What's Up Wednesday

So here's how this goes: I will tell you what's up with me this muggy Houston Wednesday morning. Then you comment and tell me something that's up with you.
Got it? Good.

• I am writing up a storm on THE SWEET DEAD LIFE 2, because Editor Dan wants to see act 1 by the first week in January. Which is very soon. 
• Did a gift wrapping fund raiser at a local mall yesterday from 1-6, which is a long stint of wrapping other people's gifts in a way that makes them feel that paying money for this service was worth it. Full disclosure: I am a mediocre wrapper who normally relies on the wonderful invention called gift bags. So I had to UP MY GAME. But I love doing this because PEOPLE TELL ME WEIRD STUFF. Like this exchange:

Me: It will be done in about 10-15 minutes. We're backed up right now.

Middle Aged Man Who Does Not Know that I am a MIDLIST AUTHOR WHO BLOGS: Do you know the movie A Christmas Story?

Me: Yeah!

Man: You know the leg lamp?

Me: Yeah! Love the leg lamp.

Man: Do you think the mall has one? My adult son would love it.

Me: No, but you could get it on line.

Man: Do you know how good I am on line?

Me: Um... no.

Man: I'm terrible. Don't you think the mall has one?

Me: No. You could Google it though.

And on like that. I LOVE moments like this. 

• Finishing up HOW TO SAY GOODBYE IN ROBOT by the amazing Natalie Staniford. It is brilliant and moving and I adore it.
• Also, I am getting ready to go to Portland, OR  on January 11th, where I will be the guest author for Book Fan Friday at Powell's and then on Saturday, January 12th, authors Emily Whitman and Ruth Feldman and I will discuss time travel in our recent novels at Annie Blooms Bookstore.  ANASTASIA FOREVER does have a distinct time travel component where Anne and Ethan end up in Ethan's past, among other things. And so our Time Travel Troika will be discussing and reading and doing q/a and giving out prizes. If you live in or near Portland, OR, I'd love to see you!!

So what's up with you? Let me know!