Anne Marie turned to look at the crowd behind the glass, a breathless group with mouths agape and eyes wide. She smiled and turned back to the console in front of her. Although she had just glanced at the group, she had recognized a few faces immediately. Her mother, who always supported her. Her father, always distant. But the most important was Jonathan Albertson. Her geology professor at the University of Central Missouri her freshman year.

One corner of her mouth twitched up at the memory of Dr. Albertson lecturing at the front of the class. Speaking to her in his office in that condescending tone. Obviously sure that a mere female knew nothing of the intricacies of science.

Yet, here she was. In the room where it all happens. In control. Her eyes flicked up at the trio of gigantic LCD screens at the front of the room. The map of the moon spread across the screens, but her focus was on the center screen, where the image of three astronauts walking through a clear tube towards the mine filled the view. It was their first day on the job. Within the next twenty-four hours, the first shipment of T3 would be making its way back to earth on a drone.
 
The moment deserved to be savored. All the 80 hour weeks, eating at her desk, missing family dinners. It was all worth it.

And they said it couldn't be done.

She stood, leaned forward and spoke in an authoritative tone. "Com, do you have audio?"

 

This challenge from Karen at The (Paper) Trail Challenge Blog came at the perfect time - we've seen more of the white stuff than I want around here lately! But our first really good snow was on Christmas Eve. We drove through the country to visit my parents that day and the snow was so beautiful, we stopped so I could snap a few pictures. The January kit from the Paper Trail had everything I needed - the Echo Park Wintertime papers formed the perfect base, and the Prima stud frame really sets the title off well. The snowflakes from the Echo Park stickers cascade down from the title, drawing the eye to the snow picture and the adorable snowman. These stickers are perfect for layering to add depth and texture. I used blue stickles on the paper to add a little bling, and the snowflake (center of the large snowflake) and the "buttons" on the snowman provided a little more bling, then the puffy ribbon layered over a border sticker form the base for the entire layout. Oh - and a tip to add a little visual interest to your photo - if you usually mat your photos, change it up every now and then by doing an asymmetrical frame, like I did here. I love the formal look of matting, but sometimes a more casual look is better!

On a personal note - I have totally enjoyed serving on the Paper Trail design team. Karen, your product and challenges have been fantastic. Ladies, your designs have inspired and encouraged me, and I am proud to have designed with you all. It has been a pleasure! I look forward to keeping up with you all via the challenge blog. Thank you all!!

The paper kit from Karen at The Paper Trail Challenge Blog was absolutely perfect for this photo that I snapped of my daughter and her friends marching in the holiday parade in December. I think my favorite part is the combination of blue and red, and I absolutely ADORE the little snowflake embellies that are part of the kit! Love that bling!!

What actions have I taken in 2010? Probably the one that I am the most proud of is that I maintained my commitments to my critique group and continued writing even when NaNoWriMo 2009 was history. Another I'm proud of is that I did not give into the fear that usually plagues me when I had two editors ask to see my work. I submitted it to them, even knowing that the odds are against me. I want to continue that in 2011.

What action do I want to take in 2011? I want to sit for the advanced paralegal exam. The first step is to join the Missouri Paralegal Association. I will do that before the end of the month. And I WILL sit for that exam in 2011.

I don't know about you, but I don't have the patience to sit and listen to a prerecorded message. My time is too valuable for that. And nothing makes me hang up the phone faster (well . . . maybe not completely true. For instance, a screaming banshee might make me hang up faster . . . ) than hearing the mechanical sound of a recorded voice saying, "This is not a solicitation or sales call . . ."

And that makes me wonder . . . who uses that line to begin a call? Am I perhaps hanging up on someone who is going to offer me an incredible deal that I simply can't refuse? Am I losing out on that 7-day 6-night cruise to fabulous Alingalapalap for a mere $99? Am I never going to learn the secret of buying real estate with absolutely no money down?

Ahh . . . I hung up and now I'll never know.

Most of the time, I don't feel very wise. In fact, usually quite the opposite! But I did have a few moments that I felt particularly wise this past year: when encouraging newbies to win at NaNoWriMo, and . . . .well, OK, that's about all I can think of right now.

Dang. That is sad.

OK - but there was another moment of clarity when I chose to allow my consultantship with Creative Memories to lapse. It came at a time when I was feeling intense pressure, both with regard to finances and time. With that it mind, I chose not to continue to be a consultant. And that decision left me feeling very good (except that I felt like I let my upline, Joyce, down). It was a wise decision for me. I particularly liked the fact that the decision was made, and it was made by me. There was no forced decision by anyone else, nor was there a total lack of decision on my part. I felt in control, and that, to me, is the essence of being wise.

Today's prompt is Party. When I reflect on 2010, there really weren't any parties. I'm just not a party type person. I'm more of a let's go out to a quiet dinner or let's watch a movie at home kind of person. But there were some partyish events in 2010: the 3rd Annual Short E BBQ, a weekend in St. Charles with my friend Lynn (I can't remember the last time I stayed out that late!), the weekend my critique group spent at Teresa's house (ahhhhhh . . . what wonderful memories . . . I hope we do that again sometime!), and the TGIO  party for NaNo. But one event stands out from all the others - the night of the banquet at Ozark Creative Writers.

It was a crisp, cold night with a crescent moon hanging in the sky. We all dressed up more than usual. The evening was filled with good friends (old and new), good food and a few spirits. It was so much fun cheering for my peeps who won. The whole evening was magical and I didn't want it to end. Just the memory of that night makes me smile.

Through The Happiness Project (Gretchen Rubin is the writer - check it out if you haven't already), I found Reverb 10 . It fit perfectly with what I want to do this month. My only regret is not finding it sooner!

Today's prompt is Community. I have found the best group of people ever - writers. The core group, the ones I am closest to, are the members of my critique group. We are 6 women, different ages, different backgrounds, different genres. They have become my group of friends. They are who I talk to on the phone, the ones I email, the ones I share my hopes and dreams and fears with. The idea that we met during National Novel Writing Month and became close is amazing to me. The fact that they read my writing is incredibly intimidating for me, for every piece I write is like my child. I nurture those words until they grow into something cohesive, and the idea of letting those words loose to be criticized and torn apart is scary. The critique group members do tear me apart sometimes, rip my words to shreds, and encourage me to kill my darlings. But they do it with love, and that makes all the difference in the world. Together, we form a community, and I am incredibly thankful to be a part of it.

National Novel Writing Month 2010 is now history. Our group finished 1st in the United States and 4th in the world. I am so, so, so proud of us.

This year was a real struggle for me. I decided to attempt a romance this year, with the idea for it to be a follow up to Denim & Diamonds. What I discovered was that it was hard. It was very hard. The sex scenes were a real challenge. So much so that I just flat out ignored them! Ha!

Now that NaNoWriMo is over, I am starting to struggle with the depression that usually follows the rush of November. I am trying to catch up with everything that I let slide in November, and I am starting to reflect upon 2010. I also want to push ahead in 2011. I want to push the boundaries. As a writer friend of mine said, I am trying so hard to follow the rules that I am not writing what I really want to write. I need to release my inner writer, the real me. I am going to release the clutter in the house that is in my way. I am going to release those things - those obligations - that do not further my desire to be a writer.

And so, my theme for 2011 is RELEASE. What will your theme be?

I'm preparing for NaNo, and have been thinking about the characters that will reside in my head for the month of November. A big part of that thinking is deciding what is going to motivate them. In the past I have drawn upon things like personality test results (personally, I like Myers-Briggs - go to this page (www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/) and hover over the various personality types at the bottom) and astrology to help figure out my characters and how their stories will evolve.

Today, I was thinking about Tarot. It might be interesting to do Tarot readings for my characters this year. I think I will keep that in mind - it might be worth exploring over the next few days. Do I believe in Tarot? Yes, I do - because I think it is a reflection of the readee. On a scale of 1 - 100, I'd say I'm an 80% believer. My first experience with Tarot was when I was working at a Girl Scout camp in Wisconsin. One of the other counselors was a Gypsy, who had a crystal ball (man, I want one!) and a deck of tarot cards. We sat around one night in a cabin, a circle of young women curious about our futures. When it got to be my turn, Shine told me to tell her when the cards felt warm. I was skeptical, but thought I did feel a warmth. The reading she gave me was dead on. The death card came up, but she told me it was the death of a relationship. Though I hadn't told anyone yet, I had decided to break off my engagement with a guy that really wasn't good for me (it was a total rebellion thing on my part). She gave me a date of a trip that would forever change the path of my life - and that date was the first trip I made to my future mother-in-law's house. It made me a believer.

Have you ever had a Tarot reading? Do you ever use anything external to help determine the motivation or personalities of your characters?