Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Happiness Award

Stephanie at the Writer's Cocoon just gave me an award. Sweet Friends. That was so nice of her. She says I have to list 10 things that make me happy. Here goes...

#1) My daughter. She is absolutely the brightest, most beautiful, precious, happy, crazy, smart, wonderful child I could have wished for. God truly blessed me when he gave me her.

#2) The Beach. I used to live on the beach. For 35 years. I miss it so much. It's a magical, mystical place and when I become rich and famous, I'm going back as soon as I can pack.

#3) My parents. As crazy nuts as they are, and headstrong, and stubborn, and soooo parentlike, they are the best parents I could have. They have spoiled me rotten and given me the world.

#4) My writing. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't fall in love with John-boy Walton when I was a kid. I can cook, but that's not as much fun as creating people and places and situations. I'm my own little god in my own little world.

#5) My animals. My dogs don't care what kind of mood I'm in. They love me no matter what. And Henry, the cat, is finally turning into the mouser I knew she would be. (Yeah, I have a problem with gender confusion in my house. Jon, my oldest dog is a female too. Long story.)

#6) Sunrise. I LOVE sunrise. Hearing the birds, feeling the chill, smelling the beginning of a new day. Oh it's better than chocolate. (I was going to say sex but...)

#7) Having my own office. I have all my books on one big wall, and my beach glass on the windowsills, my african violet collection on a makeshift shelf. I have two HUGE windows that overlook the back forty which I stare out of when I get blocked. It's fantastic. If I were in my own space instead of sharing it with my daughter and her playroom that would be even better, but for now, I'm happy.

#8) Knowing I am ready to query. Having finished writing and almost finished revising and editing MASQUERADE, I am on Cloud 9 it will only be a few more days until I can send out my queries.

#9) Movies make me happy. I have a collection that's too long to list, but suffice it to say, they are mostly chick flicks, love stories, and Jane Austen adaptations.
Oh, and Russell Crowe in A GOOD YEAR. I LOVE him in that movie.

and finally
#10) Really good Chinese food. You can't get that where I am now and I miss it.

So, that's my list, and I'm sticking to it. I have to send the award off to someone else, but I've got to check with Steph how to do it.

Wait, I have to add one more
#11) All my new blogger friends. They are so creative and helpful and wise and wonderful. If I didn't have them, where would I be now? Probably still wondering what to do with my finished manuscript. Thank you everyone. You make me happy.

10 comments:

sarahjayne smythe said...

Congratulations!

That's a great list. You are truly blessed.

And I'm thrilled you're ready to query. That's a major milestone for you. Good luck. I'm sure you'll do fine.

Anne Gallagher said...

*heavy heavy sigh* I'm thrilled yet exhausted. Working on the query is 1000 times harder than working on the book.

Thanks so much for all your support. It really means a lot.

Anonymous said...

Congrats! Blog awards are fun, aren't they? :)

(At least you don't have to think about something writing-related to say, eh?)

Anne Gallagher said...

Blog awards ARE fun! This is going to be a banner year I think. First the honorable mention in the 'Genre Wars' and now this. Hey, who knows, maybe I will get Donald Maass to be my agent. LOLOLOLOLOL I can dream can't I?

Kelsey (Dominique) Ridge said...

Congrats.

No one should be forced to live far from good Chinese food. That is just wrong. I hope the universe finds some way of rectifying that situation.

Anne Gallagher said...

Thank you Dominique. I do too. Although I do have to say that when God closes a door, he opens a window... there is an absolutely fabulous Mexican restuarant my mother and I frequent quite a bit. It sort of makes up for the Chinese but I have been dying for potstickers and a decent fried rice.

Unknown said...

Hi! I love your energy, Piedmont. Your blog voice is wonderful and I know you're an author I'd love to read. Your list has inspired me to think about the things that make me happy -- it'll be my mental exercise on the treadmill this morning :) Oh, and "A Good Year" is one of my current favorite movies! My hubby and I lived in France together for five years and that movie takes me right back. Russell Crowe brought all Max's intricacies to life. Great story, brilliant performances.

Anne Gallagher said...

Hi Nicole, thanks for stopping by, becoming my friend. Thanks about the voice, I'm just finally learning I have one.

I've postd a few excerpts from works in progress on the blog so feel free to browse them. They're mostly in January so you don't have to go that far. They're labeled 'excerpts'. lol.

And I am so jealous you go to live in France. After I saw that movie I totally did research on Menerbes and Bonnieux. Someday maybe the Beach in France, (or Ireland, Scotland, Britain, Maine, Rhode Island, New York.....)

Michelle D. Argyle said...

So many new followers! Yay! I like your list. It's fun to get to know more about you. I love really good Chinese food too. My father in law lived in China for awhile. He makes really good Chinese food. Mmmm!

Stephanie said...

I cannot wait to hear how your querying goes! It's such an exciting, yet completely terrifying thing!! I always feel so nervous and a million butterflies flutter in my stomach when I check my email and see responses in my inbox!!!! The rejection sucks, but the high felt from a partial request far makes up for it!!!!

And I soooooooooo love a good chick flick!!!