Heather's Blethers

My genre of choice is Urban Fantasy. Adult or Young Adult, doesn't matter.

Young Adult anything is a close and competitive second.

Straight romance trails behind the two. But... most of my reads are romantic.

Because romance rocks.

I discovered after a few years of trying to pen one that I was not going to write a marketable contemporary romance any time soon. Writing a compelling, high concept love story is not easy.

Maybe someday I'll conquer the task. Just not today. Or tomorrow. ;-)

So I was reading my morning Bloglines feed earlier and clicked on Suzanne McMinn's blog, Chickens in the Road-Life in Ordinary Splendor. Suzanne takes captivating photographs of country living and shares them with her readers. Love her blog! And today, I noticed an ad in her widget bar for Barbara Bretton's November release and damn near lost my breath.

I almost forgot I was a Barbara Bretton fan! Shame. I've been reading almost exclusively in my genre in hopes of bettering my chances of selling a marketable novel.

Maybe it's time to reassess my approach?

It's so easy to lose oneself when in pursuit.

Thoughts?

I enjoy my life during the school year. I go to sleep at a decent hour and wake up early to get the Amazing Kids ready for their day. My head is clear within the confines of "have to" living.

This has turned into a "not have to" summer. My schedule is so screwed up right now. I'm awake until three or four AM some nights. I sleep until the dog's whining for a pottybreak and the kids' pleading for food wakes me up. I feel zombieish. I take naps. My head is mud.

I've checked out for lazy days of reading (sometimes waterside) and wishy washy writing.

Me thinks I have summeritis. Me will be ready for school to start at the end of next month. I can't believe I will have a house empty of other humans in the fall. It will be the first time I've experienced solitude in ten years.

Wow.

The thought is sobering, a little sad, and a lot exciting.

This is my first post-op weigh-in. I guess having a pesky organ removed helps you lose weight. Who knew?

Weight Tracking Summary

Your current weight :141 lbs
Weight change since your last recorded weight :-6.4 lbs
Total weight change to date :-25 lbs

THANKS for logging your weight.

You've lost weight since you last visited the weight tracker. You must feel pleased that those pounds are coming off! However, we notice that you've lost more than an average of 2 pounds per week over three or more weeks. This rate is too rapid — it may be unsafe or unhealthy. While we're proud of your achievements and pleased you're making changes in your life, we need you to concentrate on one more thing: You should slow the pace of your weight loss to no more than 2 pounds per week.

Okay. I promise to slow down. And no more cheating. ;-)

A movie meme swiped from J. Frost.

"This is Entertainment Weekly's list of 100 Classic Movies of the past 25 years. Anyone who wants to play, consider yourself tagged! The rules: Bold the movies you've seen, underline or *asterisk* the ones you plan to, strike out the ones you HATE and refuse to watch ever again."

1. Pulp Fiction (1994)
2. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-03)
3. Titanic (1997)
4. Blue Velvet (1986)
5. Toy Story (1995)
6. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
7. Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
8. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
9. Die Hard (1988)
10. Moulin Rouge (2001)
11. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
12. The Matrix (1999)
13. Goodfellas (1990)
14. Crumb (1995)
15. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
16. Boogie Nights (1997)
17. Jerry Maguire(1996)
18. Do the Right Thing (1989)
19. Casino Royale (2006)
20. The Lion King (1994)
21. Schindler's List (1993)
22. Rushmore (1998)
23. Memento (2001)
24. A Room With a View (1986)
25. Shrek (2001)
26. Hoop Dreams (1994)
27. Aliens (1986)
28. Wings of Desire (1987)
29. *The Bourne Supremacy (2004)*
30. When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
31. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
32. Fight Club (1999)
33. The Breakfast Club (1985)
34. Fargo (1996)
35. The Incredibles (2004)
36. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
37. Pretty Woman (1990)
38. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
39. The Sixth Sense (1999)
40. Speed (1994)
41. Dazed and Confused (1993)
42. Clueless (1995)
43. Gladiator (2000)
44. The Player (1992)
45. Rain Man (1988)
46. *Children of Men (2006)*
47. Men in Black (1997)
48. Scarface (1983)
49. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
50. The Piano (1993)
51. There Will Be Blood (2007)
52. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad (1988)
53. The Truman Show (1998)
54. Fatal Attraction (1987)
55. Risky Business (1983)
56. The Lives of Others (2006)
57. There’s Something About Mary (1998)
58. Ghostbusters (1984)
59. L.A. Confidential (1997)
60. Scream (1996)
61. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
62. sex, lies and videotape (1989)
63. Big (1988)
64. *No Country For Old Men (2007)*
65. Dirty Dancing (1987)
66. Natural Born Killers (1994)
67. Donnie Brasco (1997)
68. Witness (1985)
69. All About My Mother (1999)
70. Broadcast News (1987)
71. Unforgiven (1992)
72. Thelma & Louise (1991)
73. *Office Space (1999)*
74. Drugstore Cowboy (1989)
75. Out of Africa (1985)
76. *The Departed (2006)*
77. Sid and Nancy (1986)
78. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
79. Waiting for Guffman (1996)
80. Michael Clayton (2007)
81. Moonstruck (1987)
82. *Lost in Translation (2003)*
83. Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)
84. Sideways (2004)
85. The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)
86. Y Tu Mamá También (2002)
87. Swingers (1996)
88. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
89. Breaking the Waves (1996)
90. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
91. Back to the Future (1985)
92. Menace II Society (1993)
93. Ed Wood (1994)
94. Full Metal Jacket (1987)
95. In the Mood for Love (2001)
96. Far From Heaven (2002)
97. Glory (1989)
98. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
99. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
100. South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999)

There are several that I will never watch again, but I hate The Blair Witch Project. Worst case of movie hype ever. I was so looking forward to seeing "the scariest movie ever made". Highly recommended by BIL* and EX-SIL** who earned their MFA in Theater* and Film**. I begged Alpha Hubs to take me. It was also the first film we were able to see in a theater one year after having our first baby.

I. Was. So. Upset.

I can't believe Blair Witch Stupid made this list.

But I must admit to owning it on DVD. I watch it when I'm angry and want to yell at something.

Need to practice your elevator pitch?

Want to work on using less is more?

Try Twitter.

Practice condensing your wit.

Notify your followers of blog updates. (Because tiny urls are too cute not to click on.)

I Twitter here.

Follow. Lead. Or just twit out of the way. ;-)