Monday, September 8, 2008

I Dream Of....


by Jeanne Adams

As many of you know, my name is Jeanne. What you may not know is that it's pronounced like the Jeannie from "I Dream of Jeannie" fame. I've gotten a lot of jokes over the years about that, by the way. I even got one belligerent fellow who insisted that he should be allowed to call me "Jean" because that's how he thought Jeanne should be pronounced. I let him live to see sunrise, but just barely. And, of course, I refused to answer to something that was NOT my name. Ha! My standard tag line, when asked about the pronunciation, is "pronounced as if it had an i, but spelled without it"

Why, you ask? Because my parents thought that Jean was well, Jean. But Jean-ne, should be said, Jeannie. With me so far? Okay, never mind.

Anyway, my naming foibles aren't what I really wanted to chat about today. I wanted to talk about wishes. I got the I Dream Of Jeannie thing the other day and someone said, "I wish you WERE a Jeannie, then I could get three wishes!"

Well, being a writer, that got me to thinkin'...yeah, you knew THAT was coming. VBGrins. I recently saw the movie The Secret. In it, they talk about the Universe being like a Genie in a Bottle. "Your Wish is My Command!" is the mantra of the universe, according to the secret. Or, that the Universe is like a big copy machine, whatever you focus on, you get more of...so, if you give the Universe an example of a great life, you get more of a great life. You give the Universe the example of misery, you get more misery...

Gosh, I'm REALLY getting off track today. BACK to the subject which is, believe it or not, WISHES.

If I could wave my magic Jeannie wand, wiggle my Bewitched nose, and or come smokin' out of my bottle and grant you three wishes, what would they be?

We're going to assume World Peace and an end to World Hunger and all that, what would you want for YOU??

Let's get personal here...publishing contract? Sell at auction? The right adverb? (Is there such a thing?) A unicorn? Nick Stokes from CSI? WAIT...that's mine. Sorry...

C'mon, what are YOUR three wishes? Oh, and would you ever change your name? Tabitha, anyone?

111 comments:

Christie Kelley said...

Did I get him again?

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Woo-hoo! Christie! You did! I'm the late-post-queen today, so you were in perfect time to snag the chook.

Margay Leah Justice said...

My three wishes?

1. That my younger daughter didn't have to suffer from bipolar disorder and Asperger's Syndrome.

2. That there was no such thing as autoimmune diseases so I didn't have Multiple Sclerosis, my sister didn't have Crohn's and my mother and brother didn't have diabetes.

3. That I could hit the New York Times' best seller list. Hey, a girl's gotta have one wild dream in there.

Christie Kelley said...

All right! I need that GR today. I'm trying to sand and get some painting done and he'll keep the kitten occupied all day. Now he might be missing a few feathers tomorrow, so whoever gets him will need to treat him well.

Woohoo!!! Jeanne, I really have to thank you for posting late. It's the only time I can grab the GR for a visit.

Three wishes...the first is really easy: Finish the house.

Of course two would be a nice competitive contract at auction.

Number three? Now that's a little harder. I think it would be that my boys have a good life.

Susan Sey said...

Hi, Jeanne! I totally get the name thing, though as a Susan I rarely get misprounced. (I have gotten, on several occasions, "Season?" To which I reply, slowly, "SUSAN." I never understand that.)

Anyway, regarding my wish? I wish it was easier for me to write a really good book. You know, as if there were some cumulative effect to writing several books--not only would each one get better, but they'd get easier to write, too. Like exercise. You sweat, it pays off. In my experience, I may sweat buckets over one book, then go to start the next only to discover that I'm still a talentless hack with no idea how to write a book.

Or at least that's how it feels.

I'd wish that away. Yeah.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Whew! Margay, if I had that on my plate, I'd be wishin' for a magic wand too! Wow. Congrats to YOU for being strong and cheerful and writing toward publication in the most positive genre there is. You are one strong woman and if I could shake your hand I would. Go YOU! ;) *cybershake* There. Go get 'em, girlfriend!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Christie! Great wishes. I'd love that for my boys too. And the nice competitive contract...

As to the "finish the house" part, I'm not even gettin' started. Urg. It takes forever to get through a major remodel, doesn't it? We did the kitchen two year ago and I still don't think I'm recovered!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

HSi Season...I mean Susan. Heehee. Why the heck would anyone think you were named Season? I know people name thier kids Pear and Summer, and Autumn, but Season?

Sigh. I bet the Seyfarth part throws people though.

As to your wishes...oh, can I have that one too? Who was it that said, I don't like to write, but I love having written? I can't remember, Hemingway maybe, but THAT's a feeling I know.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

That should have been "Hi" btw, not Hsi!

Margay Leah Justice said...

Thank you, Jeanne! I have to tell you that part of my secret is communities like this blog where it is just so fun to hang out and the people are so great, you always remember what a gift life really is. I try to focus on that more than anything else.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Well Margay, I think YOU have the secret! ha! Stay positive and focus on the good stuff, right? Like I said, GO YOU!

Trish Milburn said...

Margay, I'll echo Jeanne -- kudos to you for persevering and having a good attitude when faced with so much.

Christie, it seems like your house remodel has taken forever. And I'm not even there dealing with it.

Okay, three wishes just for me:

1. A fabulous book contract that would allow my hubby to quit his job.

2. The ability to travel whenever we wanted to without having to consider the cost.

3. A house on the Gulf Coast that could withstand any hurricane. Speaking of which, if any of you are in the path of Ike, be safe!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Wow, Trish, I like your wishes a LOT. I'd love the same, but I'd change the locale of the house. Grins. It would have to be in the mountains, not at the beach. But to travel, unfettered by cost? WOW wouldn't that be fun.

Where would you go first?

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Oh, and I second that wish for safety for anyone in Ike's path!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Good morning Jeanne! hey Christie...good nab on the GR!

Three wishes huh?

1. A book contract...one that will spawn a career whereby I could go part-time at the hospital (part-time is part of the whole deal with the Universe I made not to quit nursing if I sell) and have a maid!

2. To lose 65#' (enough said)

3. To see all my kids have good lives and happy children

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hi Suz! Glad to know we won't lose your fab-o nursing skills when NY comes calling.

Losing #s...oh, yeah. That's a great wish for most of us.

A maid. Yep. I could go for that too.

Trish Milburn said...

I don't know where I'd go first, Jeanne, perhaps New England this fall. Never been up there. I'd just love to take a big ol' road trip seeing all the places in the U.S. I've not seen and not have to worry about the time and money involved in doing so.

Suz's mention of a maid made me think -- I don't so much want a maid as a gardener and a chef. :)

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Yep, a chef would be good. Not full time, but maybe once a week or so...oh, yeah. :>

I so want to go to New England in Fall as well. My sons want to take a month one summer after my DH retires and rent an RV and do the "ultimate road trip." They want to travel to a bunch of baseball parks. I'm game as long as I get some fun in there too...Grins.

Hellie Sinclair said...

Three wishes:

1) My own HEA with someone really hunky, sexy, chivalrous, and fun.

2) NYT's bestseller (I'll just pick that one--because to be this, you had to have the publishing contract, et al...*LOL*)

3) Have enough money so I didn't have to work here. *LOL* And I could just live on my little private island, drink mai-tais, and relax under the Caribbean sun

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Ooh, MsHellion! Lurve those wishes!

Since I have found my HEA with the most wonderful man on the planet, I wish that for you too. :> Trust me, having kissed a LOT of frogs, I finally found my handsome prince. I have faith that yours is out there for you too! (This is partly to say that hey, if I can find it when I really didn't believe it existed, you can too! Grins!)

Can I come visit you and have a Mai Tai, so that I can say I knew you when?

Cassondra said...

Omigosh Margay, those three wishes would top anyone's list. I know I'm not the first to say "you're amazing," but...YOU ARE AMAZING! To stay positive and move forward in your writing career, with a goal of hitting the LIST--WOOOT!

Okay all my whining now seems way petty and I want some of your enthusiasm and "grab life by the buns and go for it" attitude!

Okay my three..lessee.

1)Like Christie, I want to finish my house and landscape my yard

2)I want to sell, but I want it to be because I write books that really move people--that change people and make them better--that lift them up when they're down--and because of that--I want a reader base that won't quit. So I guess my real wish is to write the kind of book that does that--and I guess I think a sale will come as part of that deal.

3)Hmmm. I guess I'd want to earn enough from the stuff I create that I'd have to spend "money" time deciding how to manage it instead of figuring out how to make there be enough of it. Uh..no more post office that's for certain.

Okay, did all that make sense?

Terry Odell said...

OK, so we're talking "selfish" wishes here.

Not necessarily in this order:
1. To see my books in places like grocery stores, WallMarts, and in tower displays at the big chains.

2. To be able to afford to retire to a house big enough for both of us somewhere else -- PNW, or maybe Colorado.

3. To have a desk that keeps itself clean. Without losing the one piece of paper that's been RIGHT THERE for weeks until you need it.

Would I change my name? Not anymore -- I've had it too long, even if people insist on spelling it the way they want to. I'm not sure my name 'fits' me, because people usually either forget it or call me something else. But it's the one my mother gave me, so it's mine.

Cassondra said...

Oh, yeah....I can see right now that I need more than three wishes...UH..Jeanne....if you've got any extra cousins in magic lamps lying around, I promise not to rub the lamp too often..

I want a trip around the country too--and plenty of time to take my time and stop or visit wherever the mood strikes. I honestly don't know if I'd want one of those monster RVs or not. My neighbor has one and they're REALLY nice--nice to come home to "home" even on the road, ya know? I REALLY want to tour all the wine countries in the US first, then the other wine regions of the world. I have a bit of a beach in my soul--and a cabin on a harbor....and a retreat in the mountains....Ahhh... ..oh...and a massage every week...

Sheesh...Okay, I guess I will be keeping that lamp fairly shiny.

Cassondra said...

A maid would be nice. A chef would be..OHHHHHHH...LOVE great food.....but I want a secretary. I'll clean my own house--but this d*mn paperwork that piles up around me to the point that I can't see over it..AAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

And I don't even get CATALOGS.

I was a really good secretary for other people when I did that for a living. But my own? AHHHHHHHH!

Cassondra said...

Terry O'dell said:

Without losing the one piece of paper that's been RIGHT THERE for weeks until you need it.

Uhm...Terry...that piece of paper? It's probably here, in one of the piles around me. But when I'm looking for it, I suspect it'll be back on YOUR desk. I know that piece of paper well...OH so well. :0/

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Cassondra, your three wishes are fabulous and make perfect sense to me. Then again, I'm your evil twin, so they would. Ha!

Oooh, Terry! I like the magic desk that stays clean and still can "find" your necessary paperwork. Yep, I'll sign up for one of those too. Heehee.

I know what you mean about your name. As a youngster, I might have changed it - or at least added that blasted i! - but now? Nah. Its me. :>

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

The Genie lamp LIKES to be shiny, Cassondra! Ha! "Your Wish Is My Command" is the Genie's favorite words to say, didn't you know? Grins.

I love the idea of touring the wine country. My DH doesn't drink...wine... So, I decided that my sister and I have to go do a 10 day wine country tour. Slurp. Limo/driver mandatory. ha!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

I'm rubbing my own lamp for a secretary. Paper Tamer. Yep. I need that too. I live with the Man Who Says All Receipts Must Be Saved. Urg. I've come to hate receipts, let me tell you. They NEVER DIE.

Hellie Sinclair said...

Jeanne, of course, you can sip mai-tais with me. *LOL* What's the point of Caribbean sunsets if you can't enjoy them with friends?

Terry Odell said...

Gently teasing Cassondra:
Would I change my name? Not anymore -- I've had it too long, even if people insist on spelling it the way they want to.

She writes: Terry O'dell said...

**VBG**

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Thanx for the fun post, Jeanne without the i! :-)

Don't even get me started about changing my name... Loucinda with an "O"? WHAT was my mother thinking?!?! And then she never called me by that name unless I was in DEEP TROUBLE (okay, that happened pretty regularly, but still...)

As to 3 wishes, I like a lot of y'alls. Happiness for my son, that's a definite!

That desk that cleans itself -- DITTO! Oh, just throw in the maid, only I'd like a male housecleaner/masseuse a la our Sven here in the Lair.

Already done the travel thing but would be nice NOT to worry about the time and $$.

Oh, and I'd LOVE to get rid of this chronic ailment at least long enough so that the altitude at Machu Pichu wouldn't be a deterrent to visiting.

Lipo-suction would be nice...

OOPS! How many wishes do we get again?!?!?

AC

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Whopee! I get to drink MaiTai's on a beach with the NYT Bestselling Author secretly known as MsHellion! Woohoo! :>

Anonymous said...

Jeanne - totally with you on the name - people call me Mary or Marie all the time, makes me crazy. When they don't mispronounce my name, they call me my twin sister's name Marisa.

Anyway - 3 wishes - just three??? Okay - considering all the world's troubles are over - here are my wishes.

1. Enough money to retire comfortably.

2. Read books and eat all day and feel NO guilt.

3. A week in Paris with my sisters.
- Maria

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Darling AC, as our CEO (That's Chief Encouragement Officer, for those of you not familiar w/ Aunty's official title), you can have as many wishes as you want.

Grins. Get going...

Machu Picchu is one I've wanted to visit too, but the height at the Mt. Kenya Safari Club, William Holden's reserve in Kenya nearly did both DH and I in and MP is MUCH higher. The DH has asthma, so that would be a no-go for him, I think. :>

Anna Sugden said...

Ooh Jeanne - you are such a stirrer. We won't discuss names, first or last, in the interests of peace in the Lair and my sanity *g*

I will just spend a moment or several lusting after Mr Body from CSI.

Margay - Hugs. You do have a lot on your plate. Having taught a child with Asbergers, I know how hard that can be without all the other stuff too.

Terry and Cassondra - I think that piece of paper is right here on my desk. One of my cats is sitting on it - they always sit on the most important one.

Trish - I'm laughing at your travel wish - you'd have to add in something to take away your fear of flying first!

AC - I'm with you on Macchu Picchu.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hi Maria! Welcome! Great to 'see' you today. Had to laugh about the Mary for Maria. It should be simple, shouldn't it? I mean c'mon, Ma-ri-a. Simple. I used to say that about the butchery of my maiden name, which is Pickering. Pick-er-ing. Simple, right? Ohhhh, no.

I have a friend whose name is Theresa - but the TH is pronounced so its thhhuuureeesa. She gets Teresa, Terri and lots of other "huh?" kinds of variations.

Names, they are complicated. And having a twin makes it worse, I'll bet!

Love your wishes. Reading without guilt...I think for me that would mean a mandatory maid/housekeeper, cook and so forth that we've been talking about wishing for! :>

Donna MacMeans said...

Well, my first wish would be to give my three wishes to Margay because that's a lot on anyone's plate.

But if I could do that and still have wishes to spare *g*.

1. I'd wish for my kids to be happy and successful and OUT OF MY HOUSE *g*. Please understand - they're adults. It's time to leave the nest.

2. Unfettered travel - yeah, I like that.

3. I'd wish for enough money for my dh to quit his job, but then he'd drive me crazy! He's the kind that has to work, you know? So I'd wish for him to have a fulfilling job that still gave him the freedom to do that unfettered travel thing *g*.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Oooh, Anna, I'm betting the name thing is one of the banes of your existence, with your name. Both of them. Yikes. :>

So what are YOUR wishes, besides having people be able to get your name right? Grins.

Unknown said...

terry odell said:

Gently teasing Cassondra:
Would I change my name? Not anymore -- I've had it too long, even if people insist on spelling it the way they want to.

She writes: Terry O'dell said...

**VBG**


Oh, seriously?

See...I figured you left the apostrophe out cuz blogger turns it all lower case and it's a username and all that rot. MY BAD!

SO SORRY!

And you wanna talk about misspellings?

Okay--I actually LOVE my name. It's different, when I first had it, there had been no famous people with that name for centuries...nobody in grade school could make anything stupid out of it so they were reduced to calling me midget cuz I was short--which, in the world of grade school derogatory nicknames, is REAL tame--but my name is spelled with an O--CassOndra.

But every database in the freakin' universe has spell-correct and they have it as CassAndra, and they all correct my name. So unless I call or write and raise a major fuss, all my magazines, all my mail...ALL OF IT--comes addressed to Cassandra. And that's not my name. Not pronounced that way--and of course--everyone who ever meets me immediately begins to call me Cassandra. I'm like---are you unfamiliar with the letter O?

And Poor Smoov--Susan Seyfarth...I really want to call her Susan SAYfarth, but I think it's pronounced differently.....

The thing is, it's somewhat forgiveable when you're in cyberspace--the first time I met Jeanne I called her Jean. Cuz that's what it LOOKS like. But once you've met somebody--no longer forgiveable to mispronounce her name more than once. WHY does everyone I know who has been introduced to me as CassOndra still call me CassAndra?

I don't think it's worth a wish from the magic lamp, but you're right Terry. It's irritating.

Anna Sugden said...

Three wishes:

1. To sell. My dream is to have people being fan-girls over my books like I am over my favourite authors.

2. For my lovely hubby and I to have long, healthy lives. We got together late, and I want every possible moment I can get.

3. That nose-wiggle from Bewitched. Household cleaning *wiggle* done! Filing *wiggle* done! Travel anywhere I like *wiggle* done! Someone being mean to a friend *wiggle* toad!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Donna, I'm laughing about the "they're adults, they should be gone" thing. :>

I like your number 3. That's sort of where I'm at. I'd love the DH to be able to go ahead and retire, but to have him underfoot all the time? We'd both go nuts. We work well together, but he'd need something to DO besides organize things around the house. Ha! That would drive me to drink. So yep, I like your number 3 - new, fulfilling, don't-worry-about-the-payscale-job.

Terry Odell said...

When we had twins, I was adamant that they NOT have similar names (although I did have one passerby tell her friend that the two girls couldn't be twins because their names werent' alike or didn't rhyme.)

They're fraternal and are a different as night and day. In high school, since they were both bright, they'd end up in similar classes, but they always chose different periods, even though it would be the same teacher who taught the course.

Everything would go along fine until some teacher would connect the last names and say, "are you related to XX". When told, yes, she's my twin sister, they'd start calling them by the wrong names.

My daughter's response? She'd simply stare at the teachers until they realized their mistakes. AS she put it, "They called on XX, and that's not me."

And now I have to shut off all these comment notification emails or I won't get ANY writing done!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Oooh, Anna, good ones! I like the fan-girl-squeal. Of course, when and if it happens I'll be looking over my shoulder for you, or AC, or Trish, or LaCampbell, or Donna..or, or, or..the list goes on. :>

I like your no. 2 as well, since my Dh and I got together "late" as well. Of course, if we'd met sooner, we'd have lost our jobs (use your imaginations on that one, folks!) and have a baseball team's worth of kids. Grins.

On #3...I particularly like the toad. SNORK!

Anna Campbell said...

Jeanne, what a fun post! Christie, congrats on the rooster. He left here a sadder, but wiser chicken! ;-) Although I'm not sure the change will last, myself. There was still a spark of the old Adam in him somewhere!

Margay, I'm so impressed you manage to write with everything that's happening in your life. You deserve a medal.

Now, for my three wishes. I'll avoid the getting down to size eight one as honestly, I know even a Jeanne/Genie couldn't manage that one, given how I like to nosh. NYT spot definitely! A maid, a very quiet unobtrusive one, definitely. Hmm, and the last one? A month with the sky-high TBR pile and nothing to distract me from it, unless I WANT to be distracted!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey CassOndra...I think I've gotten it right, haven't I? Gosh, I hope so. The evil twin thing, you'd get me for sure if I didn't... Grins.

Love what you did for your twins, Terry! And so long for now...bwah-ha-ha-ha, we KNOW we'll draw you back sooooon....you can't resist the pull of the Lair...

Terry Odell said...

Well, nobody thinks I should spell my first name with a Y, and that I must have forgotten to put the apostrophe in my last name. I mean, I have an EASY name. But I get:
Teri, Terrie, Terri
O'Dell, O'dell, ODell.
We won't go into the "MR." bit. My mother had never heard of ending female names with an 'i' or 'ie'. And she didn't like the name Teresa, so I'm just plain Terry.

I don't mind anymore--because if you google any of those spellings, you'll get to my pages! But if I send someone a letter and spell my name correctly, I kind of think it should be spelled the same way when they answer. Including by the editor who offered me my contract.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Now Anna, you can wish for whatever you'd like. This is Genie time. Grins.

Now, for me, I'd never wish for size 8. I've been there two or three times and let me tell you, NOT a good look unless you're into broad-shouldered really skeletal runway models. :> I look hawribblle as a size 8. A ten, well, yep, I'd like to go there, but I'd be really happy with a 12. Grins.

I like the idea of the "unless I wanted to be disturbed" thing. Heehee.

Margay Leah Justice said...

Thank you, Anna, and everyone who offered encouragement to me here today. This is a huge part of what helps me to muddling through, even on the tough days.

Unknown said...

LaCampbell said:

Hmm, and the last one? A month with the sky-high TBR pile and nothing to distract me from it, unless I WANT to be distracted!


Hmmmm...Not even SVEN? You wouldn't want to be distracted by SVEN and the cabana boys bringing drinks--you know--the SHIRTLESS cabana boys bearing coconut-flavored drinks with straws and tiny pink umbrellas......for The DRINKS--UMBRELLAS FOR THE DRINKS--y'all get your minds out of the gutter before they even GO there.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Not plain at all, Terry! Brilliantly YOU. :>

Good on you for making sure all the pages and spellings point your way though. That's fab. *note to self to check with web designer...*

I sometimes get Mr. Gene Adams...makes me laugh

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey, I wanna pink umbrella drink...oh, Cabannnnnaaaa booooy!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Speaking of names...I refuse to answer to Susan. Don't get me wrong, Susan is a great name, JUST not my name. Sue, Suz, Suzy, Suzanne...hey nurse..., Mom...Yep I'll answer to those.

Anna Campbell said...

Hey, Cassondra, I did say "unless I WANT to be disturbed." And can you tell how much I want a holiday when I say I think I'd rather read a good book than chase a cabana boy? I know, I know, heresy!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hehehe, Suz, my sister is just the opposite. She's Susan. Period. Grins.

Anna, you DO need a vacation! Yikes!

Hey, ladies, keep up the wishes...I'll be back in a bit. Gotta go run some errands and write some pages. :>

Gannon Carr said...

Fun blog, Jeanne. I'm always up for fantasizing about my three wishes....or how I would spend my lottery winnings! ;)

First of all, Margay you are an inspiration!

Don't get me started on the name thing. My name is pronounced just like it's spelled. Half the time I end up saying "It's like cannon, with a 'G'. Argh! At least most people remember my name once they hear it.

My three wishes:

1. That my mother would have no more health problems, so she could have real quality of life.

2. That I would win the Powerball lottery this week. Bandita party to follow! :)

3. That my children would grow up to be happy, successful adults.

jo robertson said...

Interesting topic, Jeanne!

Christie, again, congratulations!

Three wishes, oh man, only three?

First, I'd wish for a modest and happy life for all those whom I love.

Okay, altruism out of the way.

I'd wish for a bidding auction on my books and lots and lots of sales. Never mind the best sellers list or a big advance; I just want many, many people to read my books.

Oh, yeah, and love them to pieces!

Unknown said...

1. To lose about 50 lbs and still be healthy.
2. For my son to complete college with honers.
3. To have enough money to put him through school and still live comfortable the rest of my life.

I figure I should wish big.

Anonymous said...

Sorry ladies - didn't you know I booked Sven through the month of November. I'm also his exclusive agent now, so if you want to book, I suggest you reserve early and often.

-Maria

sarah said...

OH MY! My sister Jeanne knows exactly how you feel!

Consequently... her first name is Barbara. (She has always gone by her middle name of Jeanne.)

Of course - because of her name... I get a hoot out of watching Reba sometimes. Hehe... Barbara Jean is nothing like my sister - even if the name is similar.

(And Reba is supposedly set in Houston - which is where I am from.)

Now I am babbling...

Jane said...

Congrats on the GR, Christie.

My three wishes:
1. That I can afford buy a big house in NYC.
2. I would love to travel the world and even into space so I can also see the universe.
3. I wish I could get all the junk food I want and not get sick or fat.

Fedora said...

Great post, Jeanne! When I was younger, I definitely would have changed my name, but now I've grown to appreciate its uniqueness ;)

As for wishes...
1. I want Terry's self-cleaning/organizing desk, only I want my whole house to be that way--dream big, right? I would love it to stay magically dust and clutter free, and that I can locate what I need when I need it (not after I desperately search through all the piles and boxes in the guest room and basement and back of the pantry...)

2. In this lovely spacious house, I'd love a library, with loads of gorgeous floor-to-ceiling shelves (for my obedient, self-organizing, ever-increasing book collection), and a comfy window seat and a few nice reading chairs.

3. I'd love to make sure that my kids grow up to be wise, loving, self-sufficient, generous members of their communities.

So, I guess that genie's working overtime now! ;)

Congrats on the GR, Christie!

Terri Osburn said...

Oh, this is so fun. And I totally knew it was prounounced JeannEE. I've known other people with that spelling. :)

My real name is Theresa but the "h" is silent. That totally throws people off. I've been Terri forever and other than when my friends tell someone they are going somewhere with me and they think she means a guy, I'm good with it. Of course, I'm pretty much officially terriO now. LOL!

Three wishes...
1. My own house. It's been my dream since I was 8 (when my parents lost the house we owned) and I'm so hoping it comes true in the next couple of years.

2. For my daughter to be happy, whatever that means for her.

3. I want the world traveling without the worries about money or time. There's so much of this planet I long to see, I'd love to be able to do it all with no constraints on how long I could stay in one place. If I want to spend three months in Venice, then so be it!

Terry - my sister and I had that same problem in HS except we were three years apart. And she was the oldest so had been there longer. But the four teachers we shared always called her by my name. LOL!

Helen said...

Congrats on the GR Christie I hope you get the sanding done today

Great post Jeanne I often wish for my own Jeannie for three wishes lets see

1. Health and happiness for my family
2. Enough money so as I can retire ( I do have a lot of books to read)
3. To be able to personally meet all of the Bandits and Banditas for a big party.

Have Fun
Helen

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Party at Gannon's!!! She's winnin' the lottery!!! yeah! Love your wishes, Gannon. :>

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Yeah, what you said, Jo. To heck with the lists, I jist want SALES! Grins. And people to love my books to pieces, like you said. :>

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Virginia, you go girl. Wish BIG! Yeah!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Mar-i-a! So YOU'RE the one Sven's hired. Hmmmmm. Shoulda known. Grins.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Babbly away, Sarah. That's the fun of the Lair, we can just talk amongst ourselves about what ever we want. Grins.

Had to laugh about Barbara Jeanne going by Jeanne. :> My late Mother In Law was Doris Jean and went by Jean, which makes things complex when you're talking about which Mrs. Adams is which...Grins.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Good ones, Jane. Junk food RULES. Grins.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Fedora, Genies work ALL the time, because they just love granting wishes. Ha! So I think all your wishes should come true.

I think your name is really cool. You're right about its uniqueness being good as an adult, but I'll bet that as a kid...yep. Tough. :>

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

TerriO, here's visualizing you in that Genie provided house very soon. I love having a house. It's a wonderful feeling, so I'm exciited for you that it'll be yours someday soon. :> My husband says that if I could, I'd collect houses like other people collect cars or baseball cards. Grins. Its true. Ha!

I love the way you put it about your daughter being happy in whatever way that means to HER. Hear, hear!

As to spending a month in Venice...ahhhhhhhh

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Oooh, Helen, I like your wishes too. PARTY AT HELEN'S!!!! YEah! Maybe the year we all show up at RWAus. Grins.

Anna Campbell said...

Helen, if ever we can arrange it, we'll do our best to give you that wish!!! PARTY!!! We'll even squeeze the chook into a tuxedo in honor of the occasion.

Cassondra said...

Maria said:

Sorry ladies - didn't you know I booked Sven through the month of November. I'm also his exclusive agent now, so if you want to book, I suggest you reserve early and often.

Ha! HOW did this happen? WHO was in charge of Sven's bookings? CHRISTINE, DO YOU HAVE SVEN'S CALENDAR? He went and got himself an agent?????? I thought we had an exclusive contract. In fact, I thought he couldn't find his way out of the lair? I mean, he looks good, and gives a great massage, but we didn't hire him for his brains, ya know?

I say again, how did this happen? Could this be the Golden Rooster stirring up trouble? P226 has been teaching him psychological warfare techniques? Christie...get that bird sanding the floors will ya? Watch him every second for cryin out loud. He's let Sven out of the lair!

Helen said...

I would love to see the chook in a tuxedo and what a party we could have

Have Fun
Helen

Fedora said...

Ooh, cool, Jeanne! So I can relax now, knowing the ol' genie's hard at work as we type ;)

As for the name thing, yes, as a younger me, I might have used one of my wishes on something as silly as being able to find my name on a personalized mini-license plate at the toy store ;)

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Anna, we'll have to get the GR a new tux if he doesn't quit eating so many TimTams every time he heads Down Under! Sheeeesh. Either way, however, we'll squeeze him into his or get him new when we storm the shores and takeover RWAus. :>

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Oh, yeah, Fedora, I'd have loved to be able to find my name on one of those play license plates, or the snowman figurines in the Hallmark store even yet! ha!

To this day, it delights me to get my name on a Birthday Cake or have anything personalized. Probably goes back to that unusual name thing.

Can you imagine Frank Zappa's kids? I mean really, do you think Moon Unit's going to be on a Hallmark snowman, or a little license plate at the kitsch store at the beach? NO! Nor Apple, nor Pear... Heehee

Fedora said...

*snort* or poor Pilot Inspector (sp?)... yes, while I sometimes bemoaned my name, at least it wasn't something my parents simply made up... aack... I feel a bit sorry for kids who have to live with their parents' misplaced creativity.

Marisa O'Neill said...

Hi Jeanne! Sorry about Sven. Christine brought him over and,well, you know Maria - she often gets what she wants - and well, it was Sven after all.

Ah... Three wishes is it. After the mortgage crisis is settled in America and all the children in the world have a place to sleep and eat, and there is world peace then I'd go for:

1.Being able to eat without gaining any weight (sort of like Meryl Streep in the Albert Brooks Movie Defending Your Life.)
2. Travel to England and visit for about a year.
3.Have my family be happy and healthy.

Anna Campbell said...

Hey, Marisa and Maria, can I come travelling with you guys? It would be huge fun (and not just because you've got Sven tied up in a contract of iron!).

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Ha! Fedora, that's a great way to put it..."Their parent's misplaced creativity."

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Marisa, I love your wishes. :> Now I have a question. How do you pronounce YOUR name? Is it MahRiSa or Mahreeesa? :> Can you tell that phonics weren't my forte? Grins.

I love the idea of being able to eat anything...yum...no weight gain...Ahhhhhhh.

And a year in England. That would be heaven. Grins.

Joan said...

{Squeak, rub, rub, squeak}

Ok, got the lamp all shined and ready to go for Joan (Jone...NOT Jo-an(n)

1. To open up the historical romance market with my Roman trilogy, and to continue to succeed in publishing to the point of financial independence from the DDJ including making the NYT list and winning multiple RITAS

2. Health and happiness for my family and friends

3. To FINALLY meet MY Prince and enjoy the cherished relationship of soulmates.

Oh, and all ya'll wanting to climb Machu Pinchu? I'll stand at the bottom and wave.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Jone-e T said: ...to the point of financial independence from the DDJ including making the NYT list and winning multiple RITAS

Oh, you BET, Joanie T! :>

Snork. Macho Pinch U. Snork. SNORK!

Hey Joanie, as I told Ms Hellion, if I can find the Man 'o my Dreams, anyone can. :> Frogs, I tell ya' Loads of TOADs I kissed, dated, kicked to the curb, and generally disminssed. Urg. And that makes it sound like I dated so many...its just that the ones I dated were just...TOADS. Grins.

But I found him, I did! And he ROCKS. Grins.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Well that should be "dismissed" of course...

Keira Soleore said...

Jeanne, I was lucky enough to have Cassondra pronounce it for me before I had to. I was prepared you to duchess you till I knew exactly how.

If I had had to wing it, I would've said it as "Jahn," since I knew a French-Canadian lady with that spelling and pronounciation.

(((Margay))), I don't know you, but my hug's just as heartfelt.

#0: Publish one book

#11: Travel to Tibet, Antarctica, and Galapagos

#15: Hold hands with a mountain gorilla; Hug a brown bear

(Yes, I have an actual life list with 16 items on it.)

Marisa O'Neill said...

Anna - it would me too much fun traveling with you!! Let's make a plan, you, me Maria and the rest of the Banditas in Washington next year tearing up the town.

Jeanne - the American Pronunciation of my name is MahRiSa the Spanish pronunciation is Mah -reeesa. So either way I'll answer. When my grandmother was alive she just use to call me 'junk (jung)lady' - she had a very thick spanish accent and was saying young lady. So I'll answer to MahRiSa, Mah-reeesa or junk lady.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Yeah, Keira! I love the list and the things from it you shared. I think brown bears are deliciously beautiful, don't you? I don't think the Mtn. Gorilla would appeal nearly as much to me, but the bear? Oh, yeah.

My favorite are the big cats, though. One of my favorite charities is The Carnivore Preservation Trust in NC. I once got to hold a Snow Leopard cub from the CPT and I've been in heaven at the thought of it, ever since. They are so rare, and so endangered and I got to hold her...wow. :> It still gives me a thrill.

I love your travel list too. How fun. My dad, his wife and her grandson just traveled to the Galapagos last year and the pictures were FAB. Now I want to go, so I share that one with you. I wanna see a blue-footed booby. Snork!

You have to change that first one though. It's got to be more than ONE book! :>

As to my name, I'd have answered to Duchesse! Heehee. I have a friend from France who just cannot bear to call me Jeannie. She insists on Jahnnnne, the French version. :> From her or from you, I'd've answered to it. Grins.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Marisa, I'm LOL about your Yayi (That's Grandmother, right?) One of my BFF's is named Malena. Her mama calls her Maaaahleeeena. She introduces herself as Mah-Lane-ah and she'll do that same thing when she's imitating her grandmother: "Jungk Ladee, you will clean jure ruhm." Grins.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

BTW, I'm SO excited that you and Maria will be in DC next year! Yeah!! Since it's my "home town" I'm really excited that everyone's coming to town!

Becke Davis said...

Well, here I was thinking of all these selfish, silly wishes and I see that one post and want to slap myself. So I'll give you a wish for good health for you and your family, if you don't mind me including my family in that wish, too.

And I like the maid idea but even better I would wish for Samantha's twitchy nose to clean my house, cook the meals, do the laundry, etc.

And then, take your pick: find an agent, sell a book, make enough money to pay of the credit cards we ran up while putting two kids through college and then (it's a magic wish, right?) become a New York Times best seller.

Ah yes, dreaming is fun!

As to the name issue, I started spelling my name "Becke" when there were three Becky's in a lot of my classes in high school. We all came up with weird spellings but I'm the only one who kept mine.

People call me "Bec" thinking it's pronounced like Bette Midler. I answer to that because a lot of my friends shorten my name to Bec anyway. But it's really "Becke" like "Bette Davis."

And I have two good friends name Jean, and one spells it Jeanne. She also pronounces it Jeannie so I automatically pronounce it that way.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hi Becke! Welcome! I'm glad to know you'd have pronounced it Jeannie! Yeah! Another convert. Grins.

I love your wishes too. I think you're right, it would be more fun to do the twitchy nose thing than to have a maid or housekeeper around. :> I always feel like I have to clean up if the housekeeper's coming. Grins. And what's the point, if you're already cleaning up, you might as well clean too. ha!

Thanks for the good family wishes...I'll take all I can get since I've got two to put through college one day. They're young yet, but it looms large, that college bill! Ha!

Glad you dropped by!

Louisa Cornell said...

Congrats on the chook, Christie! He needs to work off all those Tim Tams!

Any wishes left in that lamp?

My three wishes would be :

1) That no companion animal great or small be homeless or unwanted. That they all find their one and only forever homes so that all humane shelters have to close forever.

2) To get a publishing contract that enables me to quit the DDJ and work as a best selling author for the rest of my days.

3) For my CPs to all get great publishing contracts so they can work as best selling authors the rest of their days and we can do research travel and book signings together!

Margay, may all of your wishes come true!

Christine Wells said...

Hi Jeanne, When I first saw your name, I would have pronounced it the French way--but I like Jeanne (ie) it suits you.

Wishes...I'd wish for good health and happiness for my family (no surprises) longevity and success in the writing game. Third, that when we're all bestselling zillionaires, the Lair will be a reality--with Sven, cabana boys, the lot. It would be like the Playboy mansion in reverse--and a lot more tasteful!!

Hey, Christie, congrats on the GR!!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Oh, Louisa, for your no. 1 wish, I say, from your pen to God's ear. Wouldn't that be wonderful? We're about to adopt a 4 year old Irish Water Spaniel. He seems a lovely boy and my sons are SO excited. I'm glad to give him a home. :>

I think we're all going to send extra hugs and magic wand waves toward Margay's house today. Feel it yet, dear? :>

Joan said...

You know, I have recurring dreams that I CAN twitch my nose like Bewitche's Samanta and magic happens.....


{twitch, twitch}. There. The publishing house and agent should be calling any minute :-)

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Ooooh, Christine, I LIKE it! The Bandita Mansion. Very tasteful. And the Armory will be the envy of all. What's that on the battlements? Grins. We'll ahve the best cabana boys, the best masseuse on call, and by-gosh-the-best Chef, just for our Bashes. Grins. Maybe we can hire that Chef from Annabelles in SF. (The Banditas who were in San Fran in July met for dinner in the most fun little place across from the hotel, called Annabelles. The chef was tres cute, and tres talented with the food!)

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

I hear the phone ringing, Joanie...Yep...it's for YOU!!!

catslady said...

roflmao - I just have to say since my name is Jeanne - everything you just said. 3 wishes: people would spell my name right, people would say my name right, and people would stop saying "I dream of...

peggy said...

my first wish yo win the lottery
2.to own a very large house thats
paid off in full.
3. to own a vacation homes in
paris, france, england and scotland
also paid off in full

Louisa Cornell said...

Good for you, Jeanne! He is a very lucky dog! Thank you for giving him a forever home!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

hahahaha! Catslady! A fellow Jeanne! That I Dream of thing gets old, doesn't it? And do you get the Light Brown Hair one? I'm a blond, but I occasionally get some goofball singing the Light Brown Hair part of the I Dream of Jeannie song. Urg.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Peggy, I like the way YOU think! :> Can I visit the house in Scotland? I've always wanted to go to Scotland. All those ancestors, calling me home, you know....

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Trust me, Louisa, its we who are the lucky ones. I don't have to HOUSEBREAK him! Yeah! With a reluctant potty-trainer in the house, I just couldn't handle a puppy-pup. :> Besides, he's got such a nice disposition, it seems.

Keira Soleore said...

OHHHHHHhhhhh....Jahnn :) does the CPT have bears, too? OMGOMGOMG. Say yes. Say yes.

Number #0 is to publish one book. Number #1 is to be a NYT-bestselling, RITA-winning multi-published author with a huge loyal fanbase. :) I have it covered.

Those blue-footed boobies are so cute. There are some amazing things on that island. I, too, have a friend who went there a few years ago, and it's been on my list since.

Keira Soleore said...

I'm back in the Lair, waiting for the new post and the opportunity to nab the Chook. Oh Bandita-whose-turn-it's-to-post, please do so soooooooon.

Pat Cochran said...

Late, late, oh so late again!

Three wishes?
1. That Honey will get his lottery
win so he can retire and fund all
the grandchildren's college wishes!

2. A personal trainer to get us both in better physical condition!

3. A chauffeur to do all the driving as we tour all of the 48 contiguous states!!

Pat Cochran

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

oooh, Pat, I LIKE those! :>

Keira, I think they do have bears, but I'm not sure. I'll post you the website on your blog

catslady said...

Yeah I always got the light brown hair song when I was a kid. My hair was very dark brown which apparently was close enough. It then turned black and is now grey so at least I don't get that any more lol.

CrystalGB said...

1. To be able to have a baby.
2. Good health for me, my husband and family.
3. Enough money to not have financial worries.