Thank Goodness!

Six of us had dinner here in Tucson at PF Chang’s last night (Yummy!). When the server brought our plate of fortune cookies, I grabbed mine first. My fortune?

“Your efforts will be worthwhile.”

Yay!

Blind Blogger Date

I had the exciting chance to meet a real, live blogger in person today! The blogger in question? None other than Manic Mommy! I started to read her blog pretty regularly several weeks ago, and when she checked out my blog we discovered that she lives in the next suburb over! She is a writer who has an agent, and I am a writer who has questions about having agents...and I am a writer who has been through the publishing process and am working on marketing, and she has lots of of questions about that, so we decided to meet!

WARNING: Obviously all of you out there know that arranging to meet someone that you have discovered on the internet could be dangerous. If you do this, meet them only in public, and make sure your loved ones know where you're going and when you'll be back.

Okay, back to the story. Manic and I decided to meet in a place about halfway between our homes: yes, in public. A killing the day before Halloween wouldn't be a good thing, although we joked about it.

I was so excited to meet her, because her blog is hilarious. She and I e-mailed back and forth a few times and I made a list of things I wanted to make sure to tell her so that she could store it in her brain for future use (when she publishes her book).

When we met at high noon, we laughed when we realized we were both wearing black shirts and jeans: can't go wrong with that! And then I ordered a water and a Diet Coke and she said "ME TOO!"

We had a great lunch and got along famously; it was really fun to interview each other about projects that we have going on, and we also talked about our kids a little bit and working out, since I'm an instructor and she's a student. She is afraid to try spinning (she prefers yoga), but I may just get her to come to my class once to see how she likes it.

She made a point of telling me not to take it personally when she says she's not really a dog person, and I already knew that, because of this. I don't have to have only "dog person" friends. LOL

It's such a small world that it turns out her daughter plays with the daughter of someone I knew from my health club about 10 years ago! Crazy!

After lunch, we walked to the bookstore and we looked at some of the children's books and chatted some more. We decided to give away one of my books...so if you're interested in entering the little contest we've concocted, visit her blog! (You've got 'til Friday!)

All in all, a great lunch with absolutely no violence. And I think I've got a new friend, which is the best part!

Anyone hungry?

I have just been "tagged" by Kat of My Two Cents to answer these food questions. How fun is that? Yeah, yeah...I'll work on book stuff after I answer these questions. :)

In turn, I am tagging my sister Julie of House of Jules.

1. How do you like your eggs? Scrambled, poached, or fried.

2. How do you take your coffee/tea? I don't drink coffee. I like tea with milk and sugar on it, and preferably at tea time on a boat in the Bahamas,as I was over the summer with my son and the Boy Scout Troop.




3. Favorite breakfast food: Eggs and turkey bacon or, if my Mom is cooking, Belgian waffles, or if Julie is "cooking", hot dogs and papaya juice in New York City.


4. Peanut butter - smooth or crunchy? SMOOTH.

5. What kind of dressing on your salad? 1000 Island or Balsamic Viniagrette.

6. Coke or Pepsi? Coke Zero. Pepsi makes me queasy.

7. You’re feeling lazy, what do you make? Grilled cheese and potato chips.

8. You’re feeling really lazy. What kind of pizza do you order? Extra cheese with onions.

9. You feel like cooking. What do you make? Marinated Flank Steak, twice baked potatoes, and some kind of vegetable just so it looks like we're eating healthy stuff.

10. Do any foods bring back good memories? Fondue. Always good times!

11. Do any foods bring back bad memories? Liver. And although I like cole slaw, I always think of my Grandma's funeral when I eat it. And although I like broccoli, I always remember how, when we made our son eat it as a 4-year-old, he threw up all over the dinner plate.

12. Do any foods remind you of someone? Hmmm. Not really. Other than broccoli. (See #11)

13. Is there a food you refuse to eat? Liver.

14. What was your favorite food as a child? Why do I suddenly feel older than the hills? I can't remember! I always loved a good cheeseburger...

15. Is there a food that you hated as a child but now like? Fish

16. Is there a food that you liked as a child but now hate? No

17. Favorite fruit and vegetable: Fruit: probably watermelon or good strawberries. Vegetable: broccoli and corn, although I don't think that counts as one, really.

18. Favorite junk food: Any sweets, and movie popcorn that is contains more butter than any human should be allowed to eat.

19. Favorite between meal snack: potato chips

20. Do you have any weird food habits? no

21. You’re on a diet. What food(s) do you fill up on? vegetables and salad.

22. You’re off your diet. Now what would you like? Everything.

23. How spicy do you order Indian/Thai? Mild. I'm boring.

24. Can I get you a drink? Jack and Coke or a Margarita, depending on where I am and what we're eating.

25. Red or White Wine? White

26. Favorite dessert? Cheesecake or ice cream sundae

27. The perfect nightcap? Umm, hot cocoa?

Your turn, Julie!