I’M AN AWARD WINNING BLOGGER. WHAAAAT???

Sometimes it is hard to believe there are people who actually want to know what’s going on inside my head. Haven’t you seen the warnings signs??? I’m a little bit craaaazy…. So imagine my surprise when the kind soul at Lingering Visions nominated me for a Liebster Award.

So what’s a Liebster Award? I’m not really sure, but it has the word “award” in it, so I’m assuming it’s something good. Bring on the awards! Plus it comes with this nifty icon that I get to post all over my blog.

In order to accept my award, I have to follow four simple rules:

1. List 11 things about myself
2. Answer the 11 questions my nominator has posed
3. Nominate 11 other bloggers who have less than 200 followers
4. List 11 questions of my own for my nominees to answer

Holy crap. This award is a lot of work. But the last award I won was in college and I’m pretty sure it was one of those sympathy awards everyone gets, so here goes.

11 random things about me you probably don’t care about. And yes, there will be a test later.

1. I suffer from TV envy. When I walk into someone’s house, and they have a bigger TV than me, I have to resist the urge to wrap my arms around it and yell “mine!”
2. I could eat frozen yogurt for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
3. I love salty foods but hate spicy foods. Example: Mild salsa makes my head burn up.
4. I am the second of seven kids.
5. I hate dogs. I know I just ticked off 98% of the human race, but it had to be said.
6. Mornings are not my friend.
7. I have a soft spot for silly TV shows on the CW.
8. In the twelfth grade, I entered my dad in a “father of the year” contest and he was a finalist. I’m still peeved we didn’t win, mostly because the winner got to throw out the first pitch at a Cubs game.
9. I used to be a decent basketball player.
10. I am really good at Boggle.
11. I have never been drunk. Except on froyo.

Whew. This is exhausting. Here are Lingering Visions’ questions and my answers:

1. Who was/is the most influential person in your life? My parents.
2. What have they done to influence you? They believe I can do anything I want to do, and sometimes I believe it too.
3. Who was/is the most inspiring person in your life? My grandmother.
4. What have they done to inspire you? She lived a passionate life. Apathy was not in her vocabulary.
5. If you could interview a celebrity living or dead who would you choose? Bill Gates.
6. What would is the one question you would ask him/her? Can I have a check for a million dollars?
7. Do you have a place you go to be alone with your thoughts that gives you a feeling on inner peace? Any place where I’m listening to my iPod. Music is my escape.
8. Which of your blood relatives are you closest too? My three sisters.
9. Which blog post is your favorite so far? I really like my about page. I guess that means I’m really self-centered, but it captures who I am.
10. Is it also your most popular? No! Not by a long shot. So go ahead and show the about page some love.
11. What is your next project? I have many projects. Here are some: Run a half marathon without dying, finish the second draft of my novel, plan our trip to Paris, win a gold medal in the Olympics, become independently wealthy.

Blogs I’ve nominated. This means I think you’re kinda awesome. Or I was struggling to get to 11 blogs and I stumbled upon yours. Either way, now you get to brag about getting an award. P.S. I have no idea how many followers you have, so if you’re already super popular, good for you.

1. http://www.domestiphobia.net
2. http://slowgirlfastdog.com
3. http://ferretingoutthefun.blogspot.com
4. http://fromtheretoheretheblog.com
5. http://www.smatano.blogspot.com
6. http://bulletprooftigerdude.tumblr.com
7. http://joyandwoe.wordpress.com/
8. http://benlowy.tumblr.com
9. http://trishfalin.wordpress.com
10. http://movingnonsequitur.com
11. http://thepackedlife.com

11 questions for the aforementioned kinda awesome blogs:

1. What is your favorite song to work out to? (I really need new running songs so make them good.)
2. In a parallel universe, you are….
3. What is your secret talent most people don’t know you possess?
4. What’s your favorite word?
5. What’s your least favorite word?
6. What movie do you watch over and over again?
7. What is the blog you read first in the day (besides your own)?
8. What is your favorite mode of travel?
9. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? “I don’t like ice cream” is not an acceptable answer.
10. Glee is a) awesome; b) ridiculous–why are they constantly breaking out in song; or c) what’s Glee?
11. What is your favorite article of clothing?

And done! Now, I am officially an award-winning blogger. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WORDS THESE HANDS HAVE EVER WRITTEN: THE END

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

That’s my excited scream, in case you couldn’t tell. It is demonstrably distinct from my petrified scream, which hopefully I’ll never have cause to use on this blog. So why am I screaming like a crazy person? Brcause I have finished the first draft of my novel.

Before you get carried away, let me stipulate: It is just a first draft. There are some parts I like, but there are a lot of parts that make me think, why in the world did I think writing a book was a good idea?

Basically, there’s still a long road ahead of edititng, rewriting, hurling myself at a wall and rewriting some more. But for the first time in my life I have written a book that has a beginning, a middle, and an end.

THE END.

GO ME. MY BLOG RANKS 17,887,796TH IN THE WORLD.

At least according to Alexa.com. On the bright side, that’s better than 17,887,797th.

Moral of the story: TELL YOUR FRIENDS TO READ MY BLOG! Or enemies. I’m not picky. I’ll take anyone.

C’mon, how can you resist this face?

Please read my blog….

 

MILESTONE ALERT

I REACHED 70,000 WORDS IN MY NOVEL.

Let me explain to you how this works. Finish novel –> Publish best-selling novel –> Become independently wealthy –> Travel the world –> Do a happy dance.

BAD NEWS/GOOD NEWS

Bad news: Spent some quality time with the dentist this morning. I’m so shot up with Novocaine I can’t feel my nose.

Good News: My dentist knows someone at Random House.

Moral of the story: Cavities are good. Bring on the candy.

THE WRITING PROCESS: TOP 5 TV SHOWS THAT HELP ME WRITE

I’m a noise person.

By that I mean, I hate silence. No matter what I’m doing — working, writing, running, cleaning, sitting or staring into space — I need background noise. Maybe it’s because I grew up in a house with six siblings or maybe it’s because my brain is screwed up. Who knows?

This is especially true when I’m writing my novel. Sometimes I listen to music, but sometimes I watch TV, especially shows I’ve seen a gazillion times and practically know by heart. People ask me: How can you concentrate on writing when there is a TV show on? Answer: I don’t know, but it actually makes writing easier. That said, here are my top five shows I like to watch when I’m writing:

1. Veronica Mars: Smart, sassy girl narrator who can work a camera like nobody’s business. Say no more.

2. Greek: Oh ABCFamily, what would I do without you? Also, I have a bit of a crush on Rebecca Logan.

3. Make It Or Break It: Ditto.

4. Gilmore Girls: Fast-talking, too-smart-for-their-own good characters making it on their own in a town that is almost too weird to be real. If only Bunheads were this good.

5. Scrubs: Underrated show about a guy who talks to himself constantly.

IF THESE GUYS GOT PUBLISHED, SO CAN I

File this in the “what were they thinking?” category. How big is the market for The Night Dad Went to Jail (which can be yours for the bargain price of $16.71 on Amazon)? Other favorites include Mama Loves Me from Away and an alarming number of graphic books about poop. More funny/disturbing titles at Smosh.com.

WHAT A BAD WRITING DAY LOOKS/FEELS LIKE

GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

Good News: I’ve crossed the 60,000 words threshold in my novel.

Bad News: I’m not sure I like anything I wrote today.

ANNOUNCEMENT

I have an announcement. I came up with a title for my still unfinished novel. I’m not going to tell you what it is because you might steal it, but I have a title. Commence celebratory dance.