Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Quitters Never Win (Except When They Don't Die of Cancer)

I'm a quitter.

No, not on Rebel Belle or NaNoWriMo. Perish the thought! I'm a much better kind of quitter. An AWESOME quitter if I do say so myself, for I have...

QUIT SMOKING! Yes! Adieu, Cancer Sticks! I am officially 2 1/2 weeks cigarette free, and so far, it's actually been really easy. I think it's because A) no one I know smokes anymore, and B) It took me around 2 weeks to get through a pack, so it's not like I had a particularly bad habit. Now, like most smokers, I've quit before only to fall back into the habit. I quit for over a year back in 2005 (back when Small Son was Fetus Son, and then Tiny Baby Son). But this time is for good because I've said so on the internet, and as we all know, nothing is real unless it happens in Internetlandia. ;) You peeps will hold me to it, right?

In other momentous news, another country bought Demonglass (can't say who yet; waiting for PM announcement) and there are a few other countries checking it out, which is VERY exciting. Also, I have a film co-agent with CAA now, and there is *whispery voice* some movie talk burbling. Nothing concrete yet, but it still fills me with excitement/terror to think of people in Hollywood even knowing about my book.

And to top off this Feast of Awesome, Sunday is my birthday/anniversary! Yes, I got married on my birthday, but it wasn't on purpose (the date, that is. I obviously got married on purpose.) See, back when The Husband and I decided to wed, it was his first year teaching, so time off was not easy to come by. I wanted to get married in the fall, so we settled on the Saturday before Thanksgiving... which, that year was my 23rd b'day (on the 23rd, too! So I got married on my "special birthday!") The Husband has exactly one date to remember every year. He is quite lucky.

Oh, and in addition to being my birthday, it was also the Iron Bowl, and if you know anything about The South, SEC football, college rivalries, etc., you will understnad when I say that everyone in our wedding totally effin' HATED US for that. But they cheered up considerably when they got to the reception and began partaking in the free beer. Besides, Auburn won that year and has never lost since! The Husband and I joke that we have to get divorced whenever Auburn's winning streak is broken (which will almost undoubtedly be this year. Oh, well. The Husband and I had a good run!)

But wait, there's MORE! In celebration of me entering the last year of my 20s- which I am SO PUMPED about. The Husband was sad when he turned 30 last year, but I'm actually bummed I have a whole other year to go before 30. All of my friends who are in their 30s say it is much more excellent than the 20s- I am giving YOU, my loyal blog readers, a present!

Well, one of you, at least. To help facillitate buying a book and saving the world, I'll be choosing a random reader from the comments section to receive a $20 gift card to Barnes and Noble. Yes, seriously!

Just leave a comment to be entered. Any of you lurkers out there, now is your time to de-lurk. Say hi! Leave your own thoughts on Xanadu! Tell me how much you LOVED Camp Winna-WTF? and how heinous I am for hating it! If you're a writer, plug the ever livin' you-know-what out of your own book! Whatever you feel like!

I'll be at the beach through Thanksgiving, but when I return on Monday, December 1, I'll announce the winner!

Hope everyone has an awesome Turkey Day!

15 comments:

Maureen Lipinski said...

I'm with you on the 20/30s thing. I just turned 29 and my husband just turned 30. I'm actually looking forward to my thirties b/c I'm hoping that 30 is the magical age where I'll stop getting dirty looks from old people who think I'm some high schooler with a baby.

Speaking of which, I just got my release date! 6/9/09 baby! A Bump in the Road: From Happy Hour to Baby Shower!

Anonymous said...

SO exciting...I need to call you so we can catch up.
I unfortunately cannot put myself in the running because I know you IRL. lol I would have an unfair advantage.
I hope you have the happiest birthday ever! I love you bunches and I owe you birthday cupcakes really soon!

December said...

eh - I'm turning 32 in December... all I noticed is my metabolism slowed down and my hangovers last alot longer. OOH - and I have better accessories then I did in my 20s!

Amie Stuart said...

OMG I turned 39 this year. I CRIED. I cried when I turned 29 too but not when I turned 30. Don't enter me...I'm just here for the cheese.

And Happy Birthday!

Serenity said...

I hate it that you'll be at the beach for so long because I totally use this blog to live a dreamy writer's life vicariously through you. I guess I'll just have to pretend I'm at the beach. About the movie whispers - just the premise of your book has box office sales written all over it. In fact - not having read it - it seems like it would make a great television series. Kind of Dawson's Creek meets Harry Potter? Anyway, I'm totally in with the buying books for the holidays thing. If I could afford to buy a book a day, I would DO it.

Also, CONGRATULATIONS on the smoking thing. Very, very awesome.

meredith said...

Dude! Happy Early Birthday! I totally remember when you and John got hitched. It was a beautiful day! I know, I am excessively using exclamation points but I can't help it! Anywho, 30 is AWESOME!!! Love it and can't wait to see what the next 10 years bring...have a great vacation and tell your sweet mom hi!

~Meredith

meredith said...

Dude! Happy Early Birthday! I totally remember when you and John got hitched. It was a beautiful day! I know, I am excessively using exclamation points but I can't help it! Anywho, 30 is AWESOME!!! Love it and can't wait to see what the next 10 years bring...have a great vacation and tell your sweet mom hi!

~Meredith

Carrie Harris said...

Ooooh. All kinds of good things! Happy early birfday, mingled congrats and gnashing of teeth on the book deals, and uh... I forget what else. :)

Stephen Duncan said...

You are too funny and you rule with the contest(DQ me from the running).

Married during the Iron Bowl. You are brave. Or crazy. Not sure which. Me and the boss got married during an Alabama game. When we walked into our reception, we were greeted with this huge roar of applause, which of course shined up my ego. That is, until I realized they were just cheering for an Alabama touchdown. Boo.

Happy Birthdiversary!

Tiffany said...

Yeah, I'm pretty sure there were at least 40 people listening to the game/checking scores on their new-fangled Blackberries that day. HAHA! And then, I still laugh that you put the ring on The Husband's right hand and he was so out of it (hello, vallium) that he didn't notice for a while. Well, no one did really... Except me and Dallas and Katie! He swithced when everyone bowed their heads in prayer. Good times.

Ronald L. Smith said...

Good luck with the quitting smoking, Rachel. And congrats on the simmering good news on Demonglass.

Jordan McMakin said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Rachel! And congrats on the worldly book deals - I can't think of anything MORE EXCITING! I'm absolutely looking forward to reading Demonglass. Happy holidays!

Lucy said...

My husband is turning 32 on Monday and doesn't want to do anything to celebrate--he's totally depressed. What's with guys and 30?

Anyways, WAR EAGLE!!!!! I wouldn't be surprised if they won today. I always think of Auburn being like Seabiscuit--they can't win unless they're the underdog.

LIndsey Leavitt said...

Um, I watched the game. I hope you and hubby can make it through this difficult time.

Melinda said...

Hope you had a good vacation/birthday/anniversary.

If it's not too late, please enter me in the contest.