Selena Thomason's Blog

Sunday, February 27th

Line of the Day

Overheard in a metro station yesterday -

"Why you put my business on the street like that?" - to someone who brought up personal stuff in a public space.

The ironic part is that I didn’t hear the personal whatever-it-was, just the response.

The sad part is that the offender's "friends" took the gaffe as an opportunity to push her to the outside of their close-knit circle by refusing to sit with her the whole rest of the train ride.

I can't help but wonder how long they ended up punishing her.

She took it with grace and dignity though.

I'm thinking she needs to find some less petty friends.

Selena on 02.27.05 @ 08:42 AM EST [link] [No Comments]

No more CarLo :(

I’m crushed. Word is that Tamara Braun is leaving GH when her contract is up. She is half of my CarLo obsession. The chemistry between her and Lorenzo’s portrayer, the always fabulous Ted King, is a large part of what made CarLo so compelling.

There's talk of recasting Carly but chemistry can't be replicated or forced - it either is or it isn't. Good luck with that recast, GH.

Selena on 02.27.05 @ 08:28 AM EST [more..] [No Comments]

Saturday, February 26th

Sleepwalking

I’ve been tired all week. Even though I slept well every night, I still woke up exhausted every morning.

My husband says it’s because I’ve been sleepwalking around the neighborhood. He’s kidding of course but it’s still a funny picture - me sleepwalking through the community in my mismatched, multi-layered pajamas and double socks.

(Give me a break, it’s been really cold - snow on the ground and everything.)

Gotta go sleep now.

Selena on 02.26.05 @ 10:55 PM EST [link] [No Comments]

Pins and needles

I’m still waiting to hear about that second story. They said I should get a response by the end of February, so that's in the next few days.

The suspense is killing me.

But suspense is better than rejection.

We’ll see how it plays out.

Selena on 02.26.05 @ 09:37 PM EST [link] [No Comments]

Monday, February 21st

President's Day and Writing

Happy President’s Day

I’m spending my holiday writing. Don’t know if the president would approve. Don’t really care. I’m not even sure there is a traditional way to celebrate President’s Day – besides shopping of course, which I’m not gonna do.

It’s been a good day.

I’ve worked on the book more than three hours already today, four if you count the hour in the middle of the night when I couldn’t sleep and decided to work on the book instead. (Kathryn, one of my cats, seemed particularly annoyed by the tiny bit of light my pda gave off. She finally sat on my pda to put a stop to it.)

Current stats on the book:

word count = 82,184
chapters = 27
pages = 222 and that’s single-spaced

I think that when I finally print it to send it off for consideration, I’ll have to change it to double-spaced so that’ll be over 400 pages. Wow.

I’m not quite there yet though. There are some sections that aren’t are good as the others, so I want to fix them. And I should probably proof it a couple more times

I’ll try to work on it some more later today. But now, I’m taking a break.

My back was hurting. But I finally caved in and took that second Aleve and I feel much better now. Think I may need a nap though. It is after all a day off.

Happy President’s Day, everyone.

P.S. I’ve also been checking out greeting card markets for my V-day ditty. Gotta send away for some writer’s guidelines. Maybe after my snooze.

Selena on 02.21.05 @ 02:34 PM EST [link] [No Comments]

Friday, February 18th

Lunch with Mom

Had a good lunch with Mom today.

It surprises me how alike we have become. Or maybe it's just that as I have gotten older I've begun to realize that I am like my mom in many ways. Except her skills at art, crafts, and jewelry-making. I am still no good at any of those things.

We had lunch at Bennigan's.

She asked if I ever missed working there.

I said, "Sometimes, yes. Sometimes I do miss it."

Selena on 02.18.05 @ 06:52 PM EST [link] [No Comments]

Thursday, February 17th

Weekend!!

Finally.

I am off the next two days. Thank goodness. Today was a rough day at work. Plus it was the fifth day in a row at work, which I’ve already said is usually more than I can gracefully handle. But it’s done now. Yippee.

My weekend was shaping up to be particularly social, a rare occurrence. But it’s already begun falling apart.

I was planning to go bowling with daughter Saturday night. (Well, really to go with her to watch her bowl.) But I just find out that’s not happening.

I’m still hoping to get together with my mom tomorrow for lunch and/or shopping and/or a movie. Whatever Mom wants. Haven’t seen Mom in a while, so I’m looking forward to that.

Also I may be having lunch with my friend Gina, if the birthing of babies doesn’t run over.

We’ll see how it plays out. But as long as I don’t have to go into work until Sunday, it’ll be a good weekend.

Selena on 02.17.05 @ 09:41 PM EST [link] [No Comments]

Wednesday, February 16th

It's a "No"

I heard back about one of my pending subs. It was a no.

But at least they gave me some good feedback with my rejection.

Still one story out there...

Selena on 02.16.05 @ 10:05 PM EST [link] [No Comments]

Tuesday, February 15th

Good Day

It was a good day.

It started out a little rough; I woke up exhausted. But it got better from there.

I got a lot done at work. Plus I worked on the book some, which always makes for a good day. I also got some positive feedback on my V-day ditty - and who doesn't love positive feedback?!

Even the weather was nice and mild.

The things that went wrong today were momentary, mild and easily handled.

It was a truly stellar day.

Now, if only there is CarLo in today's GH then today will officially be perfect.

But let’s fact it, that’s not gonna happen. It’s Sonny sweeps on TV’s most violent soap. Really. Where oh where is my "love in the afternoon?" If I wanted gritty realism, I would watch “NYPD Blue.”

Ok, so I let one of my guilty pleasures out in this entry. Everyone’s got 'em. Mine is “General Hospital,” Carly and Lorenzo – specifically.

Yes, “My name is Selena and I am a CarLo-holic.” But forget the 12 steps, ‘cause I don’t want to be cured.

Lest you think I’m the only person obsessed with CarLo, there is a whole message board devoted to CarLo. It’s http://pub219.ezboard.com/bobesessionthecarlomessageboard and I’m headed over there right now to check out the live thread and see if there’s anything worth watching in today’s episode.

Have a good day everyone.

Selena on 02.15.05 @ 09:20 PM EST [link] [No Comments]

Monday, February 14th

Valentine's Day Greetings

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone.

Here’s a V-day ditty for you:

Don’t need a card,
no candy either.
Don’t want to go out,
not even to dinner.
Don't need any jewelry,
I’d rather have the cash.
Don’t bother with flowers,
they never last.
Don't want any plush toys -
no red heart, no teddy bear.
All I want for Valentine’s Day
is for you to be there.

(Hee, hee. Not quite Shakespeare, I know. So sue me. I was busy with other stuff today. Had to work. Gotta make the cashola, you know?)

Hope it’s a good V-day for everyone.

P.S.
Actually my favorite part of Valentine’s Day is going to CVS for half-price candy the next day. Can't wait.

Selena on 02.14.05 @ 07:17 PM EST [link]

Sunday, February 13th

Primary Values

"When people fail to live up to their values, the first thing they feel is disappointment in themselves, which creates a lot of stress."
-What Happy People Know, by Dan Baker

I have learned a lot about myself over the years. One thing I learned is that two of my chief values are honor and kindness. I’ve also learned that when I fail to live up to those values, when I can no longer think of myself as an honorable, kind person, then it goes badly from there. Which is why the above quote really hit home.

I don't always manage to do the right thing, but I’m always seeking it, always striving for it. And I guess that’s really all we can expect of ourselves and each other.

Selena on 02.13.05 @ 09:01 PM EST [link]

Friday, February 11th

It’s always spring in Arizona

I hate winter.

I hate it with a passion. Every year I feel like it’s never gonna end, like I’m going to freeze to death before the warm weather returns.

I tell myself that spring will come, that it always does, that even the longest, harshest winter ends eventually.

Today I was complaining about winter and someone said "It’s always spring in Arizona." (Feel free to insert your favorite warm weather spot instead.) It’s a lovely thought and I realized that it was comforting even if it wasn't true.

Sometimes it’s like that. Sometimes just thinking of a warm, sunny place takes the chill off. Sometimes it’s doesn't even matter that you can't go there.

It reminds me of this line from a Sheryl Crow song: "Even if it’s a lie, say it will be alright, and I will believe."

It’ll be alright.

Selena on 02.11.05 @ 09:43 PM EST [more..]

Wednesday, February 9th

Bad Day

It’s been a bad day.

But at least I’m not as shell-shocked as I was this morning.

I don’t want to write (or talk) about what went wrong.

I just want to say…

Sometimes you gotta get by until it gets better.

And

I’m proud to say I’ve made it this far.

Plus

On my way home tonight, a white cat crossed my path.

I choose to believe it’s a sign my luck is changing.

Selena on 02.09.05 @ 08:49 PM EST [link]

Sunday, February 6th

Funny

My husband forwarded me this joke and I liked it so much I'm posting it here. (I'd credit the author but haven't the foggiest idea who originally wrote it.) Enjoy.

-------------------

Jack wakes up with a huge hangover after attending his company's Christmas Party. Jack is not normally a drinker, but the drinks didn't taste like alcohol at all. He didn't even remember how he got home from the party. As bad as he was feeling, he wondered if he did something wrong. Jack had to force himself to open his eyes, and the first thing he sees is a couple of aspirins next to a glass of water on the side table. And, next to them, a single red rose!

Jack sits up and sees his clothing in front of him, all clean and pressed. He looks around the room and sees that it is in perfect order, spotlessly clean. So is the rest of the house. He takes the aspirins, cringes when he sees a huge black eye staring back at him in the bathroom mirror. Then he notices a note hanging on the corner of the mirror written in red with little hearts on it and a kiss mark from his wife in lipstick!: "Honey, breakfast is on the stove, I left early to go get groceries to make you your favorite dinner tonight. I love you, darling!"

He stumbles to the kitchen and sure enough, there is hot breakfast, steaming hot coffee and the morning newspaper. His son is also at the table eating.

Jack asks, "Son... what happened last night?"

"Well, you came home after 3 A.M., drunk and out of your mind. You fell over the coffee table and broke it, and then you puked in the hallway, and got that black eye when you ran into the door."

Confused he asked his son, "So, why is everything in such perfect order, so clean, I have a rose, and breakfast is on the table waiting for me?"

His son replies, "Oh THAT!... Mom dragged you to the bedroom, and when she tried to take your pants off, you screamed, "Leave me alone, lady, I'm married!"

Broken Coffee Table $39.99

Hot Breakfast $4.20

Two Aspirins .38

Saying the right thing at the right time . . .Priceless.

Selena on 02.06.05 @ 09:20 PM EST [link]

Saturday, February 5th

Avoiding the Muse

I’ve been avoiding the muse all day.

It’s terrible how writers do that sometimes – find time for everything but writing.

Today I took a brisk 30-minute walk, did those exercises I’ve supposed to do everyday, got groceries, made soup, watched TV AND part of a movie, even took a nap. I got a lot done. I did everything but write.

I wish I knew why writers do that. Maybe we’re afraid – afraid that we’ve lost the touch, or maybe that we weren’t any good to begin with.

The thing I need to remember at times like these is that ten times out of ten once I am actually writing, actually past the resistance and putting words on paper, I enjoy it.

Gotta go write now.

Selena on 02.05.05 @ 07:48 PM EST [link]

Friday, February 4th

Getting Grumpy?

My list of pet peeves keeps getting longer. Is that a bad sign?

I'm not sure whether I'm becoming grumpier in my old age or whether I'm just more aware of it. (Or perhaps there are more grump-inducing people and happenings than there used to be. There's a thought.) Whatever the cause it seems that I am not the easy-going, even-keeled person I used to be.

Selena on 02.04.05 @ 10:38 PM EST [more..]

Thursday, February 3rd

Subs pending - part 2

I love having submissions out. It’s a hopeful time - the possibility is out there and the rejection has yet to come.

It’s very discouraging to get a no. So I’ve developed this secret to sustain me - I always have a sub pending. That way if I get a no, I can tell myself that this other piece that's still out there may come back with a yes.

I call it "living in hope" and it works for writing as well as life in general. Even if life seems bleak right now, things could all turn around tomorrow.

Live in hope.

Selena on 02.03.05 @ 09:58 AM EST [link]

Wednesday, February 2nd

Selena’s Prayer

Not as popular as the Lord’s Prayer but here it is anyway -

"God grant me the wisdom to know the right road and the strength to walk it."

Short, sweet, and multi-purpose. Works for me.

Selena on 02.02.05 @ 12:53 PM EST [link]

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