Life Is A Lottery

When my customers (in the ickle shop I work at) buy a lottery ticket and  subsequently moan that they don't know why they bother because they never win, I always tell them you've got to be in it to win it.

You can't dream about how you're going to spend your millions if you haven't entered the lottery.

Well, I've realised this theory works on a lot of things. I can't dream of blogging for Mills and Boon if I don't enter their competition. So I have!

I can't dream of working in a school, term time hours only, to fit around me and the boys, if I don't apply. So I have.

These things are a bit of a lottery. I believe that some element of luck works in your favour as well as your skill and ability. It's very hard to get a job in a school, so I am treating it a bit like winning the lottery. I'm buying a lot of tickets... i.e. applying for every job I'm qualified to do. Thus increasing my odds.

I imagine it's even harder to become the blogger for Mills and Boon, too. *sigh*

And I can't dream of being a published writer if I'm not writing... yeah, yeah, I know! I am trying to get my writing mojo back. But at this rate I'm going to need a refresher course in punctuation because I'm currently having a mental block as to where the full stop or comma goes - inside or outside of speech marks! It's a bit like when you're standing at the cash point, and all of a sudden, for love nor money, you can't remember your pin, and the machine is beeping at you. I'm sure it will all come back to me.

Ok, so ready for tomorrow - it is Thursday, after all. Here's a treat. A Shirtless Daniel Craig.

Now I need to get back to brainstorming my short story... as I can't dream of winning a short story competition, if I don't enter, right?

Good Job I'm Not A Bad Loser

I can safely say I will not win NaNoWriMo this year. I've been failing to actually get bum on seat some days and get the writing done, and then the days that I do, I have not been hitting the 1,666 word target which is required to reach 50,000 words in 30 days.

I have written so far 15,287 words (little counter to the right should verify this too :D). Those words seriously need editing mind. But that is 14,179 words short of where I should be today.  (Becky Black will love that I have a spreadsheet to calculate this. Spread sheets are her thing. They can be my thing too. It's maybe why we get on so well.) But this is the reason why I will not win. NaNoWriMo calculates I need to write 2629 words a day for the rest of the month. It's not going to happen. Not unless I want my RSI to come and hit me in the face! (Well, the wrist actually).

So I'm a winner in that I'm writing again, with everything that real life is throwing at me I think this is a damn good achievement. After November I will need to get back to editing The Wedding Favour and being tough with myself about it. You will not make it as a writer if you do not put the work in, Teresa! 

However, as I said to my writing friends in my little writing group, I think I'm too tough on myself. I'm impatient basically, and want it to happen as soon as possible, and stress myself that it is not, because it's a vicious circle. I won't see writing achievements if I'm not writing and working at it. However, I think I need to take a step back, just keep at it, write when I can write (and not beat myself up when I can't) and eventually it will come. My desperation is because I am miserable in my job. If writing could pay the bills, I would be happier. So, I need to find something else don't I?

It doesn't mean I'm giving up my dream of writing, it just means finding something more enjoyable to do to bring in the bread and butter, and work around my children (which is priority) and my writing. I'm tired of getting up at 5.30am every Saturday morning. I want my weekends back!

I thought about becoming a teaching assistant, and I'm not striking that off, but maybe for a quicker solution, and less training required, maybe I need to find a job in a school (or college) doing admin.

In other news, I did manage to watch Skyfall last night. Obviously for research purposes. It has nothing to do with Daniel Craig being the best James Bond ever - in my opinion anyway! Very good film by the way. Okay so it has the typical James Bond traits. The girl he sleeps with dies and that sort of thing, but it's not as corny as Pierce Brosnan surfing a tidal wave on a door! I feel Mr Craig gives Mr Bond a lot more depth than his predecessors. Characterisation is important.

Surprise Number One!

OMG! There I was just phoning around estate agents, and getting a bit of housework done when the doorbell rang. Who could that be, I thought.

Only Daniel Craig.

Yes, on my doorstep!


Apparently with his tight schedule, but knowing it's my birthday Friday, he thought he'd pop in this week to give me a sloppy kiss and a birthday hug. Bless.

I told him, I did, I told him, he's the best James Bond EVER!

He's such a nice guy, ladies. 

Favourite scene in Tomb Raider where my love for Daniel Craig began!

My Perfect Date

I have Rachel Lyndhurst to thank for the inspiration of this blog post. I think it was something about going on holiday and finding my perfect hot surfer dude whilst away. Interestingly, in the second book I'm writing, Perfect Isn't An Option, my hero Steve is looking for someone a little less perfect.

Anyway, this got me thinking about being wined and dined... One day... one day... And I was thinking of who I'd like to meet, the dream boat who's going to whisk me off my feet and love me forever...ha ha!

And I realised I'm a bit choosy.

Maybe it's the romance writer in me?

I mean, he'd have to have the eyes of Bradley Cooper... In fact he'd have to be as handsome as him, too.

He'd need to look good in a tux, but look just as sexy in a T-shirt and Jeans, and drive a nice car - I want to be chauffeured about! - and handle himself as well as James Bond.

 

Can dance as good as Brendan Cole...


And sings to me like he's Adam Levine...









With a body as hot as Joe Manganiello's...








And can afford to buy me diamonds. (I'm not really that materialistic, money doesn't buy love, but wouldn't it be nice to have a man buy you diamond earrings?)
(And my mum will like this one) And he's got to have manly hands. Not girly ones. No, hands that look like they've worked hard and have strength.  Hmmmm... I have a thing about hands.

Oh, and ideally, not a smoker.

And there is one other quality he must be superb at....

Ironing! ;-)

Okay, okay, I don't need to spell out the other thing, do I? You can probably guess, considering I write romance.

I don't expect much, do I?

Have I forgotten something? What would you add to this list?

(For the record... A disclaimer - this blog post is meant to be construed as a bit of fun! We all know this guy can only be found in a book.)

Advent Calendar: Day 12

Firstly, I have to say happy birthday, Rachel! (She knows who she is). I'm not sure if she's a fan of the next man I'm about to post, but maybe I'll convert her!

I think it's time for another blond. A blond Bond, too. He's actually my favourite!

I'm not really a James Bond fan, which is ridiculous in some ways because I love a good action movie, and don't mind if it's a little bit far fetched. Lethal Weapon and the Die Hard films are right up my street! But watching Pierce Brosnon surf on some sort of door on a tidal wave was just plain stupid. (I can't even recall the name of it, but we watched the film at the cinema one night when we were in New Zealand, January 2003). I get they're trained killers and all that - he's good at a lot of things. But surfing is a skill, and to stand up and ride a wave takes a lot of practise, and is not a necessary skillset for a Secret Agent. Or is it? Maybe I would have believed it more if he'd 'body boarded' in. I've just found Bond films way too corny. Yes, more corny than Lethal Weapon or Die Hard!

When I watched Casino Royale, I was very impressed with the new Bond. I empathised with him, found him much more brooding, emotional and human.

Maybe there were new directors/producers, and realised James Bond could not longer be a cardboard cut out, and he needed some depth. Daniel Craig gave us new depth to Bond.

12th December 

And of course there has to be a shirtless picture! Or my name's not Teresa Morgan!

It's My Party ... (2)

And I'll Post What I Want To! 

Day 2 of my birthday week, and retail therapy is in store. I'll just do this blog post first, because I'm excited about my next birthday guest.

Look who has turned up for my party! Daniel Craig!

No, we don't mind if you swan around in just your trunks!

Alex, in Tombraider, just come out of the shower *sigh*

I first saw Daniel in The Tombraider alongside Angie, and have always been a big fan. He is even my favourite James Bond. 

Blond hair, blue eyes... and one fit body! There is something about our lovely Daniel Craig. I wouldn't say he's "drop dead gorgeous" in the looks department, there is something a little rugged and rough about him. But I certainly would not say no! He's an inspiration for a character I have, though I'm not sure when I'll get to write that particular book.

So, come on in, Daniel! Grab yourself a glass of bubbly and mingle with the girls.

Don't forget to see who arrived yesterday for the party.

And come back to see who turns up tomorrow! I'm so excited! Are you?

If you'd like to bring a guest to the party - that's happening all week long! - then remember to blog about them and let me know!