First Impressions

They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression, but some times I think you get a second chance to evaluate a first impression. . .

I'm a snap judger. When I meet people there are times I'll make an immediate judgement call. It's not usually fair or based on logic or anything else, I just get a "feeling" about someone and instantly I know I'm going to be friends with them or that I'll NEVER be friends with them.

Am I always right? Heck no. In fact, there have been times I've been completely wrong. For example one time I met an author--a famous author--and I thought she was very stand-offish and so me, being the insecure twit I am, thought she was stuck up and I thought all sorts of nasty thoughts like "I hope if I ever get that famous I don't act like that."

Well, it turns out I was 100% wrong. She turned out to be one of the nicest people I've ever met and I'm so glad I kept my mouth shut. She was very kind to me and I came to find out, somewhat shy. Did I feel like an idiot for thinking the wrong thing of her? You bet I did.

Has it stopped me, probably not.
I am trying though, honestly. I'm trying to be more like my friend Beth Ciotta. I don't think I've ever heard her say a bad word about anyone. She is truly a kind person who always looks at the good in people.

I'm not quite there yet, but I'm trying to withold judgement longer at least.

We'll see how long it lasts, hahahahahaha

Ari

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!!!

It's snowing here in Connecticut which makes travel tricky so all y'all be careful. Have a wonderful holiday filled with friends, family, fun, and most of all FOOD!!!!

I give thanks for all my many blessings, but most of all for the blessings of family and friends who have supported me through so many trials. Thanks all of you for being here for me in good times and bad.

Ari

So unprepared!!!

Hey everyone!
I'm so glad to see that I'm not the only one who thinks life doesn't end at 30!!! Of course, most of my friends are over thirty, but that's besides the point!!!

I love reading comments from my friends. I think it's a good thing to surround yourself with funny people because then you're always laughing!!! Laughter is good!

I'm actually not laughing too much right now, I have a raging case of pink eye which in the grand scheme of things is only annoying, but in reality is REALLY annoying, hahahaha. I'll get over it, but it's a pain in the butt. I might add that I got the pink eye, not any of my three children that in school, me. My goal now is to keep it from spreading through the house. Putting eye drops in three wiggling children is not my idea of fun!!!

I'm also feeling a little stressed lately. Usually by Thanksgiving I have my Christmas cards written out, my shopping mostly done, and I just have to decorate. Because I have a large family and my husband's parents are divorced we do Christmas just about every weekend in December. The main reason we do a month long Christmas day is because I'm fanatical about having my children home on Christmas day. I'm more than willing to have anyone who wants to come over stop by, but I'm not making my kids put down their new toys and go to someone's house.

Anyway, what this means is, come December 1, I'm busy. Busier I should say, and I don't have much time time go shopping or write out 100 Christmas cards. I try to do those things in stages during the year so I'm not a lunatic while decorating the Christmas tree. Some times it works, and sometimes it doesn't.

This year I have been so swamped I haven't bought a single stocking stuffer. I have done not one single thing to make things easier on myself come December so I'm pre-stressing. I know that when I get my act together, I'll be able to do my cards out, get my presents bought and wrapped and be all set probably in a weekend, but meanwhile it's eating at me.

Seeing Christmas decorations up already is SOOOO not helping matters either. What ever happened to enjoying fall? I'm beginning to feel like Thanksgiving is just given a nod between Halloween and Christmas. I happen to love Thanksgiving.

Probably because we go to my mother's and I don't have to buy presents, write out cards, or do much cooking. Yup, Thanksgiving is becoming my favorite holiday!!!!

Does anyone else feel like the holidays have ganged up on them for a sneak attack? And what the heck happened to the year 2005? I'm just getting used to putting 05 on my checks and there's only 6 weeks left of the year!!!!

I think it's a conspiracy. . . what about you?

Say it isn't so!

I've been reading a lot of books lately, and as sometimes happens, I've found a theme running through them. Now, I've been reading books by very different authors so finding this theme was rather surprising to me. I'd understand it if it was one particular author, but it was at least three different ones.

The jist of the theme is that as a woman grows older her value decreases, and conversely, as a man grows older his value increases. The idea is that a woman is measured by the shape of her body and her physical beauty, whereas a man is measured by his income potential.

SAY IT ISN'T SO!!!

I think this is CRAP! Now granted, I'm 35 so the idea that my value is decreasing as my waistline increases is rather depressing. Maybe I'm just in denial, but I don't think so. First of all, I wasn't that attractive when I was younger anyway so if my value goes down with each birthday I'm in a lot of trouble.
But also, I think as I've grown older I've definitely "come in" to my "womanhood." I feel stronger for having born three children and for survivng a multitude of difficulties I could have never imagined at the age of 22. I know now that I can manage on my own with or without my husband. I may not LIKE it if I didn't have him, but I'd be able to survive just fine. I'm not so sure he could say the same thing. . .

Have I mentioned he doesn't read my blog? hahahahahahaha

Maybe in a society that would bet thousands of dollars on a bra worn by Britney Spears perky boobs and a flat stomach are all that matters, but I'd like to think there are plenty of men out there who would value me as much for what I have in my head as for what I have in my pants.

Then again maybe I'm delusional. Denial isn't just a river in Egypt. . .

I'd love to hear people's thoughts on this one!!!

Faking it

I just recently started reading Jenny Crusie. I heard her speak at RWA Nationals in Reno and she made me laugh so hard I had to see what her books were like.

Now of course, I need to READ THEM ALL!

In case you haven't noticed, I like to read romantic comedy. I'm not very good at writing it, but I love, love, love to read it.

FAKING IT had me laughing so loud I almost wet my pants. The dialogue in that book was so snappy that I felt like I was right there, and the situations the characters got into were hysterical. Looks like I'll be adding more books to my Amazon wish list!!

In other news, I spent yesterday afternoon at Romance Junkies Bookclub (it's a yahoo group, you can sign up for it at the Romance Junkies site http://www.romancejunkies.com) having an author day.
It was a lot of fun, there were a million questions and just some great people who made me feel right at home. It was a busy afternoon, that's for sure!

Oh, that reminds me, I need to go pick my winners! ACK! I'd almost forgotten!!! Looks like I'd better get busy!

Have a great weekend everyone!!!
Ari

I'm alive!

I'm alive, honest! I know I haven't blogged in ages, but I just haven't really had anything to say.
I know, hard to believe, huh? I mean, I should at least be able to whine about something!

Things have been busy here with sick kids, work, and finishing up a book. Oh, and my mom took the girls this weekend and the hubby and I actually had dinner out BY OURSELVES!!!

Needless to say, he learned the benefits of being married to a romance author! It's amazing how much fun being alone can be. It was nice to actually have conversations that didn't involve "did you pack the lunches yet?" Sigh, it'll be a few months before that happens again. . .

Oh, another good thing is a good friend of mine SOLD HER FIRST STORY!!!! Yay!!! I'm so psyched for her! I love it when good things happen!

Other good things. . .
I HAVE A RELEASE TODAY!!!! I'm psyched because it's an anthology and I like having other authors share in my angst, hahahahaha. I'm looking forward to hearing what people think about this book. The name of the anthology is PLEASURE RAIDERS and my story is called CONCUBINE'S REVENGE. It's a space pirate anthology so it should be a fun read.

Here's hoping. . .

Guess I had more to blog about than I thought!!! Thanks everyone for all your comments about my strike. It's nice to hear people tell me to take it easy instead of telling me to get my lazy butt moving, hahahahaha. I'm feeling much better and hope I'll be germ free for a few more months!

Have a great hump day everyone!
Ari

Going on strike

Okay, I admit it, I'm not as motivated as I thought I'd be.
I was going to try to write two more short stories by the end of this month, but I just can't do it. I'm tired!

I've kind of worn myself out and now I've caught ANOTHER cold. This one doesn't seem like a real cold though, I have a fever and a cough but that's it. I think the stress of my life and dieting have done me in. And since the holidays are coming up and I'm going to have even MORE stress, I think it's time I got a little more realistic about what I can accomplish.

Most days I get about 2-3 hours of writing time and maybe an hour of promo time, depending on what chaos is erupting in my life. I've been driven to write during every second I can because I really want to make this a CAREER not just a hobby. In order to do that, you have to have a consistent quality product.

Unfortunately, if I'm so stressed out that I can't sleep and I'm making myself sick, my product loses a great deal of quality. Trust me folks, it ain't easy to write hot sex when you're coughing up a lung, the kids are home sick, and you're so tired you could cry.

Soooo, I'm allowing myself to be human and take a little break. I'll start writing again soon, but I'm gong to work on a project I really want to work on, not something I feel I HAVE to work on. I enjoy writing, I love getting to know my characters and feeling them come alive under my fingertips.

I can't wait to get back to that, but first I need a rest! I think I'll read a book on the couch with my sick kids, hhahahahaha.

Have a great weekend everyone!
Ari