The buzz yesterday all over the office went somewhat like this: snow, snow?, Snow?, snOMG! EEEEK!! As the National Weather Service and the various area city leaders posted updates, sent emails, posted to Facebook, the forecast went from "hmm, heap big snow" to "HOLY CRAP WE’RE GETTING ELEVNTYMILLION FEET!"*

City government announced closings around noonish. Schools by 5 p.m. Area businesses prepared for The Worst. During my lunchtime run to Harris Teeter for bagels and snacks, I saw the beginnings of the locust horde forming–people with carts groaning under the load. Of course, it didn’t help that this Sunday there’s some sort of feetball game**. Reports abound from later-in-the-evening shoppers who arrived to find barren shelves. I get it, I do. This is the South, though in NoVA/DC/lower MD, it’s not quite as obvious. We’re not used to this much snow, especially since it’s the 2nd storm within the last couple of weeks, and expected to break records. Still, 3 days of being stuck at home? NOT the end of the world, folks.

I’m off work today, as I am all Fridays, so am looking on in amusement. I woke up at 7, deciding to chronicle the snOMG as it happens:

From snOMG!

7:00 a.m. – all quiet on the eastern front

Today, I’ll be working on my essay for A Taste of True Blood (SmartPop Books), also plan to do some relaxation – watch shows, DVDs, read, because, my pretties, I. AM. DONE. — with revisions to Blood Heat (from my editor’s notes). Emailed it to her and Mr. Agent Weds. night. whee!!  92, 647 words later. I harken back to when I started writing the book and despaired of ever getting to this point. Of the good, as I was reviewing the notes and working on the revisions, the muse hit me with the clue bat and I now have the main arc of Book 5 sussed. Now I can write the synopsis. whew!

My story for Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance 2 now has a plot. I knew I wanted to set it in San Antionio, using some of the myths/legends of the area. Thanks to some nifty books (Spirits of San Antonio and South Texas and The History and Mystery of the Menger Hotel) I now have a decent direction. Yay!

Of the amusing: The top song on my birthday was…

Why yes, I am an old fart–and happy to be here.

I’m home busily writing book four, but I thought it would be fun to do this meme.

From just about everyone:

The problem with LJ: We all think we are so close, but really we know nothing about one another. So I want you to ask me something you think you should know about me. Something that should be obvious, but you have no idea about. Ask away!

[today is my Fake!Friday, so I'm already weekend-in-the-head...NO comments from the peanut gallery, k...)

My knees are STILL like melty rubber after the oh-so-NOT-fun hurried trek down 12 filghts of long stairs at the office yesterday during the "fire drill", a.k.a. "torture disguised as safety procedure". This, of course, happened on the day my lunch buddy and I decided to take an extra long walk at lunch b/c the weather was gorgeous. OW! Normally, probably wouldn’t have been so bad, but both things together complicated by a fairly recent knee injury that has yet to really heal properly = one grumpy chickwriter. Guess I’ll be hauling the cane around today.

So, meme away folks. Ask me *anything*.

I’ve been enjoying the photo meme, so here’s my contribution

The rules: Take a picture of yourself right now. Don’t change your clothes, don’t fix your hair…just take a picture. Post that picture with NO editing (except for re-sizing). Include these instructions with your picture.

Here be unedited Lima

Happy May Day all! It’s raining and chilly here, so not so much with the “ooh, spring weather” but much with the drearies. Oh well, can’t have it all, I suppose. ::g:: Not really sure how it got to be May as life has seemed so accelerated lately.

The meme/contest (sort of). I came back from Malice with a bunch of the teaser samplers. They contain the first 3 chapters of my upcoming book, Blood Bargain, plus the first 3 of Carole Nelson Douglas’ new one, Brimstone Kiss. In the spirit of book pimps everywhere, I thought I’d do a contest. I couldn’t really think of anything clever, so instead, I’m going to participate in the question meme that is going around and will send samplers to those of you that submit questions that amuse me. ::g::

Here you go:

If you would be so kind, ask me the seven questions below. Just copy and paste them into a comment, replace the blanks with anything you want–personal, silly, surreal (e.g. 3. Donkeys or sandcastles and why?), or deep–and I’ll answer honestly as I can! Then post this in your own LJ and see what kind of things people want to ask you!

1. What do you think of _____________ ?
2. When did you last ____________?
3. __________ or ___________ and why?
4. What did you ______________?
5. What’s your favorite ______________?
6. How would you ______________?
7. Who would you most like to ________ ?

Over at fangs_fur_fey, check out the Thursday interview with Melissa Marr (melissa_writing.

Cheers!

ganked from tx_tart because this totally sounded like fun

For the first five people that reply to me and re-post thischallenge, I will send you something. It might be something I’ve made,or something cool from my hidden stash, it might be a mix CD, or arubber duck, a book I think you will enjoy, or something else that isawesome. Whatever it is, I promise that I will get it to you in 365days or fewer. The only thing you need to do in order to participate isto be one of the first five to reply to this, AND post this very samething on YOUR LiveJournal – cause it’s fun to give people stuff.

I have no idea what the something is, and I know that it will probably be way sooner than 365 days.

ETA: I *will* ship internationally.

So I did the career meme, because hey, all the cool kids are doing it!!

My results?

1. Website Designer
2. Desktop Publisher
3. Cartoonist / Comic Illustrator
4. Animator
5. Fashion Designer
6. Multimedia Developer
7. Artist
8. Graphic Designer
9. Computer Animator
10. Communications Specialist
11. Political Aide
12. Writer

My current day job? Senior Project Manager at one of the top 5 interactive firms in the DC area. Plus, my 2nd career as a writer.

Too, too on target.

I had to do this:

Which lolcat are you?

After a pretty tense night, I’ve decided to cancel my participation in the fangrrl squee weekend at starrcat‘s. At this point, I just want to sleep. It’s been a tough, busy week, capped off by yesterday’s incredibly stressful insanity. I’m praying we don’t have to work this weekend. At any rate, I will be *so* ready to see you all at MJ next weekend!

Woke up very very early this a.m. and filled the first hour of the morning with Supernatural.

My thoughts (spoilery)

Because I must follow reginagiraffe‘s fine example…plus it was too funny, not to:

My Christmas Song

On the twelfth day of Christmas, chickwriter sent to me…

Twelve dresden chronicles drumming

Eleven movies piping

Ten btvs a-leaping

Nine forensics dancing

Eight vampires a-milking

Seven mysteries a-swimming

Six metaphysics a-writing

Five pa-a-a-aul gross

Four veronica mars

Three gina torres

Two stargate atlantis

…and an ibook in a jennifer crusie.

Get your own Twelve Days:

Sweet, THREE Gina Torreseses and FIVE Paul Grosses? AWESOME.

I love the milking vampires, too. ::g::

‘Tis been a day. And soon, off to the company holiday party.