Rock the Drop

Yesterday was Rock the Drop through ReaderGirlz and Figment. ReaderGirlz started Rock the Drop to honor Support Teen Literature Day.

What's Support Teen Literature Day you ask?  It's when librarians all across the country host events in their library or through their web site to raise awareness among the general public that young adult literature is a vibrant, growing genre with much to offer today's teens. Support Teen Literature Day also seeks to showcase some award-winning authors and books in the genre as well as highlight librarians' expertise in connecting teens with books and other reading materials.

So yesterday I Rocked the Drop.

I dropped my book at my local Safeway store:

And I dropped John Green's The Fault in Our Stars at my local Starbucks:

The Safeway is located near a middle school, the Starbucks near a high school. I hope they found good homes.

Consider Rocking the Drop or doing something else to honor Support Teen Literature Day next year.

For more info, visit the wiki site.

Now for the Friday Scribbles:

Random Pandora Song from the Young the Giant Channel: Yellow by Coldplay

Book of the Week: Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai. My first book in verse. It's about a girls move (true story) from wartime Vietnam to America. I'm really liking it.

Redbox of the Week: 50/50 with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen. Nothing short of awesome.

Quote of the Week: "The non reading children are the greatest problem in American education." ~ Glenn Doman

Happy birthday to me!

So, today is my birthday. I’m old(er) I decided to look up and see what is said about my sign, Aries, here is what I found, the shortened, pertinent points.

All will hear my views and voice
Trial and error is my school of choice
Like a dragon, dashing and daring I appears
Fighting for those that I hold dear
I am ARIES, child of Mars 

(I have no idea where that came from)

• Born leader
• Impatient (least patient sign of the zodiac)
• Strong desire to succeed
• Motivated
• Must learn steadiness, organization and most of all, diplomacy
• When confronted, grace and charm does not really belong to you
• Hurts sensitive souls
• Has an explosive temper
• Fears rejection
• Suffers inferiority complex
• Immense creativity and energy
• Competitive spirit
• Prefers to be where the action is
• Bores easily
• Optimistic
• Independent
• Impulsive
• Courageous
• Combative
• Adventurous
• Leaps before looking
• Takes risks that shock more cautious types
• Emotionally courageous to the point of recklessness
• Will change their entire lives on a whim in order to follow some dream or romantic inclination
• Accident-prone, not because they are clumsy but because they move quickly and impulsively
• Drives fast
• Craves adrenaline
• Willing to go to new places, try new things and start new projects
• Often have trouble with authority and do better as their own bosses
• Good at self-promotion
• Not suited for detail work and prefer to implement big plans and have others fill in the details
• Good at coming up with creative ideas on the spot but may have trouble sustaining the effort to follow through with their plans
• Enjoys watching sports
• Likes to be around others most of the time and tend to seek out novel and exciting situations
• Prefers people who challenge them intellectually and compete with them in some way
• Thinks fast, moves fast and talks fast and too much
• Forceful and even aggressive when pursuing what they want
• Willing to charge head first into conflict
• Prefers to deal with problems immediately, head on, and will rarely avoid confrontation
• Has little respect for those who can’t put up a good fight
• Honest and forthright, almost to a fault at times
• Not subtle, and they have terrible tempers that are easily set off, though they are also quick to forgive
• Often says and does things rashly that cause strife in their interpersonal relationships
• Aries paradox is a strange combination of selfishness and generosity
• Usually quick to help those in need, even at great personal cost and risk
• Fun, lively, playful, and youthful
• Looks younger than their chronological ages
• Retains some childlike qualities throughout adulthood, both physically and psychologically
• Surprisingly sensitive and eager to please
• Pushy and domineering or controlling
• Idealistic, trusting, and in great need of reassurance
• Anything they choose to do, they do fully and completely
• Stubborn and generally refuse to accept defeat
• Rarely stays down for long
• Have a way of coming out on top in most situations 

 I suppose I would agree with most of that. Except maybe the optimism thing. I don't see myself as a very optimistic person, though I am trying to be better.

Okay, here's some people I share my birthday with. I am not exactly the same age as any of them, but I'm closest to Joss Stone. *cough* What?

	Joss Stone 11-Apr-1987 (24) British pop star recorded "Mind, Body & Soul" (2004)
	Vincent Gallo 11-Apr-1961 (50) Actor and director of "Buffalo '66'" also starred in "Tetro"
	Meshach Taylor 11-Apr-1947 (64) His character went from "Designing Women" driver to partner
	Louise Lasser 11-Apr-1939 (72) Star of satirical soap opera "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman"
	Joel Grey 11-Apr-1932 (79) Master of Ceremonies in "Cabaret" on stage and screen
	Ethel Kennedy 11-Apr-1928 (83) Widow of Robert F. Kennedy saw much tragedy in her life
	Howard W Koch 11-Apr-1916 (95) He produced the Academy Awards show on 8 times, and served as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts
	Oleg Cassini 11-Apr-1913 (98) High-fashion designer, couturier to Jacqueline Kennedy

Getting serious

Okay, I keep telling myself I need to get back in shape and it's just not happening.  We've started another biggest loser contest at work, my class reunion is coming up this summer, and I'm going to NY in June, and I'd really like to drop some extra weight I've packed on since my divorce.

I think I've pinpointed some things I need to do to help myself out. I mean, I eat pretty well, Greek yogurt for breakfast, salads for lunch, I don't eat fried foods, I stay away from red meat most the time, I don't eat fast food. I eat good carbs, good fats. I've been exercising. I've started a 5k training class and have stuck with my exercise schedule, so here are the things I think I'll have to sacrifice to make this happen.

Starbucks. Okay, I will probably not give this up entirely, but I think I'll make it a treat once a week. I'll just have to decide which day.

Eating out. I've been doing this way too much, especially since I starting the online dating stuff. I have been eating salads mostly when I've been going out, but I know even those aren't that great for you. So, no more. Plus, I need to save money too, this will help my waistline and my bank account.

*cough* wine *cough* So I like some wine sometimes. sigh. whatever.

Admittedly, none of this will happen until Thursday though, as tomorrow is my birthday and I will be celebrating. :)

That's all the stuff I can think of. Do you have any ideas?

Monkey Madness Monday: I've Turned Biker Chick

Okay, I've not really turned biker chick, but I did have a ride on my first Harley over the weekend. I never thought I would EVER EVER set my ass on a motorcycle before. This comes from being the daughter of a personal injury attorney and seeing all the accidents that happen to people on motorcycles.

And it's not usually the fault of the people riding the motorcycles, it's the other people, or the design of the highway, or the road conditions.

the Harley I rode on

But, it was a beautiful day, I wore a very expensive full head helmet that is designed to cause the least amount of brain injury possible, armored jacket, gloves...you get the picture. This is me not taking any chances.

So, was I terrified. Yes. Did I love it. Yes. It felt so good to be on the back of that bike. And though I was all geared up and had a giant helmet on my head that made me feel like Darth Vader, I could actually still feel the breeze through it. It's actually very freeing to ride on the back of a motorcycle.

I can't wait to do it again. Don't tell my dad.

F³A: A bunch of crap

Back from vacation. I came from sun to partially sunny with a chance of rain and gray, so it's hasn't been all bad. It's supposed to be nice this weekend, and when I say nice, I don't mean AZ 80 and sunny nice, I mean PNW 60 and sunny nice. So there's that.

It's kind of nice getting back to work on a Thursday. Then you only have two days left in the work week before the weekend, so I got that going for me too.

AZ was a blast, we went on a day trip, sat in the sun, went shopping and to the Phoenix zoo. I got to meet fellow writer Amy Fellner Dominy who is adorable and amazing. My other writer friend, Taylor McCleve came down with a horrid sinus infection, so we didn't get to meet, but I'm planning on getting back there soon, so he's doesn't get off that easy.

Another great thing about the vacation, I'm nearly done with my revisions on Dissection. I can't wait to get that thing off to my agent. I think it's pretty good. Pray with me that she likes it. Pretty please with sugar on top. Here's me playing with photoshop.

I've been doing this 5k training class, and while I'm getting better, it's hard. I've never been a runner. My lungs have adjusted, but sometimes I still try too hard. I was determined to run this hill yesterday and messed up my calves. And I had to stop a couple times and stretch them out. And I was mad at myself. And I got frustrated. And I wanted to give up. But I didn't. I took off my sweatshirt, adjusted my hat, found the right song to get me going again and pushed forward. The quote of the week below, is very apropos to that moment. It can also be applied to anything we try to achieve in life though. Gail Devers is one smart cookie.

I'm pretty sure I had some other crap to write about, but now I can't remember, so I guess I'll just leave you with the Scribbles.

Random iPod shuffle song: The District Sleeps Tonight by the Postal Service

Book of the Week: Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt. Seriously, I'm almost done with this book and it is awesome.

Redbox of the week: Ides of March, just watched it last night. Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, the eye candy alone is almost worth it, but the storyline is good too.

Quote of the Week: "Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe." ~Gail Devers