Friday, October 30, 2015

Flashback Friday: Halloween With A Full House!

October 2005:
With a houseful of kids, my creativity kicked in for Halloween.  When we decorated the house, I made tombstones out of cardboard for everyone in the house:
RIP....
D-Bled To Death
M-Absorbed into the computer
K-Recurring Football Injury
S-Trampled by Stuffed Animals or Hunting Accident
A-Screamed Herself To Death
J-Death by Whining
W-Death by Overexertion

For Halloween, we had two Scream characters; Cinderella; a Ninja; and a bunny rabbit:)

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Present Day:
I was able to go to karaoke Wed and last night, taking four songs off of my 'sing list':)
Delta Dawn, Remember Me This Way, and I Got The Boy were added to my 'good' list, while In The End is on the 'maybe'.

Tonight, our little Tinkerbell will be trick-or-treating downtown with her daddy, then we'll take her around the neighborhood tomorrow.  

One of my 'adoptees', R, is now living with us until she gets back on her feet, so she, S, and I (and maybe K) will be dressing up tomorrow night for the Karaoke Halloween Party.  I'm going to be a vampire, since I can't find a Bride of Frankenstein wig.  No word on what K, S, or R will be.

Tomorrow Night's Songs:
It's A Heartache-Bonnie Tyler  Did well:)
Don't Pay The Ferry Man-Chris de Burgh  Nailed it:)
It's My Life-Bon Jovi  Was told it sounded good:)
It's My Party-Leslie Gore  Okay:)

                  Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!

Just found out another wonderful author has left this world.  RIP Fran Lee....your books are amazing, and thank you for your encouragement when we first 'met' online. Your family is in my prayers.

Friday, October 23, 2015

Flashback Friday

Oct 1995:
We'd taken the kids to the Halloween Party, K dressed like Tigger, S in the traditional Bunny suit (the ears now drooped, ha ha!).  Afterward, I took video of the kids in their costumes, and wanted to make sure I got a shot of S's beautifully decorated bag.

Me:  Turn your bag around sweetie; Mommy wants to see the other side.

S gets look of concentration on her face, then turns completely around, showing me her cotton bunny tail!  We laughed so hard I nearly dropped the camera!  Finally my spouse took the bag from her and turned it around to show the decorated side.

Next Month:  Thanksgiving:)

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Present Day:
I'll be at our local Author Festival tomorrow from 9-3, then joining Mysti Parker on Sunday for an hour, in order to celebrate her new release:)

IF I get batteries for my camera, I plan to sing the following songs tomorrow night:
Ironic-Alannis Morrisette  Was complimented by several:)
Down In The Boonocks  Nailed it; Will Peppers shouted out, "I LOVE that song!"
Is There Life Out There-Reba  Did well:)
Islands In The Stream-Dolly Parton/Kenny Rogers  Sang it with Mark and it wasn't TOO bad, lol!


RIP Marty Ingles

Thoughts and prayers to Shirley Jones and family

Friday, October 16, 2015

Flashback Friday: Halloween Disaster

Story Thus Far:
I'd begun my 2nd year of college with a resolve to do well.  However, the first day  I met someone whom I thought had potential and it was soon proved wrong. I made friends with his roommate, but in October, a series of events would soon send me into a spiral of depression.

Oct 1985:
G and I continued to do fun things in our free time. We went bowling; he took me to parties.  One particular party, N and his cousin B told us to come back and get them after we found the party.  An hour after we arrived, I offered to drive back and get them, since G was involved in a game of Risk.  When I went back to pick up the others, I received a shock:  B expressed jealousy after a playful hug from N, then after embracing me, kissed me.  Sparks flew.

I didn't know what to do, so at the party, I kept my distance.  B was N's cousin, for god's sake, and had just gotten out of a bad relationship!  While I wandered around the bonfire, some drunk decided I was the object of his affection and kept trying to talk to me.  I wanted nothing to do with him, especially after he spilled beer on my shoes, so in desperation to shake him, I went up to B and asked him to play along.  The drunk left me alone, but I soon enjoyed holding B's hand or having his arm around me.  When he and N were ready to go, I again offered to drive them back.  After N went inside, B lingered with me, then agreed to lead me back to the party, then asked if I wanted to take a drive.

We went out to the park, where we spent several minutes making out, then talked about what we were feeling.  We agreed to get together the following Friday.

What happened next, I'm not entirely sure whose fault it was.  B asked if I wanted him to take me back to the party or the dorm.  Since I had a personal rule that I'd leave the party with whomever I'd arrived with, I had him take me back.

An hour later, G was too drunk to drive, so I drove him back to the house.  We'd spent the night platonically before, so I laid down next to him and tried to go to sleep.  But an hour later, G got amorous, and called me by his g/f's name, even though I tried at first to get him to stop.

We woke up the next morning, me full of guilt and confusion; him having no knowledge of what had happened.

This put me in another quandary:  What would G think if I started dating B?  Just four days after?  I decided to keep it to myself.  Fortunately, G didn't act any differently toward me, and our friendship continued as before.

Halloween approached.  B told me he was looking forward to seeing me, and since I had no classes the next day, felt it was a perfect chance to be with him.  But he didn't show, and when he did, he was with the mother of his child, who showed no signs of leaving at midnight.

Angry, I did something extremely stupid, and began flirting with another guy.  I ended up doing the Walk of Shame the next morning, still in my Halloween costume.

Next Month:  Dad's Weekend, Academic Probation and The Talk


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Present Day:
Tomorrow's Karaoke Songs:
Rolling In the Deep-Adele  Nailed it:)
Magic Power-Triumph Nailed it:)
I Remember You-Skid Row  Did well; botched the last line.
Don't Stop Believin'-Journey Someone sang this before me.
I'm out of batteries in my camera, so singing some favored repeats:)

Friday, October 9, 2015

Flashback Friday: Happy 5th Birthday Wendy:)

October 1975:
We celebrated my sister's 5th birthday three times:  Once at my Grandma Grauel's house with Uncle Bill, then another at our house with the McIntire side.  On her actual birthday, we're in matching nightgowns as she opened her presents, then after dinner, KE and KB came over for cupcakes and ice cream.

For Halloween that year, I was Donald Duck; W was Mickey Mouse; and TH was Miss America.

School-wise, I was still at the bottom of the social pecking order.  K, M, and I continued to play together at recess, but my teacher still seemed to pick on me.

I think this was also the year we got a new art teacher, and for Halloween, he wanted us to make masks...I wanted mine to look nice, and in the process, never finished it.  So while our class was paraded before the kindergarteners, I was the only one with a 'natural' look.  Yes, I was very embarrassed.

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Present Day:
I have a busy weekend planned.  Tonight, provided it doesn't rain, I'm headed downtown to the 1st Annual Autumn On Main Street, to set up my booth with hopefully two other authors.  Tomorrow, I'll be in Washington at the Open Market, a Daviess County Library event, from 10-2, then off to anther festival the rest of the afternoon, in a town whose name is escaping me.  Then it's home for dinner, then karaoke:)

Update:  Had a wonderful time at Autumn on Main St!  Sold 6 books:)  Saturday, sold 4 more at the Open  Market:)  I'm going to have to order more copies of Hotel Stories...Corning Festival, since I arrived at 3pm, I spoke to a few people, but mainly walked around and took pictures.

Songs:
I'm Your Angel-Celine Dion/R. Kelly
Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer-Kenny Rogers/Kim Carnes
Invisible Touch-Genesis
Ironic-Allanis Morrissette

Sunday, October 4, 2015

October Reading Schedule

Wow....October is here!  Did I meet my Sept. goals?
-Self-publish Best of Both Worlds (check!), Heart's Last Chance, and NiKoh's Chosen Check:)
-Write Heart Song (now due October 31st)
-Do well at all three signings this month:
     -Washington Wine and Art Fest  Sold 6!!!
     -Cherry Ghost Coffee Shop Sold 4:)
     -Palace Book Blitz  Sold 5:)
-Buy copies of HLC (check!) and NiKoh (check!), plus BOBW, once it's up
-Clean up Kira and send it off to RP.
-New phone???

As you can see, I did very well, as far as book selling went.  Book writing....not so much!  I know for a fact I only added around 550 words to Heart Song.  Since my personal deadline is looming (only 4 more weeks, eek!), I'd better put pen to paper/fingers to keyboard!

I also managed to catch up the youngling on his schoolwork.  I was gone for ten days, and he basically had a vacation, since the spouse chose to slack off.  The fact he's caught up on all subjects, with the exception of Spelling, and as of this morning, is pretty good.  We've been working 4-5 hours a day, and sometimes even on weekends, to accomplish this.

Today, he was finished before 3pm.

Books Read:  7

Songs Added To Karaoke Good List:  3.  I was sick one Saturday, and gone another, so didn't really sing much this month.

October Goals:
-Finish Heart Song!
-Clean up Kira and send it off to RP.
-Buy Book Rack
-Pay for July trip to Par-A-Dice
-Get print versions of BOBW, BA, and others up.
-Publish kindle versions of AFD and WAH.  Check:)

October Reading Schedule:
Fun and Games-Alissa Rose  I normally don't mind certain words in books, but in this case, when the 'F' word is used profusely, I had to put it down.  Maybe it's my mood; maybe I'm trying to read it at the wrong time; it's just not holding my attention.  DNF
Dust of My Wings-Carrie Ann Ryan
There's Always Tomorrow-Susanne Matthews Fun short story!  Wish there was more, but very good!
The Boleyn Inheritance-Phillippa Gregory (print)  Very good:) 

Daddy's Girls-Tasmina Perry (print)  Very good:)
Fatal Cure- Robin Cook  A reread, but still good:)
Summer Lovin'- Carly Phillips Very good:)

Wednesday Karaoke:
All You Wanted-Michelle Branch  Not bad:)
Don't You Wanna Stay-J. Aldean/K. Clarkson  Went well:)
I Got The Boy-Jana Kramer Nailed it:)
Surrender To Me-R.Zander/A. Wilson
Remember Me This Way-Jordan Hill  (1st time)  Did pretty well!  Just a few trouble spots:)
In The End-Linkin Park  A little rough, but okay.

Saturday Karaoke:
I'm Not Lisa-Jessie Colter  Okay...
I'm With You-Avril Levigne Bleh.
I'm Your Angel-C.Dion/R. Kelly  Did well:)
Invisible Touch-Genesis  Nailed it:)
Ironic-Alannis Morissette  Was complimented by several people:)
Is There Life Out There-Reba  Did well:)
Islands In The Stream-K. Rogers/D. Parton  Sang this with Mark; it wasn't TOO bad!
It's A Heartache-Bonnie Tyler  People cheered:)
It's My Life-Bon Jovi  Not bad!
It's My Party-Leslie Gore Okay,
It's Not Over-Daughtry
It's Now Or Never-Elvis
It's Only Love-B.Adams/T. Turner
It's Only Make Believe-Conway Twitty
It's Raining Men-Weather Girls


Friday, October 2, 2015

Flashback Friday: Overworked!

Yes, I realize it's October, but I apparently forgot to post one Friday in September. Since there are 5 Fridays in Oct, I'll post 1975 next week.-MD
Sept 2005:
Recap:  I'd begun watching MDQ and ME (ages 4 and 3), while K (8th grade) and S (5th grade) returned to school.  D was working long hours on an area of 465, doing the wall formations.

The kids and I had settled into a routine, when all of a sudden I received word of D being taken back to the hospital.  He was again dehydrated, and his heart was out of rhythm. Five days later, his condition forced his boss to lay him off.

Financially, this put us into a whirlwind, but he soon went out on another, less stressful job, working little to no overtime.

Meanwhile, MDQ and ME enjoyed exploring the woods with the youngling, and playing on the swing set and climbing tower.

Next Month:  D's Mom is Hospitalized

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Present Day:
I have nearly all of my books back up on Amazon:)  Love Weighs In should be live in print by next week, and then I need to find a cover artist to create three more covers.  I'm going to try to combine LFAW and FL, as well as EL and SFL, so the entire series can be in print.  BA can stand on its own.

Karaoke Songs:
I'm Already There-Lonestar
Cool Change-LRB
I'm Not Lisa-Jessi Colter
I'm With You-Avril Levigne