Back Next Week!

So sorry about the paltry posts this week...my son started preschool, and I've spent most of the day there, as we deal with separation (even though he doesn't really care if I leave, I have to stay!). So...I haven't had any time to catch up on posts or on your questions, which I know I have a bit of a back log of. (Poor sentence construction there, sorry.) In fact, I covertly slid out this AM to run an errand (and post this message), but I'm running back there now.

Speaking of questions, when I switched formats in July, I didn't mean to indicate that readers couldn't still ask any or all industry/writing related questions, so please do feel free to send them to me, and I'll put them up when I can.

Have a great weekend! I'm rushing back to preschool. :) (Bad mommy who sneaks out!)

YAHOO!!!

First of all, you guys had some fabulous suggestions in yesterday's post. I'm so psyched and am going to the store today to get some ingredients for these wonderful concoctions. So thank you. Keep 'em coming.

More importantly, I had to put up a quick post because I JUST FINISHED, THIS VERY SECOND, THE DRAFT OF TIME OF YOUR LIFE!!!!!! And I'm beyond excited! Isn't it just THE BEST feeling on the planet to be done with a manuscript??

Now, of course, I'm not done done. I'll start revising it tomorrow, giving it one spin through before both my agent and my editor read it, but still! It's SUCH a thrill! I enjoy revising so much more than writing from scratch because a) I don't remember half of what I've written, so I'm usually pleasantly surprised at some of the scenes (er, and mortified at a few as well), and b) it's much easier to work with a structure rather than build it from the ground up.

So, I'm blowing the rest of the day off! What do you guys do to celebrate big career moments? Share your best celebratory ideas...maybe some of us will steal a few of them! :)

Let's Do Lunch

So I'm admitting up front that this is a mindless, silly little post, but come on, join in and help me out.

Here's the deal: I'm stuck in a lunch rut. Come midday, I almost dread the thought of getting lunch because I'm so bored with my options. I usually take a break from work and either go to the gym or run errands before lunch and then grab something from one of the gourmet markets near me - usually a salad, though lately, I've added soup into the mix. And since I've lived in the same area for six years, I've pretty much eaten the same rotation for six years: salad with grilled chicken, salad with tuna, salad with feta and cucumbers. You get the idea. For a while, I was really into the salads at Cosi, a sandwich chain around here, but they redesigned their to-go area, and now, not only does it take about 20 minutes to get my salad, 80% of the time, it's wrong. Oh, and last week, I was halfway through it when I found a dead fly in the lettuce. Nice. I wish I enjoyed sandwiches more...I just don't though, probably because I can eat them in less than five minutes, and then it feels like I've barely had a lunch break!

I don't know why I never make lunch at home - probably because I can't muster the energy. Dealing with making dinner is effort enough. But you know, my taste buds are listless, and I'm willing to give it a whirl if that's what's necessary to shake things up.

So tell me, what are your favorite lunch foods or where do you grab lunch every day? Inspire me to eat something different tomorrow!

Emmy Post-Mortem (and Some Name Dropping)

So, if you've followed this blog at all, you know that I'm a huge TV addict, my love for books aside. So, it's with a fevered frothiness that I anticipate the Emmys...not so much because I think the nominations are the true highlights of the best of TV (because, er, Lost was amazing last season and the fact that it wasn't nominated is shameful, and while I don't watch The Wire, critics said the same about that), but because hey, it's a chance to see (and critique) all of my favorite (and not so favorite) celebs. And of course, to root for a few of 'em too.

So my thoughts on last night? ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

Was it just me or was that not the most boring snoozefest? I mean, seriously! I guess it was made a little bit interesting by the fact that so many of the wins were unexpected (um, James Spader???), but still. I can't even think of anyone who I thought was so gorgeously dressed that I'm dying to chat about her here. And those musical numbers? Ugh, I wanted to claw my eyes out.

I will say that while I was really disappointed that Jenna Fisher didn't win, I'm cool with Jaime Pressly victory. Cool story: I actually interviewed her a few months back, and when the piece came out, she sent me flowers! I mean, come on! Jaime Pressly sent me flowers??? I almost fainted when my doorman handed them to me, and I read the card. Pretty classy, so yeah, I'm okay with her win.

And I was also torn over the 30 Rock win. If you don't watch it, you should. It's is so freaking hilarious that it even sucked in my husband, who has sworn off all new tv shows because we already have too many on our list. But, as you guys probably know, I'm a devoted Office-phile, so I was a little bummed for them, as well as for Steve Carell's loss...though when he bounded on stage, I nearly peed in my pants. I've also been lucky enough to get to know Melora Hardin a bit (she's so super-awesome and the opposite of Jan in real life), and I was hoping to see her on stage in a fabulous dress!

Anyhoo, speaking of Carell, I have a cover story out with him now! The interview might have been one of the highlights of my career...I kid you not. He was so cool and funny and warm, and writing it meant that I got to interview other members of the cast, so, here it is. At times like these, I really love my job. :)

So...what did you guys think of last night, for those of you who watched? Anyone wow you with her dress? Thrilled for anyone's victory?