Oh, life. How did you get so busy?
I’ve finished another round of revisions on Poppies. It’s amazing what a few months away will do for your perspective on a story. This particular revision proved to be one of the most challenging and most satisfying I’ve worked on. In case you’re wondering, I focused on amping up the tension to make the story feel more thriller-esque, and I also took a main character from creepy to super-extra-über creepy, which is always fun.
My life has been consumed by this revision over the last several weeks. My DVR is chock-full of ANTM and Project Runway All Stars, and I’m pretty sure my husband is sick to death of hearing me talk about any and everything related to Poppies. Now that I’m done with this round, I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I also feel like I have all kinds of time on my hands, which is why I’m (finally) blogging.
In other news, my hubby and I visited Vancouver, BC over the weekend. I had my doubts about the idea of a getaway (see above paragraphs), but we ended up having an incredible time. Also, thanks to some ridiculous wait times at the border, I was able to get quite a bit of revising done in the car. If you haven’t visited Vancouver, I recommend it. It’s a much bigger, more diverse city than I’d realized. It’s also very clean and the food is amazing. Plus, there’s tons to do:
We went to a kickass country bar where my husband rode a bull, and subsequently banned me from posting the pictures online. Boo! (Oh, and there’s nothing like a nineteen-year-old drinking age to make you feel ancient!).
We visited–and walked across!–the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Awesome.
Okay, I admit it: I was a little scared. The bridge spanned an insane ravine and was, quite literally, suspended. It swayed a lot and by the time we made it across, I was experiencing a bit of motion sickness. Still, totally worth it!
There was a cliff walk, too, which was equally thrilling.
We got to watch the Canucks play, and win! I’ve never been to an NHL game, and I have to admit, it was surprisingly entertaining. My husband was all about teaching me the rules of the game, and we ended up sitting in a section full of very enthusiastic (read: drunk) Canadians, which made the sporting event all the more authentic.
Now that we’re home from Canada, we’re getting focused on our pending move. We’ll be leaving our beloved Pacific Northwest for the beautiful Monterey Bay sometime in May, and I’m pretty excited. The actual act of moving sucks, though, and I’m not so pumped about its finer points (packing, cleaning, driving, unpacking, settling, blah, blah, blah…). But, the Army wife in me knows it’ll be an adventure, and moving means my husband won’t be deploying for a good 18 months. I’d do pretty much anything to make that happen!
Changing gears a bit… I’ve decided to participate in April’s Blogging from A to Z Challenge (because I obviously don’t have enough going on). I feel like I’ve neglected my blog lately, and this seems like a fun way to reinvigorate it. If you’re interested in playing along (you totally should!), you can sign up HERE.
And a few more links worth checking out: This article about The Hunger Games movie. According to Hollywood vet Nina Jacobson (who acquired the rights to the trilogy), “Young people are actually really savvy about what they consume, and the success of this book is a reflection of their sophistication…” Thanks, Nina. We totally already knew that. 🙂 And this post by the brilliant Kate Hart, detailing 2011-2012 YA book deals, with infographics!
So, what’s new in your world? Will you blog A-Z in April? Are you counting down the hours till The Hunger Games?!
katyupperman.com 
There’s just so much to say here…. First: Yay for hubby not deploying for another 18 months. That would certainly make a move more appealing! Second: I laughed pretty hard at the drunk Canadians. Canadians and their beer and hockey 🙂 Glad you had a good time in Vancouver. I’d move thataways in a heartbeat if there were actually jobs and a decent cost of living in British Columbia (there aren’t and there isn’t). I guess I’ll just have to settle on mountains (darn).
Nice to hear that you’ve made so much progress on your story. What a relief that must be 🙂 I’ve been thinking about doing the A to Z Challenge too and even started making a list of topics. I’m still waffling back and forth, though.
I wondered about the cost of living in Vancouver, Jaime. We visited a tiny suburb called Edgemont and I fell in love with it. So quaint and homey and adorable, and there was an AMAZING children’s books store there. Oh, and we had lots of fun with the drunk Canadian hockey fans. 🙂
You should totally do the A-Z Challenge. I’ve been making my list too, and I’m going to try to pre-schedule as many posts as possible. I definitely do’t have time to blog every single day. Hope you join in!
Oh, and you think a drinking age of 19 is bad, it’s 18 here in Alberta
Oh, my! I felt like such a grown-up at the bar. So responsible. 🙂
I agree with Jaime! So much to say! SO GLAD you finished this revision round with Poppies! *fingers crossed* And my husband and I have been wanting to see the Hurricanes play – just hasn’t happened yet, but one day! And wow! That bridge looks amazingly frightening and so incredibly alluring at the same time. I WANT TO DO THAT!!! And I am so happy you’ll have your hubby around for a while. Living in a military town I live through my friends’ husbands’ deployments. It can’t be easy. At. All.
I’ve signed up for A-Z too, but ugh – idk. It was so much fun last year and really easy to do. It depends how much progress I make with CM in the next two weeks. We’ll see!
I hope you do the A-Z Challenge, Alison. I miss your blogging! As I mentioned to Jaime, I’m going to pre-schedule as many posts as possible. I simply don’t have time to blog every day, but I think the challenge looks too fun to pass up!
Congrats on the finished revision and yay for having your husband home for 18 months! I’m not doing the blogfest this year as my blogging is on the decline, and I’m okay with that, though I do want to make more of an effort to keep up with others by commenting and tweeting. And I think I’m one of the few people getting less interested the more I hear about THG. I might watch it after some of the hype dies down (so in a few months when it’s out on DVD…).
I’m trying to be better about connecting with others too, Sophia. My commenting has dropped off lately because I’ve been funneling all my time and energy into revising, but I’m vowing to be better, especially during the A-Z Challenge. We’ll see how it goes. 🙂
What a fabulous vacation. Love the pictures! Glad to hear your revision is done. Good luck with A to Z. Your braver than me!
Thanks! I’m starting to wonder if I’m a little crazy taking on the A-Z Challenge, but hopefully it’ll be fun and worth the effort. We shall see!
In the UK the drinking age is 18. We had a party to celebrate my 18th, and I remember going to Tesco’s (supermarket) to buy a bottle of some alcoholic beverage to take. I carried my birth certificate in my pocket *just in case* they asked. I was so disappointed they didn’t. 🙂
I’m doing the A-Z challenge. It sounds like fun, and a good way to try to get some new blog followers, and to find some new blogs (not that I’m unhappy with my regular followers, or their blogs). 🙂
Oh, yay! Glad you’re doing the A-Z Challenge too, Colin. I’m looking forward to your posts!
Congrats on the revision, having your husband home, and the move! I am jealous of where you’re moving to–that is such a beautiful area.
Also, I’m beyond impressed with the suspension bridge. I feel like I’m getting vertigo just looking at those pictures. 🙂
Yeah, the bridge was daunting, to say the least. So glad we did it though; the views were amazing. And you’re welcome to come visit us in Monterey anytime, Rebecca. 🙂
Hi! I am a new-ish reader to your blog. Congrats on the revisions. Poppies sounds amazing! It is definitely the type of story I would love to read. Hope I get to read it someday! 🙂
My sister went to Vancouver a couple years ago and ever since then, I have wanted to go. It seems like such a great city.
I might do the A to Z thing. I really need to update my blog more often so that might be a good opportunity.
Aww, thanks for your kinds words about Poppies. I hope you get to read it someday too! 🙂 If you ever have the chance to visit Vancouver, definitely check it out. It’s a very cool city.
Wow, there’s a lot going on for you! That’s great that Hubby won’t be deployed for so long, but moving totally, totally stinks. Not only do you have to PACK EVERYTHING, but you have to find the perfect amount of books per box.
As a person of Canadian descent, I know all about how we role when drunk. I’m glad you enjoyed your time at the game with the Canadians. Also! Hooray on revisions!
Oh, we definitely enjoyed our time with the Canadians. We met some of the nicest people, and they were certainly all lots of fun! And yeah… not looking forward to the packing/unpacking AT ALL!
Congrats on finishing your round of revisions! Vancouver sounds awesome. My husband really wants to go there at some point.
That’s really exciting that you have your husband back for the next 18 months. Good luck with the move and enjoy this time together. 🙂
Thanks! You and your hubby should definitely check out Vancouver one of these days. I bet you guys would have a blast there!
First and foremost – congrats on finishing your latest round of revisions on Poppy!!! Perhaps you’d like to help me with mine now? Pretty please? 🙂
I know it’s been awhile since I’ve said hello – and what a doozy of a post for me to finally come back and comment on!
Vancouver, liquored up Canadians, freak-worthy suspension bridges, revisions o’ plenty, A to Z challenge, no deployment for your hubby for 18 months (yeah!), and YOU’RE MOVING!!!! Oy. And I thought I had a lot on my plate!
I’m joining you in the A to Z challenge – I have neglected my blog for far to long this year and need a good kick start…it’s going to be tough, but I think it will be fun – and I’m looking forward to reading your posts!
And Hunger Games? Holy crappoly, am I excited to see it! My husband and one of my sisters will be going with me this Friday…brave souls to tackle opening night. At Southcenter. Yikes.
I know I say this every time – but would love to meet up with you before you depart for Monterey Bay (and what a beautiful place to be headed to!)…honestly, let’s try for coffee! Email me and let me know what days you might have a few minutes open. 🙂
And congrats on your revisions, again – what a weight lifted that must be!
Erin, I wish I could help you with your revision. Though, sadly, I’m certainly no expert. 🙂 I’m glad your joining the A-Z Challenge. I miss your blogging, and I think it’ll be really fun. And yes, lets definitely try for coffee. Maybe some morning in April? I’ll be in touch. 🙂
Your trip looks amazing! Love that pic of skeptical and slightly scared you on the bridge!
I’m tempted to do the A-Z blogging challenge, but I’m just not sure I should. Right now my schedule is looking a little light, but I know what that means: As soon as I sign up for something, a massive pile of Must-Do-Immediately-s will fall on my plate. I’ll be looking forward to your posts though 🙂
Congrats on completing another revision! Such a good feeling, no?
Yes, such a relief to have this revision round complete! And yes, I definitely think you should give the A-Z Challenge a go. I’m going to pre-schedule as many posts as possible so I don’t have to scramble and stress during April. We’ll see how that goes. 🙂
Ahhh, these pictures are adorable!! Except for that bridge. That bridge really scares me LOL. congrats on the revisions – that’s GREAT news!!!
Thanks, Lindsay! The bridge… yeah. It was definitely scary. Worth it though, because the views were amazing!
So much to say, so much to say 😀
1. Congrats on the revisions! and I am very intrigued on how you made your creepy guy to super-extra-über creepy…Revisions are both fun and scary…but sometimes scary fun 😀
2. Talking about scary: that bridge! Wow…you must feel such a rush having gone through it. I´m scared of heights a bit so I´m thoroughly impressed!
3. Yay for wonderful time in Canada :D! (and you look so happy on the pictures, even on the bridge ones – too bad for the bull riding ones, but my hubby would have put the same rule in place…-))
4. Good luck with the move!
5. I´ve been looking at the challenge and while I probably will not participate this time, I´m looking forward to reading your posts 😀
Ok…hmm I think that´s it! Happy Tuesday, Katy!
Thanks so much, Elodie! I was happy on the bridge. Also, terrified. 🙂 Happy Tuesday to you as well!
There are country bars where you can ride bulls?! Okay. Time to move to BC. (Did you know UBC has a course on “Trends in Young Adult Literature”? Can you say dream course? :D) I’ve never actually gone to a real live hockey game, so the mention about the drunk Canadians kinda surprised me… at least you got your win, right? 🙂 🙂 Moving’s always a big deal… and the A to Z challenge! I signed up too. I think that makes me officially insane. 😛 Great news with the revisions! Is it warm enough to write outside where you are right now like it is here?
Trends in YA Lit? That sounds amazing! And yay for the A-Z Challenge… Looking forward to reading your posts!
you were 10 minutes from me 🙂 Glad you got to enjoy Vancouver and some of the fun stuff it offers!! It was interesting to see my hometown through your eyes.
We did have a great time. I wish we would have had a few extra days to do even more. You’re lucky to live near such an awesome city, Vanessa!
I lived in Monterey for two years (Navy dad)…it’s beautiful. And I miss it a lot, although not enough to leave the PNW, which is my home now. I highly recommend taking advantage of the aquarium memberships, because they’re totally worth it.
I also highly recommend not leaving your place of residence, ever, during tourist season. Good luck with that…
Oh, we’re already excited about the aquariums… can’t wait! And tourist season? Had not even considered that. Eek… 🙂
I have been trying to talk my husband into a Portland, Seattle, Vancouver road trip for a while now. He’s not against it, we just don’t know WHEN we would do it. We’re so busy lately. But this post makes me want to go even more!
Yay for finishing your revisions!
Ooh, I love Portland and Seattle, and you now know my thoughts on Portland. Road tripping would be super fun. Hope you guys find the time to do it one of these days!
Okay, I know which character you mean, and I am AFEARED if you made him more creepy. Seriously? I am reading the new version with the LIGHTS ON.
Secondly, forgive my slightly dodgy US geography, but we are talking Monterey Bay as in the one near San Francisco? That makes you VISITABLE on one of my jaunts this year or next year!
Yes, Monterey Bay, CA, near San Francisco, Amie! You have no idea how excited I am at the idea of meeting you IN PERSON next year! Lunch on me? 🙂
(And yes, he’s definitely extra-creepy now!)
I haven’t been to Vancouver since the mid-1980s but I loved it when I was there.
Welcome to the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.
Lee
The Dog Lived (and So Did I)
Wrote By Rote
An A to Z Co-host blog
Thanks, Lee. I’m looking forward to it!