MY BEST AND WORST OF 2005

1) Was 2005 a good year for you? Overall it was. There were some
low times, but I have to concentrate on the good times.

2) What was your favorite moment of the year? The night I found
out that My Invisible Husband was on the Essence Bestseller's List.

3) What was your least favorite moment of the year? The night I
found out my grandmother(my dad's mom) died.

4) Where were you when 2005 began? At Church.

5) Who were you with? I was with my family and church family.

6) Where will you be when 2005 ends? I plan to be at Church.

7) Who will you be with when 2005 ends? I plan to be with family
/church family.

8) Did you keep your new years resolution of 2005? 75 percent of them.

9) Do you have a new years resolution for 2006? Yes.

10) Did you fall in love in 2005? Fell out of love and moved on.

11) If yes, with who? n/a

12) If yes, do they know? n/a

13) Are you still in love with them? n/a

14) You regret it? n/a

15) Did you breakup with anyone in 2005? Yes

16) Did you make any new friends in 2005? Yes

17) Who are your favorite new friends? I won't name them in fear of
someone not seeing there name here, they might be offended.

18) What was your favorite month of 2005? Every month.

19) Did you travel outside of the US in 2005? No.

20) How many different states have you traveled in 2005? Two

21) Did you lose anybody close to you in 2005? Yes.

22) Did you miss anybody in the past year? Yes.

23) What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2005? Several:
Crash/War of the Worlds/Diary of a Mad Black Woman

24) What was your favorite song from 2005? We Belong Together and
Enough Cryin'

25) What was your favorite album from 2005? The Emancipation of
Mimi & The Breakthrough

26) How many concerts did you see in 2005? none in person, but do
you count DVD???

27) Did you have a favorite concert in 2005? n/a

28) Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2005? n/a

29) Did you do a lot of drugs in 2005? n/a

31) Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year? No

33) What was the worst lie someone told you in 2005? It's too personal
to post on the world wide web.

34) Did you treat somebody badly in 2005? Not intentionally.

35) Did somebody treat you badly in 2005? Yes.

36) How much money did you spend in 2005? Not much

37) What was your proudest moment of 2005? Don't recall.

38) What was your most embarrassing moment of 2005? Don't recall.

39) If you could go back in time to any moment of 2005 what would it
be? None, because it could alter the state of what's going on now.

40) What are your plans for 2006? To be the best I can be with my
writing and to make quality time with my family/friends. Be a positive
role model. Take my career to new heights and beyond. To remain
grounded and enjoy the life that God has blessed me with.

¶ 11:58 PM //

¶ 7:08 AM //

I want to personally thank everyone of you have stopped by my blog during 2005. I hope you'll be back in 2006. In 2006, I hope to have a little more structure and try to tie all of my blogs in together somehow. I want to post at least once a week so you'll have all week to stop by and comment at your leisure.

As the year ends, I've been reflecting on the good and the bad of this past year, but most importantly I'm focusing on the good because God saw fit that I'm still here.

I am still fine tuning my goals for the upcoming year. I can say that at least 75 percent of the goals I set for 2005 came to pass--so there's power in words :)

This will be the last post until January 2006.
Until then, I wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a BLESSED NEW YEAR.

Shelia

¶ 1:14 PM //

Name	Shelia
Birthday	9/16
Current Location	LA
Eye Color	BROWN
Hair Color	BLACK
Height	5'8
Right Handed or Left Handed	RIGHT
Thoughts First Waking Up	THANK GOD FOR ANOTHER DAY
The Shoes You Wore Today	PURPLE HOUSE SHOES
Your Weakness	MEN
Your Fears	BEING ALONE
Your Perfect Pizza	MEAT LOVERS
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year	MOVIE DEAL
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger	LOL
Your Best Physical Feature	MY SMILE
Favorite Drink	SPRITE
McDonalds or Burger King	BK
Singe, Married, Divorced	SINGLE
Do you Smoke	NO
Do you Swear	NO
Do you Sing	HA HA
Are you in Love	MAYBE
In the past month have you gone on a Date	YES
Ever been Drunk	NO
Ever been called a Tease	YES
What country would you most like to Visit	WHERE I AM NOW
What was the last movie you saw	SOME CRAZY MOVIE
How many friends do you have	DON'T KNOW
When was the last time you did something adventurous	LEAVING THE HOUSE IS ENOUGH ADVENTURE FOR ME
Paper or Plastic	PLASTIC
CREATE YOUR OWN! - or - GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!

¶ 12:08 AM //

The Winter:
Best: Love how folks seem happy during the Christmas/New Year Holidays
Worse: Lack of sunshine.

Work:
Best: Freedom to make my own schedule
Worse: Not enough to pay for that cruise just yet.

Family:
Best: I enjoy spending time with my immediate family.
Worse: The family that's not so immediate.

Your space:
Best: No one bothers my stuff in my space.
Worse: When my space is only a small part of a room.

Shopping:
Best: Shopping until I drop
Worse: Not being able to get the perfect purse that matches the perfect outfit that would be just perfect with the perfect pair of shoes.

Men:
Best: Men can be fun, adventurous and great to have around.
Worse: Men can also lie and play games.

Kids:
Best: My niece and nephews.
Worse: Wanting to use auntie's computer when she's using it.

Summer:
Best: I love the summer.
Worse: Don't let the AC go out and it's 100 plus degrees outside.

Rain:
Best: Best sleeping weather
Worse: When I have to drive in it and watch crazy drivers because they are driving like it's dry outside.

Going out:
Best: Love it when hanging out with the right people.
Worse: Don't like it when I'm out with the wrong person.

Cars:
Best: Freedom to go where I want when I want to without depending on someone else.
Worse: Keeping up with the high gas prices.

Lace:
Best: Like to wear it.
Worse: One snare and you might as well throw the item away.

¶ 12:23 AM //

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Both
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? None...thanks to the high gas prices, there will be no lights this year.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? No.
5. When do you put your decorations up? The week after Thanksgiving.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Ham
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Every Christmas morning
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? The day I found the hiding places for the presents.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?No
10. What kind of cookies does Santa get set out for him? None...because there is no Santa.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Dread it...I'm from the South.
12. Can you ice skate? In the words of Whitney, "Hell to the Naw."
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Black Barbie, tapes, etc.
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Family and friends.
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Pound Cake
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Family getting together
17. What tops your tree? A gold star
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? I love to give.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Carol? Oh Holy Night
20. Candy Canes? Yes, any flavor.

¶ 12:55 AM //

One of my most memorable moments of 2005 was the day I found out that my book had made the Essence Bestsellers List. Talking about jumping up for joy. It was after midnight so I couldn't keep up too much noise because everybody was sleep. The only person I knew up was a friend on the west coast, so I contacted him with the news.

http://www.essence.com/essence/books/0,16109,1059846,00.html

ESSENCE . Best-Selling Books

June 2005 Bestselling Books

FICTION PAPERBACK
1. Chyna Black by Keisha Ervin (Triple Crown Publications, $15)
2. The Hottest Summer Ever Known by Valencia R. Williams (Williams Sisters Publication Group, $16.95)
3. The Velvet Rope by Brenda L. Thomas (Downtown Press, $13)
4. Sittin’ in the Front Pew by Parry Brown (Villard, $13.95)
5. Nappily Ever After by Trisha R. Thomas (Three Rivers Press, $12)
6. Reborn by Nea Anna Simone (Sepia Books, $15)
7. Sacred Sermon by Nicolle Pierce (Pierce Publishing, $14.99)
8. Let the Church Say Amen by Reshonda Tate Billingsley (Pocket Books, $13)
9. Still Sheisty by T.N. Baker (Triple Crown Publications, $15)
10. My Invisible Husband by Sheila M. Goss (4allseasons Publishing, $14.95)

¶ 6:53 PM //

Nikki Woods has "tagged" me. My assignment: to write fifteen interesting facts about my writing/reading life. Some of these you know about me, but then again maybe not.

Writing:
1. I can write the first draft of a novel in a month if the characters are vivid in my head. I usually wait until the characters hound me to write their story so that it'll flow. I've tried writing any other kind of way but it doesn't work for me. My characters must speak to me :)

2. I like complete solitude when writing. I don't like being interrupted unless it's an emergency; otherwise, you will get a half of a response. You could ask me to sign over my life's savings and I would say okay because I'm not really listening to you when I'm in a writer's zone.

3. I dream movies. I wish I could finance all of the great movie ideas I dream of. I have to keep a notepad by my bed to write short synopsis of what I've dreamed for future use.

4. I do a character sketch for every main character. By the time I finish with the character sketch, I know the character better than I know my friends...lol

5. I don't like to let people read my stuff unless it's finished because I know me. I will more than likely change some stuff when I go through the edits.

6. One of my novels is written under a pen name due to the fact that most of my books are considered women's fiction and I don't want to mix up my reading audience. No I am not telling you my pen name (smile).

7. None of my stories are about me. Although some folks swear I'm the over 30 never been married character of one of my novels. My stories are all fiction. I only meet folks later that have similiar characteristics as my characters. Reality is stranger than fiction.

8. Due to my vivid imagination, My motto "I write stories with a twist" developed and that's my goal with every story.

Reading:
9. I'm an avid reader and read in all genres. Reading is my favorite pasttime. My favorite however is either romance or mysteries. There's nothing like a good romance or a good mystery.
10. I write during the day and read at night.

11. If the book is good, it doesn't take me long to read it. If it's not, it takes me forever.

12. I can read by myself or in a crowd. I've mastered the art of tuning folks out.

13. I've started reading more street fiction and find that I enjoy it.

14. I used to write book reviews monthly so for the longest I was required to read a book. Now that I'm not reviewing books as often, the joy of reading has resurfaced. I enjoy reading "just because."

15. If I meet an author and they have a bad attitude, I usually don't read anymore of their books. Even if I was their number one fan before.

Next--
Peggy and Yolanda ... tag you're it.

¶ 9:51 AM //

28 Questions

1. name someone with the same birthday as you.
Not sure. Now I can name some other Virgos.

2. where was your first kiss?
On the front porch. I was a teenager in high school.

3. have you ever seriously vandalized someone else's property?
No.

4. have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex?
Does slapping someone count!!!

5. have you ever sung in front of a large number of people?
Yes. I was in my high school choir.

6.what is the first thing you notice about the preferred sex?
His face...his eyes...his lips...his smile.

7. what do you order at the starbucks?
Not really a Starbucks goer.

8. what is your biggest mistake?
Too big to name here.

9. have you ever hurt yourself on purpose?
No

10. say something totally random about yourself.
I'm shy.

11. has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?
No, but they like to call me "Shelia E" or Use the words from an old Ready for the World Song, "Oh Shelia."

12. do you still watch kiddy movies or tv shows?
Yes...I watch That's So Raven and other movies that I take my nephew to see.

13. did you have braces?
No

14. are you comfortable with your height?
Yes. Being 5'8 ain't such a bad thing.

15. what is the most romantic thing someone of the opposite sex has done for you?
Left love notes in every room of the house.

16. when do you know it's love?
Ask me again when I'm in love.

17. have you ever been to a tanning salon?
Last time I checked I had an 'au naturale' tan.

18. what magazines do you read?
Essence, Writer's Digest, Jolie (one issue, can't wait to read the next), Black Romance Magazine, Bronze Thrills, O, and several others.

19.have you ever ridden in a limo?
Yes. The first time it was on a sad occasion, but the second time it was me and my friends living the night like a celebrity.

20. has anyone you were really close to passed away?
Yes...many have died.

21. do you watch mtv?
Yes

22. what's something that really annoys you?
Messy folks

23. what's something you really like?
To laugh.

24. do you like michael jackson?
the new michael or the old michael?

25. can you dance?
If I tell you, I'll have to hurt you.

26. what's the latest you have ever stayed up?
I've stayed up days at a time...when in college and when I got older, this has occurred when under a lot of stress.

27. have you ever been rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room?
No, thank God.

28. do you actually read these when other people fill them out?
Most of the time.

¶ 7:43 PM //