So last night was one of the first times I’ve seriously considered quitting writing, since I began 8 or so years ago. I’m still considering it, for myriad reasons, but am holding off because my horoscope said to wait on big decisions, that things are pending and change is coming (yes, cynical, no-God me is listening to her horoscope).

So it hasn’t been the greatest of times lately. But then I got the word that Netflix will soon be streaming through Wii, which is the system we have, and that totally perked me up. Hey, at least I’m easy.

Anyway, still pondering, going to keep writing until or if I decide to stop. So there I go.

Is it wrong that I am so excited about the Frampton boys decamping to South Jersey this weekend, leaving me alone in Brooklyn?

Because I am really excited.

Today–wait for it, it’s gonna be a shock–I am in a really good mood. It’s weird, I keep kinda testing it like you touch a sore tooth or something. Still there, though.

No one real good reason, just a general relief on a variety of issues, and that’s good. And vague, sorry, not trying to be coy. But figure it out yourself:

-My agent has an ms. out on submission.
-It’s been a hella long winter.
-I have been with my Spouse for 20 years next month.
-Writing had hit a roadblock, but I’ve tried another approach that seems to be working.
-I have ordered many, many books, and gotten many more from other sources, so reading material is totally rocking.
-Running class is building up my endurance, so much so that I now find I actually like running.

Okay, off to do something cheery.

Recently, I found SaveThe Words.org, where you can scope out obscure and almost obsolete words. And, if you’re feeling philanthropic, you can adopt a word. You get a neat certificate of adoption, and you promise to try to keep the word in current vernacular.

My word: Squiriferous, means having the qualities of a gentleman. If you peer more closely at the word, you’ll see the equally valid meaning of squire-like. Which reminds me a lot of Tom Jones‘ Squire Allworthy (Henry Fielding was a literary cut-up!)

Gerard Butler sure is squiriferous, in a grunty muscle-bound way.
***
The jerk let the door slam in my face. “Not very squiriferous of you,” I said, confident he would have no clue what I meant.
***
Squiriferous? I barely squirifihimmed!

Feel free to contribute your own sentences, or lemme know if you’ve adopted a word.

I am such a word geek.

. . . Because I am all alone this weekend, sans Son, sans Spouse.

My stay-at-home-mom and SAH-dad friends, in particular, are despising me right now.

I am trying not to rub it in their faces, but:

Yesterday I went to the movies. At night. And it was R-rated.
Today I slept until 10:15.
Then I made a mess of the dining room table, and didn’t care.
Now I am heading into the city to write, laugh and have dinner with a friend.
Tomorrow I go to another friend’s house for brunch.
And then I clean up the dining room table, ’cause the boys will be back in town (Thanks to Thin Lizzy for the earworm!)

CindyS tagged me for the book meme:

Grab the nearest book. Open the book to page 56. Find the fifth sentence. Post the text of the next two to five sentences in your journal/blog along with these instructions. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the closest. Tag five other people to do the same.

It’s Fashion and Women’s Attitudes In The Nineteenth Century by C. Willett Cunnington:

“The Gothic principle of disguise of mind and body was the new mode.
The classical form of the dress with its vertical emphasis of line had already become blurred by Gothic types of ornamentation;”

Okay, then onto some other stuff. Yesterday, I interviewed Clinton Kelly and Carmindy, both from TLC’s What Not To Wear, for my freelance job. First off, both were really nice, just as they are on TV. I totally wanted to hang out with Clinton, he was sharp and snarky and charming. He said the four trends for winter are:

purple
plaid
vests
ruffles

And when I made a face at the ruffles thing, he said it’s one of his style mantras that women of any age can wear any trend, as long as they pair it with classic pieces.

Next up was Carmindy, who told me I had “beautiful skin and gorgeous eyes.” She recommended primer as the one product women could use to instantly make a difference on their skin.

Anything else we need to discuss?

So if you’ve come by recently, you might think I am just a vain so-and-so what loves to show off her gowns, her family, and her recent ink.

Not so, grasshopper.

So in the WRITING thing, let me just say my new agent is pitching That Subtle Knot to editors this week. And that I am HALFWAY DONE with the super-sexy novella, because I have discovered a new place to write that feels more creative than here in front of the iMac. And, thanks to the Faux Critique Partner, I have come up with a much more complex reason my hero in On Bold Adventure is on his particular mission.

Yay!

So some of us are actually going to get tattooed whilst in SF. And this is an approximation of mine, albeit in black and white:

My Minnesota grandmother, the maternal one (hardly! actually!), was a hosta apostle, bringing hosta plants to everyone in the small lake town she lived in. And I have hosta in my backyard, as do most people, and I’ve always associated it with a practical, hardy, and yet lovely plant. I aspire to be more hosta-like.

Plus it’s hardly likely I’ll get sick of it, since it’s a PLANT, for goodness’ sake, not a picture of Mike Tyson or a band that subsequently released terrible records or something like that.

What tattoo would you get?

Is there anything more fabulous than finding a pair of jeans that look good on you? For a cheap price?

Indulge me while I get all girly here. I went into the fine town of Excelsior, MN, which has Ladies’ Nights on Thursdays, which means the stores stay open late (past 5:30!), and tons of women get all dressed up in their white slacks and bright tops (so cyuute! they exclaim in their Minnesota accents) and go shopping.

So I did too, sans the white slacks. And I found a pair of jeans that a) were fancy jeans, trouser style b) dark denim (which I love) c) look cute on me and d) were $39.

Oh, lord. My night was made. Plus my aunt (who doesn’t want to be called my aunt, ’cause she’s only seven years older than me) bought me a great Free People top and then I got a purse made of vintage Chinese wallpaper (how much more Megan can you get?!?) that was 75% off!

Yes. I am a New Yorker who got her shopping on in Excelsior, MN. And had a blast.

So Colleen Gleason was in town, and stayed in the Frampton Guest Room (do NOT call it a basement!) last night. She showed me the coolest thing she won at the Smart Bitches: A gift cert to Lochers, which has these incredible shirts. Totally cute, entirely subversive. Don’t know if you can see the script embroidered inbetween the cute little flowers and birds and stuff, but it says: (more…)