Decorating Day:)

NaNo Word Count Update: I finally got around to checking, and I surprised myself! Instead of just 10K, I've managed to put 18K words down. No winner's circle, but hey...it's 18K more than I had on Nov 1st:)

Kelly: Cindy K Green wrote A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Your Wedding.

My hubby brought home a wonderful surprise for me, both Wednesday night and last night. He'd stopped at our storage unit in our old town and picked up OUR Christmas ornaments, home decorations, and tree:)

His mother's tree is getting a new home at his daughter's apartment, along with some of Grandma's ornaments.

What is it about my tree I like so much? For starters, we bought it the year we married, and the decorations are whimsical. No glass balls, or any special color scheme; no, our tree is full of memories.

-The soft ornaments I grew up with during the cat phaze. K and S would lie under the tree as babies and 'play' with them.
-The ornaments my grandmother gave me each year. Some were made from sea shells; others were from Hallmark. All have my name and year purchased on them.
-My children's paper ornaments, lovingly made at preschool and in kindergarten. They have their pictures on them, and the date.
-Our vacation ornaments: A moose from Montana, an elk from Colorado; a picture ornament from Vancouver.
-Every year I buy a special one: A champagne bottle for Y2K; a train engine when K was fascinated with Thomas the Tank Engine; a new 'Baby's 1st' in 2004; a Barbie one for the year I baby-sat all the kids.
-Always near the top of the tree sit two special ornaments: The Clip-On Santa who graced the very top of the tree the year our Star broke and the Nativity ornament we bought at the Speedway Gas Station that same year. It was the only ornament on the tree, besides the Santa and a few colored balls for our 1st Christmas together. That was all we had at the time.

My tree has its own personality. It's not pretty, or show-room quality; it is our FAMILY's tree, and full of memories. When we're decorating the tree, the majority of the conversation is "Oh, I remember when we got/I made/you bought this!"...and memories and laughter flow.

What's on your tree?

Today, the lights will be strung across the porch, and our front room will be very inviting. It will stay that way until at least New Year's Day, or soon after. I don't get people who take everything down the day after Christmas. But if this is your tradition, that's fine. Mine is staying up for another week.

What the Hell...???

Currently Reading: I finished A Funny Thing....Wedding yesterday! Kelly, another recommended read for you! I was unable to purchase 3 of the 5 books I wanted, because 2 were still not in print, and (head slap!) one won't even BE in print for another couple of months! So, I bought the E-format for myself:) I'm almost finished with Holding Out for a Hero, and had to force myself to put it down once the PC finished loading. I've only got 2 chapters left, so I'm going back to it as soon as I finish playing on the internet. I also read Adrianne Brennan's Blood and Mint Chocolates. I found it interesting.

Next E-book: Sacred Ground by Rita Karnopp


I just don't get it. What the hell has happened to people's sanity on the day after Thanksgiving? Yesterday was truly a 'Black Friday' for the families of two store workers, trying to make a living and helping others with the so-called 'Christmas Spirit'. Oh wait a minute....that was NOT an example of true Christmas spirit; that was the sound of selfish GREED!

I have lived in a large town, and I am currently living in a small town, with only three major stores in town: Walmart, K-Mart, and Kohls. Did I get up at some ungodly hour to start shopping? No; I was busy sleeping off my Thanksgiving day of cooking, eating, and visiting with friends.

I did stay in my pj's until noon, and yes, I spent more on Amazon.com than I have in recent transactions. All in the comforts of my home. And when I did venture out, around 2pm, it was first a trip to a small store that advertized Thomas the Tank Engine toys, 40% off. I was one of 4 customers in the store, and not only did I find a gift for my nephew, but I also found a gift for my niece, my parents, and I'll be going back to get another item for my honorary granddaughter.

And then I ventured over to Kohls, thinking if it was too crowded I'd skip it. I not only found a close parking spot, but I went in, found what I was looking for, discovered the boots I want are on sale at 50% off, found an empty check-out line, paid, and left. I was gone a total of an hour.

And then I hear on the radio about a fatality in New York. Have we gotten soooooo desperate to 'get the good sales' that shoppers are now literally breaking down the doors and trampling store workers? Yes, I realize this has also happened on other Black Fridays. But people, really. Is it worth it? I say no.

A couple of years ago, we laughed at a friend of ours who got to Walmart at 4am just to get a DVD player for $20. Well guess what? My mom and dad found one, 2 weeks later, for the same price! That's right; the 'special sale' wasn't so special, after all.

I heard some poor guy whining that he had to stand in line for 2 hours for the store to open. I've got news for you; go in the afternoon, when all the crazies are tired and on their way home, or collapsing in restaurants! And yes, I've done this in the big city, too. Go in the afternoon! You'll be in a much better mood; you'll be rested; your shopping experience will be a hell of a lot more enjoyable. And oh yes, you might even catch yourself humming a Christmas song or two while you shop.

Sorry for the rant; this just really irked me yesterday.

I'm off to do laundry and keep an eye on my toddler, who is having some intestinal issues since 4am. Things seemed to have slowed down; I just hope the rest of the family doesn't have the same problem this weekend!

The Morning After...

Currently Reading: While waiting for the computer to finish loading, I read the rest of Paige's Spicing up Her Marriage trilogy. The stories were well told; this was just slightly too much out of my comfort range. I'll read it again in a few years. And I took a small break last night, letting my dinner digest while I read some more of Holding Out for a Hero. I'm on chapter 5 and it is getting interesting! And in the e-book format, I'm still halfway through Cindy Green's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Your Wedding. And while I'm on Amazon today, I'm getting two of Ms Kirch's books, More Than Words and Marriage Proposal. My mom refuses to read books on the computer. I'm also buying Sandra Cox's Akasha, Mona Risk's To Love a Hero, and Brynn Paulin's Tribute for the Goddess.


Hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving! I was up late last night, making up food packages for several people:

-My spouse and J, to stock food in her fridge for herself, the two little ones, and anyone else she knows who need it;
-My neighbor, who claimed she couldn't cook, yet did a beautiful job on the 12- pounder and pies;
-Two other friends, one of whom is very ill and couldn't make it to our house yesterday;
-Ended up having to put some of the leftovers in the van, as the fridge is now stuffed to capacity! But with one Care Package on its way, now there is slightly more room. The kids are going to be sick of turkey by Monday! But thanks to my friend Carol, I now have a fantastic recipe for Turkey Pot-Pie. Everyone enjoyed it last year after Christmas!

I also found a fun appetizer while watching Paula Deen on the Food Network last weekend. Simple, really. Take a box of toasted Sesame sticks; wrap them individually in uncooked bacon (I had to cut my bacon strips in half, because the Pepperidge Farms one were short); lay them side by side on a cookie sheet; sprinkle with pepper; bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. When they come out, immediately sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Let them cool, and enjoy! I didn't particularly care for them, but my neighbor D couldn't stop eating them, and others enjoyed them too! I only made 42; they were all gone by 9pm! Think I'll make them again for Christmas, and take them to my aunt's party.

Black Friday
I have a 'date' with amazon.com in a few minutes. I'm buying several gifts online this year, and am not starting my serious shopping until next week. My oldest will turn 17 next week, and we have yet to hammer out the details of getting one of his Morgan County friends down here. K found the present he wanted ON SALE the other day, and since it was $100 LESS than what we thought we were going to have to pay, and the only one left in the store, he left his two friends to push the thing around in a shopping cart while he came home to get the money. And now he's slightly put out because I won't let him set up the Guitar Hero World Tour set until December 6th. Am I a mean mommy or what? I told him I could be even nastier and make him wait until his actual birthday on the 8th...that settled him down, lol:)

Favorite Thanksgiving Memory
Actually, I have two.

1) The year I was in the 8th grade, my parents decided to check us all into the wonderful Holiday Inn Holidome, and my sis and I had our own room. We were given free reign; we could swim, play video games, and eat all we wanted in the restaurant, once we ate Thanksgiving dinner as a family. Mom and Dad went to their room; my sis and I hit the pool. On Friday, Dad went back to work, and Mom, sis, and I went shopping.

2) 1985. The highlight of my college vacation was the fact CABLE had finally made its way out to my parents' house! Mom cooked the turkey and trimmings; my sister and I happily curled up in front of the TV watching 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' on Showtime, and whatever else we could watch for the first time. 'I want my MTV...'

I'm off to finish putting away my leftovers. Several years ago, we ate Thanksgiving dinner at one of hubby's relatives, and were appalled when all the leftovers went into the garbage disposal. My husband was furious; several years ago, the Care Packages that my mother and his mother had sent home with us were what helped stretch the food budget so we could afford Christmas presents for the kids. No food goes to waste at my house!

Thanksgiving Day

I am thankful for many things.
-Living in a country which gives me religious and creative freedom
-Having a roof over my head
-Living in town the past two years, while gas was ungodly high
-Wonderful, supportive extended family
-Fantastic friends, both online and in person
-Healthy children
-Having a spouse who is still working
-Being able to spend time with my niece and nephew TWICE this past year
-A successful year for my 2nd book sales and the readers who bought it


What are you thankful for?


Have a happy Thanksgiving all, and here's a chuckle for you.

A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity. John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to "clean up" the bird's vocabulary.

Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and screamed. Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute.

Fearing that he'd hurt the parrot, John quickly open the door to the freezer, the parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arms and said, "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior."

John was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude. As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird continued, "May I ask what the turkey did?"

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Day 2...

Currently Reading: Finished Unbreakable last night, and enjoyed it. It was not was I was expecting. I'm still rating Mad About Mirabelle as my fav, though! I also finished Her Knight of Seduction while waiting for K to learn how to put in his contacts. Very very good! I'll be passing this along to my mom! I'm also on the first chapter of Holding Out For A Hero by Phyllis Campbell, and on the second chapter of Paige Tyler's book, Spicing Up Her Marriage. Not to mention being on chapter 5 of Cindy Green's A Funny Thing Happend on the Way to Your Wedding. Have I written anything? You're reading this post, aren't you?


Time to hit the kitchen today! Gotta bake two pies, make banana bread, beer bread, and thaw out at least two tubs of the cheesecake filling I hid in the freezer, so the kids wouldn't see it! One they will eat out of the tub; the other one will actually go into the PIE CRUST!

I ended up 'fostering' my 12-lb bird in the neighbor's refrigerator. There was no room left in mine. I hope there are no ill feelings when I bake him tomorrow morning, lol!

"Yeah, they really loved me. I was stuck in a freezer for an entire year, and when she did get around to warming me up, she sent me across the street! But the big guy she bought the other day got to move to the fridge...What, no squatter's rights? I was here first, damn it!"

K spent the first day successfully in his contacts. It's a good thing he caught on quickly; I'm squeamish about anything to do with the eyes! I guess having drops forced in the eyes from age 5 until 17 really created a phobia. Not to mention being stuck in the eye with a mascara wand at age 14...

Today's To-Do List:
-Kids will dust and vaccuum both rooms
-2 laundry loads
-Stove will get shined up on the outside
-Floor in both Kitchen and bathroom mopped
-Bathroom thoroughly cleaned
-See 1st paragraph for baking needs.
-Finish reading A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Your Wedding
-Pick up Fruit and Veggie trays from the store, as well as another bottle of cooking spray

Did I mention Kenzie wants her turn at the Coffee Time Romance Forum? Thank god she's only got four boooks written, and a couple of partials! Her posts won't take long. Scroll down to last Tuesday's post (The 'Wheeee' title to the right!) if you want to join in. I turned on my PC to 23 messages from Adrianne Brennan's threads yesterday. She's got two vampire books out, Blood and the Dark of the Moon (releasing the 1st week of December), and Blood and Mint Chocolates (available now). I actually won B&MC last week, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

Countdown: Day3

Currently Reading: Finished Prime Time! I enjoyed it, but I'd probably enjoy it more if I hadn't been mildly drugged-up. Scroll down for details. Next on my list is AJ's Unbreakable.


I learned something yesterday.

I'm still highly sensitive to Benadryl, the solid pink tabs.

I accidentally got too close to the dust on top of the piano and my eyes began to be watery and itchy.

I was out of the pink and white capsules, and hadn't been able to find any more at the store, so I'd bought the pink tabs, not in the box, but in the bottle. I took one, thinking not of "Oh wait...these make you incredibly sleepy..." but more along the lines of "These will help my eyes."

Guess who ended up taking a 90-minute nap, moving like a zombie stuck in slow-mo while the world moved at a fast-forward pace?

At least one turkey is defrosted and the other one is undergoing the same treatment as I type this. And my living room looks good, if you don't look behind the furniture! Nope, never got around to the detailed vacuuming.

Today's To-Do List:
-Take K to get his contact lenses
-While we're out, go to the furniture store and price a new couch.
-Treat my boys to lunch
-Same treatment (sans Benadryl, lol!) to office/S's bedroom/W's toyroom
-Read Unbreakable
-Dinner at the nursing home; Family Thanksgiving meal.
-Go buy rest of ingredients for Thursday.

Anyone else super-sensitive to pseudephrine? Or other meds? At least I now know how to 'cure' my insomnia...Since this hasn't happened in over 14 years, you can see how I'd forgotten about it!

Thankgsgiving Countdown: Day 4

We did a test-run of the Turkey Fryer, and all is well!

Or didn't I tell you the spouse bought one? I can't remember...anyway, we bought the gas and oil; selected some choice chicken thighs, legs, and breasts; rolled them in Kentucky Colonel flour; fired up the fryer and let them cook for 15-20 minutes.

Oh. My. God!

Delicious! Moist! And you know all is well at the dinner table when the only audible sound is that of lips smacking, teeth biting into the crunchy exterior of the meat, and the occasional "Wow Dad...this is GOOD! Can I have another leg?"

On Thursday, we will have one turkey in the fryer (22 lbs), another in the oven (12 lbs), and a spiral ham. Just in case something goes wrong with the fryer. My immediate problem is where to store everything. The 22 lb-er is thawing more rapidly than anticipated, so instead of cooking this week, the kids and I will be eating any and all leftovers from last week and the weekend. And if all else fails, I can send one of the birds across the street to the neighbors who will be joining us and stash it in their fridge!

To-Do List:
-Dust, vacuum, and de-clutter the living room
-Finish laundry from yesterday
-Take book tour tote and rolling crate to storage. I need to put up a table in its place...
-Check recipes and see if I have any last-minute items (besides coleslaw...can't believe I forgot it!)
-Write for at least 2 hours...I do have a ms to finish y'know...
-Finish reading Prime Time!

So what preparations are you making, if any? I have a feeling that by Friday, I'll be ready to head somewhere warmer!

Time To Get Busy...

Currently Reading: Loved Immortal Warrior! I'm looking forward to the next book in this series, about Vikings who were cursed into immortality/spending part of their days or nights as various animals! Wow...for a book I wasn't sure I was going to like, this one now has me hooked! Great job, Lisa Hendrix!

And last night I started Phyllis Campbell's Her Knights of Seduction. I'm on chapter 6. And yes, Vicki, I'l get back to Prime Time...between writing, blogging, keeping up with my email, chatting, and posting to the Coffee Time Romance forum, not to mention my kids having to do homework on the computer, I just didn't have time to sit down and read any e-books this week. Another reason why I need an e-reader...



Several things need to happen this week.

1) I need to write 45K between now and next Sunday, in order to attain my NaNo word count. Oh wait...I decided to not put pressure on myself. Maybe I can at least finish chapter 2? I DID finish the scence swirling in my head as of last Tuesday...

2) We're hosting Thanksgiving at our house, and have a small problem of an incontinent dog. I plan on attacking the living room tomorrow, and thoroughly dust, vacuum, and spray that Pet Odor Neutralizer stuff all over her bed and the couch. Since I've yet to find a new couch for the holidays (so far, anyway...more on this later), I may end up tossing an old bedspread over the whole thing on Thursday. Or remind the kids to move Lucky to the basement at night!

3) I'll do the same thing Tuesday with the dining room/my office/S's bedroom/W's toy room. I've already boxed up the majority of the toys he doesn't play with anymore; now if I can just keep him out of them. When I arrived home yesterday, several of them had made their way back upstairs. 'Look Mommy...my favorite!'

4) VistaPrint is going to love me around tax time. Why? I completely gave away all my freebies this weekend. I had forgotten to have new bookmarks made (gave them all away at the Fall Festival-head smack!), and since there was not time to have new ones made (I discovered this fact Friday night when I set up the dislay!), I proceeded to hand out every postcard. Out of 90+ postcards, I am left with only one. People also snatched up the sticky notes.

5) I may have to 'clean up' my series. This past 'tour' has shown me the majority of people stopping by my booth want Christian Inspirational. While I'm NOT going to take out the sex scenes, I may go through the rest of the books looking for the language. The 'F' word is prolific in my first book; it's only in the second one 3 times, and in the 3rd one once. I've no idea how many times I used it in books 5-7, although I do know of a couple incidences. And Kelly, your book and Phyllis's were picked up by MANY! So I hope your sales increase in the coming months.

6) The majority of the comments I heard once we got to the 'how much are your books' part was, "Money's tight this year." To which I generously asked if they had heard about E-books and how they were only a third of the price. Now I really wish I had an e-reader! I turned the laptop around and brought up Brits in Time, but the majority of those I spoke to were not interested in reading a book on the computer. So maybe things will be better next year, esp if Santa brings me an e-reader!

On today's To-Do list:
-Church
-Lunch
-Visiting the MIL
-Laundry
-Documenting hubby's expenses
-Filling his medicine tray
-Grocery shopping
-Dinner
-Re-packing his bag

Did anyone else think this past week dragged? It seems like a month has passed since I went to the opera with my dad instead of only a week! Check out the blogs to the right; from the looks of that list, I won't be online again until either late tonight or tomorrow morning at my regularly scheduled time.

So I Couldn't Just Stop with Seven...

Here's some more random facts about myself and books. Blame Gracen; she's the one who stirred up this memory, ha ha!

-I started reading romance books at the age of 12, after I started 'going' with my first 'boyfriend'. This you know from reading the comments yesterday. But why? Because I thought I was ready, now that I'd met the 'boy of my dreams' who announced we would probably 'never break up', since we were such good friends! And yes, while it lasted 4 years, I really felt none of the passion, romance, etc. Why? Because I was 12! Hormones didn't kick in until two years later, and we started drifting apart. I had a serious year-long crush on a senior when I was a freshman, and that ultimately led to our breakup. Also the fact we only saw each other once a week, and I saw my senior 3-4 times a week, plus went with him to Dairy Queen after Youth Group at church. Yes, I was allowed to 'group date' at almost 15.

-My mother let me read Clan of the Cave Bear at almost 17. A substitute teacher was horrified when I took it to class.

"Does your mother know what you're reading?"
"Yes; she gave it to me!" (My mom was on staff at the HS)

-I wrote and illustrated my first children's book as a senior for English. I still have the story and the rough sketches tucked away, and the kindergarteners and 1st graders loved it. Think Aesop meets Star Trek...well, okay. It was about two planets, one named Tide and the other named Mud. Obviously it needs work, should I ever venture into Children's Literature!

-My first attempt at a novel was a blatent rip-off of Woman of Substance. I needed a fancy meal, and copied it out of the dinner scene. It's still in my file cabinet! And I've taken the characters out of it and 'transplanted' them to Indiana, after I discovered the 'write what you know' advice! Plus, all my early heroines were sterile, either by birth defect or accidents which caused emergeny hysterectomies! (Yeah, right...at 19??)

-And to prove I've had stories floating around in my head since forever, did anyone else do this? I used to 'hate' playing Barbies or dolls with others, because they never followed the 'script' inside my head, and I wasn't verbal enough to tell them the story before we began! To me it was obvious what was supposed to happen next, but then all of a sudden, my playmate would come up with something totally off the wall, and it would ruin my storyline.

Okay...I'm off to get ready for Day #2 of the Santa Stroll. Had several people stop by and talk to me last night, and hopefully they will return and want to buy today! I also met another budding author to encourage!

I'll catch up on the rest of the blogs tomorrow. Have a great weekend!

Book MeMe and Did You See THAT?

OMG! Did anyone else watch Survivor last night? BOY did they pull a fast one over on Corinne and Randy!

If you haven't watched it yet and don't want to know, keep scrolling. If you're laughing along with me, do you think Sugar should have tried to keep her emotions under control?

First of all, last week Bob (physics guy) found where the hidden Immunity Idol could be. He made a fake one, and instead of placing it in the hiding place (ala Yao Man and Ozzy), he took it back to camp. And showed it to Sugar.

Meanwhile, Randy concocts this insane scheme to get Susie kicked off. Basically, he'll act like an ass; get the five others to vote for him, and pray that Bob has found the idol and will give it to him. His votes are thrown out; boom...Susie's on the jury.

Didn't. Quite. Happen!

Bob and Sugar come up with a plan to blindside Randy. Bob will give him the fake one and sit back and watch the fireworks! And what happens at Tribal Council? Corinne, Randy, and Bob vote for Susie. Kenny, Sugar, Matty, Susie, and a very verbal Crystal (everyone heard her blasting Randy at the voting diary camera!) voted for Randy. Randy pulled out the fake idol, and watched in disbelief as Jeff tossed it in the fire.

"This is not an Immunity Idol."

Randy is now the 3rd member of the jury and not a happy camper. Meanwhile, Sugar is laughing so hard, I'm surprised she's not rolling on the floor! Crystal does a slightly better job at keeping hers contained; Bob does the best job of all. His poker face doesn't reveal anything.

Who do YOU think will ultimately win? Unless Sugar gets blindsided in the next few weeks, she may cruise right to the final four or even two.

Book MeMe
1) My earliest favorite book I can recall was 'Spaghetti Eddie', in either kindergarten or 1st grade. I also loved my Disney Read-a-Long books, where the RECORD would play ("Turn the page when Tinkerbell waves her little wand like this..") and I'd sing along with the songs.

2) My mother gave me four biographies: Harriet Beecher Stowe, Julia Ward Howe, Mary Mapes Dodge, and Sacajawea. I took HBS to school one day and my 2nd grade teacher realized I was reading at a higher level. She took me to the 'big kid's' library (4th, 5th, and 6th grade) and let me check out books on her card. I devoured Martha Washington, Virginia Dare, Jessie Fremont, Jane Addams, and Rachel Jackson, to name a few.

3) By the third grade, I was eagerly reading my mom's Cherry Ames books. And was VERY angry with my teacher, because the only way I could return to the 'big library' was once a week after Girl Scouts. My mom was an assistant leader, and while she was socializing after the meeting, I skipped across the aisle and could be found rereading the biographies!

4) I dressed up as Abigail Adams for a book report in the 4th grade. (Part of an entire class project...we had to choose a book and dress like the main character.)

5) Discovered Nancy Drew in the 5th grade. And thanks to a certain Student Teacher, found out I could actually write down all those stories in my head!

6) I astounded my grandmother when we visited her for 3 weeks. She was into mysteries and made weekly trips to the library. I went with her and wanted to check out six or eight books. She made me put all but three back. I had them read by the next day. She took me back again and let me check out as many as I wanted!

7) Since I love to reread books, I prefer to buy them, rather than check them out of the library. I own almost the entire Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, Cherry Ames, and Louisa May Alcott collections. And if I pass garage sales, used book stores, or displays with old books, I'm always on the lookout for more Bobbsey Twins, Honey Bunch, Dana Girls, Vicki Barr, or any other books I've read but don't own. There's nothing more irritating than to remember a storyline, or a character, and not remember the book title. I would still love to reread the biographies mentioned in #2, as well as my junior high titles I loved.

I don't know if there's anyone left that Kelly didn't already tag; I'll pick BB Walters, J Lynn Rogers, Ashley Ladd, Dakota Rebel, Regina Carlysle, and the ladies of the Deadly Vixens.

And stop by Ashley Ladd's and tell her Happy Birthday!

Have a good weekend; I have my Santa Stroll signing tonight and tomorrow. If you're in the area, come by and dance with me tonight! The Swing Band will be playing at Zanders after the parade! Come on in; warm up with some hot broccoli-cheese soup and be my jitterbug partner?

Strange...

Currently Reading: Still on Prime Time. Won Brits in Time and Blood and Mint Chocolates last night:) Bought A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Your Wedding; Unbreakable; and Sacred Ground earlier. And at night, I curl up with Immortal Warrior.


'Splath'
'Tersess'
'Tar Me'
'NaNoNit'
'Garmph'
'Giona'

What do these words have in common? These are the weird word verifications I've had the last week. There are others I can't remember; I didn't start keeping track of them until yesterday. And some of them actually fit the 'theme' of either the comment, or the blog entry!

For instance, I playfully stuck out my tongue and the WV was 'splath'.

I commiserated with another disgruntled blogger and got 'garmph'.

Yet a third went on a rant and when I tried to tactfully explain my opinion, the WV was 'Tar Me':)

Anyone else noticing any strange coincidences with your word verifications? And why do some blogs have them while others do not?

I went over to a chat loop yesterday, because I haven't chatted in a while and wanted to lend my support to another author. When I checked the calendar, I was pleasantly surprised to find another friend also having a brief chat! So I popped in and ended up staying on the chat for about eight hours. I did manage to get some work accomplished, and added to my TBB list. Today I've got a sick kid at home, plus am posting again over at Coffee Time Romance (scroll down to Monday or Tuesday for link; java's out again). I also have Laundry Goddess duties as well as trying to get an important scene finished.

I overslept this morning, so I'm going to bed after Survivor. Wish me luck; I tried doing that last week, only to get interested in CSI. I'll be taping ER; don't know when I'll actually watch it. I still have 5 hours of stuff I DVR'd last week to watch!

I know...I watch too much already.

Mystery Solved!

Currently Reading: I loved Always My Love! Again, it kept me guessing who the culprit was. After having read Kelly's More Than Words, I thought I saw a twist coming, and I'm glad to say my first guess was correct. After all, can't have similar twists in two different books, can we? If you've not read MTW, go get it! And while you're surfing on Amazon, pick up Phyllis's book too.

Next up: I'm still reading Prime Time, and the book I won two weeks ago, Lisa Hendrix's Immortal Warrior, arrived the other day in the mail. I'm pleasantly surprised...I almost didn't answer the email, but now I'm glad I did. I had to force myself to put down the book after the 4th chapter! I've been staying up too late this week, and was only going to read the first chapter. But it is proving to be a page-turner, and definitely holding my interest! It's true; you can't judge a book by its cover. Or one glance at the blurb and excerpt.


Remember the mystery of my disappearing jeans?

They were found behind my spouse's Shopsmith, cavorting with a couple of towels.

Not much else to say today, except I'm getting back to work on revisions today. The weather is supposed to be slightly warmer, but as of now, there is frost on the windows.

Check back tomorrow for something more interesting. And as always, check out the blogs to the right.

Wheeeeeeee!

Currently Reading: I loved A Grand Seduction! I thought the plot would go one way...it didn't. Then I thought it would do something else....it veered off in a different direction and had me completely stymied up until the last chapter! A definite recommended read! Good job, Ms Logan!

I'm on the 1st chapter of Prime Time by Vicki Burkholder. And halfway through Phyllis Campbell's Always My Love. Kelly, you might enjoy this one, seeing as how it was your first genre...hmmm...when did you say your birthday was again???


I'm so excited! Click here to join in the party with me!

This may have been the creative boost I needed. I'm going to finish dancing around the room, shower, and get my fingers back on the keyboard where they belong, instead of scrolling my mouse wheel as I read.

I'm still over at Coffee Time Romance too, so come join in the fun! Several authors are giving away free books, so come on over!

Success or Failure?

In my QT (Quiet Time/Daily Devotions) over the weekend, a profound statement was made, one I most definitely agree with.

"Success or failure is a moment; how you respond to it is the rest of your life."

Think about that for a moment.

How many times have we been thrilled with victory, be it a published book, or even just finished writing a story; getting a fantastic review; receiving that first royalty check; or even having a friend say, "I loved your book!"? How do we respond?

Our egos swell; the chest puffs out; our heads are held a little higher.

But what happens on the down side?

We get rejection letters. Bad reviews. Someone reads your book and tells you it's nothing but an amateruish piece that a high school senior could improve upon. Or worse, calls it porn. How do we respond in this situation?

Anger? Depression? Giving up on the dream?

Or do you take it in stride and try to improve?

Beethoven was deaf, yet he is one of the great composers. How many times did anyone ridicule his efforts, because he couldn't hear what he was playing? He kept going.

There's a wonderful singer (forgive me...I'm blanking on his name! You know who I'm talking about...Mel?? Country singer. He may even have already passed on.) who stutters when he speaks. But when he sings, the richness of his voice touches the soul.

Think of the fairy tales. If Rudolph had slunk off in embarrassment and hidden his nose forever, would there even be a song/movie/Christmas ornaments around? If Simba hadn't returned to claim his kingdom, would Pride Rock still be a barren wasteland? (Or even stories about these characters?)

Think of Dr. Seuss. He was actually going to toss out his manuscript and give up when someone took a chance on him. And now how many of us grew up or are reading The Cat in the Hat to our kids? And eagerly await the first showing of How The Grinch Stole Christmas after Thanksgiving?

So what's your response to failure? Do you turn it into a positive, or do you let the shame follow you around the rest of your life?

And while you're at it, how do you respond to success? Don't become a pompous ass. Your next endeavor may bring you back down to Earth with a jolt.

The above is not directed at any one individual. As one of those persons who was constantly ridiculed in my younger days, the 'You' is intended for a blanket statement. Think before you step on someone in order to climb the ladder of success.

Wonderful Weekend!
As you may have heard, I had a wonderful weekend with my parents. The opera; an uplifting message at my home church; an excellent meal afterwards; and the icing on the cake was a 90-minute impromptu visit with my bff. We're making plans to get together in a month. Also, two friends have announced their engagements, so hopefully I'll be attending at least two weddings next summer. And maybe a third, if another recently engaged person decides not to wait until 2013!

It's not the moment of success or failure that counts. It's the moment after that.

Father/Daughter Bonding

Boy (T) meets Girl (L) and fall in love.

T goes off to war; L decides she doesn't want to wait and marries A.

T returns home; finds out L is married; professes love to S.

L discovers T is home and decides she wants him back.

S, now pregnant, discovers T and L's affair and in a fit of jealousy, tells A.

A confronts T and in anger, kills T.

Is this the latest Hollywood scandal?

TV News headliner?

Nah...it's the plot of Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana ('Rustic Chivalry') Opera my father and I attended last night!

Some stories are truly timeless.

The music was beautiful; the emotions were very well expressed; the English sub-titles were prominently displayed on the screen above the stage. And our seats, though slightly uncomfortable, were in the 1st balcony and we had a clear view of the stage.

Later, after coming home, my dad invited me to watch a 20 minute segment of one of his favorite operas, Die Valkyrie. It reminded me of part King Lear, part Sleeping Beauty. And I discovered it doesn't really matter what I'm watching; as long as my itchy back is being scratched, I'll watch almost anything!

But I did enjoy the music, again, subtitles were in use. Some day I may sit and watch the entire opera with him.

Or maybe we'll just make this our annual father/daughter thing every time I visit.

After all, this particular opera is twelve hours long. I don't think Dad's fingernails (or his arm!) would last that long!

I'm headed for home as soon as I finish gathering up the clothing my children left behind last month. Did everyone have a good weekend? Mine was very musical!

Off To the Opera!

I'm heading north in a few hours. Still don't have any idea of which opera my dad, Mrs. Sato, and I are seeing tonight. I'll let you know either tomorrow or Monday.

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth is...
Did you see the tongue-lashing Congress gave the banking industry the other day? About 'If we bail you out, you will NOT pay your shareholders; you will NOT pay bonuses; you will NOT acquire other banks; you WILL use it responsibly!'

Yes! This is something I've never understood, and maybe it's just because I've been in the low-income bracket ever since I married. If your company is not financially solvent, why do the owners insist on getting their salaries? Aren't you supposed to put the money back into the company? Take care of your workers?

I've heard some people say you should pay yourself. But ever since I started publishing, my royalties go back toward my promotion efforts. To be fair, yes, my big one last summer went towards fixing my van. But the majority of my hubby's paychecks go toward basic necessities...housing, food, utilities, and basics for the kids. We didn't squander it on stuff we didn't need, such as the latest tech toys or vacations we couldn't afford. So any money I've made this past year has gone toward my booth rental fees and I've got a rule when I'm on the road: I don't eat or buy anything until I've sold a book or two. (It helps when you don't take your kids with you, obviously!)

Put the money back into the company. If your shareholders don't understand basic economics, then they need to get a clue as to what the rest of the working population are going through.

Okay...Off My Soapbox
I'm still feeling some of the impatience as I sit here. But maybe this change of scenery tonight will help. Some good classical music, hanging out with my parents, and getting away from the kids for 24 hours should help the doldrums.

And trying to focus on other manuscripts didn't work. Maybe I am experiencing temporary burn-out.

Have a good weekend! I'm still posting to the forums on Coffee Time Romance, in the Reader's Retreat. So stop by and say hi! As I stated earlier, my promo thread has been getting quite a few views and comments! Scroll down to Wednesday's post for the link. Or click http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=854 (I hope it works...java just cut out on me again!)

Computeritis??

Currently Reading: I am loving Lisa Logan's A Grand Seduction! I'm on chapter 9.


I've noticed this strange ailment lately. I sit down in front of the desktop and all of a sudden I'm experiencing a strange feeling. It's hard to explain, so bear with me.

I feel a sense of anxiety, almost. No, it's not the panic type; more like the 'let's-get-this-over-with-so-I-can-do-something-else' feeling. I've been feeling like this around every 4-6 weeks.

Is my computer making me sick? Am I having an adverse reaction to electronics? Or is it just the fact that I am addicted to my computer and every once in a while Reason tries to pull me away?

Therefore, I've dubbed it 'Computeritis'.

Source of depression, maybe? It flares up even when I'm trying to read my latest e-book. Maybe it's just due to spending overly long periods of time at my desk, since I've been trying to write, participate in the Coffee Time Romance Reader's Retreat Forum, and making a huge dent in my TBB list?

Hmm...I've not noticed it when I'm in front of the laptop. So maybe I should rename it 'Desktopitis'?

Told you I was lousy at descriptio...I think I've finally identified the feeling. It's that low-level queasiness you get, when you're trying to come down with something?? And I've been irritible and short-tempered all day. So maybe I've cauaght a computer virus...hahahahaha....

Not Bad for a 20-Year Absence!
Went to Walmart with my oldest son last night, and the Rock Band display was unoccupied. So we decided to indulge in a little fun. He took the guitar; I got to bang on the drums for the first time since 1984.

He fired up 'Eye of the Tiger', and we began to play. I have bragging rights; I beat him 98% to his 92%! I was having so much fun, when the guy behind us wanted to try, I noticed he was alone and offered to play with him. This time the song was 'Living on a Prayer', and I'll confess I didn't do as well. He scored 93%; mine was a lowly 76%.

And to be fair, both he and my son were on the 'Hard' level; I was on 'Easy'. But for having not ever played this particular game, and not having a set of sticks in my hand in over 24 years, I thought my scores were rather respectable.

Just wait three more weeks: We're getting the full set for my son's 17th birthday. And yes, Mom will be on the drums at least once a day!

So....anyone out there want to join our band this coming year? We're getting the whole enchilada...two guitars, mike, and drums. Son #1 and daughter will be on guitar; I'll be on drums; and we need a lead singer. Come on down and jam with us!

Did you congratulate Dakota yet? I saw that Cindy has some good news too. And you never go wrong with Ashley, Anny, or Three Wicked Writers! Go check 'em out!

Fun Recipe!

Currently Reading: A Grand Seduction by Lisa Logan. I've not started it yet; I was busy all day talking to myself, Cindy Green, Donna Michaels, Deb, and Krista yesterday over at Coffee Time Romance. I've not checked yet to see if any of my excerpts sparked any interest; I'm going to head over there shortly and post my contest questions. Scroll down to yesterday for the correct link; I discovered the link I posted last week didn't lead anywhere!


Got this in an email the other day. Since Thanksgiving is still two weeks away, enjoy!

TURKEY RECIPE

I thought this sounded good!
Here is a turkey recipe that also includes the use of popcorn as a
stuffing ingredient -- imagine that. When I found this recipe, I thought it
was perfect for people like me, who just are not sure how to tell
when turkey is thoroughly cooked, but not dried out. Give this a try.

8 - 15 lb. turkey
1 cup melted butter
1 cup stuffing (Pepperidge Farm is Good.)
1 cup unpopped popcorn (ORVILLE REDENBACHER'S LOW FAT IS BEST)
Salt/pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush turkey well with melted butter
salt, and pepper. Fill cavity with stuffing and popcorn. Place in
baking pan making sure the neck end is toward the back of the oven.

After about 4 hours listen for the popping sounds. When the turkey's
ass blows the oven door open and the bird flies across the room, it's done.

And, you thought I didn't cook...


Breaking News!
Ashley Ladd nominated me for the 'I Love Your Blog' award! Thanks Ash:)
I'll have to check my friends' blogs to see if they are already nominated, but as of right now, I nominate the following:
-Amarinda Jones
-Dakota Rebel
-Brynn Paulin
-Bronwyn Green
-Kelly Marstad
-Jamie Carie
-Sandra Cox
-Jacqueline Roth
(yes, that's technically eight instead of only seven, but who picked that number anyway? And this way, if someone else has already nominated them, I have a back up!)

Other Breaking News...
Go over to Kenzie's Place for some exciting news!

And Dakota Rebel's too!

Forum Day Again!

Come over to Coffee Time Romance and read excerpts of my books, ask questions, whatever you want. My Promo thread has been getting quite a bit of activity. And at the end of the day/month, I may even be giving away a free copy! So come join the fun, and check out the other authors who are posting:)

I'm off to go pick up Lucky and give her lots of TLC today.

Gas Price Update: It's been $1.99 since the weekend!!! And when we went north, it was about 10 cents lower:) How much are you paying?

Also pop over to Ashley Ladd's blog and see what words of wisdom she's sharing today, or if she's interviewing another author.

Rainy Tuesday

Currently Reading: Oops! I bought the wrong book yesterday. I was originally going to get Crazy for the Cowboy and ended up getting Always a Cowboy instead. So I went back and bought Crazy too. Read half of it; took a break; wrote exactly 49 words; read the rest of it! Now I'm on chapter 6 of Always and loving it! Good job Cindy! It's been a while since I've been interested in reading about cowboys; you're certainly changing my mind!

NaNo Word Count: As stated, I wrote a disgustingly small amount, 49 words. Don't know if today's going to be any better; it depends on how fast I read Cindy's book and if I get inspired. See next to last paragraph of this entry for more.


Was yesterday ungodly long, or was it just me?

Today it is cold and rainy, but I do have some bright spots to pass along. For one, today is my good friends' eighth wedding anniversary. Here's to many more, John and Jackie:)

For another, I received an unexpected compliment the other day. A friend who just finished reading Love is Sober told me, "I liked it. I didn't expect to; I read it, thinking I'd read it just to be nice, but you surprised me!"

Always nice to find another person who couldn't put it down! Now if he'll read Love Finds a Way and tells me the same thing...

On the down side, I had to take my black Lab, Lucky, to the vet to have a cyst removed from her front paw. I'm supposed to call later today to find out how she's doing, and if they removed it today or have to do it tomorrow. Last week he wasn't sure what day he could squeeze her in. She was very puzzled at why I did not feed her this morning, and kept coming into the kitchen whenever I happened to be in there. But nope, no food after Midnight last night. She's going to get lots of TLC in the coming days.

And the other bad news is the other story I subbed for an anthology has been rejected. This one I'm not too upset about, since I felt it was better in the longer format. So now I can redo it the way I originally wrote it. And the other rejection? I can tweak the characters/plot line to fit into the other anthology! Whew...I'm having a major creativity slump at the moment, so maybe this will pull me out of it? NaNo isn't doing it. I still say I need a vacation in the Carribbean by myself! See Kenzie's Place for more.

What's going on in your part of the world?

Teenagers and Messages

Currently Reading: Just bought Prime Time by Vicki Burkholder, Crazy for the Cowboy and Always A Cowboy by Cindy Spencer Pape, A Grand Seduction by Lisa Logan, and ordered 3 Phyllis Campbell books from Amazon: Always My Love; Her Knights of Seduction; and Holding out for a Hero.


NaNo Word Count: 600 on Friday; 0 on Sat, and only 100 yesterday. I think my total's around the 4700 mark. Maybe I'll do better this week??


I found this note Saturday morning before we left.

"Grandpa said yes to Oprah on the 15th."

Whaaaat? My dad and Oprah? Okay; what have I missed? Are my parents going to be on an upcoming show of lasting marriages? Health problems? Did Oprah's people happen to acquire a copy of either of my two books and want to make it part of their Book Club?

Screech! Hold it, Molly! (Sound of brakes squealing)

No. This is a simple case of a teenager not knowing how to spell OPERA!

Dad and I are set to go to the opera next Saturday with his Japanese friend, who happens to have two extra tickets. And since I have accompanied this dear, sweet lady to last year's Bach Chorale, and she is also in talks to publish her fascinating life story, my presence has been requested.

Okay. I guess I don't need to grab my fashion-conscious best friend to help me shop for an outfit to make me look my best on TV just yet.

Heart rate has now returned to normal.

Tired...

I'm tired. We arrived home late, but due to the caffeine, I was awake until the wee hours of the morning. Toddler woke me up at 8; I'm drinking coffee.

I'll check back later. Yesterday was good and relaxing. How is your weekend going?

I've got a day of laundry looking at me. Who knows? Maybe my jeans will turn up somewhere.

Thanks for all the LFAW b-day wishes!

Short Post

We're heading north to get #1 son's eyes checked and fitted for possibly contacts.

Then its off to a Mary Kay party and see some friends I've not seen in a while.

Afterwards, meeting the spousal unit for dinner and coming home.

Go amuse yourself with the blogs to the right and I'll check in tomorrow:)

Happy Saturday!

"The Laundry Chute Ate My Jeans!"

Currently Reading: Blind Faith by Claire Thompson. My word goal for yesterday was shot when I took a break to read Mary Martinez's Peek-A-Boo. OMG! I loved it! She did a beautiful job of bringing her characters to life, and now I can hardly wait to read her Enchanted Dreams and Meet Me in Fantasyland. Several times I thought I had figured out who the stalker was, only to realize I was wrong. Want a book to keep you guessing? Go over to Champagne Books and buy your own copy!


Sounds like an excuse a kid would use, huh? "My dog ate my homework.." "My baby brother destroyed my term paper..."

Last week, I threw my brand new jeans down the chute; did everyone's laundry; and now my jeans are missing.

Hubby hasn't called to say I accidentally packed them with his pants; I've looked through my daughter's clothing, but as she wears one size larger than I, they're not there. And there have been no complaints from my oldest son about giving him a pair of 'girly' jeans.

So....where did they go? They aren't trapped somewhere in the chute; it's clear. They aren't lying on the floor beside the chute; I've checked. So the only logical explanation is, they were marked wrong on the OUTSIDE when I bought them, and therefore my daughter now has an extra pair of jeans.

Trouble is, she claims she only has a certain number of pairs and she hasn't 'miraculously' acquired another pair. But it would explain why they are too large around the waist when I wear them! And the other pair I bought at the same time fit just fine.

Switching gears, it's going to be cold tomorrow. Highs only in the mid 40's. And my winter coat should have been replaced last year. Think I'll take a trip over to JC Penney or Kohls to find a new one. Mine's ten years old; zipper's been busted for three years; last year I was miserable in it. So yes, time for a change. Seems to be the mantra for the week.

Happy Birthday LFAW!
My second baby turns 1 today. And has sold a whopping 61 (??) copies in it's first year. My first book 34 in its first year. So either my promotional efforts are getting better, or people are just so sick of me talking about my books they are buying them strictly to shut me up. Hopefully it's the former...

And of course, hopefully if everything works out and both books are rereleased in e-format, sales will continue to grow...

I've been told that I'm not the only one having trouble commenting on the blogs. I used the laptop last night as an experiment, and was able to leave two comments on my own blog. But was I really in the mood to reread everyone's posts and give my witty opinion? No. I was ready to go to bed. But when I get ready to read in a few minutes, I'll switch to the laptop if blogger's not cooperating with my PC and make my presence known again. So hopefully you enjoyed yesterday's 'Memory Lane' and weren't just bored by it!

NaNo Word Count (in case you missed it): I managed to pound out 400 words yesterday. I let my oldest have the van today so I could stay home and write. I'm not even going to touch Claire's book with the curser until I've hit at least 1000 words today!

What's everyone else up to? Check out the blogs to the right and find out! That's where I'm heading next.

Musical Childhood

NaNo Word Count: Only accomplished 200 yesterday. Hopefully I'll do better today.
Update: Okay; I managed to double yesterday's. I'm at 400. Blame Mary Martinez; her book Peek-A-Boo kept me scrolling! Awesome book!


Once again, I am unable to leave comments! Maybe it's the PC?

Kelly: Good for you!

TWW: I've been prayed over for the choice language in my books. And received a letter last year, inviting me to 'meet her friend who died on the cross'. I already have a close personal relationship with Him, thankyouverymuch!

Earlier this week, Anny Cook talked about music from her childhood, and wondered if anyone remembered singing "Purple People Eater". A few of us responded with that line from the chorus.

I grew up in a household where my mom loved the Beatles, Neil Diamond, Elvis, and Elton John. My dad, however, prefered Wagner, Mozart, Tcheichovsky (I hope I'm spelling that right!), and Beethoven. Quite a difference there.

My earliest memory of songs is singing along to 'Me and You and a Dog Named Blue'; the Carpenters 'Top of the World' and 'Only Yesterday'. We also watched Sonny and Cher, and I remember taking my 45 of 'Dark Lady' to school when we were allowed to bring in our own music. My best friend introduced me to Tony DeFranco, and I think I ended up buying 'Heartbeat, It's a Love Beat' three times, due to record breakage or skipping too badly. Remember stacking pennies on the arm to avoid the skips?

My sister and I fell in love with the Neil Diamond and Elvis 8-tracks, and I'm surprised we didn't wear out 'I am the Lion' (ND) or 'Jailhouse Rock' and 'Teddy Bear'. I was 10 or 11 when Elvis died. I was in my room when Mom came in and told me.

My grandparents watched Laurence Welk, so I also got to know earlier songs, and dreamed of dancing with Bobby and Cissy, or even Laurence himself. I wanted to sing with the accordian player, or play the piano on the set. My grandmother had three music boxes which I fortunately inherited. The first is in the shape of an old radio, playing 'Second Hand Rose'; the second is a mill, complete with the wheel that turns while 'Down By the Old Mill Stream' plays; a third is silver grand piano which plays 'Somewhere My Love.'

We drooled over Hee Haw; I had a toy guitar that I would hold and imitate Buck Owen. For the record, I never mastered the guitar; the strings hurt my fingers too badly. But I did master the art of recreating any short song on one string! No chords; only melody. And very choppy.

Later, my sister and I fought over Donny Osmond, Shaun Cassidy, and the Bay City Rollers. Does anyone remember the Saturday morning Captain Cool and the Kongs? I only vaguely remember the outlandish costumes, but I do remember watching when the cast whittled down to only four, and we oohed and aahed over the Captain. And also speculated when Woody of the Bay City Rollers would take off his shirt during their show.

We also watched Captain and Tenille, and found out we liked 'Butterscotch Mountain' better than 'Shop Around'. It was the 'B' side of the record that we played out of curiosity!

We almost couldn't get enough of 'One Tin Soldier', 'Those Were The Days', and various Peter, Paul, and Mary songs.

I've only recently discovered I've been a closet Kiss fan; I ordered their Greatest Hits CD, and on the first disk, there are several songs that I remember, but didn't know Kiss sang! I was never allowed to buy their albums.

In high school, I joined the band and also dated a tuba player who loved the classics. He introduced me to The Planets, a collection of instrumentals named after the planets. We both decided Jupiter Symphony outshone the rest. My dad was thrilled when I asked to borrow his tape! I had to buy him a new one a year later; it got caught in my tape player and broke.

My senior year, I was hooked on Foreigner (I had secretly loved Head Games in the 6th grade, but again, Mom refused to let me buy the album!), Def Leppard, Styx, and Journey. In college, I dated a guy who liked Judas Priest and Pink Floyd. I only can take so much of JP; in fact, I think 'Turbo Lover' is the only song I have of theirs!

And now, as the mother of three children in various musical stages, my oldest son commented last night, 'Most parents don't like their kids' music, but you do!' Case in point: Two years ago, he expressed an interest in a song by Hinder, which I had my reservations about. I found it way to sexually explicit for a then-fourteen year old, but the song was catchy. I bought the CD in order to screen it first, especially when I discovered I loved the second song released. I couldn't get enough of that album, and ended up buying another one for him! I ended up keeping the unedited one; his is more PG.

I never did get into rap, but there are a few songs out there I do like. 'Ice Ice Baby', 'The Wild Thing', 'Funky Cold Medina', 'Parents Just Don't Understand', and others by Will Smith.

Country? I love Reba, Kenny Rogers, The Judds, Brooks and Dunn, Garth Brooks, and Big and Rich.

Christian? Love Carman, Amy Grant, Sandy Patti, and The Gaithers.

Why do I bring this up? My father called and invited me to see an opera next week. Ever since my Music Appreciation class, I've wanted to see one, especially Aida. No word on which opera we will be seeing, but as Dakota pointed out, this will give me a chance to hang out with my dad and be with him and the music he loves.

Now if my mom would just come up with some Neil Diamond tickets....

"Mommy? Will you put that song on about the Reverend Blue Jeans?"

"You mean Forever in Blue Jeans!"

What are your childhood faves? Any bungled lyrics you'd care to share?

'Sugar fried honey butts...'

'She's got a chicken to ride and it's in my hair...'

Blogger Going Crazy???

For some reason, I am unable to post comments!! First it was just on Three Wicked Writers. Now it's my OWN BLOG and Regina's! AAARRRGGGHHHH!

Gracen: Thanks! Your email will be along shortly.

Carol: So you don't care for 'Mitch the Snitch' either? And got word that your book shipped out today. I'll probably get it next week.

Regina: Thanks for understanding, and entering me in the contest!

Maybe this problem will be solved tomorrow. I told you the feeling was mutual! (Yesterday's comment about technology hating me!)

Red State, Blue State

Currently Reading: Finished Erotikos, The Spirit of Christmas, and Meeting Mr. Right Online. OMG! You have got to read all three! Erotikos is at Amber Quill, and Cindy Green's books can be found at By Grace Publishing. All three will keep you scrolling, guarrenteed!

Tonight, I'll be rewarding myself with The Violin, by Sarah McNeal. And then I'll be out of reading material again. Maybe I'll get a head start on next week's titles??

Anyone else like the song, 'Red State, Blue State Blues' by Harry Smith?

My state switched our electoral votes last night, but unfortunately we kept our idiot governor in office.

Come Over and Talk to Me!
I'm chatting today over at Coffee Time Romance. The Novel Sisterhood has a month-long forum, and today is one of my days to talk about my series, promo efforts, or whatever anyone else wants to know. Come over and say hi. Here's the link:
http://www.coffeeti meromance. com/board/ index.php

I'll also be dropping by throughout the month, and am chatting again heavily on the 12th. So there's ample time to catch me.

NaNo Word Count for yesterday:
1071. And while at my writer's meeting, I got a brainstorm and wrote two paragraphs on something totally unrelated. I know; I'm nuts. But hey...with my decision not to confuse my flash drive, I let my daughter use the laptop to check in with the election results. Yes, she went with me, and I even bought her ice cream. Okay; to be fair, it was her friend's smoothie. S and A were already at Zander's when I arrived, and S had already bought her own snack. But A wanted to try a smoothie, and being the generous 'adopted' mommy, I paid for it.

Will I Ever Learn???

Currently Reading: I'm up to Chapter 7 on Melissa Aires' Fallen to Earth. Which ones did I buy yesterday? Keep reading; it is posted farther down.


My flash drive has killed my master TBB list. I finally decide to save the rest of the changes from the past two weeks and I cannot access it. I hate technology and I think the feeling is mutual.

All is not totally lost; I do have the first 50 titles on the back-up file. And I vaguely remember some of the titles that did not make it onto the back-up file. So technology has either done me a favor by whittling my list down to a managable size, or I'm going to miss out on some terrific books.

God I miss my printer! I may make that another priority this month...see if the one my dad gave me last year is in working condition. Or put a new one on my list for Santa.

Word Count for yesterday: (Don't laugh; I swear I'm not making this up!) 1234. Still slightly short of my 1500 goal, but I went into panic mode when I couldn't access the file on my flash drive!


November Reading Schedule:
Yeah I know; I'm supposed to be working furiously on NaNo. But I
have to take a break, don't I? So here's a peek at what books I'll
be buying this month. Maybe some authors will sound familiar.

Nov 3: Erotikos-Shannon Leigh
The Spirit of Christmas-Cindy Green
Meeting Mr. Right Online-Cindy Green
The Violin-Sarah McNeal

Nov 10: Soldier-Phyllis Campbell
Peek-A-Boo-Mary Martinez
Blind Faith-Claire Thompson

Nov 17: Prime Time-Vicki Burkholder
Crazy for the Cowboy-Cindy Spencer Pape
Sacred Ground-Rita Karnopp
A Grand Seduction-Lisa Logan

Nov 24: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Your Wedding-Cindy
Green
Her Knights of Seduction- Phyllis Campbell
Unbreakable- Amarinda Jones

Dec 1: Absolute Trust-Kaenar Langford
Greenwood Manor-Shannon Leigh
Tempting Tamara-Brynn Paulin
The Gallery-Dakota Rebel

Here's hoping I have a productive day; I don't have to watch the clock today, as the toddler's school is an election site. I voted absentee two weeks ago. Why? I'm holding onto my old driver's license until the last possible moment, as it expires next month.

I tried out a Banquet Crock-Pot Classics last night (K had seen it and asked if we could try it...'the Meatball Stroganoff looks good!') and while the kids raved about it, I believe I could recreate it from scratch. What's for dinner tonight? Not sure; I have my weekly writer's meeting and need something quick and simple.

Today's Stupid Saying: (Very appropriate for today!)
"If anybody shows up that's on the deceased list, we'll cross them off. If you're deceased, you're not supposed to be voting."
-Bettye Munroe, acting superintendent of elections in Mercer County, New Jersey.

Monday Rambling

Currently Reading: Finished Cindy's The Cowboy's Christmas Bride! Favorite line? "Does this look like charity to you?" He indicated the bulge in his jeans. (Or something like that anyway! Forgive me, Cindy if I botched it!) I loved this book and the characters! Now I can hardly wait to read the rest of the Crazy H saga!

Next up: I won Melissa (oops, blanking on last name here! I think it's Aires??) Fallen To Earth last week. I'll reward myself with it later today, if I get at least another 500 words down. I'll post the November reading schedule tomorrow.

2:30: So far, WC is at 825. Not bad for an hour's work. And if you're confused, these are the NEW words.

We had a fantastic weekend; the weather was warm; gas was $2.13 a gallon! Yes, you read that right, $2.13. It only took $56 to fill up my van. Hubby said he filled up in Franklin, IN for $1.97. Anyone else want to dance happily with me?

NaNoWriMo Word Count
So far, I'm at a whopping 500. But I should be able to make up some ground for not being able to write over the weekend. And technology has lost another file, but luckily for me, I was able to recreate the two paragraphs lost to cyberspace. So I've made a decision to not write on the laptop anymore.

Yes, this is going to be a pain when I have to retype it, but can I claim double words, since I technically have to write them twice? Just thought I'd throw that one out there for discussion...

Go over to Jae's blog and send her good thoughts as she's heading into the home stretch with the pending arrival of Smudgie. And don't forget to stop by Dakota's and send her hugs on the death of a loved one. I'm off to throw another load of laundry in the wash and settle down to get some words written down. Hey...do blogs count toward the word count? I know...I'm reaching here.

Mental note to self:
Go eat breakfast and lose yourself in your imagination. And don't forget to set the timer: You have to pick up the toddler at 11:30. Also, plan dinner in advance...oh wait; I already have it in the slow-cooker....

Wh..What?

Yesterday, Bronwyn Green posted a wacky dream about Barak Obama. Is there something in the air? Wacky political dreams seem to be making the rounds of households.

Last night I was rudely awakened by my husband lightly smacking my face, trying to get me to wake up.

"Hey...hey...are we okay with the two government do-dads?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"You know...the other day we passed that guy in the truck with the paintball..."

At this point, I realize he's still got his eyes closed, and he's talking in his sleep. I start laughing, because he's certainly never smacked me in the face that way before!

"Are you laughing at me?"

"No." I try to smother another fit of laughter.

"I'll kick your ass." And he promptly begins to snore and roll over.

I rolled over myself and kept shaking with laughter until I eventually fell back asleep!

And this morning I asked him about it, and he has no idea what he was dreaming!

So...is there something in the air, or are we heartedly sick of hearing about this election and wish it was over already?

Forgive me...my javascrpt went down. I'll continue later this afternoon.

NaNo is Here!

Currently Reading: Finished Rose Quartz last night! If you haven't read Sandra Cox's amulet series, I suggest you do so. Now I can't wait for Black Opal! I clicked on Cindy Spencer Pape's The Cowboy's Christmas Bride, and had to force myself to stop scrolling and go to bed! Why am I not surprises? I love Cindy's books. After I've written a few pages today, I'll reward myself with the rest of her book.


As with last year, I am doing it slightly different. My goal last year was to get book #8 written and over with; didn't happen. Tammy and Kevin leaped into my brain and completely took over!

This year, Misty and Cory seem to be grabbing my attention, but I would also like to give Thalia and Rick some more words; move Ashley and Keith into an embrace; and get Lynne and her Kevin to stop denying their feelings and go on some serious dates. That's right; I've got 4 unfinished wips I'd like to get some serious word counts accomplished this month. Will one story grab my muse and shake her until it's done? We'll see. Check back at the end of the month.

In the meantime, my slow cooker is about to get kicked into overdrive; we'll see how many ways to disguise hot dogs; I predict we may even take a trip to McDonald's, Subway, or Wendy's during this month, and not just on the weekends. I won't be able to work very much on Sundays, but as I've previously mentioned, I'm not going to stress out majorly if I hit a road bump.

I'm also laying in a supply of chocolate and other snacks to get me through this month. The toddler wimped out after 30 minutes last night, so I was 'forced' to give away more candy than I really wanted to last night. I think all the Reecee Peanut Butter cups are gone! AAAAA!

Check in with the Grip to meet another author and scroll down to yesterday's post to see James' office area. I really like his sword and axe display!

And if anyone can tell me how to download the word counter widget, please let me know? I registered with zoukou or whatever the site is called, but haven't gotten a confirmation email yet, and that was 4 days ago!