Those moments that make you wonder...

Well, more like wonder and laugh.

Okay, so I had to run to the fabric store yesterday to pick up some things for a girls' sewing class I'm teaching this summer at my church. Well, hubby needed my help first. He needed a 7.5 amp fuse.

I'm not car-ish, but I did manage to make it to Pep Bros auto parts store...after having to backtrack 'cause I missed the turn 'cause I was singing along to some awesome tune blaring out of the car speakers. Might I add here that I didn't mind running errands for hubby because I got to drive his corvette. :-) And I love him too so helping him is a way to demonstrate my love.

But let's just say I bought a too large box the first trip and mini fuses the second trip. Not intentional mistakes, but I did get to keep driving the 'vette. And I went to the bank for him and the grocery store because the frig and pantry were Ol' Mother Hubbard-ish and the family was starving to death.

Let me just add that because I knew I'd be driving the corvette around while I did my errands, I made sure I'd dressed nice, wore makeup, and brushed my hair. Nothing fancy, just jeans, black v-neck top, and pink flip flops.

So after exchanging a few comments to the grocery store bagger, I headed out to the car. Then this happened...

"Excuse me, miss," the bagger said, hurrying to catch up with me.

I looked over my shoulder and wondered if I'd left a bag of groceries or dropped something, but his hands were empty. "Yes?"

He grinned. "I just wanted to tell you I think you're beautiful."

How stalkerish. I politely smiled. "Umm, thanks."

"You married or dedicated?"

Dedicated? Like as in christened with a champagne bottle and shipped out to sea? Instead of sharing my thoughts, I merely nodded. "Umm, yes, I'm married."

"Oh." He looked crestfallen. "Still I think you're beautiful and wanted you to know it."

"Well, umm, thank you." And I hurried to unlock the car and toss in my groceries.

Although his comments were nice to hear, having a total stranger--male stranger--tell me I'm beautiful is just freaky. And sad. Not for me because I felt he was exaggerating to flirt, but because I wondered how lonely a 30-ish unmarried, working-at-a-minimum-job man feels. Not only that, but what does a guy risk telling a woman that he thinks she's lovely? Does he feel rejected if she doesn't respond positively to his advances? Does it make him less likely to pursue another woman?

I think I'd hate to be a guy.

Not only that, but I'd hate to be my age and unmarried...unless I never had any inclination to marry.

I wonder what that bagger would have thought if I told him I had four kids. LOL. He'd probably say I have some good birthin' hips. Hello, that's like saying Kelly Clarkson has a good voice.

I don't think so.

I have GREAT birthin' hips...as long as the baby is no more than 7 lbs, 8 oz.

Although I will say, having a total stranger say I'm beautiful (no matter how untrue that is)...well, it's mighty flattering. Maybe if more women would realize that stick-skinny, runway model beauty isn't the only type of beauty men find beautiful, then far less women would feel so insecure about their appearances and size.

You *are* beautiful because most of us have something about us that makes us beautiful to someone...or even someones...so why not start believing it?

Urgent Public Service Announcement!!!

Oh the dreaded short synopsis.

Time to fall in love with that demon...at least for the next month.

ROMANCE DIVA'S We All Win 2nd Annual Short Synopsis Contest is upon us again, but time is running out to enter.

Here's the submission guidelines...

Entry Fee:: NONE...unless you just desperately want to bribe me a Starbucks gift card, which I'll be happy to accept but only because you're so desperate. Of course, it'll pretty much be a pointless bribe, but who says bribes have to have a point. Umm, just don't tell Jaxipoo becuase if she knows then she'll take away my tax-exempt status.

Format:: no more than TWO pages, single spaced with double spaces between paragraphs, 1-inch margains, in COURIER NEW 12 point font.

In your header, please include some information for designation and to help with judging (info can all be on one line). Or at least include the information in the body of your e-mail. [u]Trust me, I'm going to ask for this info if you don't send it in the first time.[/u]

Diva name (real name optional)
Title of entry
genre/subgenre
total word count of ms or guesstimated total word count when ms is finished
target publisher or category line

Submission dates:: Monday June 5th to Saturday June 17th.

Submission location:: E-mail me your synopsis in the form of an attachment -- gina@romancedivas.com. Within a day or two of submission, I'll send you a confirmation that I received your syno. If you never get a confirmation, then RESEND.

Submission amount:: Divas and diva-dudes with 1 post or 1 billion posts (yes, I know who you chatty cathys are) are welcome to submit TWO entries in any fiction genre. For erotic romance and alternative entries, as long as the content of your synopsis isn't graphic, then I think your synos should be okay in the main forum. If you aren't sure, please PM me and we'll discuss what we can to do enable you to enter. Right now I don't see a significant reason to have a separate steamy category considering we're dealing with a 2-page syno, but....

Judging deadline:: Sunday June 18th to Sunday June 25th. To see the scoresheet, check out Romance Divas' CHIT CHAT forum.

Prizes:: Winning entry will receive a copy of CHARACTERS & VIEWPOINT by Orson Scott Card or another selection if s/he already has the book. A handful of various judging prizes.

For help with writing a short synopsis, check out these lengths.

http://members.aol.com/hrwdebhale/Shortandlongsyn.htm

http://www.earthlycharms.com/dreamweaver1-03.htm#article

http://brendacoulter.com/BrendaCoulterSynopsis.htm

http://www.lisagardner.com/tricks/synopsis.htm

http://www.kathycarmichael.com/synopsis.denver2002.html
http://www.kathycarmichael.com/fasteasy.html

http://www.gkbledsoe.com/articles/submissions/query.html

http://www.sff.net/people/alicia/artsynrevision.htm

Here's the results from our last short syno contest:
http://romancedivas.com/archives/WeAllWinFinalist.pdf

And if you miss the opportunity to enter, then join us in the judging. An romance diva or diva-dude can judge.