There will be no pictures.

There will be no video.

Because packing and moving has magically sucked out all my humor, good times, and maybe a small percent of my soul. I’m SUPER pumped about the new house, the year long lease in Nashville, and all things 2009.  Just moving.  Ugh.  It’s a killer.

So instead of some highly sarcastic and unkind video blogging, I’ll give you a home tour in the near future. It will probably change your life.  I’m influential like that.

Until then, enjoy this video explaining some great things about Nashville. I agree with Matt 4/5 of time. Especially that last one… mmmmm…… delicious….

Have a great weekend.

absolutely must have this.

It’s Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers’ Market Guide for 2009.

Talk about a hard workin’ lady- “for 24 years running, the Christian Writers’ Market Guide has remained the most comprehensive, complete, essential, and highly-recommended resource for beginning and veteran Christian writers, agents, editors, publishers, publicists, and those teaching writing classes.”

It includes-

* more than 1,200 markets for the written word
* 416 book publishers (32 new)
* 654 periodicals (52 new)
* 96 literary agents
* 100 new listings in Resources for Writers
* 226 poetry markets
* 316 photography markets
* 25 African-American markets
* and 166 contests (29 new)

So.  Being that I am, you know, trying to get published, and you know, trying to make a living at being a writer, the 2009 edition has already come in ridiculously handy.

You can purchase your own copy HERE.  And for realz, y’all.  I just looked at the price and that is WAY CHEAPER than I paid in 2006, 2007, and 2008.  Yes, I own them all.  Back off.

I get a lot of emails from y’all wanting to:

a) be a better writer
b) know how to get started being a writer
c) hear how Nashville is treatin’ me

And this book will TOTALLY help you with A and B.

As for C, I’m socially exhausted.  Dear musicians and crew, I love you.  I really do.  But please.  Do me a favor and go back out on the road.  You are SLAP WEARING ME OUT. [And I'm having a blast.]

So, my future writer friends, go buy the Market Guide- it is a GREAT first step to furthering your career, as well as a great tool for folks already in the industry.

Tomorrow I am moving to a house where there will be GASP no internet until Wednesday!!!  So I’ll try to blog and keep you updated (I mean, I gotta keep Frothy in biz-nass)- maybe a video and a few pics.  We’ll see. 

Here it is!  Yay!

A few comments about this picture- yes, my face is really red, mainly because of how Mac camera lighting works.  And, well, because I have on a turtle neck and Frothy is FULL OF PEOPLE so it’s a little toasty.  Secondly, I know it’s time to paint my nails again.  Sheesh. Back off.  Thirdly, I know this is dorky to do, but Betsy is sitting with me and I warned her first.  I don’t know why that makes it less dorky, but maybe it does.

Here’s Jason reading a little blurb I wrote about his job.

Oh, I guess I failed to mention that as soon as I printed the book out, I drove around to all my friends and made them look at it.  That’s just how I roll, yo. [He's wearing a Hanson shirt. Do you love that or do you love that? They actually are still cool, by the way.]

Now, if you haven’t been in a coma for the last year or so, then you know that the economy is not in the “best shape” per say.  And that is DEEPLY affecting the publishing industry.  So.  Just because the book is written DOES NOT mean I’m about to get rich and famous and be on the Today Show.  [Though if they call, of course, I'll answer.]

The victory is NOT in getting rich.  The victory has already happened- God wrote a story and let me be a little part of it.  And now that story is 191 pages long and is sitting beside me at Frothy.

I mail it to California tomorrow and then wait.  Maybe for a long time.  Maybe forever.  We can pray for God to do miraculous things with it [and I hope you do] but please know that I am TOTALLY blessed to just have been a part of the process.  I told a friend today that if nothing happens with this book, I’m still changed forever because of the hand of God in my life, specifically in this writing process.

So now I move on to writing other things and editing and doing whatever it takes to make enough dough that I can keep living this unbelievably awesome life that I currently have.

Thanks for loving me through this process.  I think this is the last you’ll hear of my sweet little book until something awesome happens.  But feel free to ask about it at any time- just go to the Contact page and send me a line- it won’t bug me.

You bloggites rule.  For realz.

By the way, I should have NEVER said “I promise” at the end of that last post.

That was dishonest and I apologize.

You know I spent time in Waco, TX this weekend and, this won’t shock you, I spent a large chunk of my money time at a local coffee shop called Common Grounds.  I’m second degree friends with the owner, Jill.  [You know, my friend is friends with her... so second degree.]

And this morning Kat asked me to directly compare Common Grounds and Frothy Monkey.

**Before this post continues, please remember that all the opinions expressed on this here blog belong to this here blogista.  And it is okay if you disagree with me.  And it is okay if you agree with me.  And it is okay if you agree to disagree with me.**

Common Grounds gets one big point for the weather last weekend.  Agreed, they had NOTHING to do with the weather, but it was just super nice to sit outside with my chai, wearing flip flops, and read my book club book.

Frothy, on the other hand, is located in Nashville, which presently, I’m wearing a long sleeve shirt, turtle neck sweater, and pea coat, sitting under 2 blankets.  So yeah, it’s cold.

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Common Grounds has a really REALLY cool vibe.  Almost akin to the Fido vibe, which you know I am not cool enough to pull off.  Oh, but I want to be.  Real bad.

Frothy loves me as I am, while still remaining very cool and trendy.  Frothy is like your super cool older brother who is the star football player but still gives you a ride to school.  Common Grounds is your older brother’s best friend, who hangs out at your house and knows your name, but he is so cool that he still makes you a little nervous.

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The outside of Common Grounds has some great seating and a stage for musicians to perform.  I bet that it is amazing in the fall when Texas starts to cool off.  [Does Texas ever cool off?]

Frothy does have tables outside, but they aren’t comfy and cutesy.  Just metal tables and chairs.

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Common Grounds makes a delicious chai.

So does Frothy.

[Can I take this moment to say that I miss my non-fat white chocolate mocha, stirred, with no whip?  Cause I do.  I'm a tea drinker now, but that doesn't mean I don't miss the good ole days of coffee consumption.]

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Common Grounds is in Waco.

Frothy is in Nashville.  [And I live in Nashville, just in case you needed to understand why that earns Frothy a point.]

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We ran into our friend Sean [he runs an awesome non-profit called Falling Whistles] and got to hang with him a little bit at Common Grounds.

Today at Frothy I saw Seth, Skip, Chris, Greg, Rachael, Molly, Nicole, Krista, Rusty, and Mary Katherine.

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Common Grounds is the very best coffee shop that Waco has to offer.  Great drinks, great atmosphere, totally cool vibe, lots of couches and chairs, and a rad place to go hear a show.

But Frothy Monkey stole my heart five months ago and I’ve always been a one-coffee-shop kind of gal.  Just ask Jittery Joe’s.  [deep sigh... I miss you, Athens, Georgia.]

To answer your question Kat, while I do agree that Common Grounds is awesome, Frothy is still #1 to me.

Congrats, Frothy Monkey.  You have won one of the most unimportant awards in the world- Annie’s List of Favorites.

So here’s my question to y’all-

What’s your favorite coffee shop in your city?

[And you can SO say Starbucks, because there is something quite beautiful about the consistency it offers across the globe.  I don't judge you.]

So you may remember I was attempting to write 30,000 words in 30 days.

And you may recall that about a week ago I was struggling with Chapter 7.

After a long week of staring at the computer screen, and a great weekend in Waco, I came back and settled down at Frothy Monkey yesterday, ready to turn out those last few pages.

And they didn’t come.  For two hours, I sat.  Frustrated, head in hands, I seriously did not know what to do.  Until a friend walked up and, in our conversation, he gave me some great insight and a really wise plan of attack.

ASK OTHER PEOPLE HOW TO FINISH THE BOOK.

He’s a genuis.  I’m an idiot.

So I sent an email to a bunch of wise folks in my life and then headed to hang with some married couple friends.  Sitting on the couch, we talked out the problem I was facing.  For hours.

I left, headed to Portland Brew (because Frothy closes early), checked my email and started to write.

At 7:32pm, I finished the book.

Or I guess I should say “We finished the book”.

Because without the dude at Frothy, my friends and their couch, and the emails, it would not be done.

I don’t really know how to pay each of them back, exactly.  But I will figure it out.  Cause that’s how I roll, y’all.

I’m short on time, but I just wanted you to know what God did yesterday- through people that I love and who are loving me enough to push me across the finish line.

What next with ye old finished book?  It gets mailed to an agent in California and we all pray like crazy that some publishing house picks it up, publishes it, and you actually get to read the 50,000 words “we” have written.

Now that the book is done, I can return to being the blogista you have come to know and love. Instead of this crazy girl that only posts once every five days.  [Yikes.  That makes the blog-lover in me throw up a little bit.]  But I really am going to try to get back on the bloggy train.  Oh, and I’m also moving to a new house this weekend, so a video tour is surely in your near future. And maybe some video of watching my friends Jason and Skip move all my junk.  That could be funny.

Off to a celebratory lunch with Betsy and Annie Parsons.  Yay!

More blogging to come later today… I promise.

I need a break.

A break from writing.  Even though this last chapter is going to slay me.

A break from my computer.  Even though I love me some twitter and facebook and email and blogs.

A break from my finances.  Even though I’m not sure how to pay the bills.

A break from my own issues.  Even though they beg for attention fairly constantly.

So I’m going to Texas.  To this conference with some Nashville friends.

I’m going to drive through Arkansas and look out the window at a state I’ve never seen before.  I’m going to wear flip flops and write in my journal and raise my hands to worship and eat Mrs. Murphy’s homemade granola and do all manner of things not involving my book or my blog or my bills or my worries.

So I’ll see you later.  Have a great weekend.

While I’m in a fight with this last chapter.

I just can’t write it.

But I have to write it.

So we’re in a fight.

My stomach, while not completely healed, is on the mend- just in time for Chp. 7 to pick a fight with me.

[I talked to my doctor yesterday and we're going to fix the ole tummy right up.  Thanks for all your sweet and super educated comments.  Who needs webmd when you have bloggites?]

I’ve finished Chps. 0-6 and Chps. 8-12, but ole Chp. 7 is being a real stinker.

Which is funny because 7 is my favorite number.

So pray, will ya?

On a side note, I made cheese grits for breakfast and one of the grits jumped out of the boiling pot directly into my eye.

And there is a glimpse into the life of Annie.  You’re welcome.

Back to my word document.  Watch your back, Chp. 7.  I’m coming after you.

Poor Jamie.

You should all feel really sorry for her.  I mean, not because there is something wrong with her, per say.  Except her living situation.

Namely having to live with me.

Because in the last month or so, while I’ve been staying up super late, writing for hours a day, and thinking about my book pretty much constantly, my brain has had space for little else.

Things like, oh I don’t know, cleaning up after myself, doing the dishes, and removing my clothes from the dryer…. for example.

So Jamie has been single-handedly running our home, which is less than fair.  And there is no good excuse I have.  I mean, I could pull the “creative” card, or the “working the hardest I’ve worked in my life” card, but none of them make up for me leaving dishes in the sink for two days, rushing home from church thinking, “Oh man, I better do those dishes RIGHT NOW or Jamie will do them and I’ll feel terrible”.

Only to find that Jamie already did my dishes.  And took out the trash.  And vacuumed.

Sheesh.

I’m not always like this.  [no comments from former roommates will be approved.] It’s just that when I prioritize my time, a large amount of things come before cleaning.  I’m really good at prioritizing, just not so good at prioritizing correctly.

I fully recognize that it is way uncool to be roommates with someone who is creative and messy and too laid back.  And maybe “inconsiderate” should be in that list too.  Maybe.

So this post is a public apology to Jamie for having to live with me this month.  We’ve moving houses on Feb. 1 and I’m here to say that I’m really going to try to learn to balance my creative laid back side with the side of me that cleans up.  Cause contrary to what you have seen recently, Jamie, I really do have a clean up side.

I apologized in person, in text, and on the phone.  She’s totally cool and accepted my apology.  And sure, this may be “over doing it” a smidge, but you did not see the pile of dishes I left.  Let’s just say I made seven layer dip and used at least one bowl for each layer.  Yikes-a-rama.

But the dip was delicious.

First of all, wow.  I got me some wise readers out there.  If you haven’t caught up on the comments from the last post, you should.  Cause your fellow bloggites are GOOD.

Now let me tell you about the fight I am in.

With my digestive system.

[And let me reassure you that I am not going to give any details that might give you your own digestive system issues.  It's not one of those kinds of situations.]

It just seems, that for about the last ten days, my stomach and I are on two different teams.  Seriously.  Which is weird because usually?  Ye old stomach is far happier with my decisions than ye old hips.  Stomach and I have been buds, amigos, pals, comrades.

Until recently, when every food related decision seems to need to be a counter attack in some war I never agreed to fight.  I think it began during the reign of Nanny McAnnie and there is still no white flag of tummy surrender.  Here are the symptoms:

I wake up FAMISHED.  Like, “feed me now or I swear I will start eating your spine and you will be 2 inches shorted in a matter of minutes” kind of hungry. Sometimes I heed the warning and other times, well, to be honest, I just have other things I’d rather do with my time than eat, so I put it off.

So I’m now 4 feet 11 inches.

Kidding.

If I don’t eat, the hunger goes away for about an hour and then comes back so ferociously that I think there is an absolute chance my stomach may kill me from the inside.  So I feed it.

Whenever I eat, be it right when I wake up or upon the life threatening second warning, I have a good 7-8 minutes of complete normalcy.

Then the cramping begins.  And I was explaining it to Betsy last night like this- it feels like someone is taking my stomach and looping, pulling, and knotting it into a man’s tie.  Or crocheting a stomach scarf.  Something really severe and tightening.

As a matter of fact, yesterday at Frothy I finally had to lay my head on the table and grip my ailing tummy region just to attempt to not pass out from the immense pain.

[Oh. The. Drama.]

The saddest part of that story being that in my heart, I really love egg, cheese, and turkey ….

[Wait a minute.

Cheese.

If this is the onset of lactose intolerance, I swear to everything soy I will be so mad. Because if I have one constant companion in my life besides Jesus, it is dairy.]

So anyways, those ingredients on an everything bagel are usually bliss to my soul.  But not this week.

I spend half the day STARVING and half the day in deep amounts of belly pain.  So that makes me not want to eat.  So that makes the beast that apparently lives in me an angry little thing.  A vicious cycle of pain.  The cycle repeats at every meal, which since this fight began has only been 1-2 times a day cause I just don’t want to fight.

Hear that, stomach?  I don’t want to fight you. Sheesh.  So here it is, Saturday morning, and I can not bring myself to eat because I want to have a fun morning.  Yet I am so very hungry.

Let me distract myself with sending you a few places:

Probably everyone else you read has already sent you here, but please go read about Kelly and pray for her sweet baby.

Also, I’m kind of addicted to my friend Andy’s current series on his blog called “Why Guys Aren’t Asking You Out”.  Not that I relate to the issue [ahem], he just does a really great job of explaining how you can be praying for the single guys AND single girls in your life.

And if you don’t have any single girls in your life- hi.  My name is Annie.  I’m always up for additional prayers in this department.

Mel did an awesome job yesterday of video blogging about how to tie a scarf. I actually demonstrated some of her moves at a party last night.  Not dance moves, scarf moves.  [I demonstrated my dance moves too, don't you worry about that.  Yay-uh!]

Also, a quick writing update- I only have about 5,000 words left!  Can y’all believe that?  Yeah, me neither.  Please pray for this next week as I complete the manuscript and proposal and stick those puppies in the mail.

Now I’m off to map out today’s battle plan for Annie v. Tummy 09.

Wish me luck.  Or mail me Tums.  Whatevs.

Yesterday I sat at Fido with a friend and we discussed hearing the voice of God.

[For you Nash-people, I am fully aware that I am nowhere near cool enough to frequent Fido. But my friend is definitely cool enough to be there, so they didn't ask me to leave.]

We talked about how challenging it is to hear God sometimes, how (honestly) unsure it can be, and how working out our salvation isn’t always the easiest thing to do.

She said something to this effect, so I’m going to paraphrase instead of quote:

Hearing the voice of God and living out of that reality is like flirting in public- everyone sees it and knows that it’s going to go one of two ways- you either succeed or fail.

[Sometimes when my non-writer friends say profound things like this, it makes me realize that everyone could do my job.]

The reality is, you either have heard the Lord correctly or you haven’t.  For example, though this has never happened to me of course, sometimes a person [let's call her Shmannie] think the Lord has shown her who she is going to marry.  And then two years later Shmannie sits at the wedding of that exact person, laughing in her head and weeping in her heart just a little bit.

Not because of the marriage, but because it is scary to think that you can’t hear God.  Or that you heard God wrong.  And it brings so many fears and questions to the surface.

And there is no resolution to this- I think that this is exactly what “working our salvation out” looks like.  At least it does for me.

The truth is that flirting in public is really scary because you have no idea how the other person really feels about you.  In contrast, when we are trying to hear God, we already know how He feels about us, so some of the internal pressure is gone.  But it’s that external pressure, all the eyes and ears who watch you try to live according to what you’ve heard, that make failure a scary reality.  The ones who make you feel like if you flirt in public and don’t get a date, the issue is you and your flirty-skillz.

Somehow these words deserve to be in this post, but I don’t know where or how: Brave. Grace. Risk. Worth it. Complicated. Love. Simple.

So I have no clean ending to this one- it really is just me trying to think through how to help a couple of my friends who want to hear God desperately but maybe aren’t having the easiest of times with it right now.  I know God’s heart for them, I know that He doesn’t make it hard to know Him, I know that He wants us to hear Him FAR more than we want to hear Him.  So I’m praying and asking Him to make these verses true in the lives of the people who have open ears.

Jeremiah 33:3

‘Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.‘

Isaiah 30:21

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Your thoughts?  What do you tell someone who is struggling to hear God?

I’m all ears.