Twice as Hot by Gena Showalter

I love Gena’s work. Heck, I love Gena, period. I got an advanced copy of this book (cuz I begged a little) because I loved the first one, Playing with Fire, so much. It’s been burning a hole in my to be read pile since the mailman delivered it, but now that I’m on vacation I can sit down and read it.

Woot!

Steamed by Katie MacAlister

It’s steampunk. It’s romance. I’m there.

Midnight Rainbow/ Diamond Bay by Linda Howard

I read Midnight Rainbow in the library, and my girl Kate Pearce told me the rest of the Kell Sabin series is pretty good, so I’m all over it.

Heartbreaker/ White Lies by Linda Howard

Hey, Kate said the whole series, so…I’m in. Plus, it’s Linda Howard. I love just about everything she writes, and since these came out right around the same time as my fave Linda Howard of all time–MacKenzie’s Mountain–I’m hoping the awesomeness rubbed off.

So, I haven’t updated on the great weight loss progress in a while, mostly because I’ve had no news. I totally plateaued about halfway, which is at 50lbs. Sure, that’s an awesome amount, but it’s still only halfway to what I need to be.

Therefore, it’s time to add something more onto the routine than just eating better. That means…dum, dum, dum…going to the gym 5 days a week. I don’t wanna. I hate working out. I hate sweating. There is only one activity worth sweating for, and the treadmill ain’t it. I’ll let you use your imagination to fill in the rest of those blanks.

I went yesterday and today, did a half an hour on the treadmill and some light weightlifting, which I’ll increase as my strength does. Let’s face it, I’m down 50lbs, but I’m still way out of shape.

Ah, well. I knew this day of doom would come. I just wish it had waited a little longer to get here.

So, in my effort to remain faithful to my vow of no writing for a month, I’m working my way through many seasons of many shows that I own on DVD. I may even resort to ordering some through Netflix.

A few selections from my current list…

• Sex and the City: This is an old favorite. It actually helped inspire the attitude for my very first heroine. Of course, I rewrote her when I realized I couldn’t pull off a fashionista–being a non-fashionable girl myself. Still, there was some really great stuff in those seasons.
• Firefly: Oh, how I love this show. Space Western. Dude. Original, beautiful, the best ensemble cast ever put together on any show I’ve ever watched. This was the show that cemented my love of Nathan Fillion.
• Alias: Smart, kick ass chick who saves the world. Need I say more?
• Supernatural: Pretty men. The apocalypse. Pretty men. Paranormal beasties. Pretty men.
• Taken: The show that made me love Dakota Fanning when she was a wee teensy kidlet. Also, and old fave an old flame hooked me into. Nostalgia gets ya every time.
• Bourne Trilogy: Okay, technically not a show on DVD, but there are three of them, so it’s kinda long. Plus, Matt Damon.
• Castle: A show I started watching because of my aforementioned love of Nathan Fillion. Totally different show than Firefly, but I still love it. And him. He’s funny and talented. Loves.

I mean this is the most sincere possible way. I needed some sunshine today like you won’t believe. It’s been a craptastic couple of days for a plethora of reasons that I won’t bother going in to, and we’ve had rain dumping down on us for weeks (which I am so glad is not snow, but still, there’s been no sun), and then today, when I needed it the very most, we got sunshine. It was only for a few minutes, but I happened to be standing outside for it and got a face full of happy light. I am lame, but I was really happy about it. Sometimes you just need a little ray of sun, ya know?

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m found a new love (all thanks to the Mad Madam M–and no, I don’t mean I’ve found a new heterosexual life-partner) in the form of No Pudge brownies.

There’s different flavors, but I’m all about the original fudge brownies. And they’re awesome. And they’re fat free. But they taste good. Like, really good.

If you’re on Weight Watchers like me, that’s a 2-point brownie. That actually tastes good. I am in love. I’ve fallen at last, my friends. Do I care that it’s with a food product? No, not really.

I’m back at work today after the holidays with family and friends. I also had a yucky cold the last week or so, which is just super unfair during a vacation.

I wrote like crazy, and can see the glimmering light at the end of the tunnel for this book, which means you may get fewer blogs between now and my deadline on the 15th. Sorry!

I also started coming up a list of conferences I’ll be attending and trips I’ll be taking this year and I’m already exhausted! I have the Popular Culture Conference with my fellow romance scholars in late March, a library conference the next week in early April, RT in late April, a vacation up to M’s new digs in May, RWA in July, and I hope another trip in July or August to visit the family in Texas.

I think I need a vacation from my vacations!

Today’s the day. My 29th birthday. We’ve ushered in the first day of the last year of my twenties. Hope it’s awesome, and hope the next decade is even better than this one.

So, the plan today is to pick up Diana Pharaoh Francis, fantasy and urban fantasy author extraordinaire, and drag her around to sign the books the have on stock in the Sacramento area bookstores. On Christmas Eve. Pray for us.

The good news is, we’re not buying anything, so we don’t have to stand in line. The bad news is: traffic and fighting for a parking space. The kind of attitude holiday shoppers have just might make me whip out my inner Valley Girl on their asses. She’s a scary side of Crystal. Me. Whatever.

Some of the fun goodness that might be signed? (I just love showing off the artwork pretties)

I’m headed home for the holidays today. I get to see the awesome grandparental units, my fabulous aunt and cousins, and, of course, the Mad Madam M. Yay!

Happy holidays and safe travels to all of you headed somewhere for the festivities!

I got nothing for ya, peoples. Seriously. I’m writing like mad to get my next book in on time (hope y’all like it!), planning another Romance Divas workshop for January (you must come hang out!), and getting ready for the holidays (you all know this pain).

So, I can only show you the one entertaining thing I’ve seen lately. M’s sent me some movie trailers that look interesting.

First, M and I are going to this the day after Christmas. For sure.

Then, we thought this might be fun. We both liked Gladiator, so we know this director has made something with Russell Crowe we liked before. Hey, why not?