Okay, okay, I'm in. I do believe in taking stock every once in a while, and besides, I can't talk right now. So, let's see...
10 years ago— I lived in a postage-stamp-sized apartment in a high rise in downtown Chicago where I'd just quit my day job working for the Office of the General Counsel of HHS/SSA after a heart-to-heart discussion with some ducks in Lake Michigan. (I have never since eaten duck; I have a treaty with the ducks). G and I were somewhere on course to move to Austin the first time (we moved back to Chicago a year and a half later, then back down to Austin again). At that point, I didn't even have a manuscript to send anyone. I did have tens of thousands of dollars in student debt. And I believe for sometime it took more money than we made each month just to squeak by. As a strategy, I can't recommend it. But I don't regret it either. And I'll always be grateful to G for his faith.
5 years ago—My first book, Jingle Dancer, had just been released after some angst. I'd first sold it to Lodestar, which was downsized in the Penguin-Putnam merger, then resold it to Morrow, just prior to the HarperCollins buyout. It stands as one of those rare books that first sold to one publishing company, was produced by another, and released by a third. Talk about a nail-biter!
1 year ago—I'd just wrapped up WriteFest I in June, sold T to CP, and was packing to visit my family in Kansas City.
Yesterday—I was still recovering from a bad cold (sore throat, laryngitis, and now pink eye) I contracted while in Vermont, but neverthless still smiling over great memories from the residency. Hugging my cats, catching up on my reading and email, eating chicken noodle soup.
Tomorrow—Plan to stay in bed and read. I absolutely must get well immediately!
5 snacks I enjoy—dark chocolate covered strawberries; turbo hummus and sliced cucumbers; pecans; SunChips; chicken legs (no treaty with the chickens).
5 bands/artists that I know the lyrics to most of their songs: Meatloaf; Eartha Kitt; Walela; ABBA; Cher. Note: I also have an almost absurd love for the "Footloose;" "Xanadu;" and "Buffy: The Musical (Once More With Feeling)" albums.
5 things I'd do with $100,000,000—pay off my debts.
5 locations I'd like to run away to—Paris; Round Top; Chicago; Lawrence; Kona.
5 bad habits I have—anything related to my mild O-C (checking burners, door locks, etc. multiple times before leaving); borrowing G's razor; writing on my skin; writing on my skin while driving; leaving the CDs out of their cases.
5 things I like doing—dining out; touring old houses; touring old cemeteries; walking to tunes; blogging.
5 things I will never wear—no promises.
5 TV shows I like(d)—"Monk;" "My So-Called Life;" "Six Feet Under;" "Buffy: The Vampire Slayer;" "Northern Exposure."
5 people I'd like to meet—Julius Lester; Santa Claus; Lance Armstrong; Dick Jackson; Aretha.
5 biggest joys at the moment— G, kitties, friends, Daya, comics.
5 favorite toys: tiara; bat sunglasses; devil duckie; multi-colorful nail polish; sparkly stickers.
