Get to know me! From Rob.

Rob's got this cool thing running on his blog, wherein people ask to be interviewed, and he sends over some random questions, sort of geeky related. Here's mine!

1. Where in the world would you like to travel that you haven’t made it to yet? And what would you do when you got there? I want to go to Hawaii, but we're planning that for the honeymoon, so I won't waste an answer with that. Definitely on my long-term list of vacation spots, though, is a sizable chunk of time in Australia and New Zealand. I want to spend time in Sydney, see the outback, go up to the Great Barrier Reef, and then head up to New Zealand and visit both islands. I figure it'll take weeks to do it all properly, and it takes so long to actually get there, so it's still a bit in the future. But it's definitely on the list!

2. Given your choice of any actor you like (regardless of bugdet), who would you cast as Wonder Woman? When Joss was involved, I figured I could really get behind the casting of Charisma Carpenter as Wonder Woman. I'd love to see her harken back to the second season of Angel, when she was smart, and not tortured, and definitely NOT in love with Angel. When she got all godlike, I lost interest. If not our gal Cordy, I think it'd be fun to see someone like Maggie Gyldenhaal play her.

3. What’s your favorite RPG character, and what’s the coolest thing she ever did? Ooohh... making me go back and revisit geekdom past! I think it was one of my first Tombstone characters (a zombie western game our friend Jay created). I can't recall her name off the top of my head, but she was a twin pistoleer with lightning triggerfinger, so she was throwing lead in the air on every action, practically. Unfortunately, she died in gun battle in a farmhouse, and couldn't be resurrected in time for her compatriots to catch the spider-infested riverboat down to New Orleans, which lead to the next adventure. Still, big fun!

4. Zombies or dinosaurs? Zombies!!

5. Who’s your favorite NYC-based swing band? My vote's got to be for Double Down, who's playing our wedding.

EDIT: And Rob reminded me that part of the meme is anyone can likewise ask to be interviewed, and I'll send over a similar random list of five questions. So go for it!

Eek!

I'm heading to the gym this afternoon after work to hit a pool and get in some running -- my two weak events. Yes, I realize that there are only three events in a tri. Shush!

I also booked my flights, so I'll get in Wednesday night, have Thursday and Friday to train and get acclimated to the altitude (hopefully), take Saturday off to go check in, do the course overview, maybe buy some last minute tri gear, and have a carbo-loading dinner with Yi Shun. Sunday is the big day -- although, by Sunday at noon, it should all be over, one way or the other. Monday, I'm trying to schedule a massage, or just otherwise relax, and Tuesday I fly home.

And then I walked to the gym.

Oh, NYC, I love you!

May have found my wedding shoes.

They're Prada. Swoon!

From the midst of summer sequelitis

This film, coming in the fall. I had no idea they were making it, but I can't wait to see the whole thing. Don't skip the trailer. I got chills hearing her declaim, "I have a hurricane inside me!"

The funny

From the Robot Chicken Star Wars special, my favorite part, which occurs at 2:15 in this clip. I mean, parts were amusing, but this made me laugh out loud.

A survey!

Via Doyce

WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
My mom, with whom I share a first name. Not sure about my middle name, although I do have a cousin with it.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Hmmm. When Doyce proposed? Last time I remember crying, at least.

DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Yep!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Boar's Head ham, sliced super thin.

DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Not yet, but sort of come April!

IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Yes! I'm a fantastic friend.

DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
No, I prefer optimism.

DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yup.

WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
No. Too much fear of hitting something on the way down.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Any one of those childhood favorites: Cap'n Crunch, Alpha Bits, Apple Jacks...

DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Hardly ever wear tied shoes, but when I do -- no, I think.

DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Strong like bull!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Store bought - Breyer's Mint Chocolate Chip. If we're talking Cold Stone, I love vanilla mixed with peanut butter and white chocolate chips.

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Funnily enough, I don't really know. I suspect it's not their face, since I'm so bad with faces.

RED OR PINK?
Pink!

WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
My lack of willpower. 14 more pounds to go!

WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Doyce. Every day I don't get to see him, and every time we have to say goodbye. Also, my dad.

WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
No pants! None! A green dress and green sandals.

WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
A bag of Skittles. See above re: willpower.

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Christina Aguilera's "Welcome," which popped up on shuffle on my iPod.

IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Purple!

FAVORITE SMELLS?
Salt water, roasted peanuts on a city street in winter, sunscreen on Kaylee's head.

WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
A scout who was interested in film rights on one of my authors' books.

FAVORITE SPORTS?
I miss playing football. I used to be in a women's football league that was just too much fun. Also gymnastics, ice skating.

HAIR COLOR?
Brown, with reddish blonde highlights. But let's not talk about it. I'm not sure I like my new haircut.

EYE COLOR?
Blue.

DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Yep. Although I wonder if anyone else has noticed that their eyes dry out when on a birth control pill?

FAVORITE FOOD?
Thanksgiving dinner -- roast turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, crescent rolls, with pudding pie for dessert!

SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings, in the Shakespearean style!

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
At the theatre, probably "Waitress." At home, switching back and forth between "Sweet Home Alabama," "Ice Princess," and "Hitch." Unless it was a DVD from Netflix, which means it was "Accepted."

WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
What about a "green dress" don't you understand?

SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer!

HUGS OR KISSES?
Both!

FAVORITE DESSERT?
Yes.

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
An author's manuscript, with "The River Knows" by Amanda Quick on the queue.

WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
No mouse pad at the office.

WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?
Caught up on an episode of "Studio 60" when I got back from a party.

FAVORITE SOUND?
Kaylee laughing does it pretty well for me, too.

ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
The Beatles

WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
I think it's Prague for me, too.

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Optimism!

WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Not all that far from where I grew up, in Westchester, NY.

I partied with Jay-Z

Well, he was in the next room. But I totally saw him. He got a drink from the same bar where I got my drinks! I didn't recognize him until I heard someone else say who it was, but he was there!

This was last night, after an author reading at The Strand which was followed by a small, intimate book party in a private room above The Spotted Pig in the West Village. I have decided (through observation only, and not hard evidence) that the private party room in that bar has the best bathroom in which to have sex in Manhattan. People, there's a SHOWER in it. A Shower!

Now, I've never actually had sex in a barroom bathroom, but there would have to be certain requirements -- privacy, spaciousness, something strong to hold onto -- and this one has it all, plus (did I mention?) a shower. Hands down winner!

Where I've Been, What I've Been Doing

On our way now to the park, and to get dinner before Doyce and Kaylee head back to the airport and homewards. The beach was a very grand adventure!

Ok, people, now you're just deliberately messing with me

So, the latest office-related update? For the last few days I've been thrilled to be working with my one-day-a-week assistant (let's call him OA, shall we?). He's fast, smart, incredibly competent, and he looks for more work to do. I told my boss that I would be thrilled to just have him as an assistant for the three days a week he's in the office, and not use my shared assistant at all (let's call her SA).

So what do the Powers That Be decide to do? I get OA once a week, my coworker with whom I share SA gets OA twice a week, and we both still share SA on the other days, I guess.

Does this make sense to anyone?

Presumably, the decision was made because OA goes back to classes in September, but last semester he still gave us two days a week of work, so why wouldn't that continue? I'd be happier with two days a week from him, than going back to sharing SA.

Le sigh.

Redecorating a Life

Read my latest piece on Divine Caroline. See a picture of Doyce's new bathroom! Leave comments!

I'm thrilled and amazed to have already turned in my four pieces due in June, so expect a few more postings like this one soon!

Shopping Advice

So last night, after the gym, I went to one of those super trendy clothing stores down in Soho, to try to find a fun little summer dress. No luck for me, though I found some great little things if I wanted people to think I'm pregnant (I don't), and one almost-maybe that's just slightly off a flattering cut for me.

But I'm waiting for a dressing room, and a stick thin pixie of a girl, tall as a sheaf of wheat, comes out to show her boyfriend a dress. She looks like Twiggy in it -- little cap sleeves, round collar, short, short, short hem. Sensibly, she wonders if it isn't too short.

Mesmerized by the unending display of legs, and just then called into a room of my own, I didn't share my opinion, but here 'tis: Ladies, if you can't bend over to slip on a pair of shoes, raise your arms to wave or even adjust a headband, or even sit without flashing everyone your groovy bits, it's too short. Move on. Find something else.

I hope she did.

So frustrating!

Gah! I'm so annoyed. You'd think, six months on, we'd have figured out the sharing an assistant situation. But no. Once a month, at least, maybe more, the aforementioned assistant complains she has too much work to do, and they try to find some convoluted solution, rather than the sensible one -- if she can't do the work, fire her, and find someone who can.

I don't want to be mean. I am trying not to be mean. But I'm now being asked to save some portion of the work I would give to an assistant for the one day a week that another person will be assisting me. And actually, now that I think of it, it's unclear if that one-day-a-week person is supposed to do ALL my work, or just one day's worth. I must confirm.

Granted, I like and trust the one-day-a-week assistant better, and know that they will be able to do the worker faster and more effectively, but still.

So frustrating!

How intriguing

Of course I have loads of books sitting around my apartment and my office and the beach house and Doyce's house, but do I actually want to get rid of them? If I do, what will I place on my much-anticipated bookshelf of books I have yet to read? Well, if I go to a book swap party, then I can both get rid of old books I've read or just no longer want, AND maybe pick up new ones. What a great idea!

Thank You Fleurs!

One of my authors just sent a gorgeous bouquet of peonies in thanks for a very nice deal I concluded yesterday. The picture barely does them justice -- I only wish she'd sent them on Monday instead of today, so I'd have more days in a row to enjoy them! I have to just hope they make it through the weekend.

Reading weekend!

I'm on my reading kick -- one week late, but who cares? I finished rereading a great, funny book last night (as per my recent reads, or you could just go here), and started another on my way into work this morning. Except it was awful, so I'm giving up on it after only two chapters. Hey -- it's more than I give to most writers!

For my weekend at the beach (or curled up on a couch somewhere if I can't kick this nose-sniffle and throat-scratch), I'm bring Special Topics in Calamity Physics, Forever Odd, The Green Glass Sea, and Stones from the River. And three weeks worth of Entertainment Weeklys that I need to catch up on. Apparently, Angelina Jolie is in a movie? Who knew?

EDIT: Apparently, I'm also bringing this, as someone special just sent it to me, and has been telling me to read it for ages.

Looking to make plans for the 4th?

I have suggestions! Check out my latest article on Divine Caroline, and stay tuned for more!

More readings about weddings

From Slate.

Hopefully, I'm not turning into a Bridezilla, though I admit I had to be a little firm with my mom when she voiced some uncertainty about my decision to allow my bridesmaids to pick any dress in my chosen color to wear. I have several reasons for my decision, and I'm sticking to them. Do bridesmaids all in one dress look nice? Yes. But that's not my chosen look. My friends aren't cookies, all cut out of the same mold. Each one's different and unique, and I can't wait to see what they pick for themselves!

As for my weekend of reading...

I didn't do so well. Sure, I started off Friday with a bang, plowing through a bunch of queries and sample chapters, but after that, not so much. There was visiting and driving and shopping to do! So, my reading challenge continues. My hope is to get through all my pages before this weekend, so I can read books (actual books!) while sitting on the beach.

And one of these days I'll actually get some more writing done, too!

Trash the dress?

Not likely. Not unless I could get it cleaned later! I don't have plans to find another use for it after the wedding, but I don't want to negate any possibility of using it again!

And in other wedding-related news, I should make sure these links are handy next April.

I may be going a little crazy here...

But Weddingbee has been posting readers' storyboards for their weddings, and I got inspired. Here's a little something I put together.

It's ok, you can say it. I'm going a little crazy.

Success!!

I knew it. I said it all along, I was going to get my wedding dress at Kleinfeld. I just had a feeling (Misa, you were totally right!) That's why I'd originally planned to hold off actually going to Kleinfeld until August or so, after I'd fully enjoyed dress shopping at a bunch of other places. Well, I went there today on receiving news via The Knot that they were having a sample sale. Our extremely helpful saleswoman Judith first was discouraging when I said I wanted a bateau neckline, but another saleswoman overheard me, and she brought what seemed to be the only bateau-necklined dress in the entire store to me to try on.

Well, it didn't fit. Not quite. (That "quite" turned out to be rather important.)

Still, Judith was hopeful. "It doesn't have a red dot on it," she said, "that means we can order it for you." And, wonders of wonders, it was in my price range, even if we ordered it. So Judith did some more checking around, only to find out... actually, it was discontinued, and it should have had a red dot on the tag.

But it was so pretty! And with a different bra on, and the bow tied in the back, it was so very very close to fitting, and the price was so right...

Long story short, we bought it. Thanks Mom!! After all, I still have about ten more pounds to lose on Weight Watchers, and ten months to do it in. Judith also gave us the name, address, and phone number of one of their top seamstresses, who does some alteration work out of her own house, so we don't get stuck with Kleinfeld's mark-ups. My friend Jennifer also recommended her fantastic seamstress, so I have a couple of options.

It's just so pretty. And so perfect. It's the dress I've been describing all along. It's classic. And no, you don't get any pictures of it. You have to wait until April 12th!

Glee! I have a wedding dress!

Not so much

Just because I like my aphorisms correct!




What type of Fae are you?

Via Doyce, via De.

Update on My Reading Weekend

Came home right after work with a bag full of manuscripts, and have already read through and said no to five queries and five sets of sample chapters.

Also read a very exciting teen series proposal that I'm practically making a list of submissions for! If everyone else can sell on a great concept and a fun-to-read proposal, I don't see why I can't!

&^%*^$# eBay

Grumble, grumble.

Had a thought this evening to go on eBay and see if anyone had any bateau neck wedding gowns available for sale, and lo and behold, someone did!

Except, when I went to ask the seller a question, I got a notice that my eBay account was suspended. Someone's been impersonating a ktbuffy! And now I can't shop! Curses!

Trying to get it all sorted out now, but it's been a frustrating experience.

EDIT: Got it fixed. You know, there are quite a lot of wedding dresses available on eBay. It's hard enough to find one in a shop where you can at least try it on in a sample size -- I can't imagine buying sight unseen off eBay!

Doing it Family-style

I'm just about on my way to lunch, as I have to stop off at my sister's office on the way and drop off some bridal magazines. Yep, you heard me. My sister and her long-time boyfriend/partner/significant other/whatever the appropriate term is got engaged a couple of weeks ago in Hawaii, and if you think Doyce and I moved fast to plan our wedding in April next year, you should see the mach speeds she's achieving for her November wedding.

They're getting married before us, which I'm totally fine with, because a) as I said, they've been together for ages and they have the money to spend now, unlike us who are saving up for our shindig, and b) because this way I get to show Doyce how big and wild and extravagant a NYC wedding could be, and aren't we being oh-so-very-sensible and, dare I say it? Frugal with our choices. Also, I'm confident enough in our personalities that just about every little bit of our weddings will be different. To whit:

Her: a Big City Saturday night black tie party
Me: a suburban Saturday afternoon cocktail and dance party

Her: Ballroom and Catholic church wedding
Me: Country Club and Protestant ceremony

Her: Sit down meal
Me: Buffet style

I'm sure more differences will appear as her planning moves along. It was fun yesterday while Patty and I were dress shopping to send her an email that the salesgirl said she needed to order her dress now in order to have it in time. C's response? "Tell her to mind her own business!"

Store #2

At lunch today, with my maid of honor in tow, I hit my second bridal boutique, and had a MUCH better experience shopping! For one thing, I probably tried on twice as many gowns. For another, I actually found one that I liked a lot. Although, for $3,500, I don't love it. My budget is much smaller than that, but it opened my mind up to a few more possibilities.

I went in with these two pictures of gowns from The Knot. When I told the saleswoman I was looking for a bateau neckline, she said that they're very difficult to find lately, so I guess those were older pictures. Gee, thanks, The Knot! Anyway, my sister and I picked out three dresses to try on at first, and as we found something about each that seemed off to us, the saleswoman (Nicola) went out and brought in more dresses, finally showing us a very pretty strapless dress in a soft ivory/off-white shade, with Alencon lace and tulle ruching at the bodice, and a tulle bow to tie loosely and trail down the train. 'Twas purty. She showed us how it could be made with little tulle cap sleeves, which was very very nice.

Not $3,500 nice, I reminded myself.

Still, for the first time in my dress-trying-on experience, I felt truly bridal. After putting another dress I liked back on, and deciding I didn't like it as much as the strapless one, I put that back on, and flounced a bit around the salon, with a veil in my hair, flipping my train around as I paced a bit in front of a mirror.

We even sneaked a couple of pictures that I have to upload, and may or may not decide to post. And I just checked online, and they're going to be having a trunk show at Kleinfeld's (where I'm going on Sunday for a sample sale, and dress shopping excursion #3), so I may drop in there again, just in case there's any price differential. Probably not, but it doesn't hurt to try!

A challenge? I love a challenge!

Especially a READING challenge. The gist: read and review as many books as you can for a 48-hour period this weekend -- say, from 5pm on Friday June 8th to 5pm on Sunday June 10th. Now, this is especially challenging since I have a birthday party to go to on Saturday, a band to go see on Sunday, and more wedding dresses to try on on Sunday, but do you think that'll stop me? Heck no!

I want to clear my desk of manuscripts, if only because if I don't, I feel guilty for reading for fun. And after BEA, I have lots more fun reading to do!

Happy thought!

The books I checked out of the library this afternoon aren't due back until after Doyce and Kaylee have been here again! It makes the time between visits seem shorter.

One more thing about BEA

If any of my readers who were there also picked up one of those mind-numbingly delicious mint brownies, can you please let me know where they came from, and how I can find more? My mouth is watering just thinking about them!

Famous People and Fabulous Writers

So I spent the day on Friday at Book Expo America, as previously noted, but what I didn't mention before was all the fabulous writers I met or was able to spend time with. Here's a reading list:

• Maureen Johnson - her new book Girl At Sea is out now.
• Libba Bray, author of A Great and Terrible Beauty and Rebel Angels has a new book coming out this fall.
• Holly Black, whose Ironsides is currently on the New York Times bestseller list
• Ally Carter, who had one of the best titles for her forthcoming book -- Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy
• Scott Westerfeld is also a New York Times bestseller, shortly to publish Extras, a new book in his Uglies, Pretties, Specials series.
• John Green has a Printz Award for Looking For Alaska and a Printz Honor for An Abundance of Katherines. He also keeps a very cool video blog.
• Sarah Beth Durst is publishing her first book in three weeks. She's a member of the Class of 2K7, a group of like-minded debut authors with titles being released this year.
• I also ran into Barry Lyga, whose Fanboy and Goth Girl I just read last weekend. He's got a sequel coming out soon!
• At the Children's Book & Author Breakfast, I also met Brian Selznick, whose The Invention of Hugo Cabret was a Today Show pick!
• I also got to say hi in the crowded halls to Shannon Hale, who won a Newbery Honor for Princess Academy, and has a new book coming out in September.

There's many more, but those are just a few to get you started. Get to reading!

Rainy evening

Feeling a little bummed out, and the rain pouring down isn't helping my mood. I just took Doyce to the airport, after a too-short trip here, and won't see him again for three more weeks, when he brings Kaylee out for a beach weekend.

On the plus side (I must, I'm an optimist, even if currently down-in-the-dumps), between now and then I'm trying on wedding dresses at two different shops, one of which is having a sample sale, and I'm going to test out some cupcakes. Also going to a first birthday party for my friend B's little girl, going to a reading at the NYPL, having drinks with friends and coworkers, and a bunch of other things, though that's all I can think of for the moment.

Oh! And I'm also likely telling the PtB about my plans past April, and hoping that they'll think my idea is a good one. Cross your fingers for me.

Update on my Algues

This is the picture, by the way, of the cool arrangement of algues in my coworker's London apartment. Don't they look cool?

Pirates 3

Didn't hate it. Laughed out loud a couple of times, and got all excited and riled up at other times. Then again, it's a hot day, and the theatre was nicely air conditioned. Ah, summer.

For all its faults, it's still a lot better than the second movie, I thought.

Although for a good, thought provoking flick, I'd recommend Waitress.

Free stuff!

Spent most of yesterday at Book Expo America (BEA) at the Javitts Center, grabbing loads of fun looking free books, buttons, stickers, and bags. Claimed a fancy new messenger bag from new Sci-fi/fantasy imprint Orbit, an illustrated bag from Scholastic featuring the new "Harry Potter" cover, a bumper sticker for Stephen Colbert's forthcoming book (no, not Tech Jansen), and a light-up pen. Swag is good. Swag is nice.

Also enjoyed trolling around the aisles with several genius authors I know, running into fun publishing colleagues, and seeing some of the great new books I'm looking forward to reading.

All in all, a good day, made somewhat complicated in our attempt to LEAVE the Javitts Center, and the far west side of midtown, with little to no help from multiple out-of-service or just plain ornery cabs. I then grabbed another cab to the airport to meet Doyce, whose plane was late circling around around NYC, so at least I wasn't the only one.

More updates later.