Do you or don't you?

I'm over at the Fictionistas today talking Black Friday. Come on over and share your opinion!

Entertain yourselves

Have you played this crazy Christmas game yet? Head over to Fictionistas to see what I'm talking about.

The Right Gift

I'm at Fictionistas today talking about the hard people to shop for. Who's yours? Come tell me here.

Black Friday

I'm over at the Fictionistas today talking about Black Friday. Do you shop on that day or not? Come spill!

Christmas Sales...

So I hit Target this morning to see what fabulous sales I could find. It was a little underwhelming saleswise, although I did pick up some gifts for next year's Christmas for the kids. Got Hotrod some iPod speakers for $2.50, which seemed like a good buy to me. Other than that, the crowds weren't too bad until it got later in the day (I was in there for about 1 1/2 hours) and then I called it quits.

Hotrod and I are going to a movie tonight. Not sure which one yet, but hopefully Quantum of Solace. We are woefully behind on movies. Obviously.

Now it's back to reading for me so I can make my 50 books in a year goal! And at some point, I need to clean the house. Exciting life I live, no? What are you up to today?

Monday To Do's

Don't be jealous, but one of the things on my list today is to finish my Christmas shopping. Yep, one trip to Target and I'll be done. The feeling of being done is beyond awesome. It's like Ed McMahon just showed up on my doorstep to tell me I've won the Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes and I hadn't even entered. (Of course, I haven't wrapped anything yet. And with 3 cats, wrapping presents is a ginormous undertaking of skill and patience.)

I also have to run to the post office. Then I'm done with outside errands and I can dedicate myself to inside stuff. Which means writing (hoping for 8 - 10 pages, but would be happy with 5) and working on the Writing Basics Workshop I've giving to my chapter this Saturday. I'm not sure why I agreed to do that. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. Or I wanted to see just how far I could push myself before I went postal. I'm close. And I don't need to remind you that I now own a gun.

What's on your Monday To Do list?

Edited to add: A friend's daughter needs votes on her drawing to win a scholarship. Check it out in the link below and vote!

Artist's Choice - Round 1 Brickfish

I'm making a list, checking it twice...

I'm over at Fictionistas today talking about the COOLEST writer gadget thing I've found to put on my Christmas list. Come see!

Random Thoughts

I don't really hate Mondays, but how cute is that picture? Mondays aren't that terrible, really. After all, they mean a fresh start to a new week. How bad can that be?

I'm doing what I hope is my last and final Christmas shopping trip today. Then the wrapping begins. Ick. I don't like wrapping at all.

I dreamed about Jerome Bettis last night. Do you think that means I'm watching too much football?

I have so much to do in the next two weeks, I don't know where to start. Christmas functions to attend, presents to deliver, ornaments to make, cat accessories to buy (for the road trip), presents to wrap, packing...this time of year is so stinkin' busy! But I've resolved to fit some writing in there somewhere.

How do you balance the holiday madness with writing?

Mission Impossible

I'm going Christmas shopping today with some of my chicas, and I hope to finish it up as much as possible. Some of the people on my list are easy to buy for, like my mom. She's like me - sparkly things are alway welcome. My dad on the other hand, not so easy. He's my toughest person. I have a few ideas, but nothing truly inspired or different.

Who's your hard to shop for person? Any thoughts on what to get them? What have you done for them in the past?

Gifts For Writers/Agents/Editors

Since I mentioned Christmas shopping yesterday, I thought I should help the cause and offer some ideas for fellow writers, your agent and your editor(s). Let's begin, shall we?

What agent or editor wouldn't love this handy rubber stamp? Think of how quickly they could get through their slush piles!

This one is perfect for that aspiring writer who is just waiting for that big sale to tell their boss adios! Or perhaps this Jane Austen finger puppet would be nice for the historical writers in your circle of five.

Personally, I think this book would make a great gift for any of the strong women in your life. Who wouldn't want to know how to choke a man with their bare thighs or win a catfight? (Feel free to buy this one for me.)

This fabulous board game could be for anyone who loves books. It's an all-purpose writing-related gift. And one you can suck your non-writing friends into playing with you, only to decimate them and laugh while you do it.

Lastly, these PJ's are covered with books (I know it's hard to see in the pic) and would be perfect for anyone, provided you have the kind of relationship that allows for giving sleepwear.

Hope this helps you in your quest for gifts!

S'up

What are you working on in your writing life? Or are you between projects and just whiling away the hours with a good book?

I'm in the throes of some minor revisions. I hope to have them done by the end of the week or middle of next, then they'll need to be proofed. Beyond that, there is one thing hanging over me like a big red and green cloud.

Christmas shopping.

It must be done - actually, it must be finished. I have a few things, but I need to finish soon since we're driving up to my folks this year. I have to have everything for Hotrod's side delivered early and everything for my side ready to go for the trip.

A trip that will include our three furry beasts. Yes, that's right, the kittens are coming with us. My parents have room for them and it's better than leaving them home. Besides all my usual cat sitters are going to be away too.

Should be interesting. I promise to take pics.