So. I don't have a significant other. This isn't something I usually dwell on or even really think about - except, of course, on Valentine's Day. 

Some of my non-writer single friends buy themselves chocolates and flowers and watch sappy chick flick movie marathons. Always a fun option, but I like to take things a step further. Every Valentine's Day, I write a love letter ... to myself.

Before you think I'm crazy, let me explain. Many of us - especially writers, who are constantly editing their work to make it better and receiving writing critiques from others - tend to naturally focus on our insecurities and what we are trying to improve about ourselves. This is good in that it helps us strive to become better individuals, but at the same time can be damaging in the self-esteem department. So this Valentine's Day, I challenge you to take a few minutes to reflect on what you really *love* about yourself. List all your wonderful qualities and talents - maybe you are an incredible ballerina, or know how to play an instrument, or visit senior citizens at a nursing home every week. Perhaps you pride yourself on being honest, or compassionate, or always being able to make people laugh. Instead of only focusing on goals you want to accomplish in the future, think for a bit about all the amazing goals you have reached thus far. You're a pretty neat person! I can't think of a better time than Valentine's Day for the most important love of all: self love.

The 2006 Winter Olympics are here! Well... not here exactly, they're in Turin, Italy... but through the magic of television, it feels like they are here.

Today is just the third day of competition and already, American athletes have had their share of ups and downs. Arguably the biggest story this weekend was figure skater Michelle Kwan's decision to withdraw from the Olympic games. After straining a groin muscle during practice on Saturday, Kwan realized she was not at 100% and sadly gave up her dreams for Olympic gold.

"I respect the Olympics too much to compete and I don't feel I can be at my best." Kwan said. Emily Hughes will be Kwan's replacement on the American team.

In men's downhill skiing, bad boy Bode Miller came in 5th in Sunday's downhill race. Before the games, Miller was the subject of some controversy and made it onto the cover of Time and Newsweek magazines (just to name a few). Now, Miller is going to have to put his first event behind him and ski his heart out in upcoming days in order to get onto that podium and bring home a medal.

One athlete that did live up to the hype was snowboarder Shaun White a.k.a. "The Flying Tomato". White found himself in unfamiliar territory when he failed to qualify in the first trial round. Whether it was nerves or lack of attention, his board came down on the lip of the half-pipe after a jump. Going into the second and final qualifying round (only the top 6 snowboarders from each round would go on to the finals), White nailed his routine and went on to destroy the competition in the finals.

"I wasn't really that nervous, but just before I was about to drop in, my heart kind of fell," White said. "Then I remembered that this is what I do and I just did my thing."

The Olympics will continue through the next two weeks. Who are you rooting for?

Are you watching the Olympics? Do you have a favorite athlete? Write about him/her and send it to us. Click on "Submit Your Writing" in the right hand column. We'll post the best of the best here.

Yesterday, I promised to tell you what Babar and Curious George have in common. OK, here we go:

• Both Babar and Curious George are French. They were born (i.e. created) in Paris, France and ended up in New York.
• Both Babar and Curious George had close calls with extinction early on in their lives. Back to Babar's story. As for Curious George, he may never have been if his creators Hans Augusto (H. A.) and Margret Rey had not managed to smuggle sketches of him out of Paris during WWII? The Ryes traveled far and wide, before settling down in New York City. Read more about the "Journey That Saved Curious George."
• Both Babar and Curious George are roughly the same age. Babar turns 75 this year and Curious George turned 65.
• Both Babar and Curious George are in the news this week. The author of the Babar series won a prestigious award  yesterday -- and today, the new Curious George movie hits the big screen. It features Will Farrell as The Man with the Yellow Hat and music is by one of my favorites, Jack Johnson. Watch the video of "Upside Down."

If you've seen the movie or plan to, click on the <<Post Your Comment>> button below to leave us a review.

Have you ever noticed that when you're thinking about something a lot, you see many things related to it all around you? It happens to me all the time. I'll be thinking about going to Florida and I suddenly start spotting lots and lots of Florida license plates on I-95 while I'm driving to work. ... (I bet you have tons of examples from your own life to share. Click on the "comment" link below to help me make a list.)

So, elephants have been on my mind for the past couple of days. The next issue of Writing has a fun image of an elephant on a red bicycle on its cover ... (Why? you ask. Well, you'll just have to wait and see!) ... and I've been reading and re-reading a pretty cool poem about a spotted pink homeless elephant (The poet shall remain nameless until April, when you crack open our magazine). 

Anyway, I was reading The New York Times today and bumped into a story about Babar, my favorite literary and seemingly immortal elephant.

Did you know?

• This year marks the 75th anniversary of Babar's creation.
• Babar is French.
• "Babar might have passed away prematurely when his original author and illustrator, Jean de Brunhoff, Laurent's father, died of tuberculosis in 1937, six years after bringing the popular character to life. For almost a decade, Babar was in literary limbo. But at age 21 Laurent, who studied art at the same Paris school his father had, decided to resuscitate Babar ..." Why? Read the full article to find out.
• Babar does yoga.
• Author Laurent de Brunhoff is receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from Child magazine tonight in NYC.
• Babar's latest adventure has taken him on a World Tour. Check it out.

Those of you who are smirking at my excitement about Babar: Hey, it's never too late in life to look at a picture book. Next time you are at a bookstore, go to the children's department and pick up a Babar book ... or one of your childhood favorites. Notice how a picture can sometimes convey a 1,000 words ... and how a few words can tell so much of a story. Both are great writing lessons for all ages.

OK, so that was a tangent. Reading about Babar made me start thinking about monkeys, which reminds me of Curious George. Tune in tomorrow to find out what Babar the elephant and Curious George have in common.