Sunday Soul Food

Can I talk to you for just a minute about Roast Potatoes?

This is Happy-Making food here at our house. It is the most hands-off sort of thing to put in an oven, and it guarantees pleased children and cleared plates. It's as easy as scrubbing potatoes, chunking them*, dumping them into a baking pan, drizzling with olive oil, dusting with Kosher salt**, stirring it up, and baking at 425. I like to stir now and then, because I want all the edges to crunch. It cooks for nearly an hour when I have nearly an hour, or more like 40 minutes when I have 40 minutes. It goes with anything*** and warms us up from mouth to soul.

So we will come home from Church today to Kate DiCamillo's gorgeous The Magician's Elephant **** and a "roaring" gas fire while we roast our potatoes. I love Sundays. Hope yours is peaceful, too.

*That's a scientific measurement. It results in pieces that are about the size of an olden-days ice cube - remember ice cube trays? Like that. If your potatoes (and your chunks) are the right size, every piece gets crunchy skin on. Mmm.

**I'm not a salt "snob" exactly, even though I have at least 4 kinds of salt in my house at any time. The Kosher salt is crunchy and it doesn't disappear during baking. But also? These potatoes become Sunday Potatoes if you replace the salt with that dry Onion Soup Mix, which you can pay $1.25 for under the name Lipton, or $0.30 as a store brand. You're welcome.

***Okay, not pasta. But YUM with a loaded green salad (like with carrots and cukes and cheese and kidney beans and artichoke hearts and tomatoes and pretty red-and-orange-and-yellow peppers and olives and croutons and three kinds of lettuces and green onions and capers).

****This is my favorite of her two that came out this year. I do love our Mercy Watson, but that one (Something Wonky This Way Comes) was bittersweet, since it's the last in the series. But Magician's Elephant? Striking. Spare. Magical. Family-centric. Hopeful. Lyrical. Lovely.

A "Film" Suggestion, Prompted By My Visit To The Library

You know how it physically hurts when someone makes a film out of a book you adore, and the film either makes you angry*, or you walk out going, "meh,**" or you want to reach through the digitally projected images and strangle some actor/actress***?

Well, I'm here with a suggestion that hopefully won't make you feel like any of that. I was gathering a few books at the library for my upcoming vacation**** when I found a new-to-me book by Alexander McCall Smith. I think he's adorable, in an old-Scottish-white-man sort of a way. And I adore his Detective Agency books.

And now?

"The Number One Ladies' Detective Agency" is a television series made by HBO. I have no access to anything other than the free channels that magically float through the box we got on suggestion from the President, so if this is something you've been TiVo-ing or DVR-ing for a year, humor me.

Prescious Ramotswe is as gorgeous as can be. She is tender, and tough, and funny, and perfect. The title sequences are great. The acting is great. The scenery is great. The music is great. And even Husband loves it! No kidding.

I recommend Netflix, as it keeps me sane here in the frozen mountaintops - but if you have a chance in any form, get your hands on Season One. You can thank me later.

*Despereaux, anyone?

**Anything with the words Harry and Potter in the title

***Kiera Knightly as Elizabeth Bennett

****"Orgy of selfish pleasure" just sounds a little too decadent.

Don't Hate...

Husband has fled the frozen mountaintops, and I will join him soon. (In a week.)

He is making a film in Hawaii. Before you start swearing, please remember your New Year's Resolutions to cut back on that potty mouth of yours. And maybe remember that he was gone (there) over my birthday and also again in November. So maybe he doesn't actually Deserve this trip, but I can promise you that I do. Need and Deserve and possibly Covet. Can I covet my own vacation?*

So don't hate me because I'm about to be warm (in a week).

Which, naturally, reminds me of a commercial from the late 80s - remember this?

"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful."

We used to follow that with "... I used to look just like you." **

I just deleted a lengthy rant about self-berating and comparisons. You're welcome. And once again, let me just say, I love my thirties. (*sigh of relief*)

So, you know, don't hate me because I get to sit on a beach for a week while Husband films beautiful islanders seventeen hours a day. Just know that I'm thinking of you... and I used to shiver in the frozen mountaintops/tundra/plains, just like you.

Oh, and maybe tell me your favorite beach reading. I promise to think of you if I pick up a copy and carry it to my lounge chair - and I'll try not to spill tropical beverages on it. You're welcome again.

*Remember that Simpsons when Ned called Reverend Lovejoy in the middle of the night and said, "I think I covet my own wife?" No? Never mind. Maybe you had to be there.

**Even then, back in the days of big hair and High School, I was fluent in Snark.

HELP! I'm Shamelessly Exploiting YOU!

So I need to know: If you could have written a letter to an advice column in High School* what kinds of things would you have asked about? (My concerns may not have been entirely, um, of general interest.)

*Bonus points if you're actually IN HIGH SCHOOL. Use LOTS of CAPS in your COMMENT, and then I'll KNOW.)

Introducing: Anxiety Girl!

She's Remarkable!

She's Amazing!

She's Capable of Stressing and Obsessing!

She can take a concern and make it an emergency in a matter of three sleepless hours.

She can go from Fine to Tear-the-Hair in seconds.

Do you know something that's No Big Deal? Never Fear! Hand it over to Anxiety Girl, and she'll make it a Big Fat Deal in no time.

She's capable of worrying over everything from that kid's report on the Desert Tortoise to the bump on her cheek that may be a precancerous growth.

She can lose sleep over any matter: she's best at the sleepless money matters, but she'll handle sleepless relationship matters, sleepless vacation matters, sleepless plot/character/dialog matters and, of course, sleepless parenting matters.

Did she say something to offend someone? Well, even if she didn't, she'll fidget about it! (*Cheers from crowd*)

Is that a gray hair? Be Concerned! (*Cheers*)

Are music lesson payments really due today? Never Fear! She's been up for hours WORRYING about it! (*"Hooray!"*)

Stay tuned for the continuing adventures of Anxiety Girl, brought to you by budgeting the month after Christmas.

Balance

It's not like I'm falling over.

It's a different sort of balance I hunger for. The kind where all the Beccas are strong. None pulling the others down.

In an effort to balance, I have made goals (plans, resolutions, lists) for this year. Some of these things are new. Some are regulars, things I hope for and work for and put effort into every year. Mostly I try not to get too grandiose in my "plans" - because nothing works against my balance like the chuck-load of personal disappointment that always follows Me not Doing What I Say I'll Do.

And the balance comes when the important things are covered:

Physical (that's the part where I exercise 5 times a week and maybe get a haircut now and then)

Intellectual (that's the writing every day* part)

Social (that's me working on being a better friend and a better wife, and mom and daughter)

Spiritual (that's where I spend some time every day studying and learning)

Emotional (this is the part I sometimes neglect until I explode, and that's something to avoid - trust me)

And I'm really not going to bore you with the specifics (because, you know me - "death before boredom" - right?) but I think it's good for me to put this down, even if only for me, because when the Balance comes, I know where to cheer about it. And when it falls apart, I know where to look to find what's been lost.

So here's wishing you all a balanced 2010, and if you feel yourself sliding in one direction or another, you can lean over here (you know, metaphorically speaking).

*Except Sunday. I'll only blog on Sunday. Not write.

Mmmm... Happy New Year

With a yawn and a stretch, and HOORAY FOR ME! I totally slept in past seven! This is so much fun, that I did a little jig and got directly into my exercise clothes.

(Don't get to proud of me, I haven't actually DONE anything in those clothes quite yet. Except a load of laundry. Life is so glam.)

So here we are at the beginning of a new year (2010, in case you're just joining us) and even though it's not of general interest, I'm going to review some highlights of 2009 (just the professional ones, don't worry - you wont' hear how adorable my kids are.)

January 15, 2009 I submitted the manuscript* that, after several back-and-forths, would become misplaced for months and gather a great deal of dust on Mr. Publisher's desk. It had a different title then, but you may recognize it as "My Ridiculous Romantic Obsessions."

February 4, 2009 "Bright Blue Miracle" was officially released. I spent a great deal of time checking the ranking on Amazon.com. I do not recommend this behavior. Except for the time the book actually made it into the 4-digit rankings**. That was blissful for about 10 minutes, and I wouldn't have seen it happen if I hadn't been stalking my own page. Also several friends left kind reviews here and there, and it became clear that validation is my drug of choice.***

In March I continued to wait by the phone and compulsively check my email for news about RRO. No such luck. Also I spent a great deal of time on stage as a Singing Virgin. See? You knew I was a multi-faceted personality. Also I wrote.

In April I experienced shame at a book signing gig where I sat with two of Shadow Mountain's golden boys and watched their books fly off tables. I sold 2. But they were generous and kind and gracious, and in a very casual way, I made friends. At the end of the month, I attended LDS Storymakers' conference, where I met a few of Very Good Friends (one of whom I actually SEE once in a while, the others I get to blog with) and also learned a few great writing tips. (And I blogged every day, I think.)

May? I waited by the computer. And wrote. Drafted. Sort of just word-vomit, but it landed on the pages, so we count it.

In June, July and August I played with my Kids and wrote more stories. Also met with my Writers' Group and loved those women. Still do. We eat fine, fine foods when we gather. Also we work on pages. In July I got the message: Mr. Publisher wants the book. Also the message: Nobody really likes your title. So there was back-and-forth. And more. And more. And finally, agreement. (*Sigh of relief*)

In September all four Kids went to school. You may not consider this "professional" news, and if that is the case, you've never been a writer with four kids all in school. I can either #exercise, #shower, #write, #volunteer at one of their schools, #call my sister, #clean something, #have a meeting, or #take a book into the bathtub during the 2.5 hours Kindergarten affords me. Sometimes two or three of the above. I know, right? Also I kept writing at that story. At least 500-1000 words every day.

In October I got a cover. My first instinct was to cry, since the gorgeous girl on the cover doesn't look ANYTHING like the Sarah in my head. But my second instinct was that she does look an awful lot like my adorable niece J. J. and since I love her, I'm planning to love the cover. (And I do. Love the cover. See it, over there ---->? Adorable, right?)

In November I tried NaNoWriMo. I tell you what that came down to, here. Also I did a fun and productive book signing where actual fans (the kind I've never met before) came and bought books for their friends. And also my Mama came. And Kid 1, who said, "Really?" because people bought books. **** (like, in double-digit numbers, I'm telling you.)

December was full. I did a couple of book signings - one that doubled as Girls' Night Out with Ally Condie and Lisa Mangum (don't be jealous, just be happy for me...) and a repeat of April's signing with SM's gentlemen. Who were great, excellent, and funny. Also, the staffs of these stores are awesome - remember that there are BAKERIES inside? Brilliant. Also in December I got The Box of The New Books. And a friend of Kid 1's called to tell me that someone (who wasn't me) bought her a copy of RRO for Christmas. From an actual STORE. So they're out there... somewhere! Also I submitted something else.

And now, we're on to take 2010 by storm.

Happy New Year!

*Did you know that technically "manuscript" is written out by hand? So I didn't send that. Not even a "typescript" really. I sent a digital file. No paper involved, no trees harmed during the submission process. But "manuscript" is such a writerly word, and since I don't hang out in University libraries or *ever* drink coffee, I'm sticking to it.

**6 thousand and something. I know, right? Simple pleasures.

***Not all the reviews are my friends. You can tell which one(s) isn't(aren't).

****She totally believes in me and loves my books. She DOES.