The lovely Marilyn Brant tagged me for this meme. Oh, and by the way? I'm psychic. Last year, after she won the Golden Heart, I said that they were usually followed by publishing contracts. AND I WAS RIGHT. Her book According to Jane will be out in fall 2009. Because she is awesome and she writes awesome books.

Here are the rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people and post a comment to the person who tagged you once you’ve posted your three sentences.

Bath is a beautiful city, full of architectural gems in a lovely landscape. In Jane Austen's time it was a fashionable spa -- with parties, balls, concerts, plays, and the constant toing and froing round the Pump Room where people met to gossip and take the waters. For us the attractiveness of the place is enhanced by what Austen imagined taking place there in Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.

Yes, that's right. The nearest book is Becoming Jane Austen, by Jon Spence. Apropos, no?

I tag whoever has a book nearby.

Wonderful news out of California today -- the ban on same gender marriage was overturned.

Here are some beautiful photos from the month in 2004 when gay marriage was legal in San Francisco.

So where should I start with Thai food? Keep in mind I'm a picky-ass eater.

(Is it bad to say that I've thought of like a dozen other things to add to that list since I posted it? Avocado! Baby Corn! Mushrooms! I better stop while I'm ahead!)

ANYWAY. Thai. When it comes to Chinese, my favorite is kung pao chicken, but I also like broccoli beef, teriyaki anything, cashew chicken -- those are pretty much my standards. I think I had Thai or Vietnamese once when I lived in Albuquerque -- I wasn't a lemongrass fan.

So what should I try?

Thursday: After work I hopped on the Metra and headed into the city. I met Mr Hay at the Chase Auditorium for a taping of Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me. We had so much fun. I got there at about 6.30 and by the time we got inside we were halfway through the line. The show itself finally started at 7.30. I'd been really excited because Mo Rocca was scheduled to appear but Drew Carey was there instead, which was awesome. The show itself was absolutely hilarious. Moby was the not my job guest. That guy is a total downer. He spent the whole time talking smack about himself. The recording itself went about twenty minutes longer than usual because of hilarious tangent-following. All in all, I definitely recommend attending a taping if you're a fan of the show. I need to load up the podcast today, to hear how much got edited out.



Friday: My plans to get to the hotel by noon were scuttled by the early delivery of our water softener. The installation went fairly quickly and we made it to Deerfield around one. I checked into the hotel, sent Mr Hay on his way, and jumped into Spring Fling activities. I moderated Blythe Gifford's really good workshop called Get Your Acts Together. The rest of the day was a blur of workshops. Dinner at 5:30 (which was great, since I skipped lunch) and then I ordered from room service by the time I finally got back to my room.

Saturday: Up early for the breakfast speech by Christie Ridgway, though I missed part of it. More workshops. Eloisa James spoke at lunch, which had most of my table in tears. Timed agent appointments for about an hour then went back to my room for a nap. Mr Hay came over to spend the night -- one night by myself in a hotel was enough, thank you. Went to the gala that topped off the conference. Fire and Ice contest winners were FINALLY announced. There were three finalists attending, including one winner, which was really nice. Debbie Macomber gave a really moving keynote address about her struggles with dyslexia and the other obstacles on her route to writing success. Ended the evening in the bar and finally back to the room to collapse.

Sunday: Checked out around eleven, grabbed lunch on the way home, and then went to check out our friends' Paul's and Jeani's new house. They just moved to town. I encourage all of my other Chicagoans to consider moving out here. Seriously. Bring it.

I had a great time at the conference and I'm so glad I went. Now I'm REALLY looking forward to nationals in San Francisco.

condiments
salad dressing
butter (I'll bake with it but not ever on bread etc)
water chestnuts
fish
actually, all seafood
curry
pretty much any cheese except cheddar or parmesan
canned meat
any type of jerky
fennel
anything else licorice
tapioca
sweet pickles
eggs!
yogurt
sour cream

I feel like there should be more. A lot of these are due to my aversion to weird textures.

Lisa tagged me, which is awesome because I secretly always love to be picked.

Meme rules:

1. Choose any one of YOUR OWN manuscripts. It can be a picture book, MG novel, an adult novel... It makes no difference.
2. Turn to page 30 of your novel or page 3 if it is a PB.
3. Find the 5th sentence.
4. Post the next 5 sentences of text.
5. Then tag 5 writer friends to do the same.
6. Visit Your Tagged Friends and the Person who Tagged You to read their short excepts.


Page 30, fifth sentence:
“I’m giving you another chance.”

Next five sentences:
I scoff. “Very kind of you, Gina. Thanks anyway. I’ll stick with trying to be unnoticed at a new school, rather than hang out with a crazy girl who thinks she can see the future.”

“Slutting it up with Ben Jackson does not make a girl invisible, just so you know.”

It is so hard not to tweak!

Anyone want to play? palygirl? Marilyn? cookie_chef?

Be my facebook friend?

I went to a new dentist to get my teeth cleaned a couple of weeks ago. I also needed a new nightguard and had a sharp edge on one tooth -- apparently a filling fell out.

When I came back to get fitted for the nightguard and get the tooth filled she took a look at my teeth and then kind of sighed.

"I think I am going to just polish down the sharp edge back there."
"Instead of a filling?"
"Yes. I don't like to go overboard."

Fair enough. I didn't ask if she went to Hollywood Upstairs Dental College but I wanted to.

long meme from msretro
( clicky )

Nobody heard him, the dead man,
But still he lay moaning:
I was much further out than you thought
And not waving but drowning.

Poor chap, he always loved larking
And now he's dead
It must have been too cold for him his heart gave way,
They said.

Oh, no no no, it was too cold always
(Still the dead one lay moaning)
I was much too far out all my life
And not waving but drowning.

For joanofarrgh

Happy tooth charms.

In other news, writing a college essay was easier when I applied to state school and had to write a paragraph about something. I don't think it even had to be legible.

Girlyman on Sunday was awesome. I'm so glad carpetofstars had an extra ticket, and we saw stargazzy and chellman, too, for a minute.

This was my favorite song of the evening:



Now I want to get Little Star from itunes, but there are two versions there and I don't know the difference.

Last weekend, I met up with elf_chick and seriousleopold at Mitsuwa in Arlington Heights. We explored the entire store, which was awesome. I usually only hit the bookstore and candy aisle. We ate lunch at the food court and elf_chick taught me how to use chopsticks. I also took a picture of a cake with a decoration that looked like a pot leaf since I can be an ugly American without leaving home.



Then we went to Island Girl Salvage, in Elk Grove Village. If I were remodeling a vintage house and needed a staircase, I'd know exactly where to go.



Then we took seriousleopold back to her car and continued on to American Science and Surplus.



A super fun afternoon and I finally got to meet two ladies who have been on my friendslist since the beginning.

Today palygirl and I went to a program on young adult novels at the Des Plaines library. Afterward, we had lunch and then we edited some of Paly's manuscript.



Tomorrow, Girlyman! And then Monday, a Chicago North meeting, where Paly will read her manuscript that we worked on today.

Next weekend, I am taking a nap.

Honestly, though, there are some moments in there that are downright pornographic. In a metaphorical way!

Matt, I saw this and thought of you.

Owl Cam!

I don't know why I never read the Anne of Green Gables books, but she is awesome. And now I totally want to go to Prince Edward Island.

Food poisoning :(