Thursday, March 1, 2012

Catching Up

I haven't been blogging much in the past few weeks since I started editing and revising my WIP and found the task to be more overwhelming than I expected. Yikes! I knew the job was going to be difficult, but I admit I am pulling my hair out more than I anticipated.

During this time I was tagged by three great bloggers, Annalisa Crawford, Nutschell of The Writing Nut, and The Armchair Squid, and I want to catch up now and say thank you so much to all three of them for thinking of me!

Each tag came with 10 questions, but I worried I would bore everyone to death if I answered all 30 of them, so I thought I would just take 5 from each and post my answers to 15 questions. Hopefully that won't be too long! The first 5 are from Armchair, the second 5 from Nutschell, and the last 5 are from Annalisa. It was fun to think of answers to all of these. 


1. What is your dream vacation?

I'd love to drive around and explore the western United States, seeing the Rocky Mountains, visiting national parks like Yellowstone and Zion, going back to the Grand Canyon, and ending up in my favorite city I've ever visited, San Francisco. I love what I've seen of the West, and would love to have all the time in the world to explore more of it.



2. Tell us one thing you want to do but don't dare do it.

I really want to learn to swim. I tried more than once as a child, but was very afraid of the water. Now I'm chicken to take lessons as an adult.

3. What's your biggest phobia?

I'm very uncomfortable in elevators and I hate to be in tightly enclosed spaces.




4. Name three blessings in your life.

1. I had a happy childhood and am fortunate to have a close and loving family. As I've grown older I've learned what a blessing that is. 2. I am in good health, knock on wood. 3. I have discovered this amazing opportunity to transform my life through writing, and so far it has been one of the biggest blessings of my life.

5. What is your favorite quote?

I have several, but if I had to pick just one I think it would be this:  

It is never too late to be what you might have been ~ George Eliot

6.  What’s your ultimate caffeine source?

Coffee, coffee, and more coffee.

Source

7. Favorite music source? (Radio, Pandora, Spotify, CD, Ipod, etc)

My Ipod is one of my favorite toys I've ever owned. I can't live without it.  

8. Favorite Writing book?

Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott

9. Favorite TV show?

I'm a total tv junkie so it's nearly impossible for me to pick just one, but of the shows on the air right now I'd say Game of Thrones is my favorite. I can't wait for it to return next month. 


10. Harry Potter or Twilight?

Harry all the way. I totally love the Harry Potter series, and I'm not a Twilight fan, so this one was easy. 


11. Which book, that you're supposed to love, do you actually hate?

Pride and Prejudice. I know it's almost considered blasphemous, but I don't enjoy Jane Austen. Flame away, I can take it. :D

12. Can you remember your first teacher?

Yes. My kindergarten teacher was Mrs. Phillips. At the time I thought she was old, but I think now she was probably only about 22. Perspectives change a great deal!

13. In which order should Star Wars be watched: IV, V, VI, I, II, III or I, II, III, IV, V, VI?

I confess I've never seen I or II. I did see III and didn't care for it. So I am just going to say IV, V, VI. 

14. Which fictional character would you like to be for a day?

Sookie Stackhouse. I don't even like the character, but having Eric Northman drooling over me would be a nice way to spend the day. :D

Eric Northman


15. Do you still have your first teddy bear? (I do.)

I do, too, and it is a very beat up and dearly loved Winnie the Pooh.




So those are my 15 questions and answers. I hope I haven't put everyone to sleep! Thanks again to Armchair, Nutschell, and Annalisa for tagging me. If you're not already familiar with their blogs, I highly recommend all 3 of them.


Now back to revising and pulling out what remains of my hair. ;)


40 comments:

  1. I'm with you on Game of Thrones. Love that series. And Sookie would definitely be fun for a day...as long as she's with Erik.

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  2. Wise choice on the Star Wars question. And you should go ahead and take swimming lessons.

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  3. Thank you. I enjoyed your answers. And yes, go for it on the swimming lessons. We've told our daughter that she must a) do her homework, b) practice if she ever takes music lessons and c) learn to swim. Everything else is optional.

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  4. I suuposedly learnt to swim as a child - I have a cerificate and everything - but I'm hopeless. I keep thinking about taking lessons now.

    I love the George Elliot quote.

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  5. Hi Julie .. I presume Clancy is getting his walk? Good luck with the WIP and its continuation ..

    I'm so glad I learnt to swim - not brilliant at it .. but at least can do it - I'm sure now the instructors would be very good .. and within 6 lessons you'd be swimming - one summer a swallow makes .. - a swimmer makes??

    Cheers Hilary

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  6. Have you read all of the Game of Thrones books? Westeros is my favorite fantasy world after Middle Earth.

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  7. @Em, yeah, I have no interest in being Sookie if she's with Bill LOL.

    @Alex, I'm trying to work up my nerve. Thanks!

    @Armchair, thanks again for tagging me! Good advice for your daughter, I really regret not learning. My parents took me to swimming lessons but I couldn't get over my fear back then.

    @Annalisa, oh, maybe we can both take lessons and cheer each other on. :)

    @Hilary, that's a great way to think of it. Now you've got me thinking about finally taking the plunge this summer. Thanks!

    @Matthew, I haven't read the books as I got hooked on the series first, and since the show closely follows the books I didn't want to end up spoiled. But I'm thinking I need to read them after the next season airs, I always hear how great they are. I LOVE everything about the Westeros.

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  8. Great learning more about you! I think the Y offers adult swim classes. You really should learn to swim - it may save your life or someone else's one day.

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  9. "Harry Potter is about confronting fears, finding inner strength and doing
    what is right in the face of adversity. Twilight is about how important it
    is to have a boyfriend." - Stephen King

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  10. Oh, let me first pull the dagger out of my heart after you dissed my Jane.

    Okay, fine. So you aren't a sap like me who loves Pride and Prejudice, I still like you :) And please come out west and see our mountains. You and Clancy would find endless trails to enjoy. :))

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  11. @Carol, I know they do have adult lessons around here as I've looked into them, but then I chicken out on signing up!

    @Stephen, LOL, I'd never seen that quote from King but I couldn't agree more with it.

    @LG, glad you're not mad at me for not liking Jane LOL. I know I'm the one in the minority! I would love to see your mountains, I wish Clancy and I could take an extra-long road trip.

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  12. Hey Julie,

    Nice getting to know you a bit more and long live Coffee :)

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  13. @Mark, thanks! And I completely agree. :)

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  14. Aw, you still have Winnie the Pooh. Precious! And I'm with you; Harry Potter all the way.

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  15. Great answers, Julie! I'm with you on the not liking elevators, coffee, Harry Potter, and the teddy bear. :)

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  16. Enjoyed your answers, feel like I know you a little bit more.

    Yvonne.

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  17. I loved getting to know you! Thanks for letting us tag you. And, yes, it's Harry all the way for me too!

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  18. I still have my original Winnie, too.

    I'm looking forward to seeing Game of Thrones on dvd. I think it's out now. Hope you're making progress with you WIP. I know how you feel.

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  19. Well that was far from boring :) I love to find out things about people. I’m nosy like that.

    Pssst! I think I agree with you about Jane Austin!!!

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  20. @Emily, that Pooh bear is tucked away in a box in my closet, I could never bear to get rid of him. :)

    @Cherie, thanks!

    @Madeline, we think the same way on a lot then. I would rather walk numerous flights of stairs than get in an elevator, ugh.

    @Yvonne, thank you!

    @Nutschell, I thought you would agree about Harry. :D Thanks again for the tag.

    @Mary, aww, how cute that you still have your Winnie. Oh, I'll be anxious to hear if you like Game of Thrones, I watched the whole first season in like a week's time, I couldn't stop LOL.

    @Carolyn, oh, I'm so glad I'm not alone on Jane Austen! I think we are definitely in the minority. :D

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  21. You did a great job answering the questions and posting pictures! I'm a below average swimmer, and Clancy is probably more graceful in the water than I am. But I strongly encourage you to learn how to swim. Think of the feeling of empowerment, and abundance of writing material you will gain from it! LIVE the quote! Julie

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  22. I appreciate your honesty. Recently, I tried to get into Jane Austen but I couldn't. If it's not my thing because, for example, the writing style (however eloquent) hurts my brain, I just won't do it.

    Good luck as you keep plugging away with your book, Julie.
    xoRobyn

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  23. @Julie, LOL about Clancy being more graceful, I don't know, he is as clumsy as I am, the poor dog. Thanks for the encouragement, I know you're right and I need to just go for it.

    @Robyn, that's exactly how I feel about the Austen books. I'm glad to know there are a few out there who have the same issue. Thanks so much!

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  24. *blinks* Sorry, I got distracted by Eric Northman. *grins*

    Great answers! And I know what you mean about the WIP. I just started back editing on mine, and it took me 2.5 hours to get through 13 pages. Sad, very sad.

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  25. @Cherie, LOL, I am easily distracted by Eric as well. :D Thanks, and good luck with your editing!

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  26. I'll forgive you for not liking "Pride and Prejudice" if you forgive me for not having read any of the Harry Potter books. Good answers to your questions, but it isn't too late to take those swimming lessons, ya know. Go for it!

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  27. @Susan, okay, it's a deal. :D Thanks for the encouragement on the swimming!

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  28. Good luck with your revisions! Yeah, I don't really enjoy most of the revision process. Murg.

    I wonder how many people just SAY they like Austen because it's what's expected? I've never read her, which is blasphemous in itself.

    Shannon at The Warrior Muse, co-host of the 2012 #atozchallenge! Twitter: @AprilA2Z

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  29. @Shannon, thanks! Maybe that is it about Austen, I honestly thought I would be totally alone in not liking her.

    @Rajeev, thank you!

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  30. It's always lovely to learn more about fellow bloggers, so thank you for sharing. I also have my first teddy, but he looks a lot more worn out than Pooh does.

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  31. Julie, I'm in the opposite camp. I've read all the Game of Thrones books, but haven't watched the show yet. Though I plan to, some day! I second the recommendation of the books - they're wonderfully written.

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  32. Oh, what a fun list!!! Yay for the original Star Wars and Bird by Bird!!! I won't flame you for Pride and Prejudice, it wasn't my favorite Austen, but I will say - try Sense and Sensibility?

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  33. Love your answers.

    I love both Harry Potter and twilight. One is mainly MG and the other romance YA anyway :O)

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  34. @Rebecca, thank you for reading! Oh, the picture isn't my Pooh, he is a total mess because I carried him around all the time as a kid LOL.

    @Marian, I do want to read the GoT books, I'm sure I would love them. I think you'll love the show too!

    @Margo, I saw the Sense & Sensibility movie and liked it, so maybe I should try that book. I admit I've never tried it, I should give it a shot. Thanks!

    @Madeleine, thank you!

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  35. Yes, I love game of thrones! Great choice there ^_~

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  36. @Gwen, oh, isn't it a great show? I just can't wait for S2 to start. :D

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  37. I didn't fall asleep at all...I loved your answers. I'm surprised you don't know how to swim, and I'm thrilled by your dream vacation answer - since I look at those mountains out my window every day! :)

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  38. @Michelle, thanks! I really need to work on the swimming issue, I'm trying to work up my nerve to take lessons this summer. I'm very jealous of the view out your window!

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