jen! I'll have to give some thought as to what project Elle would look like. E P L is on my TBR list.
thanks for visiting my blog earlier!
Truth for the day: I so wanted someone to take care of ME today! It sounds so selfish...I'm tired of the cat crying at 4 am because she misses MY cat. I'm tired of the dog waking up at the crack of dawn to go potty. I'm tired of workers not showing up on the promised day and (big finale) I'm tired of cooking supper!
Really sorry...I'll be more pleasant tomorrow.
Have fun at the author signing, that sounds great! My 12-year-old son (who's biggest problem is that he doesn't take an interest in much of anything) is for some reason fascinated with French. He looks French words up on the internet and told me today the French names of the flavors of the ice cream cone he drew. Not sure what sparked that interest, but I'm glad he's interested in something! And good luck with Project Jen!
ooo project Jen! That sounds like a neat idea. I've also tried to study a foreign language (Italian) and looked for a group to meet up with, but yeah, that never happened. Best of luck with your efforts!! I salute you!
Aaaaaaaaaand, I'm pretty sure I'm going to the signing tomorrow!! :)
Thank you for posting about my contest, Jen!
Good luck on Project Jen! Being spontaneous is scary, and difficult, but you can do it! And I hope you'll have a fabulous time at the signing tomorrow. I still wish I could go. :(
Hi Jen! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today :)
I am totally with you on #1, 2 & 3. I would love to feel like my 19 year old self again, and I need to be more spontaneous as well. Good luck!
I want to get back into French - a coworker and I were practicing speaking solely in French for about 3 weeks, then it fizzled :(
And I just got back from Orlando not too long ago, and I JUST missed the Harry Potter opening. I was very sad. Here's to you and me making it there next year!
I tried to learn French in high school. It did not go well.
Love your project idea! My man is French and I tried to learn, went to a class, but it's so HARD! I can understand a little if he speaks slow, but if he's speaking French, he's usually speaking it a million miles an hour. You should see the hands fly.
Cats should totally have to be their humans for the day. I feel like if that happened not much would get done.
Sounds like you have a great project planned for yourself. Good luck
We'll be making a trip to visit the mouse and the wizard next year as well. Save me a seat!!
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