A Date?

I wasn't offering! hah. Actually, I have a question. Thinking back on who you were in highschool, was there THE ONE that got away? One where you look back now and think, Darn! He/She would have been perfect for me! Why didn't I go for it?

I never think that. lol. I did once, and I actually (TMI alert) years later went on a date with him. DIS-AS-TER. Just because on paper someone is perfect, it doesn't mean you'll click. Or want to make-out.

Which brings me back to my thought. If there was a special someone that you didn't date, why not? What kept you from doing it? Was it a social status thing? Looks? Did they suck face with your best friend?

This will help me on my new book. It's not just for my own entertainment. Okay, maybe it is. But I'm still curious!!!!!

Why did you let someone that was seemingly perfect slip away? And looking back now, do you still think they were your perfect match?

*disclaimer: any similarities to my ex-boyfriends, real or fictional, was unintentional and should not hold me liable to ever talk to them again.

Flossy, flossy!

I'm a good flosser. I was told that today at my dental cleaning, and honestly, you'd have thought she'd told me my book was a bestseller. Because I was so proud. Beaming.


Then she proceeded to stab my gums with a pick and then call them clean. Fun stuff.


Thank you Utica, NY for putting flouride in my water growing up! Things could have been so much worse!


After that, my day sort of fell apart. Perked up! Fell apart.... You know. The usual Mondays. But my friend Daisy Whitney had a totally brill idea. She told me to channel it all into a Women's Fiction novel! And she knows a thing or two about those.


Only problem? My WF characters sound sixteen. And shallow. Don't believe me:



He drove a Honda. Not that I had anything against Hondas. They were great. For poor people. If he was going to show up, take me out, make-out on my couch... he'd better drive a Beamer.



I'm kidding. I totally just made that up. But I imagine that's what I'd write for a Women's Fiction. I'll keep trying though!!!! It sucks that I have the maturity of a sixteen-year-old boy. lol.


-Suz

Kidlit Blogger Conference Day 2 Pictures

Day Two of the Kidlit Blogger Conference in Portland started me with me, Lee Wind and Greg Pincus getting serious.

Laini and Jone were the stars of the show. And they did a darned good job putting it on!

I celebrated with Holly Cupala and listened to a hilarious panel from Colleen Mondor and Jackie Parker. Seriously. Those women were FUNNY!!!! Oh, and Pam Coughlan... she was pretty good. KIDDING! She was awesome!

Then I lunched, yes, as a verb with Greg and a bunch of other fab people. Just before getting to listen to Greg's super awesome presentation.

Author Sara Zarr's presentation was great, too! I was blown away! Maybe a little star struck.

Then it was time to get ready for dinner. Where I was the unluckiest person at the luckiest table. In fact, the Woo Hoo table won so much, it was almost embarrassing. Especially Matt Holm! Everyone was winning except for me. I got a pity prize. :( But Betsy Bird was lucky! That chicken... not so much!

After dinner... well, you know. Kim Baker and Jolie Steckly were hangin'.

Then, in the strangest moment of the night, everyone ditched me! Yeah! I know! Only.... when they returned, it was with the cast of Twilight. In sock puppet form? And yes, that is the amazing Alice Pope. And yes, the sock puppet does have teeth.

And now that it's all said and done, I've realized the craziest thing. I LEARNED A LOT!!!!!!! Thank you Jone and Laini and all of the fabulous bloggers and soon to be bloggers I met! You guys are the dopest!!!!

For more on the conference, you can visit it here.

-Suz

Bloggers are Dope! Kidlit Blogger Conference Day 1

The Kidlit Blogger conference kicked off in Portland on Friday. After hanging out in the lobby for a while, we headed over to Powell's Bookstore. Wow. It was HUGE!

Laini, Jim and I decided to get very serious about the books we chose to read:

After that, we met for dinner at the brewery. I couldn't believe they wouldn't let all 600 of us sit together. Oh, but look! I found Lee Wind and Kim Baker!

On to the actual conference!!!!!!

Wicked Awesome!

When I got home today, there was a package on my doorstop. I tried to remember if I'd ordered anything... nope. So I picked it up and looked at the return address.

OMG. It was from Penguin. Omg, Right? What in the world??? So I was like a kid at Christmas. I felt it. I shook it. I even smelled the envelope.

Finally, I decided it was a commemorative plate of some sort. Logical. I tore it open and found a postcard from my editor and all the WONDERFUL folks at Razorbill. I beamed. Reached in. And pulled out....

A FRISBEE with the Razorbill logo on it! haha. Is that freaking wicked awesome, or what?

But, I didn't bring it with me. I hope my kids don't end up getting it stuck on my neighbor's roof or something while I'm gone!

Check it out!

Up she goes!

There she is. My house. Well, she's on the market today and we're going to be getting ready to move. Where? Not gonna say. Total surprise. And no. My house is NEVER normally this clean. haha

I'm also heading up to Portland tomorrow to get a headstart on my blogger conference. I'm going to get ready by laying across the bed, ordering room service, and watching a movie that I could probably rent at Blockbuster for half the price. So yeah. TOTAL luxury.


Other than that, I might write a bit. My friends have been wonderfully encouraging on my new manuscript, so... I guess I should finish it. Maybe in between eating blueberry pancakes and sipping on diet coke IN A GLASS (cuz I'm that fancy) I'll get a few chapters done.


Have a great weekend!!!!


-Suz

GOING GREEN

Conner managed to get out of my driveway before Becker’s car pulled up. I ducked, but I doubt he missed it. I doubt he didn’t just see me stand him up with another guy. THE guy.

“Why do I keep doing this?” I asked.

“Because you like me.” Conner laughed and then reached over to put his hand on my knee. Not in a creepy, date-rape way, but in a comfortable this-is-okay way. I exhaled.

“How’s Trish?” I asked. I was bitter. She’d ripped out a handful of my hair with her redheaded, Tasmanian devil fighting style. I was lucky I still had both of my eyes.

“She’s good,” Conner said quietly.

My stomach turned. I’d wanted to hear, “She’s bad.” Or, “She was disfigured in a motorcycling accident.” Or best yet, “We broke up.” But he didn’t say that. He just said she was good.

“How’s Becker?” he asked.

I looked over at him, his hand still on my knee, a smirk on his lips. I didn’t get it. I didn’t understand why I kept coming back to Conner. Sure, he was hot. And yes, when we weren’t hiding or being physically assaulted, we got along great. Since that first day when he pinged me in the head with a Frisbee.

“Are we in love or something?” I asked, my voice cracking. What? What the hell did I just ask?

Conner squeezed my knee. “Or something,” he answered and turned down the dirt road.
.

(And by the way, my nose ring is healing nicely. In case you were worried. )

Bloggers and Rocket Ships

Hey! So I got to peek at the schedule for the Portland Kidlit Blogger Conference. YAY! It sounds fun! If anyone else is going, let me know! I'll be the chick with the red, slightly swollen pierced nose and the rocket ship bag. No, seriously. That's me.

Oh, and I might have a little caddy. She's sort of like a mini-me. Only with blue eyes and strong like for trash cans.

Also, I wanted to say what's up to a new blogger, Kelly Polark. I'll try to get to those questions soon! I love to psychoanalyze myself! lol.

Have a great day everyone!!!

-S

And I cried

Me: *Whimper

Hot Piercing Dude(think Ewen McGregor, only with more holes): You'll be okay

Me: Will it look cute?

Hot Piercing Dude: Lay back, Suzanne

Me: Okay. But.... !!!!!!!!

Hot Piercing Dude: You okay?

Me: Yeah (tear rolls down my cheek)

Hot Piercing Dude: You're done

So yes, I'm a big, blubbery baby. I got a super dope nose piercing tonight, but didn't act cool. I acted like a wimp. But Hot Piercing Dude understood. Shout out to High Priestess!

Um... I almost killed the handyman!

I hired a handyman to work on my kitchen. I had some tile to fix near the stove, so we pulled it out and he did his magic. Only, when he went to sweep up, the freakin' electrical outlet exploded in flames!!!! I grabbed the broom thinking he was getting electrocuted!!!!!

Smoke filled the room and he stepped back and turned to me. I was crying a little, sure that he was about to drop dead. But then he said, "Yeah. I think I'll take that Coors Light now."

Holy crow. I almost killed my handyman.

GOING GREEN (more story blog)

After five rides home from school, twelve phone calls and one rose left on my doorstep, I finally agreed to go on a date with Becker. I would have never pegged him as the romantic type, mostly because I had pegged him as the hot-misunderstood-college-guy. So it was a nice surprise.

And since I was still wishing Conner’s lying, cheating face would fall off, I thought Becker was exactly what I needed. Plus I’d gotten over being mad at him. Sure, he’d outed me to the entire school, got me beat up, humiliated me. But the boy did it for love. There was something almost romantic in that.

Plus Brandi was talking to me again and I was no longer a social leper. That helped dissolve the anger. Besides, Conner was the one with a girlfriend. I was just an innocent bystander. Oh, and a complete idiot for believing anything that came out of his stupid mouth. In fact--

“Stella,” my father called from downstairs. “A car just pulled in the driveway.”

I smiled and checked the mirror one last time. At least my father was finally happy. I was pretty sure he hated Conner more than I did. And I’d made a voodoo doll!

The doorbell rang and I slicked on a coat of lip-gloss and headed for the stairs.

“Don’t wait up,” I yelled toward my father.

“What?”

“Kidding, Dad. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

He mumbled something similar to “Damn straight you will.”

I gave him a wave and then pulled open the door. “Oh my God.”

“Hi.” It was Conner. Looking all blond and sad. Looking… like he wasn’t Becker!

I pushed him back with a cautious glance toward my father, then stepped out on the porch and closed the door.

“Are you a psycho? What are you doing here?” I snapped.

He sighed and I swear, he had the saddest freaking eyes I’d ever seen. “Stella,” he whined. “I don’t want you going on a date with another guy.”
I gasped and stared at him. “You are unhinged. And YOU have a girlfriend.”

Car lights appeared at the end of the road and I knew it was Becker.

“Come on,” Conner said, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward his Jeep.

“Ew, no!”

He turned to me, the headlights illuminating him from behind. He grinned. “Come sneak away with me,” he whispered.

Man. Would I ever learn?
.

The Shirt

I wasn't kidding about my 15-year-old tie-dye shirt. Here it is in all its glory. The best part is that the back is completely shredded from years in the wash. And I mean, it's like backless. haha

But don't worry, even though I love the shirt, I'd never wear it out. I changed into my normal clothes before heading to the Eugene Celebration. Well... as normal as I get.

Have a great day!

-S

How many writers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

None! That's why I have a husband!





So we're in the middle of remodeling our bathroom (fun times, fun times) and I'm also trying to be healthier. In fact, with the help of a few mermaids, I'm going veg for the month. I started today, feeling good, not craving dead animals.



My husband was all for it, saying how cool it was and how he was going to do it with me. That we'd be healthy. Yeah. That lasted till about three. He came home with a Wendy's bacon cheeseburger. Think I'm joking?





So...just me I guess. But I bought some cool foods, some I can't even spell! That means they're good for me!

Wish me luck on that remodel!


-S

The First Day Blues...

Well, maybe not "blues"... haha. It would probably be worse if it was full day, but with only a two hour break, I mean, seperation from my daughter. I think I'm handling it okay.

First day of school pics. Aw... don't I look authentically sad for them to go??

Like Mother, like... vlogger?

So, my daughter saw me vlogging today and decided that she HAD to make one. Yeah, I hope she wasn't imitating me. Do I shout? And just look around the room naming things? Anyway this freaking CRACKED me up! Had to share!


For more fun, visit my friend Daisy Whitney and the New Media Minute!

Short weeks make me smile...

They do! Because today feels like Monday... but it's not! That is awesome! And even more awesome, my kids start school TOMORROW!!!! Now, my daughter only goes to Kindergarten from 12-2:30 (don't even get me started on the absence of full-day kindergarten) so it's not much of a break. But at this point, I'll take what I can get!

My writing is going very sloooooowly. But I've been sick. So I'm gonna blame it on that. And not the mini-makeover, house hunting, internet chatting or house cleaning. The sickness is to blame.
But I still have until October to reach my goal. I sure hope those two and half hours a day help me write and not nap. : )

And just to show how clever my daughter is, she came downstairs and said, "Mom, don't freak out." (her new favorite phrase.)

"Oh, God. What did you do?"

She whipped out her Littlest Pet Shop toy and said, "I made him a girl!"

Do you see the Sharpie eyelashes? Isn't that brilliant??? haha

Have a great day everyone!!!!!
_S