dallas – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

My #DFWCon by the Numbers

Published on May 5, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle16 Comments

8 Seminars Attended – couldn’t even pick a favorite, they were all amazing.

1 Workshop Attended – didn’t go well. The story I had critiqued isn’t very good and I am finally ok with it. It was my first attempt at writing a novel and while I love the story, I came to realize it works much better in my head then it does on paper.

2 books purchased – believe me when I tell you I exhibited an incredible amount of self control in only buying two.

The Wisdom of Hair by Kim Boykin – she conducted two seminars, Making a Story Great with Texture and The Way to a Women’s Heart. She was amazing.

Secret Sex Lives by Suzy Spencer – she conducted a seminar titled Murder & Sex, great information.

2 Pitches – my first attempted at pitching my story. I wrote my pitch in 6 different ways the morning of the first pitch. It never sounded right. Finally, after a pep talk from the lovely Tameri Etherton, I just went in and spoke from my heart. I love this story and I guess it showed because . . .

2 Requests for submissions – I really don’t know how or why an agent asked for a request, in the pitch sessions, it seems like everyone was getting request. I don’t care, I am happy to have some one care enough to ask follow up questions about my story and to hear them say, I would like to read more. Coolest feeling in the world, every.

Tons of amazing people – I met and talked to and learned from and admired and was humbled by so many people. It was so great to be around people who understand and can related to the weird, quirky, imaginative, off the wall, what in the world and strange way we think sometimes. People who say, I know exactly what you mean. It was nice to be around people who understand how blessed we are to call ourselves WRITERS!

Related Post – DFW Writers’ Conference

Y – Yard Sale

Published on April 29, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle10 Comments

Yard sales are big business in my neck of the woods. I gather a years worth of crap that my parents and I have stored in the garage. Pull it all out into the front yard. Slap a price on it and then watch them swarm. It doesn’t take any advertising at all, people spend their Saturday mornings trolling the area looking for the discarded junk of strangers. It is amazing to me.

This year I had a funny request:

“Do you have wires?

“What kind of wires?”

“Any kind of wires? Phone wires? Computer wires? Chicken wire?”

“I have computer wires and phone wires, but they go with the computer and phone I am selling.”

“Well, how much is the computer and phone?”

“Computer 25 and phone is 5.”

“I’ll take it.”

He handed me 30 dollars, gathered his wires and started to walk away.

“Wait, you forgot your computer and phone.”

“I told you, I just need the wires.”

Great, now how am I going to explain what happened to the wires when I try and sell the computer and phone, again.

Check out my yard sale:

This the garage the night before.

The yard the next day. We earned 486.00 on this stuff. I should quit my day job and do yard sales full time.

Do you hold an annual yard sale or garage sale? Do you ever buy stuff from yard sales?

W – Klyde Warren Park

Published on April 26, 2013April 25, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle7 Comments

I had never heard of the Warren family until I did some research on this park. Apparently, he is one of our wealthiest residents and he named this really cool park in downtown Dallas after his 9 year old son. What a stud that kids must be in elementary school? “Hey girl, let me show you my park.”

Klyde Warren Park is a 5.2 acre park in downtown Dallas. Again, part of the revitalization of the area. 10 years ago, downtown Dallas was a ghost town on weekends, this is what it look liked last Saturday.

And, I had my first food truck experience. The food was amazing.

I can’t wait to spend more time in the park. I picture myself sitting at these tables and writing the next great American novel. The whole park has free wifi.

Or maybe work on my music. They have a outdoor library, too.

So, if your looking for me this summer, you can probably find me at Klyde Warren Park?

U – Uncle Julio’s

Published on April 24, 2013April 23, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle6 Comments

When you come to visit Dallas, you have to have dinner at a locals approved Tex-Mex restaurant. There are only a few on the list, but Uncle Julio’s is one of the best.

When ever I came home from overseas to visit, after a 16 hour plane ride, I stopped to have Mexican food first. It is that good.

I love the food so much, I have write about it often. Here is a scene from one of my novel length projects:

I’m Coming Home – All you need to fall in love is great food, margaritas and easy conversation.

They both ordered fajitas. Chicken for Sierra and steak for John. The good food and margaritas made the conversation flow easy.

“Where did you go to school after Loyola in New Orleans?” John asked.

“Florida State.” Sierra said.

“Party school.”

“I was all partied out before I even got there,” Sierra said.

“I couldn’t image going to school in New Orleans.”

“Then I went to Georgetown Law.”

“I don’t quite understand,” John took a bit of his fajita, paused to savior it and lost his train of thought.

“What don’t you understand?”

“Oh, yeah, this is so good.” he wiped his mouth with a napkin and appeared be contemplate his next sentence. Sierra knew what he was going to ask.

“Ivy League law school and you work as a manager of a golf academy.”

“Is that a question?” Sydney tried to keep the annoyance out of her voice.

“I don’t mean anything by it, I am just curious how you got there?”

“I run a golf Academy in a foreign country. I generated over a million dollars in revenue. I am American who obtained a business license in China.” Sierra hoped she sounded confident.

“You trying to impress me?” John asked.

“Maybe. I don’t mean to sound defensive,” Sierra placed her hands in her lap, “It just I’m not as impressed with my credentials as I probably should be.”

“Why?”

“Because, it’s not what I want to do anymore.” It’s the first time Sierra had said that out loud.

“What do you want to be doing?” John asked.

“Dream job?”

“Yeah.”

“A writer.” Sydney said.

“Really,” John said. “What do you write?”

“Contemporary romance. Romantic comedies.”

“Let me read something?” John asked.

“Not a chance.” Sierra said and continued to make her fajita. Placing the chicken, cheese, sour cream, beans and guacamole on the flour tortilla in the correct order.

“Come on.” John said. “I enjoy a good romantic comedy.”

“Do you love your job?” Sydney asked.

“Changing the subject, I see. Yeah, I get to solve problems all day that only 1% of the world can even comprehend.” John said.

“What do you do exactly?” Sydney said. “I know you are ‘revamping the whole social media platform’ but was does that mean?”

“That is actually about 1/4 of what I do, but Bob likes to think he a social media pioneer.” John explained. “I create the internet presence for Zurich.”

“That’s cool.”

“And, I am in charge of keeping it all safe.” John said.

“You trying to impress me?” Sydney asked.

“Is it working?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

Who has actually had Tex-Mex food? I don’t have to tell you there is a difference between, Mexican Food, Spanish Food and Tex-Mex Food.

T – Troy Aikman

Published on April 23, 2013April 22, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle4 Comments

He boarded the plane and looked at me, the slightest hint of recognition registered on his face. He sat in the seat across the aisle. While settling in, I noticed him looking in my direction out of his peripheral vision. I can’t imagine what slight face tick he read on my face. I tried to maintain a neutral facial expression, but inside it took every ounce of control I had muster not to point and scream, “Oh, my god, you’re Troy Aikman.”

We caught each other peeking and it got to a point where it would have been uncomfortable to look away, considering we hadn’t even begun a 5 hour plane ride.

“We have met before.” I said.

“I thought you looked familiar.” He smiled appearing relieved in my confirmation.

“We’ve meet several times, actually.” I said.

“Give me a hint.” I turned in my set to face him, but the coach class passengers were boarding the plane and to begin a conversation would have been awkward, pause every sentence to avoid talking into strangers’ hip as they walked by.

He stood up and motioned to the flight attendant.

“Is anyone sitting next to her?” he said pointing at me.

“Yes, but we can switch his seat, Mr. Aikman.”

He thanked the attendant and retrieved a black computer bag from under the seat.

I moved to the window seat and Troy settled in.

“Think football.”

He laughed, “You’re going to have to be more specific.”

I laughed, too, realizing how ridiculous that sounded, but for some strange reason I wasn’t embarrassed.

“Ok, think Dallas Cowboys.”

“You’re not going to make this easy for me?”

“Well, what fun would that be?” I tiled my head and could feel a coy smile spreading across my lips. I reached out and touched his arm lightly. I mean, it was just lying there on the arm rest.

OMG, Am I flirting with Troy Aikman?

He might have flirted back if the flight attendant hadn’t interrupted and told me to fasten my seat belt. We were about to take off.

From where the flight attendant stood giving the safety demonstration, I could study the side of his face. Not only was I closer to him then our three previous meetings, I had all the time I needed to settle into the fact I still had a huge crush on him. His gold hair had darkened a bit and his nose, which was way to big for his face when he was drafted, seem to settle nicely. He had the cutest lines next to his eyes and the curve of his lips made him appear not so serious. It’s true what they say, men get better looking with age.

“The House of Blues opening in the West End.” I said.

“Really?”

“Yeah, it was the Wednesday after the game you busted you’re chin and bit through your tongue.” I pulled my knee into the seat and turned towards him. “See, you were at the buffet table eating shrimp and I stood across the table from you and you said you hadn’t had anything solid to eat since Sunday because of the stitches in your tongue.”

I was rambling.

“I took a shrimp and ate it and I think I said something like, this is so good and you laughed at me.”

“Okay,” he said slowly, I couldn’t tell if he was trying to remember, or if he didn’t believe me. I had my facts straight, I remember that game like it was yesterday.

“I met you again at the Troy & Emmitt golf tournament.” He nodded his head, “My mother asked you to take a photo with me because I was leaving for college the next year.” I didn’t realize at the time, but what a stupid to use in order to score a photo. He must have thought I was a freak.

“And, the last time we meet was at the Ring of Honor party at the Stadium Club.”

“You were wearing black.”

“Yes.” I grabbed his arm, again. “Wait, everyone was wearing black. It was a black party.”

He smiled and maybe I was imagining it or it was wishful thinking on my part, but he was staring at my lips. We sat staring at each other for an uncomfortable amount of time. Thank god this time, the flight attendant appeared.

“Can I get you a drink?” she asked Troy.

“You want something?” Troy asked me.

“Champagne.”

“Make that two.”

“What are we celebrating?” Troy asked.

The flight attendant handed a glass to me and then to Troy. She shot the hugest grin in Troy’s directions. It made me feel good watching him ignore her and concentrate on me.

“To second chances.”

“Second chances,” He said.

The sound of the crystal glasses echoed between us and I took a sip. He watched me as he took a sip.

Funny, I didn’t feel like the little fat girl on the outside look in, anymore.

For the record, Troy was very nice the few times I meet him, but I don’t know him. My parents were in the industry and the sports world in Dallas is small.

I’ve been thinking about this story idea for awhile. One of my favorite quotes is “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.”

What if a girl was placed back into the life she ran away from because she never measured up? Even if she was different now, would the result be different. Or will she still be on the sidelines (pun intended) wishing she could get in the game. Or maybe once she got in the game, it wasn’t as fun to play as she imagined it would be. Or maybe not all the people in the game want to play with her. I love brainstorming story ideas.

Have you ever meet your celebrity crush? How did they measure up to the image you had in your head?