TODAY IS MONKEY DAY!!

That means I get to post about monkeys twice this week.  I mean, this is a for real holiday (kind of).  The origins are sketchy.

Some day it started to further the awareness of simian species and habitats.  Someday it began as scientific backlash to the religious holidays permeating the month of December.  Others say it was the creation of a bunch of drunken fools who happened to love monkeys.

For me, it's just another way to express my  love for all things monkey.

You can buy Bad Monkey shirts here.

Here is my latest monkey purchase.  Happy Monkey Day all!!

Monkey Madness Monday: The Word is Love

Did you know Dec. 14 is Monkey Day?

So . . . love.  It's used to express a lot.  I love pizza, I love sock monkeys, I love writing, I love you.

Um, so when I tell someone I love them, I'm pretty much equating them to my collection of sock monkeys.

No.  Doesn't work for me anymore.  I don't love people the same way I love pizza, sock monkeys, and writing.

The truth? I don't like the word anymore.  It doesn't mean anything.  In fact, it feels fake when I say it, when speaking about or to someone dear to me.

The word is taken for granted, overused if you will.  It's become cliche.  I think we need a different word.  It seem like every other language has a different word for these different types of love.  I think the English language should too.

When I tell someone I love them, I want it to mean more than the superficial love we have for material objects or our favorite meal or destination.  It needs to be a word that transcends words.  You feelin' me?

What do you think?  Any ideas?

Monkey Madness Monday

So, it's Monday once again.  Time to achieve some goals.  First, weight.  I actually only gained a pound over the weekend.  I'm shocked and amazed.  Still, I want to drop at least another fifteen before my launch.  I know it's doable, but I don't know if I can do it.  I have my weaknesses.  If I stay away from the appetizer tables at the Christmas parties, I should be all right.

Writing goals: finish the rewrite of my WIP, Sliced.  It's going slow, writing time has been short, but I'm just going to have to buckle down and do it.  Instead of watching Gray's Anatomy and playing Angry Birds I'm going to spend that time writing and reading.

Christmas:  all presents purchased by December 2nd.  That is my goal. I've already done pretty good, but I'm afraid some mall shopping will need to be done. Ugh.

Petty stuff, new boots, maybe an Amazon Kindle Fire (I've fought the ebook long enough), baking, reading, making Christmas cards.

You have any goals for the holiday season?

Monkey Madness Monday

He's not a real monkey, but I love sock monkeys too. 

I know, I know, I didn't blog Friday and you missed me terribly.  Sorry.  After almost a week of traveling for the day job, I suddenly had to prepare a visual presentation of what I learned for our firm retreat which was Thursday and Friday.

So Tuesday and Wednesday I hurriedly prepared outlines and a Powerpoint presentation, then first thing Thursday morning we were off to Leavenworth.  The quaint German town here in Washington, not the prison.

Busy weekend and  now here I am.  Independence day has mostly been my least favorite holiday.  People eat and drink to oblivion, it's normally crappy weather here in the PNW (today is beautiful though, hell must have frozen over).  And then those drunk people light off fireworks.  Whoever thought THAT was a good idea should have been bitch slapped.

While I was married (did I mention my divorce finally went through?) we'd go to the ocean and light our fireworks on July 5th when the beach looked like a garbage dump, but was mostly empty, me not being one for crowds, or obnoxious drunk people, or getting hit in the back of the head with a bottle rocket.

My kids are at the lake with friends and when they get home, they go to their dads.  Today I'm spending it with a "friend" and his kids.  I have no idea what we're doing.  Probably just hanging in the backyard, bbqing, letting the kids swim (I got an above ground pool on the cheap) and catching some fireworks.

I'm wishing you all a happy Independence Day.  Be safe, be sane, and don't blow your arm off.

The Monday Blahs

Is that what I renamed the Monday blog?  I can't even remember.

So, here we go.  I . . . wait for it . . . *insert drum roll sound effect here* . . . finished my copy edits!! *imagines crazed fans screaming in delight while swaying hands in the air and lighting lighters*

I know, I know, after all that complaining I got it done, and it wasn't all that bad.

I've embraced the fact that I'm no longer a 2011 release (I may have embraced it too hard, like strangled it to death), but I am joining the Class of 2k12, and have requested to join the Apocalypsies, like Elevensies, except debuting in 2012 (the year the world is supposed to end, thank god my book comes out in January).

After a chat with my agent, the amazing Irene Kraas (not sure I've ever told you guys that), I'm going to be working a bit on three projects, then deciding which one might work best as our option book.  As well as maybe working on another genre *gasp*  I've got some things up my sleeve (perhaps getting back to a MG series I was working on or dystopian adult work)

What else, what else . . .

Side note, nothing to do with writing, I've joined a Biggest Loser contest at work.  I'm DETERMINED to win.  So if I groan, complain about being tired, sore, or starving, you know why.

Come back tomorrow for whatever the hell Tuesday is now *reminds self to go look at last weeks blog to check*

Catch you on the flippity side.

Yours in peace love and literature,
~Megan