Over the weekend, I went out for dinner and some shopping with a couple of friends. While shopping, I found this fun item.

It does say “bodice-ripping” on the packaging—a stereotype I dislike—but I couldn’t resist adding this to my inspirational magnet collection.

My first phrase:

He dreamed of her passionate kisses, rolling and rocking with pleasure.

I’ll move the phrases around each day. Should be a fun writing exercise.

You know the special features option you see on DVDs these days? I’m pretty sure it was invented just for me. I love special features. Unless I absolutely hate a movie, I always check out the special features once I finish watching.

My favorite special features: movie commentaries (especially if one of the actors participates) and documentaries providing background information or explaining how a movie was made. The more special features are included, the better. Hence my desire to buy this edition of Zodiac with all the bonuses, and my sadness that this movie has no special features.

Trailers don’t count as special features to me.

Anyone else love special features? What are your favorites?

It’s April 15, otherwise known as tax day or the day of reckoning. This year I’m getting a bit of money back. I’m looking forward to my San Francisco trip this summer, and I’m also going to put some of my return toward my debts.

The best thing about doing my taxes—besides getting a refund—is that I don’t do them. A friend of mine does. It’s such a relief to have someone else do them.

The refund isn’t half bad, either . . .

I finished Sanctuary, and it will soon be in the hands of a few test readers. Yay! I can definitely use their input. For now, though, I’m savoring the fact that it’s finished.

I’m slowly working my way through Heath Ledger’s movies, and the last one I saw is 10 Things I Hate about You. I laughed through the whole thing. It’s fabulous. Here are ten things I liked about it.

1. The story is (loosely) based on Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. Not my favorite of his plays, but it’s fun to see a modern retelling.
2. Heath. He’s adorable (and pretty; see #3) in this movie.
3. This conversation.
   

   Cameron: And here’s another problem. Bianca said that Kat likes pretty guys.
   Patrick [Pulls away from the table to stand taller]: Are you telling me I’m not a pretty guy?
   Michael: Very pretty. He’s a gorgeous guy. [Gives the thumbs up sign] You’re a gorgeous guy.
   Patrick [Leans back against the table]
   Cameron: Yeah. I just wasn’t sure. I didn’t know.

4. The great one-liners. Really, there are too many to list.
5. This line.
   

   Kat’s Dad: You’re eighteen—you don’t know what you want. And you won’t know what you want ’til you’re forty-five, and even if you get it, you’ll be too old to use it.

6. This song.

7. This conversation.
   

   Patrick: We’re looking at seventy-five bucks.
   Joey: This isn’t a negotiation. Take it or leave it, Trailer Park.
   Patrick: Fifty bucks and we got a deal, Fabio.

8. This smile.



9. This line.
   

   Patrick [Shouts to be heard over the playing music]: I was watching you out there before. I’ve never seen you look [Still shouting, though the music stops] so sexy.

10. It’s a fun and funny feel-good movie.

I received another review for The Greatest Gift. This one is at Joyfully Reviewed. Here’s an excerpt:

I enjoyed The Greatest Gift very much. The emotional intensity was outstanding and I found myself a bit weepy eyed more than once. Lia Sebastian is making her way to my auto-buy list and it is for books such as this!

It’s a lovely review! You can read the entire review here.

Last week I did pretty good with the exercise challenge. This week . . . not so much. I’ve been napping instead, which is nice, but not the same thing. I think it will help to choose a regular time for exercise, and then to just do it.

Anyone have an inspiring quote or success story about exercising? I could use it.

Here’s a photo from my trip to Eden. A local gift shop was completely buried by snow.

And here’s the view from outside the shop door. I love the pattern made in the snow by the roof.

When I think about my favorite movie moments, I realize that many of them involve hands.

In Persuasion, Anne sees Captain Wentworth again for the first time in years. We see how this affects her by the way her hand grips the chair when she sees him.

In North & South, Margaret doesn’t say how much Thornton means to her, how sorry she is about everything. Instead, when he takes her hand, she rests her other hand softly, gently, on top of his.

Then there’s a scene in La Femme Nikita, where Michael takes Nikita’s hand and a muscle in her hand jerks.

It’s the ultimate in showing vs. telling. None of these characters say what they are feeling. They don’t need to—their hands say it for them.

Now, when I work on a story, I think about ways my characters can speak without saying a word. It requires focus on the craft, consideration of the options. What’s the best way for someone to express emotion? Each character is different, which results in unique answers. It’s always fun to explore.

And maybe someday, a reader will close one of my books and think, “I loved that scene with the hero’s hands . . .”

A friend of mine challenged me to an exercise duel. We haven’t established the stakes yet, but this will be good for me, since I fell off the exercise wagon treadmill a while ago. I have two new DVDs to try, but I’m planning to get back into things with the familiar ones first. Wish me luck.

I just wish I could figure out how to exercise and take a nap at the same time.