11 Random Things: The Leibster Award

The lovely Crystal Collier has given me the Liebster Award! Thanks Crystal! *waves*

I have to post 11 random facts, and answer 11 questions, and then pass it on, so here goes!

11 random things about me. Eesh! This is hard!

1. Before I became a handbell choir director, I hadn't touched a handbell in my life.

2. I attended 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and one high school.

3. I have lived in five states: SD, IA, MN, WI, and FL.

4. I have three kids, but I don't really like babies. (LOVE toddlers and preschoolers, though.)

5. I kind of want to steal my son's pet bird, Nibbles.

6. My Facebook feed is mostly funny things my kids say and me sharing funny/interesting pictures or articles.

7. Most of the time, I will choose a fruity dessert over a chocolatey one.

8. I just quit my day job (one of them, anyway).

9. I hate to cook.

10. My husband would make a better house-spouse than me. Too bad he's the breadwinner. LOL.

11. I love watching shows like Criminal Minds and CSI and movies like Seven and The Bone Collector, but I can't handle stuff like Paranormal Activity or The Ring.

And 11 Questions from Crystal:

1. What is the best book you've ever read? Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey

2. What is your sport of choice? To play or watch? Um, can I say none? LOL. Not athletic over here. At all. I can handle watching football or basketball or tennis, but I wouldn't CHOOSE to do so, most of the time.

3. What's the coolest place you've ever visited? My family's farm in Western South Dakota. I love it there.

4. Favorite song or artists? Have to go with artists here. I love music! Maroon 5, Avril Lavigne, Evanescence, P!nk, and The Rise of Defiance are probably my top 5 artists.

5. What's your biggest pet peeve? Closed-mindedness (the main reason I left my day job)

6. What is your brand of geek? (Or obsession?)  I'm a bit of a grammar nerd (one of those who see typos/misuse everywhere).

7. What movie do you have memorized, word for word? Used to be Clue or Monty Python and the Holy Grail. But since having kids, probably Finding Nemo or How To Train Your Dragon. LOL

8. If you could choose one myth to be true, which would it be: Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy? Santa Claus, for sure! YAY PRESENTS!

9. What food is your nemesis? Anything with gluten--I'm intolerant.

10. Which army would you choose to defend your home? Ninjas, or Cowboys? Ooh. Tough one. It kinda depends on what they're defending it from, IMO. But I'll go with Ninjas, I think.

11. What is your favorite or most embarrassing nick name? Ugh. My family called me Rissa growing up, and I hated it. It doesn't bother me so bad now, but I really do prefer my full name (I think it's pretty).

Okay, I'm passing this award on to the following people:
Tara Gallina
Christina Farley
Vivi Barnes
Amy Parker
Krystalyn Fowler
Sheri Larsen
Theresa Milstein

And here are my 11 questions for them to answer:

1. If you could write anywhere in the world, where would you go?

2. How many drawer novels do you have?

3. How many unfinished novels do you have?

4. What's your drink of choice?

5. What are you afraid of?

6. What's you favorite T.V. show?

7. Name a book you've read recently that blew you away.

8. What's something you've never done, but want to do someday?

9. What's the silliest thing you've ever done?

10. What's your favorite animal?

11. What's your favorite dessert?

And, hey, choose one of these questions to answer in the comments, too! :)
 

Random Thoughts on a Thursday

1. Oh, wow.  It has been over a month since I blogged.  :(  I do have an excuse though, and it is

2. I still don't have internet at home.  It has been over eight months.  NO LIE. O.o  There's really nothing else to say about that.

3. I would like for some scientists to do a study on Morning People compared to Night Owls.  I'm particularly interested in whether either following or not following your natural bio-rhythms has an effect on health or life expectancy.  (Seriously, guys.  Getting up at 7am physically hurts me.  Why hasn't someone jumped on my Night Owl Town idea?  WHY?)

4. While I'm on the topic of weird-impossible-ideas-that-will-never-happen, I would like to have anonymous telepathy.  Meaning, I would like to be able to talk inside other people's heads without them knowing it's me. No particular reason...

5. I am once again going to the SCBWI FL Mid-Year Workshop at Disney!  There's still time to register if you want to come!  As usual, I will get a couple of the presenters to sign books and give them away right here after the conference, and I will make posts about all of the awesomeness I learn.  Okey-doke?

In the Comments: Tell me what you would do with Anonymous Telepathy.  Also, if you have any preferences for the books I giveaway, check out the faculty list for the conference and let me know.

Acronyms

Bit of a random drive-by post today, sorry.  I'm going a bit nutty getting ready for the Silent Auction, promoting the online auction (today and tomorrow! Critiques from agents and authors!  Go check it out! Pass it on to your friends!), and not having internet at home (I'll be getting it soon, though).

Anyway, I was thinking about acronyms the other day.  Sometimes, when I see an aconym, I think the actual words it stands for, and other times, I think the letters.  Do you do that?  Or do you always hear an acronym one way or the other?

For example, when I see LOL, I think "LOL."  I don't think "laughing out loud."  But when I see MG, I think "middle grade." 

When I see "FYI," I think "FYI," but if I see "BTW," I think "by the way."

Am I weird, or do any of you do that, too?

Hope to be back online soon, so I can catch up with all the blogs I missed!

Check out the online auction and spread the word!

Larissa :-)

MishMash

So, I changed my template. What do you think? Too bright? Too busy? Like? Tell me in the comments!

I am plain old DYING right now with lack of time. I think I have mentioned before that I lost my writing time after being hired two extra days at the preschool. I realized today that I haven't really written or done a good revision since that happened. ARGH! Of course, my husband is completely unhelpful - "Just tell them no." Right.

Anyway, Spring Break is coming up, and I think I am going to try to hire a babysitter for at least one day so I can work. I have decided to take a day off in mid-April, as well. Here's hoping I can get LOTS of work done! Oh, and if you see me online between the hours of 9am and 3pm est. on April 23, please feel free to yell at me. Profusely.

Here are a couple of fun posts I found today. You should check them out.

Carrie Harris posts an interview with Kody Keplinger and some links to more interviews.

Jenny Bent posts on rejection.

Jim at Dystel and Goderich Literary Agency Blog will tell you what to read next if you tell him the last five books you read.

Enjoy those!

Also, my brother's band, The Rise of Defiance, released their CD last weekend. They are working on getting it on iTunes this week. My middle child sings on the first track and it is AWESOME! If you like metal/rock you should check them out!