It is time for the big reveal in the What I did Last Summer: Fact or Fiction? Blog Hop. Thanks so much to all the lovely people who stopped by and casted their votes. I was thrilled with the response and appreciative of all those who where concerned about my health and those who enjoyed the Universe setting things back in balance (You need to read the stories to get what I am talking about).
Taking a walk down memory lane and putting these two story on paper was a great experience for me. I truly enjoyed it and discovered I have many of these types of stories rolling around in my head. I can use them in my WIP, might be fun. You know – – –
Oh, all right. I will stop stalling. Here is what you all have been waiting for:
A wise friend once told me not to make promises I can’t keep, not even to myself. I made some goals for myself at the beginning of the summer. And, I did pretty good until August hit and then my life seemed to get caught in a tail spin. Nothing tragic or anything, just out of my control. I think I need to change my tactics. So, here are my goals until my trip home on December 6th.
Write for 2 hours per day. Win Campnano.
Sweat for 1 hour per day. Exercise in any form.
Post on my blog 4 times per week. Quality post, no fluff.
Stop buying books until I read the ones I have.
Pay off my credit card (3,012.05 down from 10,000.00 at the beginning of the year). Which means stop spending money. Which means, when I am bored, see 1-4. (READ, WRITE or SWEAT).
What do you do when you feel your life is going off track?
Present
The move to Shanghai is under way and I figured if I was going to be living in a new city, I should learn a little about it. Five facts about my new home town:
There are 23 million people in Shanghai. That’s a lot of people.
20,000 jews fled to Shanghai to escape the Nazis. I didn’t not know that.
Parents still gather at the Shanghai Market with the resume of their unwed children in the hope of finding them a spouse. I need to tell my mother.
KFC showed up in Shanghai 5 years before McDonalds. I wonder if it’s real chicken.
There are 2.5 female toilets for every 1 male toilet and about 80% of public toilets are ‘squatters’. If you have never had to squat to pee, count yourself lucky.
Bonus: I think I mentioned it before, but it’s worth repeating. My new home is a high rise apartment on top of a mall with a movie theater. Sydney Quotes the Movies will get a boost in frequency.
Return to the Past – Blog Love Returns
Daddyknowsless.org – The adventures of a single father and his 8 year old son and other really funny/amusing/sad/sexy stuff.
torcivia.com – Author Phil Torcivia – “I’m one relationship disaster away from my third cat.” Another male blogger who writes about relationships and life and calls people on their stuff. Really good writing.
Sevastian Winters – “Blue Print for Building a Better me” – Great lessons in this post.
Mikereverb.wordpress.com – “F-ck It” or A Treastise on Procrastination – I can procrastinate with the best of them, so Mike told me I needed to get to that point where I say “F-ck it” and get to writing.
Michaeljholley.com – Great post on “Why a Daily Routine is so important.”
Amschultz.com – I know you are probably thinking by now “Why does AM seem to have a mention every Sunday”, but what I can say, he writes quality. I am all about quality. ‘Wired Writers: Why do Writers Drink so much Coffee?’ – No need to wonder any longer. AM breaks it down.
1st rule of WRiTE CLUB, you can talk about WRiTE CLUB, but just this once. I have been in search of motivation to start writing some short stories and I came across this contest and had to participate. Plus, Fight Club is one of my favorite movies and Tyler Durden is one of my all time favorite movie characters. If you want to learn more about WRiTE CLUB and join the competition, click on the badge to the right. Thanks to our WRiTE Master DL Hammons for creating the opportunity for the WRiTE of the Century. First WRiTE is held on July 30th. Bring it on.*
*Get it? I am replacing the word Fight with the word WRiTE. Pretty clever, huh?
“F–k off with your sofa units and strine green stripe patterns, I say never be complete, I say stop being perfect, I say let… lets evolve, let the chips fall where they may.” Tyler Durden
Workers
I wanted to give a special shout out this week to some of the people who are putting in work for me. Your simple click of a button has been so valuable to me and I want to say thank you.
First, a few of my diligent Tribemates – If you aren’t on Triberr, what are you waiting for?
If you aren’t following these people, you are missing out. I know there are many more and if I missed you, so sorry and thank you, too.
Watch Out
There are two book that you need to watch out for and pick up this week.
Flight of the Blue by A.E. Howard comes out on July 24th. I had the honor of interviewing A.E. during JuNoWriMo and I am really looking forward to reading her new book.
I have been tagged by my blog buddy A.M. Schultz. I am stealing his little skull star guy in order for you to remember the man and the myth. Besides, I think it is too cool. Click on the skull to visit his new site Head Spit. The guys got talent.
Eleven Things about Me:
1. I am moving to Shanghai next month.
2. I broke my iPhone yesterday by dropping it on a concrete floor.
3. I play golf.
4. I am unusually loyal to TaylorMade Adidas products.
5. I am obsessed with reality cooking show competitions; Top Chef, Master Chef, Chopped.
6. I can’t cook.
7. I am currently reading Foreign Identity by my new blog friend Becca J. Campbell. Just a few pages in, but Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory meets the movie Saw keeps popping into my head. It is really good.
8. I wonder why Apple doesn’t make printers. It is preventing me from having an all Apple workstation.
9. I currently have three types of currency in my wallet. Can you guess which ones? Hint: I don’t have any American dollars.
10. The title of my next novel is tentatively Ink: A Permanent Love Story. Corny?
Now on to 11 questions by AM Schultz. I have to admit, I am a little scared. Here we go:
#1: Better Song: Happy Happy, Joy Joy or Peanut Butter Jelly Time?
Happy Happy, Joy Joy. I have no clue what Peanut Butter Jelly Time is, but I will look it up.
#2: What song must you dance/sing to, even at the risk of looking like a ginormous dorkface?
In the fantasy version of myself, I sing and dance like Beyonce. Dance for You is my favorite song from her last album and whenever I hear it, I have to sign and dance. It’s pretty hot. Let me know what you think.
#3: If you could take any historical figure to lunch, who would it be?
I have a fascination with female leaders, so I would probably pick Cleopatra. The historical accounts of her versus how she is portrayed in movies and T.V. shows is so different. I would love to ask what what’s the real deal.
4: Where would you go?
I would take her to Craft in New York. Tom Colicchio’s food is fit for a queen.
#5: What do you think they would order?
She would probably order the entire menu and take a small bite of each thing. She is a queen after all, she is allowed.
#6: What book do you wish you had written?
There aren’t any books I wish I could have written. I think that would be pretty arrogant of me to think I could write a book I love better than the writer.
#7: If you could be one character from literature, who would you be?
#11: What is the maximum number of times someone should take a bath/shower per day (excluding those with medical conditions, etc)
At least once a day, unless you are really busy and don’t subject other to your funk, then you can get a way with once every two days.
Also, a shout out and thank you to Ella Medler for the One Lovely Blog Award she bestowed upon me last week and Megan Paasch; Rhymes with Smash! for the Inspiring Blog Award. Last but not least, big thanks to Emma MC at Write Away for the Sunshine Award. Please check out their blogs.
Badges are on my Blog Work Tab. As far as the responsibilities, please forgive me, but I don’t think there is anything that you don’t know about me. I need to go do more stuff so I have more to talk about. But, I am very grateful for the love nonetheless.
It is time for the big reveal in the What I did Last Summer: Fact or Fiction? Blog Hop. Thanks so much to all the lovely people who stopped by and casted their votes. I was thrilled with the response and appreciative of all those who where concerned about my health and those who enjoyed the Universe setting things back in balance (You need to read the stories to get what I am talking about).
Sydney Aaliyah Michelle 