Here are the answers to last week’s Fact or Fiction. I enjoyed reading your responses.

Here are ten statements allegedly about me. Which are true and which are false?

1.  I’m from Louisiana and I grew up on a farm. We had to get up at 5 am every morning to do chores before walking a mile to the bus stop to get to school. False. I grew up in the 2nd largest city in the state of Louisiana. I’ve always been a city girl; although I visited my grandparents in the country every Sunday after church while growing up and spent some summers in the country.
2. I met Maya Angelou in the 9th grade at a freshman lock-in. I didn’t realize then, how important that encounter would impact me later.  True. Up until that point I had never met an AA writer. After meeting Maya Angelou and seeing first hand the passion that words could evoke, I knew then that writing was something I wanted to do.
3. One of my brothers taped my phone conversation with my boyfriend (is that legal???) when I was a teenager and later tried to bribe me not to tell our parents. True. I laugh now thinking about it.
4. I married my college sweetheart, but later divorced him after I found out he was on the DL (a dirty leech). False. I have never been married. I was engaged to my college sweetheart and didn’t marry him because he was on the DL (a dirty leech) among other reasons.
5. My best friend and I got into a big argument about nothing and didn’t talk for two years. False. We did get into a big disagreement about nothing but it was only a few weeks before someone contacted the other. I can’t recall who.
6. Besides writing, drawing is another one of my favorite things to do. False. I couldn’t draw a straight line with a ruler. My brothers were blessed with that talent. I was blessed with the writing gene.
7. I performed as one part of this singing duo on The Main Circuit, a local version of Soul Train. True. If I ever get my hand on the video; I might just post it here. Not.  Me and Cassandra used to rehearse after school…back then I could out dance Janet…and yes, I mean Ms. Jackson.
8. I’ve gone to Paris several times. True. Paris, Texas that is. Michelle, I loved your answer. I do plan on going to Paris, France one day though.
9. I’ve been engaged twice. True. Fortunately for me I didn’t marry either one…the college sweetheart nor my second ex-fiance; because I would be twice divorce by  now since I’m not with either one.
10. I am Anna Nicole Smith’s cousin. The verdict is still out on this one. Her real last name is the same as my family. I sometimes kid that she’s our white cousin from Texas. I guess we’ll never know.

The winners from the contest last week either posted a comment on the blog and/or a member of my yahoogroup mailing list: Kim and Michelle please look for an email offloop. Congrats on winning the giftcards. Thanks again to  PrincessDominiqueMultimedia.com for sponsoring the contest.

   “Paige’s Web by Shelia M. Goss is so good. I can’t stop turning the pages!”

I first saw this done on Divalicious Opinions site.  Thought I would do it here.

Here are ten statements allegedly about me. Which are true and which are false? Have fun. I’ll post the answers later.

1. I’m from Louisiana and I grew up on a farm. We had to get up at 5 am every morning to do chores before walking a mile to the bus stop to get to school.
2. I met Maya Angelou in the 9th grade at a freshman lock-in. I didn’t realize then, how important that encounter would impact me later. 
3. One of my brothers taped my phone conversation with my boyfriend (is that legal???) when I was a teenager and later tried to bribe me not to tell our parents.
4. I married my college sweetheart, but later divorced him after I found out he was on the DL (a dirty leech).
5. My best friend and I got into a big argument about nothing and didn’t talk for two years.
6. Besides writing, drawing is another one of my favorite things to do. 
7. I performed as one part of this singing duo on The Main Circuit, a local version of Soul Train.
8. I’ve gone to Paris several times.
9. I’ve been engaged twice.
10. I am Anna Nicole Smith’s cousin.

   “Paige’s Web by Shelia M. Goss is so good. I can’t stop turning the pages!”

LOOK UP YOUR BIRTHDAY  AND SEE WHAT YOU ARE..(I’m a parasite according to the chart).
Don’t forget to scroll down to see what it says about you.
 
January 01 – 09 ~   Ass
January 10 – 24 ~ Slug 
January 25 – 31 ~ Cockroach    
February 01 – 05  ~ Parasite
February 06 – 14 ~   Bullfrog
February 15 – 21 ~   Skunk   
February 22 – 28 ~   Snake    
March 01 – 12 ~   Ape
March 13 – 15 ~ Cockroach
March 16 – 23 ~   Slug
March 24 – 31 ~   Parasite
April 01 – 03 ~   Ass 
April 04 – 14 ~   Snake
April 15 – 26 ~   Slug  
April 27 – 30 ~   Skunk    
May 01 – 13 ~   Slug
May 14 – 21 ~   Bullfrog
May 22 – 31 ~ Cockroach    
June 01 – 03 ~   Slug
June 04 – 14 ~   Skunk
June 15 – 20 ~   Ass
June 21 – 24 ~ Ape
June 25 – 30 ~   Parasite
July 01 – 09 ~   Slug
July 10 – 15 ~   Ass
July 16 – 26 ~   Bullfrog
July 27 – 31 ~   Parasite    
August 01 – 15 ~   Ape
August 16 – 25 ~ Slug
August 26 – 31 ~   Skunk      
September 01 -  14 ~ Bullfrog
September 15 – 27 ~   Parasite
September 28 – 30 ~   Ass
October 01 – 15  ~ Ape
October 16 – 27 ~   Skunk  
October 28 – 31 ~   Snake    
November 01 – 16  ~ Cockroach
November 17 – 30  ~ Parasite      
December 01 – 16  ~ Ass
December 17 – 25 ~   Ape
December 26 – 31 ~   Bullfrog    

If you are a   Ass : A very loyal and  sweet person. Your loyalty can
never be doubted. You are quite honest and sincere when it comes to your
attitude towards working. You are a very simple  person, indeed.
Absolutely hassle free, humble and down-to-earth!!  That explains  the
reason why your friends cling on to you! You have a good taste for
clothes.  If your wardrobe is not updated with what is trendy, you sure
are depressed.  Popular and easy-going. You have a little group of
dignified friends, all of  them being quality-personified.

If you are a Slug : Always up to some sort of a mischief!  The
mischievous gleam in your eyes is what makes you so cute and attractive
to everyone. You are an extremely fun-to-be-with kind of person.  No
wonder people seek for your company and look forward to include you for
all  get-together’s. However, you are sensitive which is a drawback.
People need to  select their words while talking to you. If someone
tries to fiddle around and  play with words while dealing with you, it
is enough to invite your wrath. God  bless the person then!

If you are a Cockroach : Quite contradictory to your name, you  are a
peace loving person. You best try to avoid a situation wherein you are
required to fight. An outdoor person, you dislike sitting at one place
for a  long durati on. You are a born leader, and have it in you how to
tactfully derive  work from people. You love being loved, and when you
receive your share of  limelight from someone, you are all theirs!!!!
Well, well… Hence some people  could even take an advantage, flatter
you to the maximum and get their work  done. So be careful…..

If you are a Parasite : An extremely  lovable, adorable person,
sometimes shy, with a passion for quick wit. At times,  you prefer
quietness. You love exploring various things and going into depth of
each thing. Under normal circumstances you’re cool but when given a
reason to,  you are like a volcano waiting to erupt. You’re a fashion
bird. People look  forward to you as an icon associated with fashion.
Basically, you mingle along  freely but don’t like talking much to
strangers. People feel very easy in your  co m pany. You observe care in
choosing your friends.

If you are a   Skunk : You are near to  perfect and nice at heart. The
examples of your kindness are always circulated  in groups of people.
You, too, love peace. You wouldn’t like to retaliate even  to a person
who is in the wrong. You are loved due to this. You do not wish to  talk
behind one’s back. People love the way you always treat them. You can
give,  give and give love, and the best part is that you do not expect
it back in  return. You are generous enough. Seeing things in a
practical light is what  remains the best trait of you guys.

If you are a  Bullfrog: You symbolize a  very happy-go-lucky approach
in life. Whatever the surroundings may be, grim or  cheerful, you remain
unaffected. In fact, you spread cheer wherever you go. You  are the
leader of your group of friends and good at consoling people in their
times of need. You dislike hypocrisy and tend to shirk away from
hypocrites.  They can never be in your good books, no matter what. You
are very methodical  and organized in your work. No amount of mess,
hence, can ever encompass you.  Beware, it is easy for you to fall in
love….  

If you are a  Snake  : You are  mysterious. You are someone who can
handle pressure with ease, and can handle  any atmosphere without going
berserk. You can be mean at times, and love to  gossip with your
selected group. Very prim and proper. You like all si tuations  and
things to be in the way you desire, which, sometimes is not possible. As
a  result, you may lose out in some relationships. But otherwise, you
love to help  people out from difficult and tight spots when they really
need you.

If  you are a Ape : Very impatient and  hyper!!! You want things to be
done as quick as possible. At heart, you are  quite simple and love if
you are the center of attraction. That way, you people  are unique. You
would like to keep yourself safe from all the angles. Shall your  name
be dragged or featured in any sort of a controversy, you then go all
panicky. Therefore, you take your precautions from the very beginning.
When you  foresee anything wrong, your sixth sense is what saves you
from falling in  traps. Quite a money minded bunch you people are!!

   “Paige’s Web by Shelia M. Goss is so good. I can’t stop turning the pages!”

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.

What are some of your reading and writing habits?

What items do you use regularly and now feel like you just can’t do without? Since this is my birthday month, I thought I would do a top 10 list just in case someone I know is surfing the net and looking for that 1 special gift.

My Top 10 Pampering Items:

1.  Bath & Body Works Products

2. Issey Miyake Eau de Parfum Spray

3. Calvin Klein Escape Body Spray and Lotion

4. Curling up with a Good Book

5. Shock-o-late M.A.C. Lip Glass

6. Pink Razr Phone

7. IPOD

8. Dooney & Bourke Extra-Large Sac Handbag 9. Fossil Watch

10. Making it a DVD night – Morris, Denzel, Samuel, Will, Brad, Tom…as long as one of those guys are in it, it’s relaxing.

How do you pamper yourself?

7 things I plan to do before I die:

1. Travel to every state in the US at least once.
2. Learn how to swim.
3. Learn how to speak Spanish fluently.
4. Learn how to speak French fluently.
5. Visit the Pyramids in Egypt.
6. Leave a legacy for my kids or nieces/nephews.
7. Develop a way to keep spammers out of my email box.

7 things I can do:

1. Create stories with a twist.
2. Choose songs that will be hits prior to them ever being
played on the radio.
3. Dance like Janet Jackson.
4. Make the best homemade banana pudding this side of
the Mississippi River.
5. Talk on the phone, check email, chat online and hold a conversation
with someone in the room at the same time.
6. A good listener.
7. Travel by myself and have a great time.

7 things I cannot do:
1. Read while a car or plane is in motion.
2. Put up with fake people.
3. Mow a yard (that’s a man’s job)
4. Drink a coke when I want a sprite.
5. Eat a hamburger with onions.
6. Put up with bad kids.
7. Think of something to put on this list.

7 things that attract me to the opposite sex:

1. Sexy Eyes
2. Ability to hold a decent conversation
3. Pretty Smile
4. Body language
5. The size of his shoe (get your mind out the gutter)
6. A man playing basketball or football
7. His ability to make me feel like the only woman in the room.

7 things that I say most often:

1. Whatever.
2. Anyway.
3. Please.
4. Don’t Get it Twisted.
5. I know they didn’t.
6. Life is too short for BS.
7. Don’t even worry about it.

7 Celebrity crushes:

1. Denzel Washington
2. Shemar Moore
3. Morris Chestnut
4. Brad Pitt
5. Blair Underwood
6. Boris Kodjoe
7. LL Cool J

I was tagged by Mrs. Grapevine to do the The Face Behind the Blog. She was tagged by Lisa C.

Since I’m revealing all, let me tell you a little about me. I am the author of several novels. Be on the look out for Paige’s Web (coming to a store near you in October). Some of my other books are My Invisible Husband, Roses are thorns, Violets are true and Double Platinum (coming 2008).

Anyway, here’s some pictures I took when I was having fun with my cell phone. 

I’m tagging: Gwyneth’s  Princess Dominique Yolanda Writes and Favorite Nitemare