Lynn Raye Harris

Let’s talk fragrance! I had occasion to think about perfume the other day. I was in a store, shopping with the hubby, when we turned down an aisle and got blasted by the heavy odor of a woman’s cologne. We weren’t in a department store, so it wasn’t like we were walking past the fragrance department. We were in Costco.

I had to turn around. I couldn’t stomach it. There was a time when an overly perfumed person simply was annoying. Now, the danger is a migraine. I can’t handle it and I go elsewhere. It makes me sympathetic for people with allergies. I had no idea perfume could be so offensive until it started giving me migraines.

And then I got to thinking about my own perfume preferences. Ten years ago, I had a selection. Obsession, Ralph Lauren, Vera Wang, Opium, Sunflowers, Shalimar, Passion, J’Adore — I had mood perfume, and I often had the lotions and gels that went with each fragrance.

The only fragrance I wear now is the Victoria’s Secret Beauty Rush body mist. It’s not really perfume, and it isn’t offensive to my senses. It occurred to me as I flipped through one of my favorite fashion magazines recently that I was saving a lot of money by not buying perfume anymore. I remember Opium costing around $70 for a small bottle; I have no idea what it costs now.

What’s your favorite perfume? Has your ability to tolerate perfume changed over the years? Do overly perfumed people annoy you? What was your favorite perfume when you were a teen? In your twenties? Older? Do you still wear perfume?

My official contract came yesterday. And I realized that I’d never actually seen a book contract before. It’s not what I expected. I sort of expected this thing that looked like a mortgage contract — legal size and unreadable.

But no, it’s not legal size. It’s regular size. It’s not as fat as I thought it would be. And it’s readable, if a bit boring. Lots of it is regular contract language stuff. And then there’s the specific stuff that applies to me and my books. That was more interesting.

It’s kind of strange to see it in black and white — someone is really, truly, honest to goodness going to PAY me for my work. ME. It still makes me giggle. My words are worth that much? Too cool.

It’s hard sometimes when you dream of being published to hear that money flows TO the writer, not the other direction. It’s hard because you want to see your story between the covers of a book. You want to hold it and show it to your friends and family. And there are certain presses out there that know that.

But try to hold out, okay? Money flows TO the writer, not the other way around. I have it in black and white. If someone wants to publish your book, but wants you to pay them to do so, be patient and keep trying. You may have to write another book, or another few books, but you can get there with persistence and an open mind to what you need to do to grow as a writer. It didn’t happen for me overnight. And it wouldn’t have happened at all had I not kept trying. (If you’ve already paid someone to publish your book, enjoy the product — but write another book and don’t give up on having someone pay you for your work. It can happen.)

I was looking forward to this contract, and now it’s here and I’m reading it with awe and determination. What have you been looking forward to lately? Have you gotten something that wasn’t quite what you expected? Was that good or bad for you?

I know it’s too early, but walking into stores and seeing all the Christmas decorations has me thinking about decorating. I’m going away for Thanksgiving, so must think of these things now. Plus, it’s the first time hubby and I will have a tree in years. There were reasons we never put one up — a terminally ill cat, a new kitten, spending every Christmas with my parents, going away over the holidays, etc — but this year there is NO excuse. My parents live 17 miles away, and I’m sure we’ll get together, but this year I’m decorating.

I’ve already hauled the hubby to the store and pointed out decorations. He didn’t frown or grumble too much. I want to put lights on the house too (make that I want him to put lights on the house), but I’m not sure we’ll get to that part. But oh yes, my tree is going up, cats be darned. And I have a mantle for the first time in years, so that’s getting decorated too.

Once we return from our Thanksgiving trip, the fun begins. I plan to buy some things in the next couple of weeks so I don’t have to worry about it. But come December 1, decorations are going up. And the Christmas music will be playing too. It’s odd to walk into stores and hear it now, but after Thanksgiving, I’m going to enjoy tuning my radio to the local station that plays Christmas music 24/7.

Do you like to decorate for the holidays? When do you start your Christmas decorating? What’s your favorite holiday tradition at your home? Does it annoy you to see all the stuff in the stores now? Would you prefer they wait until after Thanksgiving? Real tree or faux?

I don’t know about you, but Star Wars has always been a marathon movie session in my house. I mean the first three (or the last three depending on if you accept George Lucas’s funky reordering of the saga). The hubby and I haven’t watched them back to back in years, but we may have to plan it (especially now that we have a 106″ screen to watch them on!).

In the meantime, this cracked me up. This guy has made an a capella tribute to John Williams, composer of the Star Wars music (as well as many other famous movies) using lines from the Star Wars movies. OMG, I giggled myself silly.

Enjoy! And let me know if it cracks you up too.

On Tuesday, something momentous happened. Yes, I cut my hair. (And, oh yeah, some guy won an election or something. *g*)

I have not changed my hair in about fifteen years. It’s always been long and straight (once I grew out that spiral perm). But I felt like making a change finally. My stylist was actually worried I’d get upset after he made the first cut – but I didn’t, and I haven’t yet. In fact, it’s not really all that different to me. I have layers now, which I haven’t had in years, and I have to relearn how to use a curling iron and hairspray. But it’s still long. It just feels more versatile now. If my hair wasn’t so fine, and would hold a curl better, I could have kept the weight of the longer hair forever. But I’m not sorry I made the change.

Indeed, November seems to be a time for changes. Leaves change colors, the nation changes leaders, and I changed my hair. What about you? Made any changes lately? Planning any changes? Worried about change? Thinking about change, but not sure if you’re ready? What’s the biggest change you’ve ever made to your appearance?

Today, for the first time in my life, I will be voting in person. Since the very first election in which I was eligible to vote, I have always voted absentee. My ballot came in the mail, an official looking document wrapped in several layers of brown envelopes. I checked the boxes and sent the ballot back. After a lifetime of military absentee voting, today I will be standing in line (and I will stand there no matter how long it takes) and finding out whether I pull a lever or punch a button or whatever. I truly have no idea. And I’m looking forward to it!

Voting is an amazing right we have in this country. Exercising it should be a top priority. It’s easy to think your vote doesn’t count, but it does. One way or another, it does. And remember, if you don’t vote, you really shouldn’t complain about how things turn out if you don’t like the result. So go make sure your voice is heard!

I had a blog post written, but an unscheduled trip made me change my mind. See, my post was a bit cryptic and slightly whiny. Something happened last week that made me stop and think about a few things. And I was feeling hurt and irritated and wanted to whine. Without divulging the issue, of course. It wasn’t really a big deal, but it bugged me.

And then on Sunday, we took an unplanned trip to Nashville.

See, Saturday was an author event, a reader’s luncheon in Birmingham that was simply fabulous. I got to hear the wonderful and inspiring Christina Dodd speak, and I got to visit with fellow Pixie Chick Louisa Cornell. I received an engraved heart box, balloons, and a cake from my Southern Magic chapter mates for my first sale. More awesomeness. And I got to hang out with two of my friends and fab authors, Kira Sinclair and Kimberly Lang. (They forced me to overeat in a restaurant called Brio’s.)

But as fun as all that was, I was still feeling whiny. Until Nashville. Why? I think because the Nashville trip had nothing to do with writing, publishing, reading, etc. Nothing to do with my JOB. It was a spontaneous trip with my hubby and parents. So spontaneous we didn’t leave until 1:30 on Sunday.

We were at the Bass Pro Shop (yeah, the men wanted to go) by 3. Mom and I headed into the mall and had a blast going through the stores. I tried on a pair of Christian Louboutins that were on sale for the RIDICULOUS price of $118. Too bad they didn’t fit because I have never, ever seen Louboutins that low.

We hit Ann Taylor, Liz Claiborne, and several shoe stores. I bought nothing. When the men finished picking out lures, baits, and whatever other kind of weird things men love to shop for, we went to a restaurant called Aquarium and had dinner while watching fish swim around in a 200K gallon tank. Too cool.

It was soothing, it was spontaneous, and I didn’t think of writing or publishing for hours. I loved it. On the way home, I blew $25 on lottery tickets. I came home feeling much better than I did when this weekend began. Sometimes, it’s the unscheduled trips that give you a new perspective, or give you exactly what you need to recharge.

Where’s your favorite place to go when you need a recharge? Or what’s your favorite thing to do? Shopping? Dinner with friends or family? Long walks or drives?