Warning: Some Violence and Much Strong Language.HE WROTE: 238
This is post #238. Given we started this on 1 January, that covers a lot. I was re-reading some of the posts earlier this year, pre-publication of DON'T LOOK DOWN. As the Grateful Dead wrote, it's been a long strange trip so far.
Apparently there was a picture of our booksigning at RWA in the Metro, a paper distributed for free in a lot of train stations. Work on Agnes continues. The plot is pulling together quite well. I'm writing ahead and every time I get to an Agnes point of view scene I write something like: And now Agnes and Lisa Livia plot revenge and do whatever wedding stuff they need to do. Soon it will be time to write the bachelor and bachelorette parties. That should be interesting. Especially since a bunch of mobsters are coming in to town to attend the wedding.
No more trips for a while, for which I am very grateful. The next two months will just be writing full time.
And oh yes, Princess is back in the book.
132 Comments:
You are just going to leave us with that? Princess is back in the book? How cruel.
And BTW Virgin Blog!
Ah, but is there a sniper? And have you changed the first line to "In the darkness there is death." without Her noticing it?
How did you manage that? Or did Jenny just find out with the rest of us?
I can't wait to read this book. glad you're just writing ahead. Don't stop. Don't look down. Full steam ahead.
Okay maybe not steam in this heat but you know what I mean. You're already doing it : )
Hi Bob. Glad to hear things are progressing with Agnes and Shane. So how did you convince Jenny to let Princess live, so to speak?
Oh, and there have been many pictures of she and you, links to which we have shared amongst ourselves. So, Jenny's blog ... was that a twitch?
ypodslwh: The yPod - its slowah. (that one never caught on)
238 post by him and her, he and she, B&J, J&B and hundreds of comments by CBs. It has been quite an interesting year.
Bachelor and bachelorette parties . . . just the topic for us CBs to discuss. We've been discussing recently what works and what doesn't for party environments and menus. Can't wait to see how the parties in AATHM turn out - Mobsters, Flamingos, cooks, MOMS, hitmen, carpenters, and now Princess.
Mean Bob - just mean . . ."And oh yes, Princess is back in the book." What about the Coleslaw?
zmpqs - Zany mobsters plan quiet soirees
too long to lookup soiree spelling
izarayec - I Zara, YEC!
CB catch up items:
Jen-T - congrats on the book date and sequal. Have fun at camp.
CC - congratulations on the house! Happy painting and such - that Bathroom is looking good now!
AgTigress - my thougts and prayers are with you and your family.
Thanks to ALL for sharing nationals links and pics and stories.
ScopeDope and Bryan - quit blogging - back to writing.
What is up with blogger today:
lmsghomr - last message - home run!
"And oh yes, Princess is back in the book."
Brave guy, our Bob. Maybe persistent is a better description?
Princess? Noooooooo ... well, lets hope she's a little French poodle who gets groomed weekly and wears a pink rhinestone collar and eats her kibble from a crystal bowl. Princess? Pffft!
How about a peroxide-blond, a nice buxom fiftiesh bar-hanger-outer with a raspy voice and wandering hands? *grin*
rg
ozmytymi
oz, my terrific yodelling mate is (whatever you want him to be)
Princess is back?! Oookay...what I want to know is, why? Given earlier discussions about such things as "it HAS to advance plot/character arc" and Jenny's reasons for cutting the coleslaw scene, why did Princess make it back in? I thought she was cut because her scene didn't move the book along. Presumably, either her role in the book or her character has been expanded. With so much going on in AATH already, what are you doing with her that makes it worthwhile to put her back in?
znsevi...the Zen of seviche.
238 is a lot! Despite our moping when we're left alone too long (or alternative social and antisocial behavior), that's averaging over one per day. Which is WAY better (for us, if not for he and her)than once a week, which I believe was the original plan.
Indeed, bachelor and bachelorette parties will be regarded by us with the eyes of party connoisseurs (connoiseuses? some of each...).
rhgxlw: Restive hyraxes generate xenobiological literary writings
Darn it, a misspelling AND a missed space. Sloppy proofreading, sorry.
and, my punishment, in skinny green letters is: vynzxdyc
Very young nurses zestfully xanax distressed, yelling complainers
Jenny told us in Atlanta that Princess was back, among other things, and said something about Bob had a lot of work to do. Or had done a lot of work. Or was a piece of work. Or was hardly working. It was such an off the cuff comment I wasn't sure whether to believe her, so didn't share it with you all. Plus I figured Bob would want to gloat. You can't see it, but I think there's a smug little smirk at the end of that last sentence.
Really, Bob, you rest up for three days and this is the full extent of information you are going to give us? So maybe this post is only #237.5 and the rest is coming later? Geez. I don't think this counts as a full post. At least it wasn't blank.
bw
yyjjm: blogger is stuttering: yyou're jjust mean!
Ah, Bob is back from kyacking, or whatever.
Welcome back, Bob.
The Princess is back? With pink tee?
Could we get a few word of dialogue? please, pretty please.
Any comments that you read about virtual parties and thongs, just ignore, I don't know any thing about them, I swear.
Looking forward to Agnes!
zqlgwaim red
zats quite long gone with all its misery
Ahhhh, Bob's awake - welcome back. I have to say in the YEC talk, Bob was pretty excited about Princess, and some other stuff.
Okay, didn't get much writing done, but I'll do some tonight. Middle child didn't last long on the golf course in 110 degree (with the heat index) weather, so I had to pick him up, then it was off to the pool, then to a friends house, then back to the course for the younges childs golf camp for two hours, while other child and friend froliced in the pool. Just got done feeding the chicklens, so they are on their own. Time to get to work.
Thank you everyone for all the well wishes and Congrats. I look forward to guilting all of you into buying the book, just so I can sign my name.
Okay, so Princess is back.
Can she please please please contribute something other than perky breasts?
Like maybe she's the sniper? Or the head of the mob? Something surprising, yet plausible.
So Princess is back. Does Jenny know? I thought she did the female POV, so how did Princess come back? Tell all, Bob we are waiting with baited breath. /,D
Glad you are working on Agnes. Hard isn't it? I am having a heck of a time with mine. I just obliterated six pages because when I read it, I didn't like it. I have put back four and I am still not happy with it but I am going to plug on as cherry magic sheryl suggested. She says I can edit later, but I find it hard to go on if what leads up to what I am writing now is awful. Oh well, plug away.
How you doing, bryan? Not easy is it? Mine just needs words but it is hard to find the right ones.
How do you write 18 pages in one day, jen-t? Good for you.
green qhqnortg
Quite happily quoting Nora or Robena takes guts.
So, you're out of hibernation.
Hope you're saving all your words for Agnes because 176 words (yes, I counted them) is pretty paltry for a 3 day siesta.
Lucky for us we can blog with none
;-)
qdvde - quirky dvd enjoyment
Robena said: Princess? Noooooooo ... well, lets hope she's a little French poodle who gets groomed weekly and wears a pink rhinestone collar and eats her kibble from a crystal bowl.
Bubbles the Fluffy Kitten will make mincemeat of her! Even WITHOUT the sniper rifle!
I hope Princess-the-bimbo eats the coleslaw and dies!
I wonder if Bob is giving himself credit for the blank posts?
haerldng -- Norwegian Scrabble
Ooooh, thank you, thank you scope dope *scrapes and bows* you put my name in the same sentence as Nora's, even if it was just a verification sentence. (grin)I am truly flattered and honored.
Bryan and all other bloggers who have knowledge of such things, as you know I'm going downunder (no not there, to Australia ... you guys are soooo bad, I'm going to call all of your mothers if you don't behave) and they are having a Golden Age of Cinema cocktail party, and well ... um ... I have a problem.
I know a lot of women will do the Marilyn Monroe and all of the other sexy stars and well, I don't do sexy. Anyway, I have this ugly scar on my upper arm from a melanoma surgery twenty five years ago so I don't go sleeveless. It's always difficult at cocktail or evening dress time because I'm so damn self-conscious.
I have a black cocktail dress with decent decolatage and if I wear one of those push-me-up bras it might look okay, it has three quarter length sleeves and fits snug over waist and hips, little flare at skirt that hits just below the knee. Do you think I can toss on a feather boa and stick one of those feathery thingies in my hair, and toss on some long pearls and go as a roaring twenties type babe? It's not a flapper dress. And who the heck were the actresses around in those days anyway, sort of twenties and thirties? I do have the short bob, which will work if I don't gel and spike it. (grin)
Help anyone? Everyone? Hell it's got to be better than talking about Princess. Ooops, Bob can read this I forgot we're not at 100 yet.
We love you, Bob! We love Jenny! We love Princess!
rg
wyqab Because qwab is better than wobster
Robena, I'm thinking Marlene Dietrich in WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION.
rjigkq -- Robena, join in gaily, kiss quickly!
RG - Oh please, remember i met you, you sexy hot tomalie you! Geez.
SDCB - How do I write 18 pages a day? I don't know. I just do. Today it was only five, but I only had a couple of uninterupted hours. When the kids are in school, I write from 10-2 or 3 everyday. (I take breakes and blog because I suffer from withdrawl if I don't) I'm up at 5 to excersize, then make the kids breakfast, get them off to school, do the morning chores, then write. I shower right before my oldest gets home, then while I'm doing my hair and make-up, we go over her homework, then the other two come home, we do their homework, the it's usually an early dinner followed by hockey practice, or whatever (somebody has something every night) then home and to bed where I might read for a few hours before I fall aslepp (see, this is why I don't watch TV). Anyway, I do follow a pretty strict ritual during the school year. In the summer, well it's anything goes. My CP partner sometimes gets frustrated with me because I tend to have two chapters to her one. I tell her it's like golf, for every one shot my DH hits, I have like three.
during the school year my goal is 15 pages m-f when doing straight writing. I a big fan of daily and weekly goals. My CP and I set them up a head of time, and bust each other to get them done.
RG: Yes! I can see it and you'll look FAB. Very long pearls. Maybe one of those little hats that fit to the head and come down to a point just off center in front. I'm sure Tal can come up with link to a picture for you. Very dramatic. Cherry red lipstick, of course. Are you seriously self-conscious about a stupid scar? With all your other faults? Nonono. Start over. [grin] I meant, with all your other fine attributes, indecent decollatage included, who ever will notice or care about a thing like that? Just make up an interesting story about it. Pretend you're a writer [wink] and think of something dangerous and mysterious. Gunshot wound, alligator bite, arrow puncture wound -- do you have a brother? I hear they're good for taking the blame for all sorts of things.
I have a very faint vertical scar in the middle of my forehead (didn't even notice it, did you?) and I used to tell people I am a unicorn and had to have my horn removed for safety reasons. So I could stand in the lunch line in elementary school without injuring someone. When they didn't believe that (I'm always amazed by how many people do) I had to tell the truth about the lobotomy.
And what is the problem you all have with Princess? Geez. If Jenny said she could stay then you know Bob must have fixed her-- um, well no, not like that. Made her more interesting. I can't wait to see what he's done to her-- um, just making it worse, aren't I? I'm sure when he's done with her, she won't ever be the same.
bw
qalkm: new virtual distance measurement: quality km's instead of quantity
I think Bob's a brave guy, writing ahead. He thinks the plot's coming together. He thinks they have a plan. He thinks Agnes and Lisa Livia will actually stick to the plan he and Jenny, him and her, have come up with.
Boy, he has a short memory. Or he loves re-writing. Or both.
Robena, google images of Theda Bara. She was Cleopatra in about 1917, and apparently wore a lot of hmm, scarves. But still. Dark eyeliner and dripping beads and you're done!
Me, I'm still trying to recover from the hurricane. I swear it was just a drink, but it knocked me flat just the same.
Robena--if you're in the mood for comedy, what about Claudette Colbert?
You guys are the best. Okay so now I'm going to research all of the names given:
Marlene Dietrich
Claudette Colbert
Theda Bara
Honest. The scar is huge, like a big hole, I had to have a skin graft after it and then a second surgery to resect part of the graft, etc. etc. Was supposed to have a third but decided against it. I don't talk about it much but I'm truly glad to have my life, melanoma is a rapidly progressing cancer and once it hits the lymph nodes you're a gonna.
BSB you made me laugh, my daughter always does the Aussie accident and says, "I was bitten by a croc, 'e was a bloody big thing, too. Nearly lost me arm."
Anyway, thanks. I'm going to research.
Nighty-night.
rg
bzjfyi
bloody zebras, jealously fighting young iguanas
RG- I second the Theda Bara nomination- one of my favorites and extremely eye catching- http://www.filmkultura.hu/2003/orokmozgo/orokmarc03.hu.html
didn't anybody else notice BCB and JJ knew about this Princess update (oh geez, is Jenny still alive?) and didn't tell us? that just strikes me as wrong. WRONG! you guys need to share with other CBs, esp when you are getting to LTD (well, at least part of the dream).
BCB: love the unicorn tale. in my younger days (yes, i have "older days" now) i used to tell whoppers to see how far i could get with them. helped make me the great writer i am today...and the liar. :) always amazed me how gullible people are. scarily so, sometimes. ah, the stories...
rg: see, you should either get a tattoo (if not a real one than one of those sticker ones that last a few weeks or henna) or you can draw some kind of picture on it. you can draw a face on it and say that it's your muse. then people can really freak out when you say you hear voices in your head. or just ignore it and if someone looks at it, give them attitude. your a CB, you have attitude. give them that. or tell one of BCB's stories.
RG- just found http://www.silentladies.com/Ladies.html lots of neat pics
as long as Bob made Princess more believable (Princesses of the world don't go up to "dangerous" men like that, they go up to bad/drunk/stupid men) this is cool. but no coleslaw? and yes, ok, kind of like the idea of having extra scenes other readers don't get.
so, today, during my many other things, i say the movie AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH (Al Gore, about global warming). informative and except for one section very good. i suggest it. the ending credits were really cool too. (i did film for two years- i look at things like that). had lots of fun with my friend too. i'm telling you all this because i know how tal cares. she does. somewhere deep inside her. very deep. almost nonexistent, but there.
Come back, rg come back. Go to http://www.moviemaidens.com and you can take your pick of about 200 movie stars from Mary Pickford (good Canadian girl) to Gene Tierney to Audrey hepburn.
I understand your feelings about the scar. It really doesn't matter that much to other people but it bothers you.
I refused to wear a two-piece bathing suit when I was much younger because I have a large scar on my stomach but, when I lived in Germany and went to the beach, I saw many people with scars all over their bodies and they displayed them like badges of courage. It never seemed to bother them. None of us is perfect. The most important thing is that you survived it. That is wonderful.
blue rldee
Really like Dee.
Luceee, I'm home!
Okay, so I'm back after doing research. Thank you everyone. Amazing sites. I'm definitely going with Claudette Colbert. My maternal grandmother was French and Claudette starred with Clark Gable in, It Happened One Night, a great romantic comedy. I lived in the Clark Gable estates when I was married, in fact our house was on his old equestrian property. I used to say on a windy night when the wind howled through the small canyon that Clark was out there riding his horse. (grin)
Anyway, I relate to Claudette, so Claudette I shall be. Thanks for the help, and see DUG, I take these things seriously so you better darn well be in costume at the event.
Now, enough about me, what about Princess? Do you think Bob went undercover at National and took down notes on dialogue in the bar? Maybe he did. Well he could have. He probably followed every young gal in a pink t-shirt (there were many but I'm not jealous, oh no) and then he eavesdropped and came up with better lines than, "I'm a Libra, what sign are you?" Heh. Are we past 100 entries yet? I fear a Cancer with a bad moon rising, I think it's coming over the mountain top as I speak.
rg
fyodz
fear ye old dogs and zebras
scope dope, that was a really good explanation. sorry for treating it carelessly, rg. i have a scar on my leg but i like it; same with the one above my lips (though that one is so faded it's hard to see). i've always liked my scars, so i guess never got into the other kind of mindset. i have this huge beauty mark (aka mole) on my cheek and it was always "hey, makes me rememberable". scars make you human and they make you interesting. they show you've had a life, and esp with yours, that you survived it. physical proof, if you will.
but if you feel that way, use the cloth. depending where it is on your upper arm you can tie a scarf around that part of your arm and say your supporting this and this cause. then your covering your scar and supporting something.
downundergal I am curious. When is Father's Day in Australia? In Canada it was the third Sunday in June. I was just on the Atlantic DVD store site and it said if you ordered now you would be just in time for Father's Day. Then I found out Atlantic is in Adelaide. Sooooo---?
rg Claudette is a wonderful pick. She was a great actress and beautiful too. Go for it!
blue wuujufo
Writers usually urge Jenny 4 useful fictional organizations.
Bob said "The next two months will just be writing full time."
ok, that just hit me. YES!!!!! go for it. loving that. whopee! *big smile*
Scope Dope, fathers day is first Sunday in September. Mothers Day is 2nd Sunday in May.
I know mothers day is in March in the UK cos one of my books is being released as a 3 in 1 in March in the UK next year, along with a sweet and a temptation as the MOthers Day special. Thats kind of cool.
rg - relax, yes I'm dressing up. I came up with the goddamn theme so I was told I'd better or the committee was going to revolt. So I'm coming as a cigarette girl (even thogh I abbhor smoking). Now, I really really dont have the legs for it but I'm also astonishingly confident (despite my horrid legs, yes I know I'm a conflicted soul) even more so with a glass or two, so will basically not care what people think. My husband tells me that no one's going to be looking at my legs because they'll be too busy looking down my clevage so I thought I'd run with that one ;-)
Only a week and I'll be checking in to the hotel - Crikey!!
sapksqti - sap kissing sap, quite truly intimate
Robena, have you ever seen WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION? One reason I thought of it is that in one scene Dietrich has a similar scar, but only reveals it at the end because her hairstyle covers it.
Could you cover it with some kind of beauty patch a la Marie Antoinette? Or did they wear beauty marks in the Twenties? I know they sometimes had round patches of rouge on their cheeks. The more dashing ones rolled their stockings down and rouged their knees! Another possibility would be a cloche hat, perhaps with a veil--but I vote with those who say you have nothing to hide! (Except perhaps what happened with the ChippenMoles before the virtual hotel burned down....)
Incidentally, I have a similar scar from a melanoma, but I was lucky enough not to have the expanding kind. It's on my upper back.
Here's a selection of flapper outfits in various styles:
http://home.millsaps.edu/mcelvrs/flapper.jpg
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/gallery/2001/03/26/fashionbinoche.gif
http://img.costumecraze.com/images/vendors/rubies/16522-main.jpg
Headpiece:
http://www.flappercostumes.com/pictures/closeups/cal_red_headpiece.jpg
And last but not least, Flapper Barbie:
http://www.dustcatchers.com/barbie/98dancetildawn.jpg
http://i4.ebayimg.com/03/i/06/59/0a/33_1_bl.JPG
http://flowerbcollections.site.voila.fr/imagesbarbies/holiday_voyage.jpg
Don't trust that Theda Bara pic, though; she's obviously working for Blogger. Didn't you see the caption? A vamptól a szexbombáig
xndfzdva -- Theda Bara's cleavage, in Polish
RG - I want pictures from this event of you and DUG. It sounds like so much fun. Although, I'm not a huge fan of dressing up. For holloween I do the same thing every year, I go as a witch and my kids all tell me not to dress like myself. they really think they are funny.
BCB - Didnn't even notice the unicorn scare. I have a nasty scare on my knee, but it's never bothered me. I've had it since I was 9.
Now, even when I'm at my thinnest, I won't wear a two piece because I have ugly stretch marks above my belly button and they are just nasty. I didn't gain a horrible amount of weight with my first child, but number 2 I was 205 and number three I weighed 220 when the little sucker was born. It took forever to lose the weight, and things still haven't shifted back to their right places and he's 9 now. Not to mention the breasts a smaller than when I started having kids. What's up with that?
OH - Yeah, Jenny knows about Princess. She might have even been the one to mention it in the YEC talk at Nationals. Which was great.
Time to wake up the boys and take them to the golf course for their hour lesson. I'm the anti-social mom who sits in her car with her laptop and writes.
ehupdcnk - brain not functioning this morning.
Jen-t the only other woman who's boobs never grew when pregnant. :)
I wish I could get up at 5, but that would mean going to sleep before 1 am. And my kids still wake me up if they need the bathroom in the night LOL.
Must kick my own butt!!
Bob, I like Princess, i think she's going to be a hoot. Two months of writing--BLISS!!!!
RG bared her soul: The scar is huge, like a big hole
Sigh. So all right, you'll have to be a bit more outrageous. You were standing outside during a meteor shower and didn't dodge in time. Or you were visiting a famous American writer of romantic comedy/adventure, practicing your "in movement there is death" pose and her pet turkey vultures thought you WERE dead and took a tentative chunk of flesh. Or you stepped into cannon ball range the last time CC fired up one of her early American antiquities. Or you have gotten much better with knives since you stopped taking instruction from The GAM. I think any of these would work.
Speaking of The GAM, he did not tell us how his CTD pitch went at National. Bob? No one has ever accused you of TMI have they? Well ok, there is that info dump thing. I guess Jenny has cured you of that, since we can't seem to get more than a couple terse paragraphs out of you these days. C'mon Bob, we have a need to know. We have to decide whether to celebrate the prospect of the new Mayer book or don our egg protection gear and storm the publishing world with indignant outrage at their lack of judgement. Which is it?
bw
I'm pretty excited that Princess is back in. I just want to know if she's going to take one for the team.
OH said: sorry for treating it carelessly, rg. i have a scar on my leg
nonono no worries. It's just hard to explain but it was a two inch by two inch muscle resection which means a humongous hole in your arm, where there isn't that much tissue anyway, it leaves a cavity with a skin graft stretched over it. Yuck. Not nice to look at and it stimulates tons of questions.
The only place I go sleeveless is here in the desert because it's so hot no one notices it.
They took the skin off my butt and that healed amazingly well. Can't even see it. So now I proudly wear a piece of my ass on my arm (grin)
The only time I ever worry about it is for cocktail or formal dress because it's so hard to find anything appropriate.
Tal said:Didn't you see the caption? A vamptól a szexbombáig
I laughed out loud. If I could do the fake German accent I'd have gone with that. Always lusted after being a szexbombaig.
rg
vjiojf
vermillion jellyfish in orange juice, fun
Tal? I thought RG said the scar was on her arm, so she doesn't like to go sleeveless.
Robena - I like Claudette too. I love that movie. Well, I'm a sucker for old movies anyway. She was going to be one of my suggestions along with Theda. You two will definitely have to post some pics!
CBs - had the strangest dream right before waking this morning. Davey Dempsey was in it and he was riding a motorcycle and trying to find Gwennie. I'm not sure why and he didn't mention Sophie. Anyone good at interpreting this stuff?
wpcqeize: wonderfully polite cherries quell eager idols zapping enthusiastically
rg noted ... it stimulates tons of questions
Tell them 'its just a flesh wound. Had to take one for the team.'
mcb sez: CBs - had the strangest dream right before waking this morning. Davey Dempsey was in it and he was riding a motorcycle and trying to find Gwennie. I'm not sure why and he didn't mention Sophie. Anyone good at interpreting this stuff?
Interpretation: you're looking for something. And you're hanging out with us too much and have Crusie fiction on the brain. I believe this is a treatable condition, but it's so much more fun to leave it untreated.
Davy on a motorcycle. Yum.
Hi again. Thank you all for being so friendly. It's crazy that you mentioned Theda Bara--I have class in her old house. It's part of my campus in Cinci as our honors villa where my friend Mary lives and where we have some of our classes (Latin is wonderful when paired with hot cocoa from an old kitchen). There is even a little Theda Bara "shrine" in the house.
Also, rg, depending on how large the patch is and whether it's still sensitive, there are still fun stick on jewels. Some are in crazy geometric shapes while others are colored gems that look like dragonflies. Most of my weird marks are on my legs and feet, a saleslady once suggested I try a floor length skirt instead of the one I had so that my "problem areas" wouldn't show. I told her that they all had stories and I liked the shorter skirt. Then again, I fence and then dress to show off the bruises so maybe I'm just strange.
mcb, did the characters look like people in your life? When we read "On Dreams" there was a lot of discussion of that and how fictional people represented people in our lives and/or desires/fears that those individuals represented. To me, Davey is the perfect big brother but to you he might be something totally different.
oh, and I forgot to mention, rg, if there's someone you dislike you just need to get them to kiss that part of your arm and then laugh about where the skin came from and so how they're basically kissing your...
Sweet - Sadly there isn't anyone in my real life who's that gorgeous. He looked ... well, like Davey. Brown hair tousled and sweaty from the helmet. He was really concerned about Gwennie. Hope she's okay.
Jenny? Gwennie's okay, isn't she? That wasn't a vision or anything?
ssduzimg. Sudsy margaritas.
You people make my morning. Other than covering my keyboard ahead of time, all is well. Just have to keep my giggles quiet since I am sneaking on at work.
You might like to hear what my 8 year old DD has been up to. Since we restricted her from surfing male porn sites at the age of 6 she has kept her internet surfing fairly mild. We did get a bill in the mail yesterday charging her for the subscription to TV Guide she ordered. I must remember to keep all credit cards well secured.
question--where can I find out what DD and other acronyms stand for? Some I can figure out and I'm assuming DD is something akin to delinquent daughter, but just curious. Sorry if I was supposed to see this elsewhere.
And sorry, mcb, that you don't have gorgeous people walking around your life. There should be more gorgeous men in this world. Sometimes I see people in movies who are that gorgeous...
DD dear daughter, DS dear son, DH dear husband/heart or dick head depending...
m-i-l mother-in-law, (variations with father, brother, sister etc.)
Hmm.. brains stopped :)
Oops, I guess my mom was the only one to refer to her kids as delinquents... Many thanks, Toni.
My job consists of sitting until someone needs something plugged in so I have a lot of time on the computer.
Sweet - I think someone posted a link once upon a time but I'm to lazy to go looking for it. Here are a list of the most common ones off the top of my head.
dd: dear daughter (unless you are k.l. in which case delinquent might work)
ds: dear son
dh: dear husband.
mil and fil: mother and father in law.
lol: laugh out loud
lmao: laughing my ass off
rotfl: rolling on the floor laughing
fwiw: for what its worth
afik: as far as I know
ymmv: your mileage may vary. Used on Jenny's site a lot to indicate others may have different experiences.
rg,
I think my favorite classic flapper would be Clara Bow. After all she was the IT girl. Though I actually fell in love with her after "Wings".
Please sir, may we have some more...
Uh Oh Cherrybomb
(who STILL can't get blogger to remember her!)
whglz
Well Hello Gourgeous Looking Zippity Zoo
I think Deliquent Daughter is a better description. The downside to being an early reader, is better access to the internet. Guess what happens when a 6 year old kindergartener types in "boys pee pees" into Google? Instant education.
Perhaps Princess will a) prove her usefulness by advancing the plot only to b) die in a horrible, yet entertaining way? There had to be some sort of compromise at work here.
uifshui: the aftermath of feng shui
Speaking of scars...
I have quite a few on my arms. As I have aged, the skin on lower arms has thinned...very sensitive to abrasions and scrapes. It's either a large bruise or skin peeled back and a new scar. Have about a dozen or more on each fore arm. I just let them show.
Claudette Colbert....lovely ladie and great actress. Love her movies.
ufendwq red
user friendly every new day with quietude
glamour-geek theorized ...
Interpretation: you're looking for something. And you're hanging out with us too much and have Crusie fiction on the brain. I believe this is a treatable condition, but it's so much more fun to leave it untreated.
Davy on a motorcycle. Yum.
GG - it was a pretty cool dream as these things go. I have no intention of seeking treatment. And yes he was pretty yum.
Giving this some thought ... Gwennie was the mom, and I was thinking about mine shortly before bed. Also, I live not far from a major road. Trees and so forth mostly muffle the sound but sometimes I catch the sound of someing gunning an engine. Hence the motorcycle. And spending so much time here probably gave me the Crusie theme.
Could be worse. Could have dreamt about BOL. Hannah and Neely turned loose in my dreams is something about which I do not wish to contemplate.
cnx off: French-Canadian curse word.
Sweet - links to internet acronyms:
http://www.magicpub.com/netprimer/acronyms.html
http://www.keno.org/web_design/acronyms.htm
gioklrd - the geo warming affect in a kiln
Louis my DH has the same problem with the skin on his hands. He hit the side of the car putting groceries in and it peeled the skin back like tissue paper. Took weeks to heal.
It is a little different for men to have scars. People just look at them as if they were war wounds, but on women it is not as acceptable, it would seem. Society has always held women up to a different standard in this too. We are expected to be perfect in skin, as well as in other beauty things. Not fair, I know.
Welcome uh oh cherrybomb. I have not seen your name before so I am assuming you have only been lurking in the past, as you said blogger does not recognize you. Welcome aboard.
green cemeiuyb
Crusie edits manuscripts even if unusually yeccy, Bob.
talpianna said...
(Except perhaps what happened with the ChippenMoles before the virtual hotel burned down....)
Lost my Internet connection last Friday and only just got back on line. Clearly, I need to go back and catch up. What started the fire? Was it that jewelled thong Louis draped over the lamp?
btuda said...
Perhaps Princess will a) prove her usefulness by advancing the plot only to b) die in a horrible, yet entertaining way?
Pecked to death by rabid flamingos???
xgayd (blue)
Xavier grew all yellow daisies.
Yikes. Blogger is behaving very strangely.
pkvzw (red)
Please kiss Viggo, Zoe, wouldya?
Attention shoppers ...
Was poking around on Jenny's site and it looks like her WIP list has been tweaked. A little more info on YOU AGAIN and ... wait for it ... SLOW MEN (working title).
cimvx: the newest scent in vapor rub.
Sweet... wrote: My job consists of sitting until someone needs something plugged in so I have a lot of time on the computer.
You have got to be kidding. Got any extra job applications laying around? Seriously, what do you do? It must be management or government work. Keep in mind that if you do decide on grad school you will immediately lose your job, as you will know way too much to remain in such a position.
Other abc's you might not know (or care to know):
DLD: Don't Look Down (it's a book)
AATHM: Agnes and the Hitman (usu. just Agnes, until someone got cute on this latest blog)
GAM: God Among Men (how J once described B in a momentary lapse of judgement, which we will never let her forget)
MOMT: Man of Many Talents (ditto)
TOTW: Take Over The World (we're still quietly working on this)
IIRC: if I remember correctly (which I usually don't)
WTH and WTF: useful in many situations, but usu. attributed to my irreverent children, who at 18 and 21 think they are old enough to get away with it.
I'm sure there are more, but it's too hot to think clearly. Is this week over yet? I need sleep.
bw
TWATB - The World According To Bryan
But since I rarely speak ex cathedra, this one is not often used.
aka Garp?
Now I know where I've seen you before.
bw
ZAZA...
No, no, no,
I'll never live that thong down!
The fire was started by MoleRangers wanting to toast marshmellows. Small fire turned into larger fire.
Bob, I've started reading your "Writers Toolkit" Very interesting insight into what makes a writer write.
mwhaod red
my, what has Agnes overnight done?
Poor Louis. That's how it is with thongs: can't live it up and then expect to live it down. Or as some would say: what goes around comes around. Oooh, interesting visual.
I'm blaming it on the heat.
bw
ycdbbu: YEC doesn't bother Bob unduly
Princess, pretty in a pink tee, minced pass a convertible with a Tupperware of pink coleslaw in the back seat. She grabbed and ran, scarfing as she went. A nearby flamingo, scenting the slaw, jerked it out of Princess’ hand. Both were observed later, heaving. Moral to story: Never eat pink coleslaw.
RG: Usually when turning into a vampire bat, the human sprouts wings on the arms, on occasion, only 1 wing. When returning to human form, the wings drop off, leaving big gashes on the arms. More seriously, been the <4 mm deep "good" melanoma, too.I regard the hunk out of my leg as a badge of my good luck living in the 21st century where doctors know what to do.
OH: Inconvenient Truth is GOOD.
Everyone, FYI: Jenny’s dedication in Crazy For You, 1999, says "For Lee K. Abbott, a god among men."
Back to my definitive essay on "Infinity in the Kitchen."
Zruyp: Zippers Run Up Your Pants
GP: You mean Bob wasn't the first???? I am shocked. Shocked I tell you. Poor Bob. How do you think he's going to handle it?
uhlbn: conjugation in the Ozarks, i.e., we all been, they all been, uhlbn
yoxzau ... what I said when Blogger didn't accept that first most excellent verification definition
You know, Bob mentions Princess and the bachelor party in the same post. Perhaps Princess is one of the entertainers? You know Jenny wouldn't let her in the book unless there was more to it than that one scene.
To hell with costumes and trying to find a feather boa. *grin* I'm forging my way through on this first attempt at a romantic suspense/adventure.
LMAO when I went back into my WIP and highlighted my PI's dialogue. I was studying it to make sure my characters all had a strong distinctive voice. Serves me right for teasing the GAM about Princess being a cliche. Oh my, I'm sorry Bob. Honest. Princess is lovely, very well written.
I suppose, if one were shooting for a gay PI my character might work. Definitely need to get this guy a shot of testosterone. The way it is now the heroine is ballsier than the hero. Not gonna fly. He needs serious work. Now, how to do that without making him a cliche ... hmmm? 'Tis harder than one thinks.
gatorperson said:
RG: Usually when turning into a vampire bat, the human sprouts wings on the arms, on occasion, only 1 wing.
Ooooh! Now that's a good one. Much better than the croc bit me, or my ex tossed a carving knife at me and is doing ten years in the slammer. *grin*
A vampire bat, eh? I'm getting all tingly.
rg
gncckv
goannas not crusty crickets kind virgin
Robena said: They took the skin off my butt and that healed amazingly well. Can't even see it. So now I proudly wear a piece of my ass on my arm (grin)
Didn't you read the Romance Handbook, dear? It's supposed to be your HEART on your SLEEVE, not your ASS on your ARM!
And I think the quote with the Theda Bara pic is Polish or Czech or some Slavic language, not German--too many Zs. (I assume you DO know that the name is an anagram for Arab Death--made up by some studio publicist to capitalize on the sheikh-type movies.)
Sweetanyanka--you DEFINITELY belong here! This is the only romance blog in captivity where we regularly argue about Latin declensions and conjugations.
(Guys, should we tell her about the moles, or would that only scare her off.)
ZAZA: Here's the real skinny. Someone locked the moles (the ChippenMole Dancers, not the ever-well-behaved Mole Rangers) in the room with the avocado shag carpet because they insisted on doing the Hustle as a line Dance. Glamour-Geek took them a pitcher of extra-strong Siberian Dutchmen. (She denies it, but she lies like a rug.) Orangehands apparently induced them to build a campfire, and the last I saw of them, they were toasting marshmallows and singing "Kumbayah." After that things get a little hazy, until I suddenly found myself in the parking lot trying to wrap a blanket around Naked Under My Clothes, who lost her clothes in the fire.
zhxbhwk --Transylvanian for "vampire YEX."
Does this mean NUMC needs to be renamed Naked Under My Blanket? (NUMB)
Dearest RG: to be careful with forging thing, hon. I hear its against the law.
Tal - .... just a moment have to find some napkins to clean up from the spit take.
Oh, and just to clear things up, G-G was NOT lying like a rug about the Siberian Dutchman ... she was laying ON the rug WITH the Siberian Dutchman.
And about now Nekkid probably wishes she WAS numb.
So ... Sweet ... still with us?
vkglauzf: what the Siberian Dutchman was whispering in GG's ear. Of course he was drunk at the time.
But seriously folks ... RG, re the masculine voice thing, have you considered enlisting the assistance of a um person of that persuasion? Maybe feed him dialog and ask how he would say it. It might get you started and help you find that voice for yourself.
rffax ... duplicating frogs
Methinks the Siberian Dutchman did a lot of whispering at that party.
Y'know, I bet it was the Siberian Dutchman who whispered all those rumors in Talpianna's ears about who did what to the moles. I mean, we all know those rumors are false, so he's the most likely candidate to be spreading untrue rumors.
What, you guys never heard of the Lying Dutchman?
Hey,
I can talk like a man... sometimes... when there is no lingerie involved anyway. Or maekup... I'm in the process of learning how to apply makeup.
Oh, all right, I can fake it pretty good so if you want a guys opinion you can ask me.
Jeez, that should be a drop-and-give-me-twenty for that post.
A misspelling and a missing apostrophe in the same post.
Count 'em off, soldier.
I thought it was "The Flying Dutchman"....that fanned the flames etc, etc, etc.
tbsqwwbr green
TBS, quit watching whatever Bob reads
Just to be clear, that was NOT the avocado shag rug I was laying on. I won't go near that thing. Or wouldn't. It burned. Or maybe melted. And it was Ranger, not some random Siberian. Until Mary came and stole him away from me.
Just when we think bryan's getting to girly (corsets, makeup) he goes and does something all manly like pushups.
Makeup is fun to play with. Allows you to create all sorts of illusions. I always feel sorry for guys because when I have a zit (all too often, even at my age. In fact, more now than when I was a teenager), I have recourse to concealer. Unless men are starting to (cleverly) use the stuff without telling us. Now there's a money making business, finding a way to sell concealer to men and still make it masculine.
bryan: in summer it's better to use powders than creams and the like because it's hot and creams will slide all over the place if you sweat. And if it's a model under hot lights you're talking about, I recommend a setting powder.
Ok, first the corsets and bras, now makeup. I swear it's my early years in costume and makeup for the theatre coming back to haunt me. I'll stop now. Promise.
Glamour-geek,
I had to do something to save my image... hell, you're in bootcamp for Bob's sake. (and doing a damn-fine job too, by the way; congrats).
So a few pushups here and there to make up for corsets, makeup, and... let's not forget... writing romance novels... well it's not too much to ask, is it?
It's almost enough to make me dread the first time one of the CB's meets me in person. I don't know whether it would be a disappointment for her (he looks nothing like the cover of a romance novel) or a pleasant surprise (he's not as girly as I thought)... almost worth listening to her talk about me behind my back right in front of me maybe?
Actually, I have to say it's quite lovely to meet CBs in person. When I went to Toronto I had the pleasure of meeting SDCB and CMSheryl (as well as a few of the non-bomb Cherries) for lunch and they are both completely marvelous. Speaking of which, gals, I'm likely to be around at Xmas, so if the weather's not too bad I'd love to see you again!
I've also met some of the San Francisco Bay Area cherry/bombs. I'm even having dinner tonight with Kay T, who comments here on occasion. Kay T is also truly fabulous.
We come in all sizes and shapes and our diversity is part of what makes us so amazing in our cherrybombitude. But we all read, so we always have something to talk about.
OH: Kay T and I expect to arrange a meeting in person in October when you're up in Sta. Cruz and I'm back from Maui. Brace yourself, honey. :)
zeziuqt: Sez I, you cutie!
GG - Um, I know about the bachlor party, well sort of. Bob and Jenny mentioned a few things in their YEC talk about Princess and oh, a few other things about some other people and well, maybe some stripping? I'll let them fill you in.
Bryan - Okay, now you have to post a picture of yourself on your blog, let us know when you've done it so we can all go see it. I'm dying to know what you look like and it's so not fair because you all know what I look like. Oh, but Bryan please, no corset or make-up.
Okay, I need to write. I put 100 miles on my car today driving the kids from her to there to everywhere (gotta love Dr. Suess!)
Jen T: you SHAMELESS HUSSY! B&J mentioned things and you have not come back to REPORT TO US??? You're GOING TO LET THEM FILL US IN???
CBs: look at this. I ask you. She has inside info and doesn't share. *sob*
gwlyg: a town in Wales
Well, Bryan, personally I like a guy who can show his feminine side, just so long as he's good in the sack and can still do push ups, I don't care if he wears ... um ... I mean talks about corsets. Hehe. I'm kidding, haven't had a guy in the sack for ... oh, a long time. But I'm looking. Never hurts to look *jiggles eyebrows, flutters eyelashes*
I did meet two male romance writers at the conference. One was from North Carolina chapter. We were in the Brooks Brothers store together. Nice guy but I've forgotten his name. Had a bit of grey in the hair, pony tail I think, and maybe a beard. Geez. did I really see the guy? I can still picture his smile and can remember the conversation.
Maybe I am getting old. Actually I was in a hurry that day and we didn't talk for long. So there are male romance writers out there, Bryan. I think he said at one time there were four in his chapter.
I need to get a life I think this is my fourth visit here today. You'll be glad when I go to Aust. and am offline. Just wrote my synopsis for Gone Troppo, have to officially call it Gone Tropical, because only an Aussie would get the other expression. It means hiding out in the tropics and assuming another identity. I'm very happy with the synopsis thanks to Ms. Crusie who had an article on creating index cards, starting with, The Trouble Starts, The Protagonist Makes a Plan to Cope With The Trouble, The Trouble Gets Worse, and so on. It really makes synopsis writing a lot easier. Thank you Jenny. I normally hate this part of writing, but it was fun.
rg
ciekowm
okay, I think that's sick woman, I resemble that remark
Yep. Jen is guilty of witholding salient information from her fellow cherrybombs. Its just sad. So sad. You try to raise them right and this is the thanks you get.
egvblc: Egg gets verbal with Crusie
What good does it do to send in a CB to infiltrate the conference and report back, if they don't REPORT BACK? So far we have had HOW MANY cb's at the conference, and NONE of them have bothered to report the really important information. Tis a sad, sad day...
What is this lie/lay business? I'm getting confused, but not about lie/lay. I had that drummed into my skull when I was about 14.
Lie (intransitive verb) Lie down!
Lay (transitive verb, i.e. gets a direct object) Lay your head down! Now, to confuse things further (farther is for real distances only), my fine dictionary says this stuff is getting all mishmashed up and anything goes. @#$% rules are getting ignored! Aargh! AgTigress, I wish you could help me out. Tal, how about it? Bryan, listen up, 'cause I know you've just been waiting for one of these English disputations!
dxhob: Dark Xylophones Have Often Broken.
k.l., they're probably just jealous. I mean, they keep hearing hints about the fun we had, but they never heard the full, untold, secret ipso facto story. Since we were all too Genteel to talk about how you were doing that veil dance with mole-nibbled veils... some of those moles had quite healthy appetites apparently... ;)
By the way, did you ever get your Pole back? I saw him over in the corner talking to the Dutchman, which seems ominous now in retrospect...
RG: I am LMAO at your description of Steve, who is indeed one of the four males in my NC chapter (two of whom were in Atlanta). BTW, he not only refuses to fly (hence the bus ride to Atlanta, the details of which I have yet to pry out of him) but also does not do elevators. He claims to now have thighs of steel, thanks to his room on the third floor -- we have all demanded and are looking forward to a display of proof at our next meeting. [grin] Great guy and very talented writer. Also very happily married.
G-G and MCB: The only thing JenT is guilty of is telling you there might be things of which you are unaware. What happens in Atlanta... well, you just have no idea. You didn't really expect us to tell all, did you? I mean, you weren't seriously expecting us to tell you about the night J was seen conversing with Nora et al, and then dancing, yes dancing, her way off through the atrium to find the party with whom she was to have dinner. Were you?
Can we really be held accountable for your expectations?
bw
From now on, Jen-T (the traitorous b*tch!) is to be referred to as "Princess."
glhkzoa -- parasite which carries a certain disease contracted by hearing discussions of YEC at RWA and not reporting back to one's fellow CBs.
Tal- I hear there is a cure for glhkzoa, it's called 'fessing up- so CBs, let's hear it, what else aren't you telling us? You know there are worse things than glhkzoa, like uwdtcr- I'm not real sure what it is, but your ears and lips turn purple and fall off within a week of hearing fun/neat/wonderful YEC and other news and not sharing it with fellow CBs
Well, I have been called worse, trust me. And the B*tch badge, well I wear that proudly!
However in my defense - I got the evil eye from Bob once at the conference when I kept trying to close his computer. I'm sure he's a much better shot than I, and I did send him a thank you note, with a return address, so well, I don't need snipers taking me out if you get my drift. And they also did mention that some of what they told us at the YEC session might not even be in the final product, so I don't want to give you misinformation then have you turn on me, Oh, crap, you already did that.
Oh, and who paid like 12 dollars a day to come talk to you people and fill you in on what I could, without being shot by Bob. I mean really. He actually made Jenny walk ten feet behind him in the lobby. Oh, yeah, saw it with my own eyes. Of course Jenny had a clean shot at his... yeah, she could kick some serious butt if she had too. So you see, I didn't want to get on the bad side of them.
Geez, you people are hard to please.
just a quick note to let you all know I am alive and well and in the states. I will write more (and actually read the posts) later. After much sleep. Hope all is well with everyone.
BCB: heck yes. to shame. SHAME! (i'm pretty sure i already did this yesterday, but it's been one of those days).
sweetanyanka: just because no one mentioned it (well, didn't look at the sites that lou gave you) but HEA = happily ever after.
scope dope: uh oh CB comes by every once in awhile- blogger hates her so she has to show up as anon.
sweet: that comment about rg should make people she hate kiss her ass/arm...LMAO.
zaza: don't listen to tal whenever she mentions my name. she lies. i went there and they were ALREADY eating marshmallows- i simply suggested they make smores too. i do admit to starting their singing though.
g-g said "OH: Kay T and I expect to arrange a meeting in person in October when you're up in Sta. Cruz and I'm back from Maui. Brace yourself, honey."
definitely. i am going to San Fran for my friend's b-day in early oct, but i think she's already planned the whole thing so maybe later oct (except for Halloween, i love Halloween, that's MY holiday- yes tal, you can start your smartass comments on that- have to be on campus for that for the parties). but other than that, yeah! can't wait.
Christina! you're back? YES!!!! how was it? what did you....ok, letting you sleep, never mind.
JJ, aka Princess J: you should know that by now. but we did appreciate that you popped by...it's just we have such short term memories we only remember the thing you have done last. and that is you kept QUIET.
OH - Actually, I had kept quiet I wouldn't be in trouble now would I?
Princess J - hmmmmm, I like that. Should I change my blogger name again? Although, a tight pink T-shirt wouldn't do much for my figure.
So, have we forgiven me yet? Sigh, I'm really not that big of a B*tch.
Okay, so who made one of those dolls and started sticking it with needles. That's not nice and it hurts, so stop! Torture is not allowed! I beg for forgivenss!
mhgxhq - might heckle gold, xavier hops quickly
Jen T: you are not forgiven until you actually TELL US! Jeez.
We don't care if it might not end up in the book. We can work with hearsay. Hell, we posted how many comments to a blank blog entry? We've got imaginations, we can run with whatever details you give us.
And if you made it all up, how would we know?
Now tell us about the *(&#&*%^*&@# bachelor party already!
Jeez.
Welcome back Christina
Princess J - what's the deal with the bachelor party. Happy belated Congratulations!
G-G - you name the date and we'll meet you. What a great present that will be, a CB Christmas
Bryan - you have to post your pic now. Scope Dope put mine on her blog, along with the dog (he's the one whose ears stick up)I think we're about the same age unless you really did graduate from college as an old geezer.
I'll be offline for a couple of days. I'm in the last throes of revisions. Stuck on the big love scene, been so long I can't remember. Me and RG relying on memory lol
red nasvccp - Jen T's Russian hockey coach
If I knew I'd spill the beans for sure ... never been good at keeping my mouth shut.
But, *sigh* I only got to hear about half an hour of Jenny and Bob's session. Had to go for my editor and agent appointments. Honest. I didn't hear a thing about bachelor and bachelorette parties but I think it sounds like that Las Vegas movie. You know the one, the bachelor party where the stripper dies and they have to get rid of the body. Can't remember the name of the movie but it was hysterical, in a sick sort of way.
Jen-T you are so loyal. Way to go girlfriend. Don't let them put the pressure on. Ignore these party- going sloughs. Stick to your guns. Be true to the Queen and the Gam! That's what I say. Loyalty, not enough of it these days ... psst, call me, you've got my number, I promise I won't tell a soul.
rg
umrfv
um room fairly vibrates (oh no, it's J-T's bed)
christina welcome back. I was thinking of you the other day. Someone on JCF was looking for anyone who could tell her about digs and anthropology or something, for a book I think.
jen-t I still love you. But fess up girl. You should not have said anything I guess, since you should have known it would cause a furor. The CBs are waiting. /.D
Don't you girls go throwing around my Siberian Dutchmen. cologne girl saw them first and I saw them second. mcb and I are going to get our own, so there. sticks out tongue. /,)
blue epnrdp
Everyone who prefers Nora Roberts doesn't (know) Penny's.