Friday I-Wish-I-Were-There (Disneyland)

Welcome to my Friday I-Wish-I-Were-There Blog.

Today I’m escaping to the Happiest Place on Earth – Disneyland, California.

From as far back as I can remember I’ve had a fascination with the U.S.A and Disneyland – probably learnt at my uncle’s knee listening to his stories about his travels around the States. He, if I remember correctly, introduced me to the delights of Fruit Loops (a cereal not available in New Zealand until a couple of years ago). I never did get to Disneyland as a kid, but taking my then ten and seven-year-old, was somehow even more special. I’ll never forget the joy and excitement on their faces, and there is a glimpse of this in one of the photos below—when my son finally (finally!) got selected to take part in the Jedi training. And seeing my little girl with the Disney Princesses was so worth the hour wait in the queues.

Highlights:

Rides. If you’d asked my daredevil daughter, she would’ve said her favorite ride was ‘California Screamin’ in California Adventure park, and I believe her and my husband went on it about five times. I went on this roller-coaster once, and did indeed scream my head off. I wasn’t keen to repeat. My son loved Space Mountain and seeing his mum get wet on Splash Mountain. My husband loved anything that made me sweat and croak with fear (I nearly lost my voice after California Screamin’). Being a gentler soul, I enjoyed taking my daughter on Dumbo the Flying Elephant and the Indiana Jones Ride – I was very disappointed not to bump into Harrison Ford!

Shows. Disney’s Aladdin Musical Spectacular was fabulous – so fabulous that we had to go and see it twice. Wonderful, Broadway-quality stuff, something we unfortunately can’t afford to see much in New Zealand, so it was a real treat. And the fireworks displays and Fantasia? Wow. The interactive shows (like Jedi training) were fantastic, and I think my two kids will always remember battling Darth Vader and Darth Maul!

Parade. Yeah, okay, I admit I had a few sentimental tears in my eye watching the huge Disney parade. It was a like a culmination of all my childhood dreams. And when Kate got selected to dance to Y.M.C.A in the California Adventure park parade? I was so proud I thought I’d bust!

Meet & Greet. The 1hr+ wait in the queue to see Mickey Mouse was not fun with two kids, but was it worth it? Totally! And the buzz of seeing your favorite characters walking around is great fun. Both my kids had made their own autograph books, so it was a blast watching the characters ‘react’ to seeing their names and printed cartoon pictures on the page ready for them to sign. We had a special 7th Birthday party breakfast with Goofy and Friends at the Disneyland hotel. Typical kids hardly ate any of the buffet, but they did enjoy talking to Pluto, Chip & Dale, Goofy, The Mad Hatter and Aladdin (who I also enjoyed ogling, er, talking to.)

On our last day in Disneyland we were there until the Park closed, and it was really hard to say goodbye as we turned around in Main Street to catch our last glimpse of Sleeping Beauty's castle all lit up with lights. The starry-eyed little girl that’s still living inside me expected Tinkerbell to make a last minute flight overhead with her little sparkly wand and to shower pixie dust on my upturned face. Magic.

Tracey

Donuts, Chocolate & Love Is In The Air!

Last weekend I attended the Romance Writers of New Zealand’s ‘Love is in the Air’ conference. I had been looking forward to this conference all year, so imagine my enthusiasm when I woke up the day before my flight to Auckland to discover I’d come down with a massive head cold. Oh joy. But what’s a little snot among friends. I was determined to go anyway – I was not going to miss the Snowflake guy’s 1 day workshop (aka Randy Ingermanson) and the keynote speaker, the fabulous and oh-so-eloquent Eloisa James. So armed with every conceivable cold remedy and watered with gallons of orange and lemon juice, I boarded the plane to the conference.

This was only the second RWNZ conference I’d attended and I discovered that having a roomie is A LOT more fun than going solo. Thanks to my friend and CP, Julieann Thomas (http://www.julieannthomas.com), a very talented Military romance writer, I was not only looked after, but we had many opportunities to chat about our favourite thing – writing. We also came up with some weird and wonderful ideas, like an alien species that disguises itself as Tom Cruise clones, but that may have been a result of all the sugar enriched snacks we were eating. Oh, and possibly the two bags of Doritos explained the bizarre dreams each night.

On the Thursday night a little pajama party with my ‘Book-in-50-days’ ladies was great fun. What an awesome bunch of supportive writers, and so wonderful to spend a few hours talking writing and eating chocolate and donuts—and as a little bonus, no one saw Julieann and I scuttling through the hallways of the hotel in our pajamas.

Cold reads, 7am Saturday and Sunday morning. I am so not a morning person, but it was worthwhile making the effort (and there was lots and lots of coffee available...). While one agent didn’t like my first two pages, the other did and I learned an important lesson from listening to their two different points of view: writing really is subjective. And wow, we have some really talented up-and-coming authors in RWNZ!

And Oh-my-goodness, it’s so hard not to have huge fan girl moments when in the presence of some of New Zealand’s top writers, like Yvonne Lindsay (squeal), Robin Donald (gasp) and Nalini Singh (tongue tied awe and inane comments about her sparkly scarf). The highlight of the Saturday workshops for me was hearing Yvonne’s story of rejection after rejection for thirteen years before she achieved publication – she is AMAZING.

By Sunday most of the conference attendees had that ‘last-day-zombie’ look about them, including myself. So it came as no surprise when fifteen minutes before boarding my plane back to Wellington my name was called over the airport loudspeaker to return to the front desk. Yep. I’d left my credit card in the automated checking-in machine. Doh!

And I almost forgot – booked into the hotel with our 130 or so romance writers were the Australian rugby team, The Wallabies! Wasn’t it our lucky day? Or maybe theirs…

Tracey

What I’m reading this week: Somebody to Love – Kristan Higgins. This is my first Kristan Higgins book and she’s now on my ‘must-read-everything-she’s-written’ pile. Funny, warm, sexy, and did I say funny? Some laugh out loud moments and a few teary ones too. And the ending’s last line of dialogue? Perfect.

What I’m watching this week: Fear Factor and Wipeout. I needed something mindless after the brain-draining conference.

This week’s favorite quote: You may think your life is boring, but your emotions are not boring. Paraphrased from Eloisa James’ speech at RWNZ Conference.

Hot guy of the week: Eric Dane as McSteamy in Grey’s Anatomy. C'mon McDreamy fans, I had to play fair...

Achievements and Creativity

This week I’ve been thinking about achievements and what they mean in the grand scheme of my life. Pretty deep, huh? *g* What started me thinking was the act of clicking the send button on my manuscript, ‘Dangerous Exposure’, which has now arrived in the inbox of an editor on the other side of the world. Amongst all the angst of, ‘What if she really, really likes it?’, or ‘What if she really, really hates it, and tells me to take up knitting?’, I finally found peace. It’s out of my hands now.

Whether the editor likes my work or hates it, there’s nothing more I can say or do. And I’m okay with it. Because I did what I set out to do. I kept my butt in my office chair for months and months writing the first draft, and then months after that editing and polishing it. I finished a whole book, dammit, and that’s something that so many wanna-be writers never achieve because they give up. And then I pushed myself that last bit further—sending my words out into the world, quite possibly to be rejected and sent home again. But that’s also okay. Because I took that last step into the scary unknown, and tried.

My mum used to say to me, “Just do your best, that’s all anyone can ask of you.” Of course, I constantly ask more of myself. Like many people, I have a horrible little demanding voice inside that says ‘You’re best’s not good enough, you have to be perfect, and more than that—you have to get it right the first time!’ Nasty little imp, that inner voice of mine. About time I trapped her under my thumb and squished her.

I’m learning that art is not meant to be perfect, because it doesn’t spring from perfect people, it comes from within us, and we as humans are inherently flawed. This makes art and creativity, in whatever form we choose to express ourselves, so precious. We’re all different and what I judge not good enough, will touch someone else in ways that I would find amazing.

So I’m quietly confident that I have achieved something this past year. I may not be published, and I may not get published anytime soon, but I’m doing something I love to do. And I’m doing the best I can, Mum, so I hope you’re smiling proudly from heaven. 

Tracey

What I’m reading this week: Hot Zone – Catherine Mann. Loved this book, full of action and a emotionally wounded (but oh-so-hot) Pararescueman.

What I’m watching this week: Chocolat. Starring Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche melt the screen with their chemistry.

This week’s favorite quote: “If you look for perfection, you'll never be content.” ― Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina.

Hot guy of the week: Johnny Depp. Johnny in Willie Wonka = *shudder*. Johnny in Chocolat? Mmmm, let me spoon him up…

Friday I-Wish-I-Were-There (Vancouver, Canada)

Welcome to my Friday I-Wish-I-Were-There Blog.

Today I’m heading north to the city of Vancouver. Although when we visited this area we were dogged by cold, wet weather (which was understandable since it was winter) I would still love to go back and spend more time here. The scenery, even when besieged by rain, was still incredibly beautiful.

Highlights:
Sea to Sky Highway. We drove along this highway and spent a night in the outdoorsy town of Squamish. This highway claims to be one of the most beautiful in the world and I don’t doubt that if the rain and mist had lifted higher, this would be true. The next day we continued on to Whistler, but only drove through the town (and on one memorable occasion got spectacularly lost and drove off road across a non-plowed mush of ice and slush into a cross-country ski-lesson – don’t ask!) as there was no parking and it was raining pretty steadily.

Shannon Falls. Just off the Sea to Sky Highway is a free to see waterfall. The falls were impressive (probably helped by all the rain we’ve been having) and cascaded down from a massive rocky cliff, falling into a rapidly moving river surrounded by tall fir trees and forest. Posing by the waterfall I noticed an old guy with an 'All-Blacks’ tee-shirt on (New Zealand’s national rugby team) and I said to him as he walked past, "Are you a fellow kiwi?". The man chuckled and replied in a Canadian accent, “No, I wear this to annoy all the Australian’s that live up in Whistler.” What a crack up. I loved this guy!

Views of Vancouver from Cypress Mountain. Just spectacular. Not so impressed with the Cypress mountain ski area as after going all the way up there, you couldn’t get anywhere near the snow without having to fork out big bucks and the waiting lines to tube on the slops were not worth the dollars involved for the scant amount of time you got.

Capilano Suspension Bridge park. The park was beautiful and had some stunningly tall Douglas firs that had tree-walk bridges slung between them which were fun – and an interesting perspective being so high up amongst the trees and looking down. The suspension bridge itself had a 150 metre span,  was 80 metres above the raging river below and swayed so much as you hit the centre of it, that it was a wonder I made it over twice – well, okay, I had to make it over twice as there was only one way to get back to the car! There was also a cliff walk, which was like a theatre catwalk (narrow planks and handrails) had to walking right over another huge drop to the river below – but luckily it didn’t sway at all, so I was quite happy looking at the wonderful views.

Maple Leaves. One of my favorite things in Canada is these huge leaves. I love these two photos of my daughter, Kate, taken four years apart. Isn’t she gorgeous?!

Unfortunately we didn’t get to do much else in Vancouver and will have to add it to our Bucket list for another time.

Tracey.

Some Wednesday Giggles.

Today I need a laugh. So here are a few things collated from the internet that always give me a giggle.

And I confess this last one is particularly apt – as I couldn’t think of a single thing to blog about today!

Smiling yet? I hope so! Have a great day.

Tracey


What I’m reading this week: Oxygen by Randy Ingermanson & John B. Olson. Randy’s coming to the RWNZ Conference in 8 days – can’t wait to attend his one day workshop!

What I’m watching this week: Grey’s Anatomy, season 8. McDreamy and McSteamy are back! Yay!

This week’s favorite quote: People have writer’s block not because they can’t write, but because they despair of writing eloquently. Anna Quindlen.

Hot guy of the week: Has to be McDreamy for me. Sorry McSteamy fans.

Friday I-Wish-I-Were-There (Singapore)

Welcome to my Friday I-Wish-I-Were-There Blog.

Today I’m off to Singapore—just the name conjures up images of exotic flowers, heat and tuk-tuks in my head.

Highlights:

The Botanical Gardens. The hothouses were absolutely incredible. Everything was green and lush, and with eye-popping colors. Fabulous—especially for someone like me who can’t even keep a pot plant alive.

Orchard Road Shopping. Mall after mall after mall. So many shops, but there were pushy sales assistants in a lot of them, trying to get you to buy, buy, buy. But bartering is fun – I was like, ‘Hah!’ when I bartered with an old Chinese lady and got a souvenir mug down from $6.50 to $5.90 – go me!

Thian Hock Keng Temple. The oldest temple in Singapore and very beautiful. 

Sentosa Island. We took the cable car which was really, really high above the water (not that I’m scared of heights or anything…) and on the island I was brave enough to hold a lovely, buttery yellow albino python. My husband thought the python was neither buttery or lovely, and nearly keeled over in terrified revulsion—I mean, he opted not to touch the snake as he was taking photos…

Raffles Hotel. I think it’s mandatory to visit the famous Raffles hotel, drink a Singapore Sling, and toss a few peanut shells onto the wooden floor...Luckily the Singapore Sling came with a tour we were doing as there was no way I was going to pay $18 for another. A Singapore Sling is comprised of gin, cherry brandy, pineapple juice, lime juice, Cointreau, Dom Benedictine, Grenadine, a dash of Angostura Bitters, and is garnished with a slice of fresh pineapple and a cherry—in case you want to save yourself eighteen bucks. I have to say Raffles did have an old-world elegance about it, a very tropical Bogart movie type thing.

Chinatown and Little India. Colorful and cheaply cheerful. Some things to make you go, ‘OMG, really?’ but a fascinating place regardless.

People. Singaporeans are very friendly and smile lovely white smiles at you, but many of them just have no idea what you're trying to ask, and when they do reply they talk with a strong accent and very, very fast! Needless to say, we got lost a couple of times following directions.

Singapore really was a fascinating city to explore, with many different cultures and customs, and a vibrant energy purely its own.

Tracey

Of Vampires and Pirates...

This week I attended an author talk with Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse/vampire books – or more commonly known as ‘The True Blood books’, since the TV show of same name became hugely popular. While I’ve never watched an episode of True Blood, I have read a couple of Charlaine’s books in another series and the first Sookie Stackhouse novel (the rest are in my massive to-be-read pile). And anyway, how often does a NYT best-selling author come to little old Wellington, New Zealand? So me and two of my writer friends jumped at the opportunity to hear her talk.

Charlaine was a most entertaining and approachable speaker, and at the risk of sounding trite, she had a gorgeous Southern accent that I could’ve listened to for hours. I had a private wager with myself how long it would take a member of the audience to ask that all-time favorite author question, “So where do you get your ideas?” It didn’t take long. But instead of clawing at her cheeks or rolling her eyes, Charlaine answered most graciously. And more eloquently than what my reply would’ve been: “Er. I dunno.”

The funniest part of the talk for me, and be aware I have a dark sense of humor, was when a member of the audience asked Charlaine a question about her latest book, ‘Deadlocked’ and in the process, dropped in a massive plot spoiler. There was an ominous rumble through the audience, followed by howls of outrage. Classic doh! Moment. Whoops! Fortunately I have the memory of a goldfish, and approximately ten more Sookie books to read before I hit ‘Deadlocked’, so I wasn’t overly perturbed by the woman’s lack of foresight.

After Charlaine’s talk there was a book signing opportunity and the queue that goes with a NYT best-selling author. My writer friends and I were discussing romance books, and a young lady in front of us kept interrupting our conversation—which was fine, writers are on the whole voracious readers and love discussing books. She was also interested to hear we were all members of the Romance Writers of New Zealand and were working on our own books. However, the temperature of our little chat got suddenly frosty when she mentioned how she frequently downloaded big name author’s ‘free’ e-books (on some sites which I won’t repeat) when she couldn’t afford to buy them. One of my friends sharply pointed out, “That’s piracy and you’re ripping off authors.” I stood open-mouthed in outrage (and wishing my brain worked faster so I could’ve come up with that gem first).

I’m a reader, and also a writer, but even knowing firsthand the years of blood, sweat and the often little monetary remuneration that go into producing a book, (especially a first book) not being a writer is a weak excuse for ignorance. Anyone with enough brain cells to read a 90,000 word novel can comprehend that it took effort to create. Effort that deserves respect and payment for the privilege of reading that work. And just because the author is earning big bucks as a NYT bestseller, that author still has to keep her butt in the chair working for hours and hours to produce the goods. It’s one thing to snag a freebie read off a writer’s official website or take advantage of an advertising ploy of a free read on Amazon, it’s totally different to patronize an obvious pirate site.

So people who pirate, don’t say how you LOVE this author and ADORE that author, show your loyalty by paying them for the hours of pleasure they provide.

Hopping down from my soapbox now! Have a great week. :0)

Tracey.

What I’m reading this week: Cutting Loose – Susan Anderson. First time I’ve encountered a redheaded hero since Diana Gabaldon’s Jamie Fraser…!

What I’m watching this week: Rambo. A young Sylvester Stallone? Mmmm, tasty.

This week’s favorite quote: “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” – Ernest Hemmingway.

Hot guy of the week: Joe Magliano from True Blood.

Friday I-Wish-I-Were-There (Chicago)

Welcome to my Friday I-Wish-I-Were-There Blog.

Today I going back to one of the most vibrant and high-octane cities I’ve visited in the States: Chicago.

Highlights:
Sears Tower. Okay, it’s called the Willis Tower now, but we still thought of it as the Sears Tower. The views from the top were amazing and we were totally brave enough to step on the clear platforms that jutted out from the side of the building. It was a looong way down, but as I said, we’re brave.

The trains. We enjoyed our 45 minute ride from the hotel to the centre of Chicago. Riding on the public transport in any city is fun— t’s a chance to see what the ‘real world’ looks like.

The EL. Or ‘Elevated Train’—yeah, we felt cool saying, “Let’s go catch the EL”, like we weren’t’ obvious tourists or anything… We still enjoyed the ride, and the views of downtown Chicago.

Navy Pier. Navy pier had some great market type shops, and on a glorious Saturday afternoon (when we visited) it was packed with tourists and families enjoying the sunshine. The ferris wheel gave us some incredible views of the city waterfront, but man, having to have the obligatory family photo (to tempt you to buy mega-expensive portraits later) before you get on, is a pain in the butt. So to exact pacifist revenge, I took a shot of the camera girl. Hah!

Chicago Hotdogs. Mmmmm. Nuff said.

The Bean. A really cool sculpture! One of many in Chicago. Had to get our photo with American Gothic statues in Michigan Avenue.

The people. We found the locals friendly and helpful. When we looked lost stepping off a train, a lovely elderly lady approached us and gave us directions. Then at a MTA station when we couldn’t contact our hotel for the free shuttle, a young lady let us use her cellphone to ring them. People are the best part of travelling!

Getting Hitched. Guess it's a great place for weddings too - we saw heaps of gorgeous brides and grooms!

Unfortunately we only had one full day in this amazing city. Next time we’ll stay longer!

Tracey