APA Month Blog Award

(Asian) Kristy Shen of the always fun (and Asian) Two Nerds. One Dream. has gifted (Asian) me with the Liebster award - thank you!!

1. What's the dream? 
the 7-figure book deal
2. How are you going to make that dream happen? 
Write my a** off

3. What crazy awesome thing are you going to do when that dream comes true? 
fly first-class to Taiwan to see Granny and stay at the Hyatt by 101



photo credit



4. Who is your favorite hero? 
Babs Bunny
5. Who is your favorite villain? 
It's a Euro evil-off between Fassbender's Magneto and Cumberbatch's Khan, although my cult fav is, of course, Sheen's Aro



photo credit

6. Which one would you rather be? 
hero - Asians have been the villains too long the history of entertainment. Plus I can't handle the pressure of being bad.
7. What turns you on? 
tattoos and a shaved head every. single. time.
8. What turns you off? 
screaming children and cigarette smoke
9. What is your favorite curse word? 
Only one? I'm a NYer for #!%^'s sake.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? 
"You did it exactly the way I planned."
11. What are you doing tomorrow, and more importantly, how are you planning on making it more awesome than what you're doing today?

I'm working and then FINALLY going to the weekly Lindy hop dance in town that I've missed all month due to random engagements and ailments (swollen toe, sore throat, writing workshop). Any day I get to dance is automatically more awesome.

Since I already bugged tagged more people than cared to answer in my last Liebster award, I'll just link you TO THAT POST.

Sunshine Blog Award - Duckfaces Welcome

Thank you Kristy from Two Nerds. One Dream. Zero Results. for giving me something to blog about this award!

There's something wrong with the questions, you say? Yes there is! I've swapped most of them out for a set I found on Tumblr, the hipster's Facebook.

1: Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed? 

The doors are sliding mirrors and I keep the side facing the bed open because I 1) don't want to wake up and give myself a heart attack thinking there's some ghost girl rising from my bed 2) read something about feng shui somewhere once.

2: Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel? 

No, I'm pretty particular about the type of shampoo and conditioner I use (must be wave-enhancing for the latter because I love curly hair).

3: Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out? 

Who in the world sleeps with sheets tucked in?? Do you like your toes being in permanent Barbie position?

4: Have you ever stolen a street sign before? 

I wish! My friends once cut down my iPod ad plastered on some construction site. There were like months of other posters stuck behind it. Those things are also surprisingly large.

5. What is your Favorite Time of Year?

Summer, hands down. If it could be summer all year long I would make it so.

6. What is your Favorite Time of Day?

Late night when traffic dies down and the creepy crawlies come out to play.

7. Which are better legos or lincoln logs?

Lincoln logs. I spent all my Monopoly money on an incomplete set of them in 1st grade during a school auction. I didn't really know how to count money so I just held up everything I had. All in, baby.

8. Do you always smile for pictures? 

I try to MySpace duck face as much as possible. Like this:

(this shot is probably going to end up all over the internet and be my downfall - the lengths I go to to entertain my readers)

I tag the ladies of Tiger Tea Tent from Camp NaNoWriMo 2012:

Julie Dao
Wistfully Linda
Krispy and Alz
Emy Shin

and

Lydia Kang cuz she's an awesome Azn Lady too

Blogging Booboos Revisited and Great Comments Award

Remember Top 3 Things Well-Meaning Bloggers Do That Drive Readers Nuts?

The faux pas that especially struck a chord with readers was #1: word verification.

After that post I became a one-woman rally.  If you have a word verified blog, I begged you to eradicate hoop-jumping.  Along with Jon Yang, I also got a blogger to turn on full RSS feed for wordpress (faux pas #3).

Unfortunately only 2 bloggers responded to my word verification pleas.  (Or maybe the other bloggers responded in their own comments - #2).  Don't worry,  I've given up annoying the blogosphere with my crusade.

DISQUS
For my one-year blogaversary Jon installed Disqus for me, which I thought would help me respond to comments better.  I sometimes regret this change - the old way was fine and actually made it easier to comment back on people's blogs.  Not everyone is registered with Disqus so I don't have a link to their blogs.

Also, when readers use the mobile site, their comments only show up with Blogger, but not on the post.

Will you let me know what you think of using Disqus versus Blogger's original platform?  I might switch back.

AWARD
Now I want to appreciate the flip side - great commenters.  When I comment I do put time and thought into responding, so it touched me when Tasha Seegmiller presented me with the

It's an unfair award because I'm bound to forget somebody and sometimes fantastic commenters get busy with life.  But I want to recognize:

Coleen Patrick
Mrs. Pancakes
Krispy from A Nudge
Angela Brown
Samantha Sotto
Meradeth Houston
TL Conway
Margo Berendson
Julie Dao
Tere Kirkland
Stephanie
Theresa Milstein

Thank you for all your support!!

Oprah, Lesbiebers and 7 Posts You Don't Want To Miss

Thank you Ani at Anime's Musings and Alexis at Alexis Bass Writes About Writing.  I've been looking forward to this award for months!  

Goal: highlight previous posts in the superlative categories below.

Most Beautiful: Anti-Acknowledgements or Why You Don't Want to Write In A Chinese Family

Most Helpful: What Oprah's Book Editor Told Me 

Most Popular: June/Gay Pride Music Crush of the Month: Lesbians Who Look Like Justin Bieber (apparently I'm not the only one...)


Most Controversial: A Barbie for the Ladies, with Poll (only 18 more days to decide once and for all...)


Most Surprisingly Successful: Top 3 Things Well-Meaning Bloggers Do That Drive Readers Nuts


Most Underrated: Does Every YA Fantasy Heroine Need to Be Bad-Ass?


Most Pride Worthy: The Vow of Silence (featured ninja post at Ali Cross')


I'm passing this on to: my co-vlogger from Boba 4 Eva Krispy and Alz at A Nudge in the Right Direction


and thanks to:


from Nutschell at The Writing Nut

from Joy at CATHARSIS

My previous post for this award: All My Women Boyfriends (and 7 Random Facts)

Liebster Award

Thank you Bluestocking for the Liebster award!

This award is intended to connect bloggers, specifically those with less than 200 followers. In accepting the award, I must:

• Show my thanks to the blogger who gave me the award by linking back to them.
• Reveal my top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
• Post the award on my blog.
• Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the internet—other writers.
• And best of all – have fun and spread the karma.

These blogs are on my Gold Class list in Google Reader:

1. A Nudge in the Right Direction - Alz and Krispy, my co-vlogger from Boba 4 Eva
2. A Glimpse of Wistfulness - Linda whose photos of life in Taiwan make me jealous every day
3. I Aspire To Be - Juliana Brandt is so real in her blog
4. You Are the Unicorn of My Dreams - Lori M. Lee's blog. The name is award-worthy enough.
5. Anime's Musings - Ani is an original girl-boyfriend and a fellow sufferer of Harry Potter Hex

Sweet and Bitter...But As Long As I Look Good

Damn that boba after 9 p.m.

Krispy and I had milk tea last night during the Bloggerpocalypse and I was up until past 5 again.  There goes the extra hours from my east coast jet lag.  I will blog my trip soon!

Thank you Susan Oloier and Kristine Asselin!  I'm so glad to have met you both. :)

I'll point to my previous posting of this award for people I've tagged.  The rules seem to have morphed, and now I'm supposed to tell you 7 more things about myself.  (Because that last 7 wasn't enough.)

I was so cheered when some of you said my life was cool after my 7 random facts LOL. I enjoy it a lot but I also deal with some annoying chronic issues.  Ironically, many of them have to do with sugar...

1. I have hyperinsulinism/hypoglycemia.  It's a huge f$*#ing issue in my life - it prevents me from signing up for anything that would keep me from food for more than 3 hours.  I constantly have to think ahead to my next meal and my hours revolve around the question, "When did I last eat?  Where can I get food?"  I get headaches and shakes all the damn time.  I come from a diabetic family on both sides, so it's not a surprise, but it's a big fat hassle.  To this day some people think it's psychological, including my RN stepmom. And I'm not ruling that out.  But seriously, I eat six times a day and I weigh just a little over 100 pounds.  I don't think that's psychological, otherwise I'd be a millionaire with my diet plan.
2. I've been insomniac my whole life.  My mom says I was even a night owl baby.  I had a rough childhood and I could barely sleep at night as a kid.  Even now my mind races and I have to take muscle relaxants if I'm expected to get up early the next day.  
3. Part of my difficulty sleeping has to do with my hypoglycemia.  If I'm too hungry, I can't fall asleep or stay asleep.  I get this light, tingly feeling in my arms like I'll float away.  My issues are all related. Fun!
4. I'm prone to day-long migraines that sometimes don't stop with Motrin, but miraculously disappear when it hits 9 p.m. or later.  Like I said - night owl.
5. After two car accidents and a lifetime of computing, my neck is janky.  I have a hard time finding pillows and I have to switch pillows 2 or 3 times a night.  These days I'm using a rolled up towel.
6. Because I danced my whole life and have a weird gait, I developed recurring bursitis in my hip in my early 20's, ending my aspirations to be a pop star backup dancer.  I did end up dancing professionally anyway (HUGE redemption!), which I'll blog about one day.  
7. I have extreme myopia (almost legally blind) and SPK, which is a severe dry eye.  I drop my eyes twice a day to produce more tears and I have to be careful when wearing contacts, which sometimes hurt.  I've worn glasses since I was 8.

As you can see, my body is a hot mess, but heck, as long as it looks good then I'm still smiling! :)

That's the L.A. mantra at least.  And now it's time to go eat my afternoon snack.

All My Women Boyfriends (and 7 Random Facts)

Thank you Angela Perry!

The rules for this award are

• Thank and link to the person who nominated me.
• Share seven random facts about myself.
• Pass the award along to 15 new-found blogging buddies.
• Contact those buddies to congratulate them.

7 Random Facts About Sophia

1. I am certified in canine behavior from the ASPCA in NYC. I've worked with everybody from Rottweilers to Pomeranians. I've even taught a shelter dog to moonwalk on command.
2. During the week I shared a makeup trailer with Katie Holmes (I sat in the next chair), I learned that her life was quite normal (she was with Chris Klein at the time.)
3. I'm learning to beatbox (at a glacial pace) at the request of one of my a capella group members.
4. My mom once met director Ang Lee and went on an on about me. She must have been memorably pushy because when I met Ang Lee a few months later, he said, "I remember your mom."
5. I was Jackie Chan's interpreter when he came to Harvard as a guest and there's a photo of us in the Boston Globe laughing. I had to get up at 4 a.m. to go to the airport to meet his private jet (Zhang Zhiyi was on it, sleeping) and I got to ride around campus in his limo all day with his entourage.
6. Number of times I've thrown my back out in a dance-off at a club/party: 2
7. Number of times I've split my pants dancing at a club/party: 2

 (Number of parties/clubs I've danced at in the last 6 months: 0)

15 Gals I Swoon Over New Blogging Buddies

1. Cindy Pon Even though she's published and famous, she's sooooo down to earth. Sometimes I pinch myself and ask, "Is the popular (mom) girl actually talking to ME?" Plus she likes Betsey Johnson.
2. Jo Whittemore Another uber-published author that fangirls like me can talk to. Even when I gush like this about them. She likes Betsey too.
3. Krispy My new boba/burger buddy
4. Alz My new boyfriend (in my mind)
5. Samantha Sotto This is one of the most supportive authors I've ever blog-met - Sam comments on blogs like a fiend. And is super cute. Just sayin'.
6. Ali Cross Ali is the ninja of networking and another great commenter. Join the dojo.
7. Lola Sharp Lola gives good virtual hug. What more can you ask for?
8. Miranda Kennealy is not just an author but also a super smart D.C. politico who gets my Yale (sucks) jokes. SEXY.
9. Ellen Oh is the Don - she just got a 3-book deal. Can we all sigh jealously now?
10. Ani I'm STILL hoping to see this cool chick at a local SCBWI event soon :D
11. **this blog friend is award-free** :(
12. Summer Frey can probably found her own networking dojo :)
13. Kristine Asselin another super supportive author (I was lucky enough to win a most excellent query critique from her)
14. Joy Page Manuel kind of defines versatile (she has a Masters in Sociology)
15. Sarah Skilton I was supposed to meet Sarah IN REAL LIFE this week but my stupid body barred me with a migraine and I am now hunting her down to meet IN REAL LIFE asap. Kind of because I can't believe how cute her blog photos are and I want to see this in person. I will report back (with photos if she lets me.) (And if this post hasn't freaked her out.)

As you can see, I crush very easily on fellow writers, women, and bloggers.  If you're a friendly woman writer/blogger, it's all over.  I will be your loyal boyfriend for life.

Irresistibly Sweet Guilty Pleasures

My new partner in crime, Rebecca Enzor, has blessed me with another award.  Without her, my award count would be: 0.  THANK YOU BECKA!

The rules:
1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.
2. Share four guilty pleasures that you have.
3. Pass the award on to six other blogs.


4 Guilty Pleasures:

1. Tudors on streaming netflix. 
It started as research for my 3rd novel. Now I photoshop screenshots of the actors for my character bible.
2. OGR: Obsessive Google Reader(ing)
It's frightening how compulsively I try to keep up with the blogosphere. I probably spend the same number of hours reading and commenting as I do revising and this is NOT an exaggeration.
3. Seth MacFarlane's twitter feed
The night I discovered it, I stayed up 3 extra hours to read his tweets all the way to last summer. And I STAND at my laptop in the kitchen so my knee joints were tired.
4. Playing pop songs on the piano really emo like Tori Amos
My favorite is Katy Perry and Timbaland's duet

6 Irresistibly Sweet Bloggers:

1. Theresa Milstein
2. Angela Perry
3. Jamie Grey
4. Juliana Brandt
5. Cindy Pon
6. Slow Panic

You ladies are so frickin' nice and supportive.  Can't wait to see what sorts of sordid pleasures you occupy your time with.

Have a great weekend!

Write Hard Award

Write Hard award was started by Aaron Polson and honors those who work hard on their craft.

First I have to give props back to Rebecca Enzor, who awarded me in the first place.  She's a new critique partner of mine who is an AMAZING cheerleader.  She's so supportive and every little doubt or neurosis I dream up, she slams down.  I consider her not just a new CP, but a new friend that I tweet with like 5 times a day.  I even feel like I'm part of her Asiaogans group too! (I wish.)

(I limited my awards to fellow unpublished writers:)

1. Mary Campbell  First: her blog name is hilarious.  Second: she's the first one who said I should put my picture (and real name) on my blog.  Third: she's another testimony to why being friendly goes a long way in the blogging/writing world.  We've emailed not only about writing, but life and relationships.  I've been a longtime follower of her blog.  Go Mary!

2. Emy Shin This writer is in COLLEGE.  What a great, early start - and thanks for making me feel like a geezer :P  She has a clean, minimalist blog and I've enjoyed every single post, plus she's a fellow NaNo rebel.

3. Suze a.k.a. Honolulu Girl I've followed Suze's True Blood Twilight blog since the beginning and I'm really excited to see her journey through fanfic and into other writing as well.  Suze embodies the Aloha spirit, which is such a mainland thing to say lol  Suze, I'm so rooting for you!