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As of January 6, I've been a proud New Yorker for 15 years. Carrie Bradshaw said that you're not a real New Yorker until you've lived here for at least 10 years. But in my heart, I always knew this magical place was my true home. I moved here in the Blizzard of 1996 from Philadelphia, which had just gotten over two feet of snow. But nothing could stop me. Actually, nothing could stop my friend Tim from helping me move. He was the one who shoveled the snow and drove the U-Haul. And now he lives here, too, which is awesome.

I was going through this crazy stomach churning thing at the time. For weeks before the move, my stomach was perpetually upset. I couldn't eat anything without feeling sick. I didn't realize it at the time, but the stomach churning was caused by severe stress. Even though I was beyond excited to finally start my life in New York City, it was really scary. I had like 73 cents in my bank account. I didn't know anyone here. I didn't even have a job lined up. All I knew was that I'd be starting grad school and that I had a tiny studio waiting for me in Chelsea. But I guess that was enough. Because as soon as I saw the Twin Towers in the distance, my stomach instantly felt better. For reals. And I never had that weird stomach churning again.

You'd think that I was planning to live here all along. New York City has had an intense pull on me since I discovered Late Night with David Letterman when I was 12. But I never made a definite plan to live here because it felt like a fantasy world. Like this unattainable dream that would always be impossible for me to achieve. That felt especially true back in high school. Back then, it felt like forever until my real life would start. Books and shows and music saved me. But what saved me even more was the hope that I would one day be living my ideal life. I held on to that hope and refused to let go, even when it felt like I wouldn't survive.

One song that helped me hold on was "Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty. I still listen to it (and this other song of his called "Right Down the Line") often when I'm writing. These lyrics helped me keep hope alive, like if I could just keep holding on things would get better:

Another year and then you'll be happy
Just one more year and then you'll be happy
But you're crying
You're crying now

Two days before my New Yorkiversary, I was folding laundry and listening to NPR when "Baker Street" came on. They said something like, "You probably recognize this song, but might not remember the artist behind it." And I was like, "Gerry Rafferty!" Then they said that Gerry Rafferty had died. One of the people who helped me survive and would never know it was gone forever. And I was folding socks.

Let's just say I was relieved to have season one of Glee.



I'm not finished with season one yet, but do I really need to tell you I'm a proud new Gleek? Not just because I'm crushing on Mr. Schuester (as if I really need another crush). Not just because another one of my Hold On songs back in the day was "Don't Stop Believin'" (along with several other Journey classics). But that "Defying Gravity" diva-off between Rachel and Kurt? Has been on repeat mode in my brain for days. Seriously, I'll be at the gym doing a mash-up of whatever's playing in class and "Defying Gravity" in my head. Their voices are incredible. I mean, everyone is super talented, but that song just got me. Of course Kurt is my fave character. But you already knew that.

So yay for Glee! Yay for everything in this world that makes us happy and

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Dear John,

I miss you every day. But especially today.

You gave us the kind of music that transcends time. Music with a message. Songs that speak to us and encourage us to make our lives better. Songs that make us want to change the world. Songs that make us imagine.

You are an indelible part of New York City. When I want to remember you best, I go to Strawberry Fields. No matter what time or which day, people are always there, playing your songs and bringing you flowers. You fought so hard to stay in this magical place because you understood its energy, an energy you translated into music and art. I still feel your passion every day, John.



I wish I could tell you that we're all living life in peace today, 30 years after you were taken from us. Sadly, we are not. But Imagine lives on, as do all of your words, and they continue to inspire us to live and let live.

And so you shine on.
Like the moon and the stars and the sun.
On and on and on...

Love,
Susane

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This is the time of year when we think about things we are thankful for. I'm most thankful for pretty much the same things every time, including my readers, my friends, New York City, and the fact that daylight hours will start increasing in less than a month. But this year, I am tremendously thankful for someone new.

That person is Aron Ralston.

I saw 127 Hours two days ago and my chin is still on the floor. Not only is the movie based on Aron's actual experience of being trapped in a canyon for five days, but he is played by James Franco. So of course I had to go see.



The amazing thing about Aron is that he cut off his own arm to escape the boulder it was pinned under. And he did this with a dull switchblade.

Aron tells about his ordeal here:



I'm way thankful for Aron. I'm thankful for his courage. I'm thankful that he's here with us to tell his story. And I'm thankful for the way his experience can help us to keep the little annoyances of our daily lives in perspective. Aron Ralston epitomizes the advice to never give up.

Aron said that he had an epiphany while he was trapped. He realized that life is about relationships. So here's a relationship connection that is blowing my mind. The day Aron cut himself free was May 1, 2003. May 1, 2003 was my 30th birthday. It was also the day my Gram died. She was basically my whole family and I knew she was going to die on my 30th birthday and while all this was happening Aron was cutting off his arm to save his life.

Now, I'm sure there are lots of people who'd say all of that means nothing. But I'm someone who believes in the Energy. I believe that the Energy connects us in meaningful ways. And I believe that, in some cosmic way, Aron's determination to hold onto this life and never let go is meant to influence anyone who feels like this life thing is just too hard. I know how that feels. I know how it feels to want to give up. But we can't. Because Aron never did. In a way, we owe it to everyone who is no longer with us to live our lives that much more meaningfully.

So yeah. Let's do this thing. Let's remember that a long line at the post office is a minor, temporary inconvenience. Let's work towards being the best possible version of ourselves. And of course let's never, ever give up.

See? I'm always thankful for a powerful non-coincidence :)

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If I had to pick a personal motto, it would probably be this: always dream big. Dreaming big is the whole reason I'm here. And by "here," I mean being an author with a blog that friendly neighbors like you read. I never stopped believing that my heart's desires would be reality. People said that the things I wanted were impossible. They said I'd never reach my goals. A lot of them even said that I would never have a book published.

I went ahead and did everything they said I couldn't do anyway.

Imagining all of the amazing things that could happen in my life makes me happy. Of course, it's easier to dream big when you know what you're meant to be - when you know what you are. I knew I would be a science teacher when I was 12. When I was 16, I started thinking seriously about writing children's books. I didn't yet know what kind of science I wanted to teach or what kind of books I wanted to write. I just had a Knowing that these careers were meant to be my reality.

Dreaming big is how I created the life I have. And it's how I continue to create the life I want.

So when I saw a feature in Seventeen about dreaming bigger, I was stoked. Dreaming bigger is badass. Dreaming bigger means that you have a goal you want to reach, but you reach beyond that goal. Like how Oprah didn't stop at wanting to be a journalist. She reached way beyond that goal to become a media queen. Seventeen interviewed some other successful ladies about dreaming bigger. Their responses totally resonated with me and I knew I had to share them with you. Here are some excerpts from the Dream Bigger! feature of the October 2010 issue.

Seventeen: How can a girl figure out the difference between a dream that's achievable and one that's a fantasy that will never happen?

Tyra Banks: By being honest with yourself. I wanted to be a singer, but I couldn't really sing. I wanted it so badly, and I did everything to make it happen, but it was my fantasy. My true calling was TV production - creating shows and being a businesswoman. That's what my heart and soul has wanted to do since I was 9 years old. The day that I came up with America's Next Top Model, I knew that I had discovered my true journey. It's what I'm supposed to do. You have to know who you are and find your strengths, and work as hard as you can to develop them.

Seventeen: How can girls set themselves apart to achieve their dreams?

Rachel Zoe: The more you stay focused, the more you prove to people that you're good at your job. When you find something you love to do, success will come because you'll enjoy it so much that you'll work that much harder. You'll want to put your whole self into the thing you love, and nothing else will seem to matter as much as going after it - even the stuff you'll miss out on when working toward your dreams. I've missed birthday parties and things in my personal life, but I think it was worth it. There are going to be a lot of sacrifices along the way. Just don't lose patience, don't give up, and don't take a job that you don't like - you'll ultimately resent it.

Seventeen: What does every girl need to know to be able to follow her dreams?

Lisa Ling: Making mistakes is okay. They are the best lessons. And never think that you are above anyone. Treat everybody as important, no matter who they are and what they do.

Seventeen: How can girls figure out what they're really passionate about?

Kara DioGuardi: Write down all the moments in your life that you've felt happiest. Not because of some guy, or because your parents took you on a vacation, but when you were doing something. And that's where dreams come into play, because dreams are what your inner voice is telling you that you really want to do. Maybe your inner voice is saying, I love music, which means there are many things you could do. If you have the talent, you co

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There are a lot of things I wish I could change about myself. I'd rather be shorter and get to dress up in cute 4-inch heels than be 5' 8". It would be excellent if my hair were naturally straight so I didn't have to deal with butt-numbing Japanese straight perm retouching every six months (which takes over five hours, by the way). And if my circadian rhythm enjoyed mornings, it would make life much easier.

It's not just me. Everyone I know wants to change part of who they are. That whole wanting-what-you-don't-have tendency is pretty universal. But here's the thing. You only get one you. If there's something about yourself that you want to improve and you can improve it, now's the time. What are you waiting for? Oh, that? Don't wait for that. Because while you're waiting, life is happening. And that thing you're unhappy about will just keep being an energy drain. What can you do, starting right now, to change one thing that's making you unhappy?

Of course, there are plenty of things we don't like that we can't change. What can we do about those? Not much, really. But our attitude can change. We can accept those things and learn to live with them in a more positive way. Like how I get car sick. I hate that I have to take Bonine (which is like Dramamine, but doesn't make me feel like I'm about to enter a comatose state) even for the shortest car ride. Good thing I hardly ever ride in cars. I've had this problem forever. My motion sickness is the result of an inner ear imbalance. That girl having a crying fit in second grade gym because she couldn't walk across the balance beam like all the other girls? Yep, that was me! It's amazing that I remember it at all, given how I've blocked out most of my school-related trauma. I was just quivering on one end of the beam, clinging to my gym teacher's shirt and bawling hysterically.

Balance has always been a problem. Same with fighting not to throw up in cabs whenever I'm forced to take one. Which thankfully is not often.

What else is wrong with me? Oh yeah, I don't know how to swim. I remember this time at day camp when I was five or six. We were all sitting by the pool and the counselor asked if any of us knew how to swim. For some wild reason, I raised my hand. She called on me to demonstrate swimming. So I got up, walked to the pool stairs, and started walking down them. And kept going. The next thing I remember, I was standing on the pool floor, completely underwater. I saw the counselor's legs moving toward me before she yanked me up.

Ah, memories.

The swimming issue is one I can resolve. I don't hate not being able to swim enough to join that class of five-year-olds at the Y, though. Instead, I turned my lack of skills into something positive. It's what inspired Lani learning how to swim in Something Like Fate. As for the things I can't change, I'm trying to be more positive about them. Because if I don't accept myself, I can't expect anyone else to.

Oh, and the whole wanting-what-you-don't-have thing? I've found that usually, the things you want the most are the things you already have. Take another look around. You might be surprised.

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Here in New York, public school students just started their summer vacay on Monday. That means it's been three years since I resigned from teaching to become a full-time author. Which is really hard to believe. It seems like my old life was much longer ago. Maybe it's because a lot has happened in the last three years. Some things are better and some things are worse, but I am an eternal optimist. So let's focus on the good things! On the first day of my new life...

1. I had one book published. Now I have four.

2. I was just about to start this blog. I realize that three years is on the younger side for a blog, but I wasn't even online until five years ago. That's how I managed to write two books while I was teaching, by the way - no Internet, TV, or DVDs.

3. Getting up at an inhumane hour was no longer necessary. Did I really used to get up at 4:45? In the morning?! That's crazy! I get up way later now, when the sun is shining. Much better.

4. All of my work was done on an iBook. Now that I have an iMac, I could never go back to working on a laptop. I went from sitting on a bad chair at my table to my sexy iMac at a grownup desk. This is improvement.

5. This one is hard to admit, but I didn't even know who Meg Cabot was. Well, maybe that was more like four or five years ago. But I definitely didn't know who most of the bestselling YA authors were when I started. Which is so wild! Because now they're so important to me. I worship their books, they are my mentors, and I am constantly learning from them. I even get to be friends with some of them, which totally blows my mind. It's amazing how much can change in three years.

It took me a while to adjust to working at home. And by a while, I don't mean a few days. I mean a few months. That first day was strange. I'd been used to lots of people around, always needing to take care of a hundred things before my next class, dealing with last-minute emergencies on a daily basis, and maybe getting a bathroom and/or lunch break if I was lucky. But then I was working at home and suddenly it was calm. I was just me, my iBook, and music or NPR.

The most dramatic difference was being alone. My teaching days required so much energy that I needed alone time on nights and weekends to recharge. Now I have hours of alone time every day. I'm my own boss and I set my own work schedule. This actually works well for me, since I'm an organization freak. Some authors like to write in coffeehouses. I've tried that a few times. While I enjoy absorbing the creative energy, I much prefer working at home. It's more comfortable and I have everything I need here. Plus, I don't feel so alone anymore. I have you guys to thank for that. All I have to do is check in at Facebook or Twitter or read your email to know that you are out there. So a big thank you for connecting with me! It means more than you know.

Here's something else I want to tell you. Never give up on your dreams. No matter how many people say it's impossible, no matter how difficult your journey is, you can create your ideal life. Your heart's desires can become reality. Take steps every day to get closer to the life you want. And never, ever give up.

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By now you all know that I scored a front row center seat to see John Mayer at Madison Square Garden. I blogged about it last week and have pretty much been renting a billboard about it ever since. I'd been hoping for that ultimate seat to see John for years, so this really was a dream come true.

A few months ago, I gave his manager a copy of Waiting for You, in which my girl Marisa believes that the answers to all of life's problems can be found in John Mayer's music. I was hoping that his manager would give me a prime ticket to the show. That didn't happen. Near the end of the letter I included with the book for John, I wrote:

"I'll be focusing much positive energy on procuring a front-row seat to your upcoming Madison Square Garden show."

The Universe said:



At previous concerts, the closest I'd ever gotten was second row side. Which seems like it should be really close, considering that there are like 20,000 worse seats. But I'd always get some wingnut directly in front of me who wasn't even a fan, checking their email while John sang something like "Stop This Train." Clueless about what they were hearing while I sang every word. Blocking my camera every time I wanted to take a photo.

Karma said:



Welcome to the life of a hardcore fan. It can be stressful at times. Like when I'm all set up at 9:59 for that 10:00 pre-sale, finger poised over the mouse, ready to click the second 10:00 strikes, just hoping that Ticketmaster will be kind. And then, of course, being disappointed with the selection of seats that aren't even on the floor. But after many more hours of research and perseverance, I was the one thanking the Universe from Floor Section 2, Row A, Seat 4.

The view:



I cannot even tell you how incredible it was not to have anyone in front of me besides John. I jumped around as much as I wanted without worrying about accidentally smacking someone on the head, like I did three years ago when John was playing "Gravity" and I swung my arm up at the "Stay the hell away from me" part. Not that the person in front of me knew what he was singing. But violence is never the answer.

The answer:



Being that close meant I could actually connect with John. I spazzed when he started playing "Bigger Than My Body" because I freaking love that song. John was totally singing right at me during the "Someday I'll fly/Someday I'll soar/Someday I'll be/so damn much more" part because I'm pretty sure I was the only one up there who was that hardcore. He looked happy that someone appreciated his message.

I call that night the Universe Special. Not only did I have that Dream Is Reality seat, not only did John play so many of my faves, not only did I get to sit next to the girl I was battling it out in the auction with for those charity seats (hi, Caryl!), not only did I get to connect with John, but every single minute of that night felt just as amazing as I'd imagined it would. Actual experiences rarely live up to my ridiculously high expectations. This one absolutely did.

It felt like:



I left with a happy heart and inspired soul. It's a kind of energy I'll rely on for years. It was the ultimate celebration of what makes me feel alive. And that makes the experience priceless.

Of course I went back the next night. I was in the 8th row that time and it was a very different experience. I got to share it all with a friend, which meant a lot to me. And I was far away enough to see the screens and effects, which were really cool. You can se

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Have you entered the Shiny New Contest yet? It's your chance to win shiny new editions of When It Happens and Take Me There. All the contest details are here. You have until Sunday night to dazzle me with your brilliance!

Something major happened yesterday. A big dream of mine came true. Dreaming big is something I've always done. Despite all the times people have told me that the things I want the most are impossible, I've never stopped believing. They said I'd never have a book published. They said I could never be a full-time author. They said I'd never find an apartment in my dream neighborhood that I could afford. Most people just do not get my obsession with being as close as possible to the things that make me feel alive. And that includes concerts.

One thing I've been dreaming big about is scoring front row center floor seats to John Mayer at Madison Square Garden. Those seats are seriously hard to get. If you've read my books, you know how important his music is to me. So I never stopped believing that I could make that once-in-a-lifetime experience happen. After weeks of ticket pre-sales and online detective work and battling it out in a charity auction and then stomping around in the blizzard yesterday, that dream became reality. I got that front row center seat I've been wanting for so long. And being right in front of John the whole time was every bit as amazing as I knew it would be. Un. Real.

If you're not a fan, sorry about the singular focus of this blog lately. Things will get back to normal next week. Well, after Monday - that's when I'm posting unbelievable photos from the concert. I have exactly 533 photos to go through so I can pick the best ones to share with you. Then the winning Shiny New Haiku will be posted and we'll return to our regular programming. Until then, here's a preview:







Of course I'm going back tonight. There's nothing like celebrating what makes us feel alive.

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Could I be anticipating spring any more? No, I could not. February is the coldest month and it's always the time when I feel like I've been activating my Warming Plan forever. Boots and knee socks every day just wear on the soul, even if my socks are fun Juno style ones. The thing is, even a negative situation has a positive side. One good thing about it being brutal out is that I have a lot of work to do, so I'm not missing outside time. I am in revision mode. And I'm enjoying quality time in my workspace.

I'm always interested to see other authors' offices. Everyone has such different ways of working. Some offices are inspirational. Some make me want to bust in and organize everything. Some authors don't have a whole office, more like an area where they work at home. I belong to this group. Calling my workspace a "home office" would be a stretch. I mean, I have a new desk and file cabinets and my sexy iMac. And I'm feeling so much better with my new chair. Talk about lumbar support! But everything is crammed into like four square feet. This is the main part of my workspace:



There are lots of changes I want to make, all of which require a larger apartment. I want to be facing a window while I work. With an awesome view. Maybe even a window box for flowers. My goal is to have an actual home office that's a separate room from the rest of my place, instead of a desk against the living room wall. More importantly, I want to stay in my neighborhood, so the new apartment will probably have to wait. The West Village has excellent energy, but crazy expensive real estate prices. There's this whole long story about me searching for a bigger place recently that I won't bore you with. I was waiting to get my new desk and chair and everything until I moved into my new place. But then I was like, What am I waiting for? My life is happening now! So I decided to go ahead and create a better workspace. Even though it's not ideal, I'm so happy that I did. It's comfortable and it works. And yes, that is a Dunder Mifflin mousepad.

Living in the Now is the key to happiness. So instead of focusing on what I don't have, I'm working on appreciating the things that I do. Creative visualization is a continuous process. I've put my goals out into the Universe and I'm working toward achieving them every day. That's the best we can do, right?

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The first blog post I wrote this year was all about looking forward to lots of exciting things in 2010. I've been trying to establish a habit of happiness, focusing more on what I do have instead of worrying about the things I don't. Then the earthquake happened in Haiti. I tried to go about my normal routines of working and errands and blogging about fun things like cupcakes and cute boys. But this pain in my heart persisted. When fifty thousand people die and there's nothing you can do about it, it's beyond depressing.

Depression caught up to me on Friday. I couldn't really focus on work and it was warmer here, so I decided to walk around. Sometimes when I'm sad, no amount of The Office or John Mayer can make me happy again. I feel this need to walk forever. So I went to the art supply store to look at colored pencils and take in the fresh-cut wood smell. I went to the scrapbooking place to admire all the sequins and glitter. I stood outside and watched contrails in the sky. Even the Container Store could not pull me out of my mood. I walked around some more, hating that feeling of not being able to do anything when so many people desperately need help.

So what can we do? We donate. We remain available to offer assistance in whatever way we can. But the hard truth is, the damage is done. And there's just not a whole lot we can do about the loss. Which is why we have a responsibility to make the most of what we do have. We need to do this because we can.

Something else happened on Friday. It was the one-year anniversary of Flight 1549 landing on the Hudson River. Everyone survived. Those survivors returned to New York on Friday to reunite for a celebration of life. I'm sure those survivors see life differently now. It's not a constant struggle to complain about. It's an opportunity to fulfill your heart's desires, to reach out to those around you, to make the world a better place. By establishing a habit of happiness, the annoying parts of life don't seem as annoying anymore. Am I saying that we shouldn't be sad when catastrophe strikes? No way. I'm saying that having a habit of happiness means keeping things in perspective. It sharpens our definition of what constitutes a catastrophe. Major earthquake = catastrophe. Long line at the post office? Not so much. By dedicating ourselves to a way of living that makes appreciating life a priority, everything we do benefits.

We have the immense gift of being alive. Next time I'm faced with a minor setback, I want to remember this. I want to appreciate the journey. It may be the only one I get.

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When it gets so cold that iguanas are falling out of trees, I try to keep warm with memories of sunny vacations past. Like when I went to Santorini last September. I was lazy in the best possible way - just lounging by the incredible infinity pool with good books every day. Was this really me only four months ago?



Sigh.

But hey, memories aren't the only things with warming powers.  I'm anticipating the comfort of my new ergonomic chair, which is finally ready!  It took a while to put together because they are custom made.  Let's just say my back is more than ready for its arrival.  Of course, my new chair is nothing compared to Sarah Dessen's whole new office.  Talk about gorgeous!  I see that we're both enjoying the warm fuzzy effect of the sexy iMac.  My goal is to also have a real home office one day instead of this desk-against-the-wall situation.  Ah, tiny living.

So I finished watching Popular.  The writers apparently had no idea that the show would be canceled because it ended all unresolved.  What a rip-off!  Of course, the one story line I was into was the Sam/Harrison relationship.  The whole best-friends-become-lovers plot never gets old.  I'm annoyed that we never got to see them together.  I like to imagine that they were really cute as a couple.  Just as I like to imagine that the giant pile of lemons that was always in Brooke's kitchen was used to make lemonade every week, then replaced with fresh lemons.  Because would you really have all those lemons hanging around just for decorative purposes?

For now, I will warm up with some tea.  And the cupcake of the week at Crumbs, which happens to be Blueberry Cobbler.  Love blueberry cobbler.  Sending warm thoughts out to all my fellow cupcake enthusiasts!

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Here's one way to get rid of any residual 2009 badness...

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It's a week of thanks, which means that it's a good time to give back. Kind of like how my Gram always put special cookies out for everyone on Bingo night when it was her birthday, but on a larger scale. I'm talking about giving back by serving the community. I hope that my books help readers feel less alone and feel better about their lives in some small way. But there are lots of other ways I can contribute to society.

Ever since I was a kid, I've had a passion for volunteer work. I was a Girl Scout from Brownies to Leader-In-Training. In the summers, I was a candy striper. I trained as an EMT. Then Ryan White died and I knew I would be an AIDS activist. In college, I volunteered with ActionAIDS as a buddy and home helper. After I moved here, I became an educational outreach volunteer and curriculum developer for GMHC, the captain of my school's AIDS Walk team, and the arts and crafts director at a camp for kids affected by HIV and AIDS. There were a bunch of other short-term things over the years as well.

And then...I just got overwhelmed. I was teaching and writing and totally exhausted trying to do both. Something had to change. I took a hiatus from volunteering, telling myself I'd go back in a year. Five years later, I'm ready to return. I wasn't sure what my new volunteering would focus on. I thought about reading to children at the hospital or to older people at the senior center, returning to the Girl Scouts as a leader, working with Big Brothers Big Sisters, or mentoring. Then I found a wonderful organization that assists local seniors. The idea of working with them felt right. So I'm applying to be a shopper and escort, which mainly involves helping clients get to the doctor, grocery shopping, and running errands. Regular readers know that I don't do winter, but the thought of someone being unable to get out for groceries when it's cold breaks my heart. A lot of older people here are all alone. I would walk through all kinds of frozen precipitation if it means that someone will be taken care of.

Here's why I'm talking about this. If you've been thinking about volunteering, now is the time. I really regret those years I let slip away without doing more. Time can be sneaky like that. So take control. You can find volunteer opportunities in your area at Do Something or Volunteer Match. We can all find room in our lives to help make the world a better place. The world needs you.

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There's this force that drives me to always be working towards my goals. It keeps me wanting more, always moving ahead, always thinking about the next goal I want to reach before I even reach the one I'm working on. This drive is good and bad. It's good because it keeps me going, even when I don't feel like going anywhere. When you're your own boss, you have to be in charge of your own work schedule. Being an organization freak definitely helps. And loving what I do makes me excited to start working (not every day, but almost every day). Lara Zeises recently discussed this issue on her blog. It seems to be on our collective mind.

The drive is also bad, in a way. Because most of the time I'm so busy moving on to the next goal that I don't take the time to appreciate the one I've just accomplished. I always want more. I never feel like I'm doing enough.

It's strange, really. Before I signed my contract for When It Happens, I thought just getting that one book published would be enough to make me happy. Everything else after that would be a bonus. But it's not like that at all. My fourth book will be published next year and I feel like I'm somehow behind. Comparison can be dangerous. So instead of comparing myself to other authors, I try to learn from them. My favorite authors are my role models, not my competition.

Back to the collective mind. I was thinking about this stuff last weekend, kind of feeling sad about things, when I saw this tweet string on John Mayer's Twitter:

Okay. This week? We're going on a diet. All of us. But this is a diet of a different kind. We're going to regulate the habit of unhappiness.
3:52 AM Jun 22nd from TwitterBerry

We will make the conscious decision to make the most of what we have and pine for nothing. No undefinable need or vague despair. Enough!!!
3:55 AM Jun 22nd from TwitterBerry

If you don't like it, FIX IT. If you can't fix it, PLAN B it. If you like it and want more, RESPECT IT. Clean straight lines of living.
3:59 AM Jun 22nd from web

He woke me up. Why was I sitting around feeling all sad about things I want so badly that I don't have? I mean, we all get like that sometimes, but enough. No matter how bad things are, they could always be worse. And the things that I do have are pretty freaking amazing. Paul Simon said, "The thought that life could be better is woven indelibly into our hearts and our brains." It's one of my favorite lyrics. This drive connects us. It gives us hope. It makes us work towards creating a better life. As you're moving forward, just remember to take some time to appreciate everything you have and all of the wonderful things you've already accomplished. They're pretty freaking amazing, too.

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If I couldn't be a science teacher or a teen book author or a closet organizer, I would probably be an urban planner. I have serious love for New York City, especially its green architecture and parks and all the ways in which it interacts with the people living here to enhance our lives. The idea of creating a Zen space out of a desolate area is fascinating. That's why the High Line makes me so happy.



There's an old elevated subway line running from the West Village into midtown. For years it just sat there. But now it's been transformed into the High Line, a new green space with amazing views and lots of vegetation. All of the plants are indigenous, grown from preserved seeds. Trees, grasses, shrubs, and flowers were all planted around the old train tracks:



It's a sweet place to relax. I love having peaceful places like this in the middle of a busy city. It's a totally rejuvenating experience! There are lounge chairs that roll along the original rail tracks. There's a wading pool you can walk across in the summer. A huge glass wall overlooks the street below. Benches are spread out. Every little section has its own theme going on. And all of the lighting is placed along the railing to reduce the amount of light pollution, which will rock on clear nights.

Since the High Line is elevated in an area with few obstructions, the views are incredible. You can check out the awesome surrounding architecture in a way that's impossible from street level...



...or just watch sunset on the Hudson River :



Yay for reclaimed materials! Here's more info about the High Line's design and history.

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There's another pre-blog tour interview with me at Innovative Teen. Click on over to find out my favorite scenes from When It Happens and Take Me There.

The mourning doves are back! I love these guys. Their sound always mellows me out. Combined with all of the pink flowers around here, I'm totally loving spring.



Another fun spring thing is watching New Yorkers. Most of us usually walk around really quickly without looking up much. But these are the days when New Yorkers slow down a bit and take time to look up, all smiling. There's so much to notice when we look up. Cool water towers, interesting window designs, vintage print on buildings that used to be stables and printing presses and stuff.



It's a whole new way to see the city. Walking around in the spring breeze is enough for me, but some people are rejuvenating spirits by offering bouncy rides at random subway stops. They're free.

Trivia time. Did you know that "A Whiter Shade of Pale" has been the most played song in British public places over the past 75 years? Me neither. Dude, I was so obsessed with this song at one point. It was the kind of thing where, before iTunes, you had to go out and buy the whole CD for that one song you loved. In this case, it was pretty much the only good song on the CD. So worth it at the time.

Enjoy the magic of your Monday. Take some time to notice a spring thing in your world!

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Sometimes readers ask me what the hardest part about being an author is. My job has two main parts. One part has to do with the things that don't involve writing books, like blogging and social networking and writing back to readers (all of which I love, by the way). Within the writing books part, I would have to say that a few things about the process are not so easy.

One of the most challenging things about writing a book is translating feelings onto a page in a way that captures exactly what I want to say. Or transforming an image into words so that you can see exactly what I do. Parts of feelings and images are usually somehow lost when words enter the equation, so I worry about how much of these intangible qualities disappear. I don't like writing long descriptions, so the challenge is to make you feel exactly what my character is feeling with as few words as possible. Those words must be chosen very carefully.

So how do I identify which words to use? Music helps. I played the Cure over and over while I was writing When It Happens and I believe it shows in the story. There's such an intensity associated with the Cure for me. When I hear the same songs now that I obsessed over in high school, all of the emotions I want to capture come rushing back, which makes them much easier to write about. If you're feeling what you're writing instead of trying to write about a feeling you're imagining, your writing will be more authentic.

Images also work, whether they involve actually visiting a place or just visualizing it. There's something about [summer evening, sunset, warm breeze, city lights] that inspires me. This feeling doesn't have a name. It's the combination of happy and intensity and exciting and the possibility of everything. If I want to share this feeling with you in a scene, I might walk along the river and watch the streetlights and the sunset reflecting off building glass and the sky changing colors and all the windows and try to write how the experience feels. John Mayer does stuff like this, too. This is why his music enriches my life in so many ways - I get exactly what he's feeling behind his words. So it's cool to discover that our writing process is similar.

Here's something John is working on now. For inspiration, he physically put himself in the scene he was trying to write about. He calls it "California Fleetwood Mac sunset post-shower going out window down new Summer hopeful." And I know exactly what that feels like.

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So here's how they fit about 40 authors into the Biggest Teen Book Author Signing Ever yesterday at Books of Wonder. We were divided into three groups for signings. I was in the first group for 40 minutes and then I got to mingle with readers. I was seriously stoked to meet everyone.

These girls rocked the house:



I got to sign jeans! Heck yeah! This was such an excellent idea that I was kind of bummed I didn't think of it myself. My artistic skills were psyched to be used for something other than scrapbooking.

Hayley wanted me to sign her dictionary:



Her directions were to pick my favorite word, mark it, and sign. Another totally brill idea! I was like, "You know which word I'm going to pick," and she went, "Love has already been taken," and I was all, "Dang it!" So I picked peace, another quality word.

Renee was there!



She's the winner of the Waiting for You contest where I asked you guys to write part of a key scene for the book. She had the most adorable idea. I hope she likes what I did with it.

Fellow Degrassi fan Jeremy was rocking this shirt:



We were both hardcore fans of the old Degrassi. He's even been to Degrassi Street, but when I visited Toronto that street was pretty far from the main city area (same with the school they film in), so I didn't go. I asked the concierge if the Dot was a real place and was sort of laughed at. You can see half of Mitali on the left. She professionally documented the entire event, so I'm looking forward to her pics and comments.

Then I got all fangurl on Blake Nelson. I love love love his books. If you haven't read any Blake Nelson yet, I recommend starting with Girl. You will be hungry for more. We've met before and he knew who I was, so he already knows I'm a serious fan (although I'm sure I still managed to scare him with my intensity). Here's an action shot of me talking to Blake (blurry from all the action!):



Yeah, we stand around having conversations and such. We're tight like that. Sometimes we even go dancing:

I heard a rumor that we're doing this huge signing again next year, so if I didn't have a chance to see you I hope you can make it then!

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Welcome to longer daylight hours! The winter solstice was yesterday and that was the day with the least amount of daylight (about nine hours here in New York). Daylight hours will only be increasing by about two minutes per day until June 21, but those minutes will soon add up to equal happier times. Note to my plants (who are all huddled around the one window that supplies them with enough light to live): You can do this!

December 20 was Serendipity Day.  Otherwise known as Serendipity Do-Da Day.

My gourds have passed on.  I love assembling a plethora of gourds every fall.  I had these two where the bright orange stripe on one matched the bright orange of the other, who had dark green patches to match the other's dark green stripes. Coordinated gourds rock.  Also in hibernation is the Colasanti Tree.  Luckily, Eric Luper sent me the last photo of my tree before all of his leaves fell off this fall:



One way to celebrate the winter solstice involves burning a Yule log.  This ritual symbolizes welcoming in light after the darkness.  It represents entering a brighter time in life and a fresh new year (with no mistakes in it, Anne of Green Gables fans).  If you don't have a whole log with leaves wrapped around it to burn, that's okay.  You can create your own ritual by burning paper.  You know how certain negative thoughts have been bothering you this year?  Those thoughts limit you from living your ideal life.  So you can write them all down on paper, then burn the paper to represent letting go of these limiting thoughts and opening yourself up to the possibilities of everything the new year offers.  Let's bring in positive energy with the sunlight!

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I miss real cards. Remember those? The kind that used to arrive in the mail in an actual envelope with a stamp on it? There's just something about seeing someone's handwriting and holding a real card that connects you to a person in a stronger way than getting an e-card.

Now, I have definitely been known to send an e-card or five. I like those hoops&yoyo ones. But I love picking out some cool stationery, selecting which pen to use, and actually writing a real note. Last year at this time, I was all twarked up in a big snit over how everything is virtual now and no one sends real holiday cards anymore and everything is about the impersonal email approach as pseudo-connection and blah blah blah. I didn't even send out my usual holiday cards. There was sadness involved.

This year, I've taken it back. I want to reconnect like back in the day (which wasn't even that long ago). I want to spread the love. So I sent out my holiday cards. They are very real. Plus, they have glitter, and the world absolutely needs more glitter.

Long live real cards!

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Best.

Day.

Ever.

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Back in the day, I got sick of dreading all of the impending havoc that Friday the 13th inevitably wreaked.  So I decided that Friday the 13th was going to be my lucky day from now on.  And guess what?  It is!  May you also feel the power of this lucky day.

In case you haven't heard the big news yet, Laurie Halse Anderson received the 2008 ALAN Award!  Laurie is one of the most amazing authors and people I know.  She deserves nothing but happy things with sparkles on them, and this definitely qualifies!  You can read about her most excellent honor here.  Congrats to Laurie for reaching out to so many teens and making this world a better place.

Your lucky day may be rapidly approaching.  There's only one week left to enter my contest to win signed copies of When It Happens and Take Me There, plus have some of your writing published in my next book.  Check out the contest rules and enter soon!

Current Netflix viewing:  All three seasons of Degrassi Junior High, in preparation for seeing Degrassi:  The Next Generation.  And also because I think it totally rules that I can have a Degrassi Junior High marathon 20 years later.  The show was new when I was in junior high and, the dedicated PBS viewer that I was, really spoke to me.  I even got to attend a private screening of new episodes and give feedback to the producers.  Channel Thirteen selected some junior high school newspaper editors in the Tri-State area and I was one of them.  So there's love here.

Last week or so I wrote about how perfectly Freaks & Geeks portrays the horror of gym class, especially with picking teams.  Here's that clip, in which it is not Bill Haverchuck's lucky day.

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Is it just me, or is May zooming by at an alarming rate?  Same with 2008, which is suddenly almost half over.  Wild times.

Today at The Compulsive Reader, I am the guest blogger!  I decided to write about creative visualization, which is something that's been with me since I was little and didn't even realize what it was.  It's helped me get through some really hard times.  And since it's also the title of my blog, I thought you might want to know what creative visualization means to me.

Tirzah's contest winners will be announced next Thursday, so check out The Compulsive Reader's simple contest entry deets to win copies of When It Happens and Take Me There (found at the end of her book review).  The deadline to enter is next Wednesday.

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I was one of those teens who hated their small town in the middle of nowhere and couldn't wait to live in the big city.  People would say how pretty my town was, with the hills and the woods and the cows and blah blah blah, but I was so over it.  (Funny how I'm into all that now, though).  Even so, there were a few things I liked about rural living.  Fireflies.  Visible stars.  And mourning doves.



Mourning doves make a really specific sound that you would recognize.  And here in New York, mourning doves have set up shop.  Luckily, some mourning doves like to chill in my courtyard.  My bedroom windows are right above them and I get to hear their hooing in the morning.  And lots of other times during the day.  But they like to do their hooing sounds at dawn and it's a very Zen moment.  Except for the other morning, when a mourning dove pressed himself up against my window screen in a tizzy and was all like, "Hooo-OOOHH-oooh!" with some serious volume.  I jolted awake in a panic that I'd have to deal with a bird in my apartment, but that wasn't the case.  Now he and a friend like to perch on the fire escape.  When I stare at them, they just stare back.

How much I love hearing mourning doves made me think about happiness in general.  Like how some people are all about the little things (me), while others are into large-scale fun times (still me).  And how happiness can actually be quantified.  Tal Ben-Shahar teaches a happiness course at Harvard and offers six tips for happiness.  His research shows that the most important factor in being happy is friendship, followed by health.  Which is so true, since we all know that material things do not make us happy for very long.  Well, maybe except for the sexy iPhone, but I don't have one so how would I know?

A happiness equation has been formulated, which can be basically represented as HAPPINESS = REALITY / EXPECTATION.  Jodi Picoult references this in her brilliant Nineteen Minutes.  I'm one of those people with really high expectations.  Maybe they're too high.  But I like how my expectations drive me to always be working toward the next goal, always be creating something better.  I never forget that anything is possible.  And that makes me happy.

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