1. Yes, it's Friday and I am actually updating right this very second. Although I'm going to keep it quick, because I'm here in New York and am very soon about to walk down to Times Square to try to get a glimpse of Sam Champion on GMA. So far, I've had such a fun time, missing home aside, AND I got some shopping done yesterday which was just, like, a great bonus. Today is lunch with my Penguin folks, then the YA Teen Author events tonight at the New York Public Library. For those of you who have asked if I'll be able to sign books after the panel, I haven't heard officially, but I promise if there is time I will do my best. Really! More info about the Festival is here.

2. Back at home, though, there's a VERY cool thing going on that I want to let the local folks know about. The School of Science and Math in Durham is trying to break a world record for collecting canned food for a food drive, and there are going to be all kinds of cool events happening there tomorrow. Want more details? Go here. All food collected will go to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, which is one of my favorite good causes. Give if you can!

3. As I said, I'm having a lot of fun here in New York. But leaving yesterday was NOT easy. My daughter is old enough to understand now when I have to take a trip, and while she did put on a brave face for most of the leaving process, there was, in the end, a breakdown and tears. I tried to keep it all cheerful and calm, until I got out to the car and at the end of the driveway, at which point I might have shed a few tears myself. Oh, dear God, this parenting thing can be tough. I did tell her I'd bring her a present, though, and she's requested a skull and crossbones T-shirt. (I know, I know: but she has these Halloween pants from Target that she adores, and a girl does like to match.) I feel like if there is ANYWHERE I can find a skull and crossbones T-shirt for a two year old, it's this city. So today, the hunt begins. Sniff!

4. Okay, so I just looked at my watch and I'm running way late for all I want to do. So this will be number four....

5. ....and a promise that Monday's entry will not be so wholly lame will be number five. What can I say? Sam Champion and JuJu Chang and G-Step are only blocks away. I can't miss the chance to see them in person, even if it's only a glimpse. It's almost as good as a skull and crossbones shirt!

Have a GREAT weekend, everyone!

A friend of mine worlds at Universal Orlando Theme park. Got a text the other day from a mutual friend 'Hogwarts lights are on and the music is playing'. Darn you work!!! Why must I need you. LOL
It was just pointed out to me that I am a neighbor of Hogwarts.... My childish heart is exploding with glee.

She also took some updated pics of the area yesterday and some of the Cast Members costumes. Found under cut including night shot of hogwarts lights. =)

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I swear I am having one of those days where everything I do, technology-wise, seems to immediately self-destruct. My new phone suddenly won't sync with my computer (Oh, Centro, I miss you and your easy push-button Hotsync) I couldn't get my LJ client to start, and I am scared to even attempt to clean out my DVR in fear I'll blow it up entirely. My friend Lisa used to always say when things got wonky like this, Mercury must be in retrograde, but I don't have time to keep up with all that stuff anymore. Instead, I have learned to take a deep breath and step back. Unless, of course, a blog entry needs writing. In which case, I soldier on. Because that is how I roll.

Of course, even the wonky stuff doesn't stop me from adding more to my technology stuff. I guess I am a glutton for punishment. But my assistant Parker turned me on this week to flavors.me, which is a quick way to have a site with all your OTHER networking links in one place. It's a bit of a clunky set-up (and I don't think you can blame Mercury) but if you're looking for a free, somewhat-easy way to have a virtual business card, this might be for you. Or, maybe you just need something to waste a bit of time on. Don't we all?

In other news, in my last entry, a commenter took me to task for calling myself a "Tarheel" fan rather than a Tar Heels fan, implying that I wasn't a real fan if I couldn't get it right. I appreciate the correction, but honestly, I've always heard it both ways, at least here in Chapel Hill. I mean, we grew up chanting, "I'm a Tarheel born and a Tarheel bred, and when I die I'll be a Tarheel dead." (You could also, alternately, tell another Triangle team to go to very hot place, but I'll spare you that part.) I'd say that I'm a fan of the Tarheels, but also a Tarheel fan: I think, at least here, that the loyalty is what matters, not the specific term. But if any of YOU are big fans and know the proper usage, enlighten me. Because we are all about learning here.

Finally, this might be my last entry for the week, as on Friday I'll be in New York attending the NYC Teen Author Festival. I'm excited about getting away, but of course torn about leaving the toddler and being away from home. It's going to be a quick trip, though, crazy busy, so I hopefully won't have much time to worry about what's happening back here. (Parents reading say it with me: Yeah, right.) On this trip, I am determined to learn how to get around on the subway system, even though it gives my editor palpitations because she worries I'll get lost underground and they'll never find me. So here's my question, you New Yorkers: can I trust Google Maps to tell me the proper trains to take from one place to another? Or are they undependable? If you have experience, let me know. And, um, don't tell my editor. As far as she knows, I'm taking taxis or walking. I swear!

Have a good night, everyone!

[35] Misfits
[10] Skins

PREVIEW:
 

HERE @ my journal :)

Michael Jackson, Aishwarya Rai, Melanie Laurent, Olympians, Misfits, Misfits cast, Led Zeppelin, Bjork, Bethany Joy Galeotti, Gaspard Ulliel, Marion Cotillard, David Bowie and Bob Dylan

Preview:



Here

Title: I Will Love You Monday (Kill You Thursday)
Author: Hecate
Fandom: Misfits
Pairing: Simon/Sally, Tony/Sally
Rating: PG 13
Summary: A smile, a few words, that's all it takes and Simon orbits around her.

Story Link

Sorry I'm so late to the party, but I love this show and I thought I'd share this :)

Title: We Ain't Born Typical - Misfits
Vidder: musing_11 
Song: URA Fever - The Kills
Rating:  PG
Style: General
Summary: Misfits cast video, focusing on each character and their abilities
Characters: Nathan, Kelly, Simon, Alisha, Curtis
Fandom: Misfits
Spoilers:  Up to 1x06 to be safe, but none really.
Disclaimer:  Everything belongs to the usual suspects
Original Youtube Post Date: 13 March 2010



( We Ain't Born Typical - Misfits )

So it's 5:18 as I write this, but without Daylight Savings Time it's actually 4:18. I've been thrown off all day, as I usually am: it normally takes me a couple of days to stop thinking in terms of what time it really is versus what the clock says and vice versa. But in the end, all the confusion is worth it, because, well, it's SO LIGHT outside at 5:18. Which is a small comfort when I'm up at six but it's actually five. Oh, there I go again....

Was there basketball happening this weekend? I think I heard something about basketball this weekend. I, however, am taking an approach to March Madness and this entire season that I was introduced to by the lovely Melissa Walker, a fellow YA writer and Tarheel fan, which is to put my fingers in my ears and say LALALALALALALA I can't hear you when you talk about basketball. It works, too!

A lot of my weekend was spent waging a war against the spammers which had, like, totally taken over my Ning community, Sarah-Land. I've been so busy writing and chasing my daughter around that I'd kind of let it slip off my radar, but then several members let me know that the forums and blogs were being inundated with pharmacy spam and---yikes---porn. Which always is bad, but especially when it's a site with a younger audience with my name on it. So, my assistant Parker and I wiped off our hands, took a deep breath, and charged in. We deleted and blocked and kicked people out and now things are getting back under control. Which is actually very satisfying. I'm pleased that Sarah-Land has become not only a place for people to discuss my books, but also post their own writing, and the spammers were getting in the way of that. Jerks. Anyway, we're on it now. Right now, the community is invite only, but we'll be opening it up again---with member approval this time---slowly over the next week or so. Spammers, beware. We are coming for you!

All this work with Sarah-land has made me wonder if maybe it's time for a website update, and maybe adding a community of my own there that we can monitor a little better. I've also been thinking about moving this blog from LiveJournal (which I worry will fold at some point and I'll lose all my content) over to my website properly, but then I'm afraid I'll lose all the great comments you guys leave. Plus there's the fact that I am trying to spend LESS time on all this internet stuff, not more, which is invariably what more changes would lead to. Oh, well. If anything is going to change, I promise I will warn you in advance. Don't want anyone getting confused.

Speaking of too much internet time, I think I better push back from this laptop and go soak up that extra hour of daylight. Plus, we got a VERY cool bubble toy this weekend: I can push the button and pretend I'm on the Lawrence Welk show. And if you got that reference, you were probably born before 1980. Me too!

Have a good evening, everyone!

So gamestop opened early and I got Pokemon gold and silver. I need help finding those 'a wild _____ appears.' I went to knowyourmeme.com and couldn't find any pics. I've seen political, star trek and harry potter ones so far. If you have any images, pleaes post them. Thanks

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All I can say about this episode is...wtf. E4, you're messing with my mind. I hate you. ):
But never the less, I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NAOW. UGH.

IMPORTANT NOTE: I DID NOT WRITE THIS!

Written by Robert Samuel White on Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 12:03am

Toby Young, a blogger over at Telegraph.co.uk, unfairly critized J.K. Rowling for the success of Harry Potter.  He claims that J.K. Rowling's books are second-rate and that she doen't deserve to be a billionaire as a result.  In fact, in his title, he calls it "a thoroughly undeserved honour."  Rarely would I find myself railing over someone else's opinion, but this is just too low and too offensive to be ignored.

I attempted to respond to his criticism in a comment on the Telegraph website, but after three unsuccessful attempts at receiving an email confirmation, it occurred to me to just use our own platform to express my opinion.  And to that end, this is what I have to say...

 

 

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Over at Suvudu, there is a contest of sorts going on featuring Hermione Granger versus Jaime Lannister of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. Hermione is losing badly, which I don't understand.

Go here to vote!

The answer:

Here (Character Journey: Draco Malfoy -The Sneaky Slytherin Prince): http://mavieenlair18.wordpress.com/2009/07/15/character-journey-draco-malfoy-the-sneaky-slytherin-prince/

Here (Character Journey: Severus Snape - The Mysterious Professor): http://mavieenlair18.wordpress.com/2009/07/15/character-journey-severus-snape-the-mysterious-professor/

WARNING! Since I DID NOT WRITE THESE, there are credits and disclaimers: These two articles were written for FiRST Movie Magazine Indonesia, issue 18, July 2009. Pages scanned from FiRST Movie Magazine Indonesia and are not for commercial use (which is why I did not save them even if uploaded to my own server). Images are copyrighted by Warner Bros. Indonesia. Do not hotlink and/or use without permission (which is why I put the links instead of copying and pasting them). All credit to these articles goes to mavieenlair18.

Images used for the magazine pages: