Friday Fabulous Fiver (London-Style)

1. Christopher Wren's architecture



(set to Handel, of course!)

2. Sparkling bottled water



Really, really good water (flat is good too!) provided to us free at the Hilton.

3. My job and colleagues at BMA House (and offsite around the world)

Fantastic! Brilliant and insightful and full of ideas and energy. I'm proud to be on such a team. What a great trip to finally get to meet everyone!

4. Burberry



Nuff said. It just rocks.

5. Marks & Spencer



Clothing, food, you name it. And these are everywhere.

Tomorrow we go to Notting Hill and the remains of Whitehall Palace (also Henry VIII's) and then it's time to pack it up and head for home.

Currently reading: CNN.com headlines on China and Burma
Currently listening to: Natasha Bedingfield

All This Christopher Wren Architecture

Yesterday we saw St. Paul's Cathedral and it was stunning.



As I walked in I thought of Prince Charles and Lady Di's wedding (watched it back when I was a girl) and once again marveled.

I have decided to learn more about the genius of Christopher Wren after visiting this cathedral. He was quite a guy!

We also visited Buckingham Palace and took a ride on the London Eye.

Today I am in meetings with my day job and Todd is off exploring war museums.

Currently reading: training class paperwork
Currently listening to: conference instructors

Technology Mishaps

So, I spoke too quickly yesterday. The sample of Elizabeth George's Careless in Red was good, but then I tried to read the Kindle version of the book itself and could not. Seems Amazon's Kindle version of the whole book had a corrupted file. I emailed Amazon all last evening and got my refund, but now I saw a review in London about the book and now I'm not sure I want to buy it again.

And my cell phone won't work this week (no service) and my webmail keeps crashing my laptop! Argh. Technology.

Otherwise, we've had a very full day today visiting Hampton Court Palace. We took a Thames boat upriver to Hampton Court and it took 3 hours (through a few locks), but just 35 minutes on the rail train home, which we were thrilled with. So we got a nice round trip view of the outerskirts of London.

The Palace was stunning (and Rick Steves termed it "not quite sparkling" in his guidebook) with the Tudor, Georgian, and Baroque sections all just amazing. The gardens were the highlight though. Stunning.



Currently reading: Rick Steves 2008 London (Kindle version)
Currently listening to: CNBC Europe on the telly

Elizabeth George Is Back (with Inspector Lynley!)

If you've wondered a bit about Elizabeth George's bestselling series (as I have) about Inspector Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers after she allowed someone to kill Lynley's wife and unborn child, well, don't worry. The author has brought the magic back.



A delicious read (and I'm just a bit of the way through!) and I'm so excited to finally be reading an Elizabeth George novel while in England!

And Elizabeth George is a favorite of mine because she splits her time between her Seattle and London homes. Love that idea! Maybe someday.

Currently reading: Careless in Red (Kindle version)
Currently watching: People walking by on Upper Woburn Place

Having A Grand Time In London

Again, I love traveling around the city on the underground.



It is so easy to use and even if you get on the wrong train (which I have done), it's a very simple process to turn yourself back around and go the other way.

Today, we made it to the British Museum and the British Library . . . and Harrods! I love Harrods. Hubby couldn't believe how big it was. We had soup and sandwich at the food court and followed it with Charbonnel et Walker chocolates (2.50 USD) each! Best chocolate I've ever had hands down.

After we looked around at Harrods, we walked through Knightsbridge and then made our way to Hyde Park and then to Kensington Park. It was 8 pm, warm and breezy and almost idyllic, save the police sirens, as we walked past Albert's Memorial and Royal Albert Hall.

Tomorrow, we head to Hampton Court, the last Tudor palace in London (Henry VIII) and then to a pub to watch a UK football game and drink a pint (well, hubby).

Tonight, we are savoring fresh blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries from the Whole Foods on Kensington High Street.

Currently reading: Elizabeth George's Careless in Red (Kindle version)
Currently listening to: BBC on the telly

Sunday Video of the Day

And we're landing at Heathrow's Terminal 5 right now, so this will be another quick vid.

Saturday Video of the Day

We are on a plane to London!

Friday Fiver Favorite Things Vid-Style

1. Natasha Bedingfield's Pocketful of Sunshine



2. York Peppermint Patties



3. Vivaldi's Spring



4. The Clash (London Calling)



5. Harrods



Currently reading: The Host (Stephenie Meyer)
Currently listening to: Vivaldi

I Am Addicted to YouTube

Among other things.

Great vids today to share:




And Jodi Picoult (I'm reading this book right now):



Just two today, because I've got a lot more coming up!

I'm signing up for a weekly crit class with an amazing essayist here in Seattle. I'm talking to her via phone tonight to figure out how we'll begin. It's in a big group of writers! Spendy, but worthy it.

Keep writing!

Currently reading: Life insurance policy
Currently listening to: Cascada

Socializing While Overseas

This is much harder in reality than it seems. Especially when a dress code is required.

So yesterday I found out that we're attending a soiree while in London that requires formal dress. But this is England and formal to them is not the same as America. This does not mean a tux or tails for the guys and a ball gown for me, but it means a dress and a suit coat and tie at least. Which was not what we were planning on, so we're scrambling.

There's Loehmann's up here with Balenciaga cocktail dresses and then the Rack around the corner from my house with Trina Turk and Elie Tahari, so I'm going to be out and about for a bit making sure the simple sheath dress and kitten heels with a fabulous scarf (purchased while in London the last time) is just right.

So I'm flitting around today finishing up the last of the projects (including a Powerpoint presentation for AMWA) and cleaning at odd moments. Hey, inspiration to scrub the shower just happens, okay?

Great meeting last night with the writer's group at Elizabeth's house. It completely calmed me down (okay the champagne calmed me down) and I felt somewhat nonstressed and normal for the drive home from Redmond. Woohoo!

Off I go!

Currently reading: London schedule
Currentlying listening to: Basshunter

A Quick Writing Update

Well, things are progressing . . . slowly. Trying to get ready to get on a plane (this time for 8 days) is hard work!

Good progress on my essay work. I get myself into essay mode and then have to go put out client fires. I was hoping to have it ready in draft form by today, but other things have been given priority.

Novel is moving forward, very slowly. I will concentrate on it when I return from London.

Non-fiction work is moving along faster than anything. Working on a few book ideas and getting ready to pitch.

Currently reading: palliative care paper
Currently listening to: Natasha Bedingfield

How To Generate More Profit At Your Job

Are you in the position to generate profit? If so, what are you waiting for? Go do it!

If not, a few tips I learned this week from Michael Masterson's book Automatic Wealth.

1. Do some research and find out (if you don't know) how your company makes money and sales.

2. Talk to people who are profit generators and find out how they do it well and brainstorm with them on ways to do it better.

3. If you can, volunteer to help them somehow.

4. Do this while you are doing your own job above expectations.

5. Give your boss most of the credit, even though you do most of the work.


I am paraphrasing, but you need to read the book if you want to know more. It's very thought-provoking as I head across the pond to the home office (and to meetings with the sales team and the product development team). I am so glad I bought this book (on Kindle, no less) in preparation. Very good ideas.

Currently reading: blogroll
Currently listening to: baby Henry's Youtube vid (he's laughing at his dad, so cute)

How To Handle High-Profile Projects Without Losing It

So, I'm copyediting a very high-profile project for my day job and it's slightly stressful, a specialized paper on a health care issue going out to 500,000 U.S. medical doctors. My name is on it and I want to do a good job.

1. Remember to breathe.
2. Review the project in full, check for scope, essential elements, figure out process.
3. Fix the little things first.
4. Start the work and go slow. The beginnings are always the hardest.
5. Ask lots of questions along the way, even if only to confirm what you think you already know.

And above all, be confident. You can do it!



Off I go!

Currently reading: 90-page paper for job
Currently listening to: quiet house

How To Network Without Thinking About It

So, today is a symposium for local Pacific Northwest medical writers and editors. I'm taking my business cards and hoping to collect a few job ops while I'm there.

But I hate overt networking, you know walking up to someone and immediately jumping into "what can you do for me?" because that just really sucks.

I prefer social networking. Chatting over snacks or at lunch about issues we face in the medical writing/editing world and trying to help others find a solution. This has worked for me many times in the past, not only in getting work, but more importantly, in meeting and solidifying business relationships. The medical publishing world is quite small in actuality and it's good to know as many as you can. Again, not only for work, but for wise counsel and helpful resources.

Currently reading: symposium schedule
Currently listening to: Seth Godin audiobook

Friday Mayday Fiver

1. So it feels like spring, but is it spring? The jury is still out on that. I'm taking it as spring. Even though tomorrow is a day-long seminar in Seattle, afterward there is a Cinco de Mayo party at T&J's house.

2. The London trip prep is in full swing. Pants are hemmed, all the little bottles are purchased, and now the packing commences. Going to be a full trip and we can't wait!

3. Downloading books for the Kindle to take and delighted to get almost all of the Thomas Cahill Hinges of History series! Can't get Susan Wise Bauer's History of the Ancient World though. Boo.

4. Spent the J. Crew rewards card, because they had an additional 20% off the sale and I couldn't resist. Fun! Drooling over their summer dress book.

5. Knocked the new bottle of makeup into the sink, and it broke wide open, so on a waiting list at the local Macy's to get another (they were out and I don't want to drive to southcenter). I saved as much as I could, but you know how it goes with a glass bottle.

Michelle Rafter of WordCount is doing a blogathon for the month of May and I signed up (now that Blogger can postdate entries). Check out my co-bloggers! Quite a listing!

Have a great Friday all!

Currently reading: Kindle books
Currently listening to: Madonna

May Day

Whenever May 1 rolls around, I always start dreaming about going camping. There's a special spot our family goes up in the Oregon Cascades, but for this year, hubby and I are starting a new tradition. We're going camping in Central WA.

I'm not sure about this actually. No rocks, not many trees, and on the Gorge? Can I really do this?

Plus, I've roughed it camping (well, not carrying my stuff on my back on a backpacking camping trip), but my idea of camping includes no running water, electricity, showers, or flushing toilets in the Oregon Cascades. And we love it.

This camp on the Gorge has everything, bathrooms with showers and sinks, electricity, a marina for the boats, and the rumor is that we're sleeping in our car (an SUV with room for an air mattress).

I'm hoping I don't get there and freak out.

But it's good to try new things. And since it's May, I'm so ready.

Currently reading: RSS feed
Currently listening to: Flying Birds (Van Thijs mix)

How To Get Invites To Be An Insider

I have no idea, but out of the blue, Banana Republic is inviting people who have the Luxe card and probably spend a certain amount to join a group of "BR Insiders." Well, I'm delighted to help.

Next up, I want to be a J. Crew insider. I think I spend more at J. Crew, between the outlet, the sales, and the J. Crew rewards program. But enough of that. My balances at both stores are at zero, because in a fit of frugality, I decided not to spend my J. Crew 100-dollar reward certificate until after Londy. I am amazed at my self-control today.

My hairs are cut and today the pants will be hemmed and the suit dry cleaned. The suitcases are ready and I even got a handy space saver set for my suitcase. These gizmos are similar to that television infomercial, only you don't need the expensive air vacuum. You just roll and squeeze the air out of these bags. We'll see how well they work. I've gone from a checked large hard case down to a 17-inch carryon as we navigate through Heathrow's Terminal 5. Hey, if my buddy, L, can do this, I can do this, right?

The question this week is how to reduce my beauty products into 3-oz bottles that all fit in a quart ziploc bag. How do other gorgeous women do this? :)

In the news today, the whole attempt by Lifetime television to rebrand just doesn't sit well with me either.

And one link about Miley Cyrus. And I am not even going to post one thing about James Frey. He has had enough air time on this blog.

And off to the writing. One more writing group meeting before I leave and I intend to have something prepared. So, the essay work and novel work continue!

Currently reading: Uglies trilogy (Scott Westerfeld)
Currently listening to: Madonna Hard Candy album

Don't Let the Stress Catch Ya

It comes in threes. Stress, I mean.

One thing heats up, then another, and then the third shows up and I start to wonder if I've got a target on my back or something.

So, we're in full stress mode at the office here. The upcoming trip to London, the all-day AMWA class on Saturday, the presentation while in London, the workload before I can get to London (very high-profile stuff for my job), and in the midst of it comes my salvation.

MarioKart for the Wii.

Seriously, folks. This is the best treatment for stress I've EVER found. Well, that gym every day works well for me too, but for those who can't get to the gym every single day, try this game.

In writing news, have made it to the next stage. Figured out my family makeup (Electra) and now we can begin the pre-writing planning stage. That was tough work. It took a pile of about 20 novels, another 5 books on mother-daughter relationship theories, and another 5 books on psychology, but I did it. I actually didn't need to read all those books, because my lightbulb moment came in the midst of a novel, but it was good to read and take notes anyway. I have plenty of notes and so here we go. What does the pre-writing planning stage mean?

It means I have too much work to do and have to go to Europe before I can really get started because I'm not bringing a laptop with me and there is no way I'm going to get a hubby to sit in a hotel room during daylight hours so I can write 2,000 words. No way. So I'll just pre-write plan and start writing when we get back.

And that works. Lessens the pressure for me right now.

The first of my paid blog posts are going up this week. I am trying to work with the client to make it a monthly gig, so fingers crossed.

And with that, no news today, as I'm off to get a hair cut and my suit hemmed. My daily gym workouts have helped me fit into the suit! So good for me!

Have a great day!

Currently reading: Uglies series Scott Westerfeld
Currently listening to: Basshunter

And The Rain Is Back

But we had a toasty Friday/Saturday with sunshine that was wonderful, so I'm not complaining. I've got enough work to do today to stay indoors, so I will.

In today's news, people continue to move away from print to Web.

Miley Cyrus should be embarrassed. I am not yet a fan of Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus, but my niece sure is, and this doesn't help her case much.

I would have paid good money to see Craig Ferguson delight the crowd at this weekend's White House correspondents' dinner. He is hilarious!

And Twitter strikes again!

If you are not yet a Twitter user, you should consider it. 140 words to succinctly sum up what you are doing at that exact moment. It's hilarious to see who's jumping onboard and I'm having fun playing with it. Nice way to broadcast my point of view and business happenings to another 150 very cool people.

And the first of the paid writing blog posts goes off to the client for review. Fingers crossed! I had a great time and definitely want to continue this trend. I'd like to score this job for sure. The essay has been reworked, and the novel work continues.

And the packing for the London trip is going ahead full-steam. Today need to schedule the hair cut, get those pants hemmed, and start work on a possible PowerPoint presentation to go with my talk.

Too much to do!

Currently listening to: BassHunter
Currently reading: CNN.com

Friday "Here Comes the Warm Weather" Fiver

1. Seattle is poised and ready to take advantage of it, so come on down, warm weather! (I will be out weeding my front yard!)

2. Am booked up with writing jobs (more than copyediting work) right now and it feels a bit strange, but I'm jiving with it. Here we go.

3. New season of Deadliest Catch! Okay, so it started a few weeks ago and that week was a banner one because we saw Sig Hansen, captain of the Northwestern at the airport as we picked up hubby's sister. His family was on her flight. Sig was bombarded with people wanting pictures. He's shorter than he looks on television, but really polite and kind to everyone. Fun star sighting! Only in Seattle!

4. We are packing for London this weekend! Going to try and not check any bags because we're going through Terminal 5 at Heathrow (the same BA terminal that has been in the news of late for lost luggage woes) and to pack that light takes some planning. I am motivated!

5. Writers group meet went off last night and what fun. Had a reading from Jen's new novel that is headed out to agents, brainstormed with Elizabeth as she figures out a way to use her vast international network to sell her novel (she's well-connected; had a private audience with the Dalai Lama when he was in Seattle recently), and we were wowed by Sonya's first chapter. I came ready with a complex writing exercise as I am still in prewriting mode. We had good wine, good food, and a great time.

Off to write!

Currently reading: Kindle version of Roy Peter Clark's Writing Tools
Currently listening to: Natasha Bedingfield