NYC Midnight, Sami and Rafe

Posted on by Jennifer Heller

In an exhilarating turn of events, one of my New York City Midnight Flash Fiction Micro Challenge stories made it to the next round!!

They picked my favorite of my submissions (and possibly the only good one).  Inspired by the Sami-Rafe-Fake Rafe story line on Days of Our Lives, and lacking a closing period to fit into 100 characters:

“I’ll stand guard.” She knew he would, that she could count on him. It was the impostor she detested

Pretty good, right? Who could blame them for choosing me?

Now it’s up to my good friends on the Internet to catapult me to the next level!

Vote for me! (it’s over now…)

And now some ridiculously gratuitous Sami and Rafe photos and trivia:

Sometimes they just can't keep their hands off of each other. The first time Sami slept with Fake Rafe (the imposter), she felt like it was "the first time."

This scene included product placement for Chex Mix. Mmmm.

The portmaneau for Sami and Rafe is "Safe". Ridiculous eh?

Continue Reading

I hate Sandy so much, and maybe now she will be nicer to me.

Originally Written on August 4, 1993
Posted on by Jennifer Heller

I don’t know what it is. I’m using green pen! Maybe it’s the light.

Steve is fine. I can’t believe the guy Sandy likes, likes me! I hate Sandy so much, and maybe now she will be nicer to me. Or not. I miss Becky. Sandy could get the rest of the popular group to actually stop bugging me! How Cool! Then again she could get them to start bugging me even more! Then again she could get them to start bugging me even more! Then I wish I could go up to them and say: “Get off my back.” Real firm like. Of course I couldn’t. Maybe I could get Steve on them.

Catcha Later! Continue Reading

New York Midnight’s Flash Fiction Micro Contest

Posted on by Jennifer Heller

Once in a while I daydream of a life where I’m a full-time writer.  It’s when I’m not daydreaming of being a sculptor or a talk show host.

New York Midnight’s Flash Fiction Micro Contest found me in one of those moments, and without blinking an eyelash signed right up.

Contestants were asked to submit three 100 character stories today.  Each entry had to feature a particular word, and we received that word at roughly 9am (my time) this morning.  Entries were due at twelve hours later at 11:59 EST.

After I signed up I started thinking about it…100 characters.  That’s less than a tweet!  By 40 characters!!  They obviously picked the length so that people could tweet their stories…smart.

Today faced with my word (“stand”) and a jam-packed day I got to thinking about the task at hand.  What is a story?  How can you fit a story in 100 characters?

Luckily I’d already discussed it with my best friend G. who’s an editor by trade and a voracious reader.  She assured me that it was possible to write a story in a sentence, and that the best ones she had read were less-action packed and insinuated a larger and often obscure background story.  I got that last tip too late to really incorporate it into my stories.

I didn’t have much time, but got to work.  Continue Reading

I keep wishing that Steve would give me a dedication on Wild 107.7.

Originally Written on August 3, 1993
Posted on by Jennifer Heller

Wonderful!  I am writing with the 10-color pen Sara gave me!  It’s cool.  You know what Becky said?  Sandy likes Steve!  She is one of my lifelong enemies!  Sandy likes the guy that likes me!  I hope Steve asks me out.  That way I have the guy Sandy wants.  How cool!  I’m not trying to be mean or anything but she was so mean to me!  I think we will be even!  I swear that’s so cool!  Sandy will finally admire me.  I hope!

My birthday party is on Saturday.  2 people already can’t come!  It’s horrible.

Later on:  I keep wishing that Steve would give me a dedication on Wild 107.7.  It’s so crazy, I know your:….I forgot.  Steve is cute.  I mean really cute.  I think he’s fine.  But I’m not really in love or anything, but having him want to ask me out made me like him.  It’s cookoo I know, but I don’t care. Continue Reading

Today I'm 30

Posted on by Jennifer Heller

18 years ago today I turned twelve.  The night before I wrote about how grateful I was for everything in my life. When I read that entry as I posted it I had to laugh out loud; just a few nights ago I wrote a very similar entry in my current diary about how grateful I am for everything in my life.

In particular, I’m grateful that I’m thirty. I found my twenties to be full of growing pains.  Add to that the ominous quality one’s thirtieth birthday tends to have and I am just glad it’s over.  I’m sure that there will be growing pains in the future as I continue to work to expand my business (so much harder than I thought!) and my family. We’re looking forward to adding a dog and, someday, a baby or two.

My twenties were full of life lessons.  How can I ensure I pay my bills on time and stop shelling out for late fees?  How can I balance my wonderful and fun social life with my often neglected need for alone time?  How can I be my own boss and force myself to come through when I really don’t want to and prioritize projects appropriately?

How can I be okay with my changing body and love myself anyway?  How can I be okay with my changing needs and desires and love myself anyway?  How can I just plain love myself when there’s always so much more I could be or accomplish?

As I list these I realize that they are and will continue to be questions that plague my life.  But I think that the #1 thing I’ve learned is to chill out, or in the words of 12-year-old me, take a chill pill.

This is my lifetime and I’m going to enjoy it, damnit. Continue Reading

In one hour I will be 12! I LOVE MY LIFE!!!

Originally Written on August 2, 1993
Posted on by Jennifer Heller

In one hour I will be 12!  I LOVE MY LIFE!!!  I swear it!  I’m 12 (almost).  My room is clean.  My closet is organized.  My parents are wonderful.  I have the cutest sister in the world, who just gave me a $25 poster that I have been wanting forever!  My parents are giving me a $97 phone (I hope!)

I LOVE MY LIFE!!!  The only thing that’s wrong with it is that my best friend isn’t here to share it with me.  And that Steve isn’t my boyfriend! yet!  I am working on it.  Okay, so I’m not, but I will be!  This whole entry must sound corny but it’s how I feel! Continue Reading

Jenfest 2011: The Souvenirs

Posted on by Jennifer Heller

Every year I have a Jenfest souvenir.  Some years they don’t look much like something you would want to keep (like the personalized JENGO cards from last year) or the autographed photo of my silly headshot from 2003. But some of them are pretty awesome like the Jentrification bottle caps from 2008 or the match books from 2007.

This year I had thrown in the towel on the Jenfest souvenir tradition.  I just didn’t have any inspiration.  Thankfully, my friend Corrie did.  She said that bar hops are really fun when people all have matching mardi gras beads.

Fun!!  A google search found me extra plastic discs that I could personalize and attach.  Under budget and a fun souvenir!

As usual when Jenfest is concerned I got a little crazy-eyed and probably made too many. Oooh well.

My sister Alexandra helped me create the souvenirs until late last night. She also learned how to spell the word souvenir along the way.

Join us tonight at Jenfest 2011 The Bad Hair North Oakland Romp and take one home!!  Or just see me sometime in the next ten years and get an extra.  You can pick up one of the 2009 beer cap magnets while you’re at it. Continue Reading

I wish Steve would call tonight. I wouldn’t mind. Even if he wakes me up!

Originally Written on August 1, 1993
Posted on by Jennifer Heller

2 more days!  I am not really excited about being twelve.  The only thing that is happening is my phone.  And my party.  I’m going to have a movie party.  We will see “Coneheads”, come back and have pizza, not a big deal.

My present from Mom and Dad is the phone.  Nothing else.  Sara is giving me the poster from the Nature Co.  It’s of a underwater scene.

We haven’t gotten the phone bill yet, so how much I spent talking to Becky.  I hope it was reasonable.

Tomorrow we are going to copy the invitations, which I made myself, Thank you!  And mail them.  They will be late but, Oh well!  My party’s on Saturday.  This Saturday.

I wish Becky was here when I’m bored.  I have to be bored.  I can’t be bored on the phone with her, it sucks!

I wish Steve would call tonight.  I wouldn’t mind.  Even if he wakes me up!  I really like him.  He’s cute, he’s popular, he’s funny, he’s very popular and he’s nice.  What isn’t there to like?

TAA! Continue Reading

I've long been coveting a carnivorous plant

Posted on by Jennifer Heller

Last summer I visited a shop in Stinson Beach and got to talking to the shop owner.  His work space was surrounded by a few carnivorous plants.  I expressed my surprise that he was keeping them inside and would want such terrifying plants so close by*.  He said that you wouldn’t believe how many bugs they catch–bugs that he doesn’t have to hang out with in his workspac

Well, I didn’t think that there were that many bugs to catch in my workplace.  I noted his eccentrities and moved on.

But every since I notice dozens of bugs a day!!  And every time I see (or hear) one I covet his carnivorous plants silently chugging along to do their part in making a peaceful workplace.    Continue Reading