The great car search last week yielded results. My poor wrecked car was a Nissan and had been very good to me, so I really wanted another Nissan. And I got this cute little 2007 Nissan Versa hatchback. I already took her on a road trip to Kentucky for the Memorial Day weekend, and she’s so fun to drive. And she’s supposed to get 36 mpg. Bonus!

Okay, deadline looming. Must go write books to pay for the cute car.

On this day in 1989, I graduated high school. Wow, it doesn’t seem that long ago. Alas, I don’t have that many pictures, but here’s a little look back:

My friend Kim, left, and I walk into the gym to “Pomp and Circumstance.”

Three of my good friends who went to school in the next county came to my graduation. Jen, left, Butch and Richard still had a year of high school to go at this point. Though I haven’t seen the guys and years, Jen and I still get together when we can. She’s also my concert buddy. We went to see Nickelback a few months back.

I found this interview with Outlander series author Diana Gabaldon interesting. Have loved what I’ve read of the series (I think the first three books; it’s been awhile), and she’s one of those people it’s easy to listen to. The owner of this YouTube channel, BookLounge, also has another interview with her, probably just a continuation of this one, plus lots of other author interviews.

In car news, the claims adjuster should be here within the next hour or so. We’ll see what he says.

And in wasted time news, I am WAY too addicted to the Farm Town game on Facebook. But, like my sister says, it’s fun and a stress-reliever.

But I wrote 6 pages yesterday. My goal had been 10, so I’m shooting for 14 today. And if I get them, I can play Farm Town with no guilt.

I’ve been interviewed by Meankitty. Go here to see what I’m talking about.

I’m working on a new story. Yay! I’m part of a six-book continuity series Harlequin American is doing centered around a family in rodeo. I’m book five in the series, which I think will be sometime in 2010.

Thanks to everyone who sent good thoughts after my wreck on Saturday. I appreciate it. I’m very fortunate that it wasn’t worse. Still waiting for the insurance adjuster to come look at the car so I’ll know for sure whether they’re going to total it or not, and whether I need to buy another car.

That’s how many miles my car had on it when I finally killed her today. I was shooting for 300,000, but I totaled her in a monsoon today on my way home from my RWA chapter meeting. I’m okay, except for being a bit stiff, but my poor wee car is toast. A delivery truck hit his brakes in front of me as I glanced in my blind spot so I could go around him, and when I looked back I think I said something eloquent like “Oh, crap (insert synonym here)!” and then proceeded to slam underneath his honking big back bumper. He barely had any damage, but my car definitely got the worse end of the deal. See for yourself.

The grill is in the radiator, the side panel is shoved back so that the passenger side door doesn’t open, and she’s bent all to heck. Poor baby. I’ve had her for 13 years, and she’s been a really good car.

Today’s my day to blog at both the Supernatural Sisters and Romance Bandits blogs. At the Supernatural Sisters, I’ve recapped and offered observations on last night’s season finale. At Romance Bandits, I’m having a launch party (complete with giveaway) for Her Very Own Family. Come on by!

If you’re a fan of Joss Whedon’s work and would like to see Dollhouse renewed for a second season, here’s a page with all the ways you can contact FOX. The last time FOX had one of Whedon’s shows, Firefly, they canceled it way too early (before the end of the first season) and didn’t give it a chance to establish itself and gain a following. Seems to be the M.O. in broadcasting today. But I want to know what happens next. It only takes a moment to e-mail FOX, or there are other options like writing a letter or Twittering about it.

In other news, Her Very Own Family, my second book from Harlequin American, officially releases today! Your local bookstore, Wal-Mart, or other book-buying outlet should have it.

I love summer movie season. I mentioned before that I’d been waiting for months to see Wolverine, and the same can be said for the new J.J. Abrams-helmed Star Trek. Considering I really like other Abrams productions like LOST and Fringe, I had a good feeling about this movie. And was I ever right!

I’ve started watching the original Star Trek in reruns back in the ’70s when I was a kid. I was also a devoted Star Trek: The Next Generation fan. I watched Deep Space Nine (my least favorite Trek spin-off), Voyager (hubby’s least favorite; he hates Chakotay) and Enterprise some, but the Star Trek franchise had waned in recent years. Well, Abrams has brought it back with some excellent casting and lots of fun, summer-popcorn movie boom.

I can’t say enough about the casting. I think all the actors have done a wonderful job of capturing the essence of the original characters but putting their own spin on what they would have been like when they were much younger. I particularly like Chris Pine as Captin Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Spock and Karl Urban as Bones. I think Urban totally nailed Bones, and I think that’s because of how he watched Star Trek every Saturday when he was a kid. I loved his interplay with Pine’s Kirk. Very fun! And it was such fun to see Quinto playing a good guy, and not the disturbing (but excellently acted) Sylar on Heroes. By contrast, we saw Eric Bana (normally a good guy) playing a very bad Romulan, Nero. It’s a testament to the makeup people that they’ve rendered Eric (normally very nice to look at) not at all attractive. It’s hard to even tell at a glance that it’s him

There are fun shout-outs to the original: Leonard Nimoy’s “These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise” voiceover, the original theme music, Chekov’s thick Russian accent being incomprehensible to the ship’s computer, Bones’ “Damn it, Jim” moments, and others I’m sure I’m forgetting. And it was fun to see a bit part played by Paul McGillion from Stargate: Atlantis.

If you’ve seen it, tell me what you thought. If not, put it on your weekend agenda. I think even people who were never really into Trek and don’t know much beyond the names Kirk and Spock will enjoy it. Until you see it, enjoy this awesome trailer:

I’ve been waiting for months, well actually ever since I heard they were going to make a Wolverine movie, to see X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Geek girl that I am, I’m a big fan of the X-Men. And Wolverine has always been one of my favorite characters, along with Gambit, who also is introduced in this film. I wanted to see more of Gambit (Taylor Kitsch), but since this was mainly a movie about Wolverine and Sabretooth, I understand why he didn’t have more screen time. So, without spoilers, here are some of the things I liked:

1. Hugh Jackman — I mean, seriously, what’s not to like? He’s so easy to look at, and he plays the cigar-chomping Wolverine with intensity. Here he is pictured with, from left, Ryan Reynolds (Wade Wilson/Deadpool), Taylor Kitsch (Remy LeBeau/Gambit), Liev Schreiber (Victor Creed/Sabretooth) and Lynn Collins (Kayla Silverfox).

2. Liev Schreiber was an excellent Sabretooth. I now wish he’d been Sabretooth in the X-Men trilogy.

3. Taylor Kitsch as Gambit. I want me some more Gambit! I hope they make an Origins movie about him too.

4. The boom and fighting factors. What can I say? I’m a girl who likes action movies.

May always seems to have a lot of great movies, the beginning of the summer movie season. I’m already planning an outing to see the new Star Trek this Friday. Geek girl strikes again! I think this trailer looks awesome.