If I were really crass, I’d make some sort of Asian flu joke, but I’m not really crass. Heh.

But anyhoo, last night I watched a totally hammy rom-com called Needing You starring Andy Lau, my new favorite Asian actor. You know, I like me some Tony Leung and all, but Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro–well, geez, heart be still a second. I have even gone so far as to find Andy Lau on YouTube (he’s a pop singer, too). Sad. So, so sad.

At least he’s made some good films. But I bet I’m gonna watch some more of the cheeseball ones he’s made just to see him again. Pa.Thet.Ic.

I know. A perennial question (or, in my case, daily. Hourly. Minutely, even!). But I ask myself why do I keep trying to do this thing that is a) so hard and b) interferes with what else I have to do when c) things are just not happening?

In order not to jump out the window (likely another fruitless exercise, since we only have two floors in the house), I am going to try to answer the question:

1. Because I think I am funny.
2. Because otherwise how could I justify spending so much time on reading?
3. Because it makes me feel good when I’ve done it.
4. And not just like a frustrated SAHM.
5. Because, as Amanda pointed out recently, if I don’t do it, then nothing WILL happen.
6. And I get to see my friends at conferences. If I weren’t trying to do it at all, I would have no excuse for seeing them. And now some of my best friends are fellow writers.
7. Uh–more excuse to watch hawt guys in historical films?
8. That’s such a good answer it gets two bullet points.
9. That’s it.
10. Tapped out.

But writing tomorrow, for sure.

PS: Reading The Watchmen. WHOA! The narrative structure blows me away!
PPS: Found pix of Richard Armitage not in character, begging the non-PC question: Is he dressed like that because he’s gay, or because he’s British? Apparently he is not gay.

So it’s been two weeks–TWO WEEKS!–since I spoke here, which is crazy. And I haven’t been on Twitter that much, either, except for one evening when the Spouse went out drinking with the boy neighbors.

So anyway. Let’s recap:

Christmas was good; I got fantastic gifts, including pink and brown fuzzy leopard slippers. And a watch, pink and white, which doesn’t look TOO, too young for me. I hope.

New Year’s Eve was nice; full of cheese, wine and champagne.

We’ve begun the terrifying task of cleaning the basement. Oh, joy.

And I am still not sure when I can write, and am trying not to be too discouraged about it all.

So that’s me. How is everyone out there?

Oh, and the end of the month brings:

Just saw The Returner, with Takeshi Kaneshiro. The movie was fun, and Takeshi is my nomination for the Most Beautiful Man Ever:

Don’t believe me?:

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.

On the post over at the Riskies today, I totally forgot to include a picture of Richard Armitage! And how much disservice would I be doing to the Delightful Phone Friend if I didn’t (she calls him “Ratface,” by the way, and says Robson Green suffers from the same affliction of long, pointy nose).

So, for the DPF (and all the rest of you guys), here he is, in all his rodential glory:

So a couple of nights ago we watched X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which of course I wanted to see because of the hotness of Hugh Jackman, plus I always liked Wolverine, back when the Soon-To-Be Spouse and I watched the Saturday morning X-Men cartoons (Beast is my dream man, but that’s another story).

Wow, how disappointing. I could go over all the story duds, but I am sure people far more versed in X-Men lore have done that. My favorite part, though, has to be when the Kindly Old Couple(tm) say they couldn’t leave him in the barn because it was too cold–and then in practically the next scene he’s in the barn with no shirt on! Does he run hot or something? And if so, why make a point of mentioning the barn is hot? And that wasn’t nearly the only time the guy shed his upper layer. I like me some Jackman chest, but it got to be ridiculous. And Swiss cheese shoulda been insulted at all the plot holes. I liked Liev Schrieber as Sabretooth, though.

Before that, the Super-Smart Lawyer and I watched Lost In Austen, which we both quite enjoyed–it starts out slow, but really gets engrossing after maybe half an hour.

And in case you think all I do is sit around watching movies, I have done edits on half my book, the removing the Two Big Plot Threads, at least. Then I get to stitch it all back together. Yikes.

At the Riskies today.

I thought the True Blood finale was disappointing; how ’bout you? Oh, and head to the Riskies to hear what me and my red pen is up to.

So the 10 Year-Old is back in school (Him: “all teachers hate boys.” Me: “All 10 year-old boys make sweeping generalizations.” Him: “Hmmph.”), and I am back in the groove, only it’s cooler, and there are fewer beach days.

I am still loving my bike, I rode 10 miles in the park today and stopped off at the library to pick up a book on cycling (oh! the irony!) for the Spouse. And I am hoping to cobble together some sort of Goal Action Plan, so I don’t waste my days with banal blog posts and such–oh, well, oops.

So there you go. Not much, but it’s something. Oh, and I took a walk to pick the Son up from a playdate and listened to Richard Armitage read Georgette Heyer’s Sylvester. A walk never went by so fast, le swoon. I like that he does little voices for the characters, made me giggle.

Yesterday was lovely. I got up, worked on freelance, then headed back upstairs to take a nap. WIN1

Then I worked on my own writing, and finished this short Regency-set story I’ve been doing. WIN2

Then, McVane came up with the perfect anagram for my name: Tramp, Fang On Me. WIN3

The Picky Vegetarian, who’s been working like a dog WITH dogs (and cats) called, which was nice, but cell reception stinks so all I could hear was “Happy Birthday.” But still, it was nice. WIN3.1

After, I read more of The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks, which the Faux Critique Partner recommended. WIN4

[Many, many happy birthday wishes from Twitter and Facebook, plus a special post from my P-I-C] WIN4.1

Then, STEAK! And family, and wine, and laughter. WIN5

A gift of tube mascara and Godiva chocolate. WIN6

After that? The Nocturnal Aunt and I watched North And South, and she adored it. WIN7

A really, really good day.