I leave for San Francisco in a week. So I need to start gearing up to get my extrovert on. Last year, I wasn’t as social as I planned. I’m an introvert; what can I say? This year, though, I’m determined to get out more. I want to party.

Fellow writing introverts, how do you get in touch with your inner extrovert?

I might have found a dress.

I ordered it, and we’ll see how it works out. Fingers crossed.

RWA Nationals is mere weeks away! (Where did the time go?) I don’t want to wear my black glittery dress to the RITAs, but I’m having trouble finding a dress I like.

This is not a new dilemma.

I often have problems finding dresses. I haven’t figured out why. Part of it is that I don’t love shopping. Well, I could shop online every day if I had the money, but I have to try on a dress to see if it works. So I’ll keep up my quest for now. I like the dress below, but it’s about three times what I want to spend.

If it comes down to it, I can always wear the black glittery number, right?

It’s summertime, and it hasn’t really snowed where I live. But something nearly as unexpected occurred—my office is trying out flex scheduling for three months with three options, one a four 10-hour day work week. I’m not sure I’ll like it, but I’m excited to try it so I can have three-day weekends. If nothing else, I’ll save on petrol. Gas prices are ridiculous, and I welcome any chance to minimize that expense.

This starts sometime next month—date to be determined. This is even better than a summer blizzard.

I joined Borders Rewards when it first started—hey, it’s free, right? The only problem with it is that they are a little too good at coming up with deals that lure me in. Saturday, I took advantage of a coupon good for 40 percent off one book.

Today, I checked my e-mail and found a coupon for 40 percent off movies (limit three). It’s only good today and tomorrow.

Guess what I’ll be doing after work?

After enjoying a friend’s Wii, I decided I wanted one of my own. Finding one proved tricky, though. So imagine my surprise when I went to Target to pick up some stuff for a baby shower, checked out the Wii aisle on an impulse, and saw a console there.

So I bought it.

The good news: it’s a lot of fun. The bad news: it’s a lot of fun. An excellent distraction. I’m hoping the novelty will wear off soon, but in the meantime, I’m enjoying it.

Wiiiiiiiii . . .

Today is May 1, but it’s more of a mayday than May Day. I’ve come down with something, and my throat hurts desperately. Jamba juice seems to be the one thing that makes it feel better, but the every-other-day trips there are getting tedious. The soothing drink makes the trip worthwhile, though. Guess where I’m going tonight?

Plus, it snowed when I drove to work this morning. Snowed. Snow in May is just plain wrong.

Thank heavens the weekend is nearly here.

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.

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 . . .

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.