Wake me in September

I'm not normally a superstitious person but there is one thing I dread. August. Not only is it a major hurricane month but bad things seem to happen to people I care about in August. My mother died in August 2001. My step-father had quintuple by-pass surgery (he was going in for a roto-blading that he was told would kill him if he had it done and the by-pass surgery was scheduled in place of that) in August 2003. And my very dear friend died, at the age of 46, in August 2005.

Augusts 2002, 2004 and 2006 passed without tragedy. That just seems to happen in the odd numbered years.

So, as the title of this blog says. . . Wake me in September.

The thing about reviews

Several chapters I know of (including RWAOL) have instituted a program wherein published authors have their books read by someone in the chapter and that person writes a review of the book and posts it at amazon and Barnes and Noble's websites.

Okay, so I'm partnered with Kasey Michaels. I absolutely love her books. She is wonderful with bringing her characters to life. Thing is, she has nine books out this year. Nine! And I want the reviews to be original, like the books. I don't want anyone reading the reviews thinking I've just switched book and character names. But you know, it's not easy because the characters are what pull me into her stories and how many ways can you say that.

Anyway, I finished reading one of her upcoming releases (a re-release actually) last night and felt an inspiration this morning and wrote up the review rather quickly. Normally I have someone review it before I send it to Kasey but this morning I sent it straight to Kasey for review and comment. I haven't heard back from her but here's what I sent her.

When Christian St. Clair talks, people listen. Whether it be on fashion, people or politics, St. Clair has the ear of the ton. Only his support of the Peacock have given them pause.

Gabrielle Laurence’s only hope of saving her home is to marry a wealthy man. Having no dowry - her father has gambled away all their money - she has no choice but to allow Christian St. Clair’s championing of her, raising her to the status of belle of the season.

In public, Christian is a dandy, one whose main interest is in fashion. Simple, but revered. In private, he is the Peacock, fighting to right wrongs against those who cannot stand up for themselves. So different are that personas that no one suspects he is the Peacock, and he intends to keep it that way.

Although Gabrielle appreciates what Christian’s support has done for her, she also resents it. Resents him. She knows that one word from him can destroy her chances of a good match. As such, she forms a plan that will allow her to remain is society’s good graces while removing the need to be pleasant to Christian. She will unmask the Peacock.

As Christian fights to keep his identity a secret and Gabrielle is intent on discovering the identity of the Peacock, they find that it is a fine line between love and hate. Will it be too late for them when Gabrielle, unable to ascertain with any certainty who the Peacock really is, sets in motion her plan to bring Christian down, revealing him as the Peacock?

Kasey Michaels has a knack for writing characters that leap from the page and into your heart. This re-release of The Secrets of the Heart is a perfect example of why, when Kasey Michaels writes, people read.

I'm a Believer!

I had intended to include this information in my last post but forgot. It's really for Ellen that I'm confessing this and I've advised her to get ready with her "I told you so". With that in mind, here's what happened. . .

Last Saturday I went to the library to return the audio book Dear John. I thought since I was there already, I'd check out the other audio books, since I said I might give it another try before I wrote it off forever. Anyway, they had a larger supply of audio books than they did when I was there before National. Good books even.

Well, even though I had the "not for me" thought in my head, I selected three books. Dirty Blonde by Lisa Scottoline, Shopgirl by Steve Martin and The Devil in the Junior League by Linda Fracis Lee.

So Sunday, after I got home from the movie, I decided to start listening to Dirty Blonde, while I cleaned house (I'd picked up a CD player the day before at WalMart). And later I was kicking myself for not listening to it sooner! I will say, though, that while the reader was better than the Dear John reader, I had a little issue. It was like I was sitting down with my girlfriend and she was telling me this story. It was comfortable and all, but the thing was, she was apparently telling me the story in a restaurant and was eating, and/or drinking and/or taking drags off of cigarettes (I couldn't figure out exactly what it was she was doing) from time to time. Other than that, she was great. I finished listening to it Tuesday night.

Wednesday I popped in Shopgirl (even though I need to finish Kasey Michaels' book so I can write a review! Argh!) and listened to the whole thing. Steve Martin did the reading and I have to say, he could have a whole new career reading books. He was fabulous! The story itself was a bit strange but the reading could not have been better - really.

All the while I'm listening to these books, I'm cleaning house.

I went to work today and was telling someone about it and told him that I'm LOVING audio books and think I'm spoiled now - may not ever be able to sit down and actually read a book. They're great.

Meanwhile, my house has never looked better.


And Ellen says, "I told you so." LOL

One Hundred Words

Jessica Trapp has this thing going on called One Hundred Words a Day for One Hundred Days. The purpose of it is to get you writing, setting doable goals. Mind you, you can write more than one hundred words a day - you just have to write one hundred words, a day. If you miss a day, you have to start all over again at day one.

She's been doing this for a while now but I decided to join June 1st. So, I went to the yahoo group to sign up, only to see that it was closed to new members. I sent Jessica an email, asking her if it was truly closed to new members because I really wanted to join.

Well, I got an email invitation to a second group that she decided to open up. I think I got that invitation on June 3 - the day my computer crashed for the first time. As you may recall, my computer wasn't stable for a couple of weeks and then it died for good, leaving me without a computer for another couple of weeks.

By that time I was giving very serious consideration to going to Dallas - where I knew I wouldn't write, so why start beforehand, right? I mean, I had been reading the posts (you have to account for writing each day on the loop - although no bragging is allowed, just a post saying you accomplished the one hundred words for the day) where people were saying they were writing their one hundred words long-hand. I was so impressed that people were writing four manuscript pages long-hand.

Now, I know what you're thinking but we aren't quite there yet - but we will get there.

So, I'm really impressed by these folks, thinking I must not be as dedicated as they are that I won't even attempt to write four pages out long-hand. But I did plan to start writing as soon as I got back from Dallas.

Then I get an email with a link to an interview with Jessica where she talks about the one hundred words a day. She's going on and on about how it's a doable goal and it's not that much (and really four pages a day isn't that much if you're really dedicated, right?) - only like ten lines.

Huh?

Just what kind of big-ass font is she using that ten lines equals four pages??? I wondered.

And then it hit me. It's a HUNDRED words - NOT a thousand. Even I could have written that out long-hand! Geez! I'm telling you, numbers and I are no longer friends - we ended our close relationship my senior year of high school I think and this is just evidence of that fact.

Anyway, I finally started writing last Wednesday. But then last night I had a bit of excitement around here and kind of lost my motivation. I had resolved to starting on day one again tonight.

Fortunately though, I couldn't sleep because of the excitement (and the adrenalin rush that came with it) so at about 11:00 p.m. last night, I pounded out my hundred words and post my "did it" email.

I just completed day seven and already have at least day eight mapped out in my head.

So I'm using the hundred words a day motivation to write and it seems to be working. What motivation tactic do you use, and how's it working for you?

Hairspray

I went to see Hairspray this afternoon and absolutely loved it. It's one I'll probably have to buy when it comes out on DVD. The lead, Nikki Blonsky, was great, as was John Travolta as her mother. It was a fun, upbeat movie. And it had a message! It was better than I expected it to be. Always a good thing. :o)

So, what movies have you seen lately?

What's in a Name?

Over on the Deadline Divas' blog, Rhoda recently posted a picture she used for inspiration and I absolutely loved it. In fact, it inspired me too! Several years ago I was inspired to write this story. In my head I saw it on stage rather than in a book. Not sure why but that's what I was seeing. And having less of a clue of how to write a screenplay than I do a book, the idea got shoved to the further most recesses of story idea queue in my mind. Well, plus, the idea wasn't fully formed - I basically only knew the concept.

Fast forward to this picture of inspiration and suddenly the concept is fully formed. I know the beginning, the middle and well, I don't know the exact ending but I do know it is a happily ever after one. I even have a title for the story.

The only thing I don't have is the character's names. I never get fully invested in the names so they might change a gazillion times in the process. And I hate that.

One exception to that is a story idea that I have but it's based on someone I actually know and so I only see that person's name for my character. But, should it be published and should my friend actually read my book, I wouldn't want her (or a jury) to know (beyond a shadow of a doubt) that I based the character on her - or at least one of my initial impressions of her. (I should point out here that it is a person I adore and have the utmost respect for but this particular aspect may not seem "flattering" and I don't want to hurt any feelings.)

Anyway, I've told you all this to ask this - how do you come up with your character's names? Do they just come to you? Do they grow into them?

I just had this flashback to when I got my dog Harley and I called him something different every day until I took him to the vet and was forced to decide on a name. I don't know that I can do that with my characters.

Again, anyway, how do you work these details out? Inquiring minds want to know. :o)

On the Road Again

As promised, I'm going to comment on my virgin audio book experience. As you may recall, I was listening to Nicholas Sparks' (who, after talking to several people at the conference, is definitely off my "list") Dear John.

I was skeptical for a couple of reasons. One being that I didn't think I had the attention span to follow a story being read. Another being that I was so disappointed in the last book of his I read that I wasn't sure if I wanted to read/hear another.

So, okay, I put it on as soon as I dropped off the boys at the kennel Wednesday morning. The reader initially had a thick southern accent that I wasn't fond of (but I also think I may have been looking for things to not like). And I never did get comfortable with the "voices" he did for the people. I couldn't quite put my finger on it at first but, several hours out, I realized that one thing that was bugging me was that the heroine of the story sounded EXACTLY like Dustin Hoffman in his role of Tootsie. Exactly like it! So I couldn't quite get the image out of my head that the heroine was a drag queen as I listened. Not to mention that the southern accent he attributed to the characters made them all come off sounding dumber than dirt - which I think is a misconception about southerners, but that's another story.

But, I plowed on anyway. The story was okay - definitely not my favorite of his books (but also not my least favorite - that honor goes to the last one I read) and there were a couple of places that I cried (which wasn't necessarily a good thing, considering I was behind the wheel of a car at the time). And there were a few places where my mind wandered off enough that I knew I had missed something - but I didn't really care so I didn't go back and replay anything.

In the end though, I might try another audio book but what I was telling my roommate was that what I think part of the problem for me was, was that I read in my own voice. The intonation and inflection I would have given would have been different I think. I think I might have enjoyed it more reading it than I did having it read "to me". And part of that might be because the story was told in first person, I don't know.

Anyway, as I said, I might try another audio book but I'm still kind of leaning towards thinking it's not really for me.

Lucy does Dallas

I'm noticing a bit of a theme - everyone is titling their posts " (name here) does Dallas", so why not me too? (And no - before you ask - if everyone else was jumping off a bridge, I wouldn't do that too. . . I don't think... ;o) )

Anyway, my stay in Dallas was a short one, not being registered and all so I'm already home. I had a lot of fun though and even have pictures this year to prove it! (I may have mentioned that I've depended on the kindness of others in years past and never saw the pictures so I made sure to take matters into my own hands this year.)


I arrived Wednesday afternoon after driving in from Houston (the drive made longer by a serious accident in Houston and my inability to navigate downtown Dallas streets, but that's a whole other story). I had called my roommate a couple of times from the road and she indicated that she was out and about in the hotel but that check-in should be a breeze for me, as she'd added my name to the reservation (it was a breeze, by the way). So I arrived and checked in, went to the room, dropped my stuff off and immediately went in search of water.


On my way up to the room, someone got on the elevator with a take-out box and someone else on the elevator asked her where she'd gotten it and she said there was food on the second floor. So when I went out in search of water, I went to the second floor first. Which is where I ran into the person I always see first at the conferences - Pamela Hathaway. She told me that Mel, Maria and The Pam were at the bar, so off I went.


Mel was walking away from the table so I went up and said hello to her. Turns out she wasn't feeling great so she was going for some water and then heading back to the room (she told me the water was on the first floor). We said our good-byes and I headed over to talk to Maria. We visited for a few minutes when Louisa showed up and the three of us visited.


Then I went over to say hello to The Pam and her first words were "How's Harley? That's what I want to know!" Gotta love a woman (man, person - anyone) who loves animals like that. I told her I had pictures on my camera that I'd show her later. We visited for 20 or 30 minutes and I headed out for the water that I'd originally left my room for, which I now knew was on the first floor (thanks Mel!).


I get my water and decide that I'll just scope out the hotel and find out where the signing was going to be later that evening. I go down one more level and see a line formed outside of this one room. One quick look confirmed that it was a line forming for the literacy signing - only two hours before the event officially started!


After a moment or two of thought, I decided to join the line - after I went up to my room to get the new Julia Quinn book I'd brought for signing (I figure I can read it while I wait too!). So I head back to my room (which, for the record, was as far away from the elevator as the hotel could get it). I grab the book and leave the water, thinking I don't want to bother with carrying two things around (doing mental eye roll here). I head back to the elevator and decide, you know, I DO want to have my water with me after all - it's a long wait before the doors open. I go back to the room, grab the water and head back out again. I'm almost to the elevator again when I remember that I want my camera, so back I go to the room. I head out once more and realize, I must've put the book down because I only have the water and camera. It only took one more visit to the room before I was good to go.


The line that had been coming straight out from the ballroom doors was now up against the wall. It hadn't grown much while I was gone but I wasn't as close as you might think, for being there an hour and a half early. Everyone around me had stacks of books for signing - 90% of which were Sherilyn Kenyon books. I didn't get a lot of reading done because everyone was visiting. I met some really neat people in line (which I have each year that I've waited in lines) and it was kind of fun.


The crowds started coming more regularly and they roped off the area so that the line would go in a maze sort of thing (if you know what I mean) and the hotel staff was working furiously to keep up with the incoming crowd. Below is a picture (what I could get of it) of the line that was already in place an hour before the event started.

The event started a few minutes late because some of the authors were late but all-in-all, it was all good. More details to come tomorrow. . .

Books We Love

I'm driving up to Dallas on Wednesday (Nationals, in case you didn't know) and I decided this would be the perfect opportunity for me to try out audio books. I've never done that before but lots of people love it (I've always been concerned that it wouldn't hold my attention - my mind tends to wander and drown out the background noises.) so I thought I'd give it a try. So I went to the library the other day to check out their audio selection. (And by the way, I guess I've used my library card more recently than I realized because they actually had my current phone number on it! But I digress.)

Well, let's start with, I didn't know where the audio books were (kinda goes with the "never having listened to one before), so I had to ask. Then I get over there and they have a very limited selection. Someone else was on the aisle so I kept looking around her and then we started talking about what was where and all. (She said they were in alphabetical order but if they were, I need to relearn my ABCs, that's all I'm saying.)

I was specifically looking for SEP's Natural Born Charmer and/or Janet Evanovich's Lean Mean Thirteen, which, of course, I never found. (But they did have every Danielle Steele book ever written - in cassette tape, of course.) I really didn't find anything that made me think this is the one so I finally settled on Dear John by Nicholas Sparks.

I used to be a huge fan of Nicholas Sparks. He was one of my auto-buy authors - I would even buy in hardback until this happened. Since then I haven't read anything of his. Haven't been motivated to attempt to read anything of his. So the fact that I picked one of his for my first audio book should say something about the lack of choices. So that will be what I'm listening to (maybe) on the way to Dallas.

But, while I was at the library, talking to this lady, I noticed that she had a book copy (as opposed to an audio copy) of Evanovich's Two for the Dough. I made a comment and she was saying that she loves the series and reads them over and over again.

You know, I love reading and I keep all my books (unless they are dreadfully awful, then I can manage to part with them - if I must) but there are few, if any books that I would read over and over again. It was about a year ago that I read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice for the first time. I loved it and was so awed by it, it made me want to read all of Ms. Austen's books but I haven't felt the desire to re-read - at least not yet. But maybe I'm alone in this.

Are there books that you love and re-read over and over. And if so, what are those books?

The Geek Squad

I know I've been a bit neglectful, if you will, of my blog recently but I've really had a good reason. I've had zero computer access at home for the last two weeks and an unstable computer environment for a couple of weeks before that. It wasn't until last night that I was able to get back online at home (and don't think I'm not happy about it - I've been spending the last four hours catching up on internet surfing! :o) ).



Anyway, I found out just how little I really know about computer and I also learned that the experts don't know a whole lot more than I do. This all started the first weekend of the month when I noticed my computer was going slower than usual and I shut it off. It shut off alright . . . it wouldn't reboot for me to save my life.



I took it to work and, on the first try mind you, a co-worker got it up and running. I immediately started yelling "save my newsletter! I've gotta save my newsletter!" And then I promptly saved the one document (to a flash drive) that would be the most easy to recreate, should I lose everything and we shut 'er back down - where it once again died.



An "expert" told me I should try to re-boot it from my boot disk and I did, and it actually worked. At that time, I copied as many files as I could (starting with all my partial wips) on the flash drive. It didn't get everything but it got a lot. I'm thinking I'm doing pretty good. I was getting advice that I should re-install everything on my computer and start fresh (I'd bought Norton because the initial diagnosis was that I had a virus - and maybe I did but in the end, it wasn't my biggest problem, but it wouldn't install on my computer) but I wasn't finished with the newsletter I was working on and I really wanted to get it out before I wiped the slate clean, so to speak.



Well, with each change I made to the newsletter, I resaved it to the flash drive, right? That is until my computer quit recognizing the flash drive. You know, the one that had my life on it? Yeah, that one. Suddenly I didn't feel like I was doing so good anymore. That's when I started emailing EVERYTHING on my computer to my gmail account (gotta love 'em) so I could feel good again. :o)



So, I finally finished the newsletter and got it out and decided to reinstall everything. Oh, during all this, I was having some issues with my computer where if it stalled, I could tilt it and it would un-stall, if you know what I mean. The Pam said she thought it was my hard drive. I told the computer "expert" at work all this and he disagreed, saying that if it was my hard drive that I would hear a grinding noise and it would just crash. Which is exactly what happened after I stayed up all night reinstalling everything on my computer.



That was two weeks ago tomorrow.



Tuesday I went Best Buy and bought the hard drive that the computer "expert" from work told me to buy. To shorten the story, it was the wrong hard drive. Fortunately I made the decision to have the "geek squad" at Best Buy install it. Some thought it was a waste of money to do that but considering it turned out to be the wrong hard drive and they wouldn't have refunded my money had someone else opened the box and tried to install it, I think it was money well spent! Anyway, the geek squad had issues too but at the end of the day yesterday (and I mean the end of the day!), I was finally back up and running. (If you wonder why I wasn't up before then - let's just say this was a contributing factor.)

In any event, it's good to be back! :o)

The Theatre

I'm a big fan of the theatre . The first time I remember going was to see Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr in The King and I back in 1982. It was either later that year or the next year that I went to see Debbie Reynolds and Harve Presnell in The Unsinkable Molly Brown. LIVE and in person! There's nothing like it.

Over the next many years, I went to the theatre with a regularity. When my ex-husband and I separated and divorced, I started taking my nieces and/or nephew with me before I made it a solo act, ocassionally deciding to go on the spur of the moment.

Only once was I disenchanted with a play I saw.

Anyway, back in the early '90s my mother and I went to Las Vegas. Debbie Reynolds had a hotel there at the time (off the strip) and we went to see her show which, in my opinion, is the best show I've ever seen in Vegas. She, in her show, commented that her fans were "of an age", suggesting that younger people didn't much care for her. Well after the show, she talked to and took pictures with anyone who wanted to chat or have their picture taken with her. I, of course, have a picture with me, my mother and her in it and made a point of telling her I (in my early 30's at the time) was a huge fan.

But, back to the theatre...I haven't been much in the last five to ten years or so. Something I keep telling myself that I will remedy soon.

At work this man who was transferred out before I arrived (over a year ago) occasionally gets mail from a theatre in Galveston...The Grand 1894 Opera House. It's what I've always pictured in my head when I read historicals and they talk about going to the theatre (although, when it tells you a seat is "obstructed", they mean it! Just so you know.). It's this quaint little place - very nice. Well, this man from work received another brochure this past week and Debbie Reynolds is going to be there this coming March. She's hosting a dance thing but I think I'm going to have to go. Galveston is less than an hour away so it's definitely doable.

It's almost a year away and I'm already excited about it. How silly is that? LOL

What celebrity would you like to see come to your area to perform?

All the comforts of home

I called a contractor out earlier this week because I wanted to discuss installation of hurricane shutters. Before he got out here it occurred to me that I might need the HOA's approval to do this, so I called them. I do need it but I couldn't reach the contractor before he arrived so he came out.

As a result we started swapping contractor stories (mine coming from the side of "can you believe what that awful contractor did?" his being "then they wanted me to do so and so..." ). During the course of this discussion, he told me about a product I'd never heard of before...walk-in bathtubs! He said he'd installed one for this elderly couple, and that it'd be his last installation of a walk-in bathtub. Anyway, I was curious so I asked some questions about it and then looked it up online. You're looking at the Cambridge Walk-in Bathtub which is described as follows:

This standard length walk in bathtub provides a very effective solution to everyday bathing problems and can simply be fitted in place of your existing tub to allow you to continue to lie down and luxuriate in a bathtub full of water.

The Cambridge walk in bathtub allows you to simply step in through its conveniently sited side entry door.

Once in, make yourself comfortable on the contoured bath seat, turn the handle to seal the door and open the taps. It's as simple as that. Once the tub is filled to your satisfaction press the button and you will be gently lowered into the water. Lie back and enjoy your bath. There is of course a choice of tap options; from traditional cross-headed faucetts, lever style or a more contemporary style. All are available in Chrome or Gold finish to complement your bathroom fittings.

When you have finished your bath, simply press the control once more lift you back to the seated position ready to get out of the bath and into a comfortable position ready for standing again.

The Cambridge walk in bathtub is available in a range of colours to complement your bathroom.

Who wouldn't want one of those? :)

Suspicious Minds

I've been trying to blog more consistently but some days nothing comes to me. Other days I have lots of ideas but have to settle on one. Today is one of those days (where I have more than one idea).

Anyway, today I wanted to blog on this segment they have on my local radio station. It's called Roula & Ryan's Roses. What happens is someone writes/emails in telling them why they think their significant other may be cheating on them. I have no idea how many letters/emails they get on this but every Thursday morning they take one and do their bit. Their bit being that they (well Roula) call the supposed cheating party and tell them that they've randomly been selected to receive a dozen long stem red roses that can be sent anywhere in the US within 24 hours, for free. She goes on to tell them that it's a promotional thing for her new business "plantsandflowers.com" and that her hope is that the flowers will be so great that they will consider doing business with her in the future, should they have a need. In most cases the supposed cheating party will accept the roses.

The whole time Roula is giving her spiel, the person who wrote in is listening in. They've been instructed not to jump in until after they've gotten the name and note for the card and Ryan has jumped in to say they are listening in.

Okay, so this morning's "couple" was a young married couple. The husband (named Fred) works for a company who takes its employees on all expense paid trips (I missed the part of why they do but I don't think it's important to the story). This weekend the company was paying for its employees to spend the long weekend (four days total) in Jamaica. Fred told his wife (whose name I don't remember) that spouses weren't invited this time. She was concerned because he works with a lot of attractive women and they would be at a place where those attractive women would be scantily clad. Not to mention that he's recently been putting in really long hours and their sex life is virtually non-existent of late. She "needed" to know who he would send the flowers to.

So Roula called. He accepted the flowers. He said he wanted them to go to Jennifer (funny how I remember HER name, huh? anyway) and the card to read (and he said this in a very seductive voice) something like "I can't wait until this weekend" or "I'm looking forward to this weekend".

At that point Ryan jumped in and told him what was going on. His wife jumps in and asks him what's going on, why would he send flowers to Jennifer and not her? He starts saying that Jennifer has been working really hard and he wanted to show his appreciation for all her hard work - that he wouldn't have survived (at work) without her that past couple of months. The wife starts whining that she was going to be home alone all weekend and she doesn't understand why he didn't send them to her. He goes on to point out that he spent $300 on a spa day for her and that should be enough.

Meanwhile, Ryan is jumping in going "Dude, the greeting on the card was (whatever it was). And it was red roses. Red usually signifies love!" Fred defends himself saying he had no idea what would be sent (Roula does say a dozen red roses, by the way) and he just wanted to recognize Jennifer's hard work. Roula is being uncharacteristically quiet and Ryan shuts up at this time.

The wife starts apologizing to Fred, saying she was just feeling a little insecure and hopes he will forgive her for doing this to him on the radio. She then, in a young child happy voice tells Fred, "If you come home early tonight I'll cook all your favorites, okay?!" Ryan, incredulous, jumps back in and says, "(her name - whatever it is), you're believing him?" She said she was so he tells them he's going to let them take it offline and they get the couple off the air.

As soon as they get the couple off the air, Roula jumps in and says, "Ohmigod! I had to hold my reaction but I cannot believe she was buying that! He was so LYING!" Roula and Ryan discussed their feelings about it (they do that each week, and then take listener calls) and they both believed he was lying out his backside but that they didn't press it because they believed the wife was one of those people who didn't want to know/believe the truth. All the callers I heard agreed.

So, my question to you is, you have a sneaking suspicion that your significant other may be getting some action on the side and when given the opportunity, s/he sends roses to someone else. How would you react?

The Finale

Congratulations Apolo and Julianne!

If you missed the finale, you missed that Apolo walked away with the mirrored trophy last night. I was so excited and thought it was so deserved.

It's funny because when the season started, well, actually BEFORE the season started I made a judgment based on his picture. I really hated the hair on his chin. It can't even be called a goatee. And I wanted him voted off in week one because it was so unattractive in his "official photo".

Well, after week one of dancing, I changed my mind. He was so good and his partner was adorable. And it wasn't long into the competition before I decided I wanted him to win the whole thing! AND HE DID!

He wasn't always number one with the judges (but then none of the past winners were either) but he was number one in the end, and that's what matters. And he won it all on his birthday!

I was so excited for him. So, happy birthday Apolo and congratulations!

New to the Pile

Today a friend at work asked me if I wanted to meet her at the bookstore at lunch. (Well DUH! know your audience girl!) So, I got there at the time she said to meet her...she showed up thirty minutes later. But I digress.

As I waited for my friend, I came across this book that looked like it might be interesting...The PMS Murder. I read the back cover and well, I bought it. It sounds like it will be fun. And if it is, I've found a new author to read. If not, it was just $7.00.

Here's the back blurb:

On the frontlines of the battle of the bulge, otherwise known as trying on bathing suits in the communal dressing room at Loehmann's, freelance writer Jaine Austen makes a new friend - a wanna be actress named Pam - and gets a new job: sprucing up Pam's bare-bones resume. Their feeling of connection is mutual, so Pam invites Jaine to join The PMS Club - a woman's support group that meets once a week over guacamole and margaritas.

But joining the club proves to be more a curse than a blessing for Jaine. Though she is warned that Rochelle, the hostess, makes a guacamole to die for, Jaine never takes the warning literally. Until another PMS member, Marybeth, drops dead over a mouthful of the green stuff after confessing she is having an affair with Rochelle's husband.

While Rochelle and her husband are the obvious suspects, everyone at that night's meeting is under suspicion, including Jaine. So, instead of dishing dirt with The PMS Club, Jaine has to dig up dirt on the surviving members. And soon it becomes clear: someone in this club thinks getting away with murder should be a privilege of membership...

So that's the newest on my TBR pile. What have you read lately?

*Sigh*

Tonight my dog, Harley, came in when he heard me open a muffin wrapper. He placed his chin on my leg and when he moved it, it was covered in mud. So I decided to investigate what he (and possibly the other dogs) had been doing outside. It was already dark outside so I took my flashlight with me.

Over in the front corner of the fence it appears like he/they have been digging a hole. O-kay. Now, I don't know if you've heard this but if you fill a hole where dogs have been digging with their own poop, they won't dig there anymore. I was told this a few years back when Max was a puppy and doing the digging - and it worked. So I went and got my shovel to fill the hole and go searching for poop (jealous are you? LOL).

First I filled in the hole and then went looking, shining my flashlight everywhere. The first "pile" I saw and approached turned out to be a dead bird. Poor thing. I hope it went quickly.

Anyway, I decided to look on the other side of my yard because that's where they do most of their business anyway and I headed out on the path that they've created out that way, watching my step. And you know what I found? Are you ready for this?

The cable line that the cable guy buried a couple of weeks ago (see Television Reception entry)? The cable line that I could barely tell WHERE the cable guy buried it because he did such a smooth, clean job? The cable line that is NOW exposed and just begging for Harley to rip it back out of the wall.

Yeah, that's what I found.

I'm telling you, I love the little guy but he is making me crazy.

In any event, I found some poop, filled the hole and disposed of the poor dead bird. Not exactly how I'd pictured this evening going but what are ya gonna do?

Changes

Ever since my dog, Harley, took out my cable, I've been thinking about something. Those two days where I had no reception forced me to focus my energy otherwise (that is when I wasn't striking a pose to get in better television reception) and I realized how much time I waste with the TV on. Like now, the TV is on but the sound is muted - and I do that a lot. What's the point?

So, my thought was, I should try to go without cable during the summer. I went so far as calling the cable company to see what I would have to do and what it would cost to have it reinstalled (turned back on - whatever) at a later date. And they offered me "options". Right now I have the digital cable with a gazillion channels (I watch approximately 3 of them, but who's counting) and pay out the wazoo, what with the "extended cable" box in the bedroom and the DVR in the living room. I could cut back to the standard cable (channels 1-80) for about 1/3 of what I'm paying now (not including the DVR, which would add ~$16 back). Or I could just keep the cable line (aka basic cable) on to give me clear pictures on my local stations (and we already know I don't get reception for crap here on the local stations) for under $20.

If I do away with cable altogether and later want it reinstalled it will cost me ~$29 for the first connection and ~$19 for each additional (I currently have three lines - two in the living room but I like the option of being able to move my furniture around).

On the "basic cable" option it would cost me a one time fee of ~20 to fully upgrade - all lines.

With standard cable there would be no charge to reconnect/upgrade.

But here's the deal. I feel certain I will want my cable back when the fall line-up comes back on. Most shows I could watch online but I wouldn't be able to vote on Dancing with the Stars (unless I struck a pose at least once a week - which I could do if I had to!).

Actually, that's not even the whole deal. The reason I posted this entry tonight was, I was reading someone else's blog entry and they were talking about participating in Jessica Trapp's "100 days" and now adding a daily workout to go with it. Someone responded that they just never have time to work out anymore and that kind of hit a note with me. In Weight Watchers when they talk about exercise they bring up the things we did when we were growing up - things that we enjoyed. Things that we no longer indulge ourselves with because "we don't have time". Working out is no longer considered fun, like it was when we were younger. Instead, it's just one more thing on the long list of things we have to do and it's more like a chore. Only it's one we don't have to do, so it's one of the first ones we eliminate.

Personally, I want to make time for things. I want to read more. I want to write more. I want to start working out again. Walking the dogs (only not in my neighborhood since I'm only allowed two dogs and I have three). Yes, TV is something I sometimes enjoy but I think I indulge in it too much. And too much of a good thing is not good!

Anyway, I don't know if you've picked up on this but I think I'm talking myself more and more into getting rid of cable - at least for the summer. But I'd love to hear what others think. So if you don't have a TV or if you don't have cable - or if you know someone like that, let me hear from you and tell them to come on over and tell me why and what-for.

And for those that have TV and cable, could you give it up?

The Plan

Have you ever noticed that things don't always go as planned?

Yesterday, I got up early and went to the grocery store to buy more fruits and vegetables (I say more because I'd done the same thing Saturday morning too). You see, over at The Cupcake Police a couple of us are drinking our fruits and vegetables, which is working out great for me because I wasn't getting in my daily requirement otherwise.

Anyway, back to The Plan.

The plan was to bring home the items and chop them all up, ready to go. Only problem was my kitchen was a mess. I needed to clean up and THEN do the chopping. Okay, I can handle that, right?

So, I'm standing in the kitchen thinking "you know, my living room really needs cleaning worse than the kitchen. maybe I should clean that first." The fact that I wasn't going to chop the food in the living room, which was the reason for the cleaning, didn't even enter my head. I just started cleaning - the living room.

I dusted. I vacuumed the furniture. I put things away. I swept and I mopped. It looked good. I moved into the kitchen to continue there.

I unloaded the dishwasher and reloaded it with the few dirty dishes (I don't cook often) I had. I wiped down the counter then went back over it with a lysol wipe. I took out the trash. I swept the floor and mopped. It looked good. But the floor was wet so I couldn't get to work on the food. So I moved into my bedroom.

All this while, I've also been doing laundry.

But I'm in the bedroom. I dusted. I put things away. I stripped the bed (to be added to the laundry loads). I swept and I mopped. And repeated in my closet and dressing area.

By then it was kind of late in the day (about 5:30) so I thought I'd sit down for a minute to watch the things I've DVR'd but really needed to be watched so I clear them so that there would be space for Dancing with the Stars (even though I'll be watching it live). So I'm watching last week's Brothers and Sisters (which I also watched when it aired) and I realized you know I don't really want to get into a clean bed after all this work - unless I take a shower. So after Brother and Sisters, I jumped in the shower and came back and watched a couple of Ellens and Murphy Browns before I watched Desperate Housewives and this week's Brothers and Sisters (which I DVR'd...both DH and B&S).

Then it was bedtime so I crawled in bed feeling pretty good about all I had done and I slept well.

Meanwhile, I never did chop up the fruits and vegetables - and that was the whole point of the day. LOL

On Writing

Do you ever read a book that just annoys you to no end? That you wonder what the author was thinking when they wrote it and the publisher when they bought it? I feel like I've run in a few too many of those of late. But, I don't like to diss particular authors on my blog so I'm just going to make a list of things that annoy me. Feel free to add your own. :~)

1. If your story is a murder mystery, don't introduce the killer on page 347 of your 360 page (including epilogue) novel. Saying on page 107 "Remember that time Eunice got upset with Doris because she thought the boy was looking at her at the third grade picnic?" does not count as an introduction to a character when said boy is not identified by name, or description and not mentioned again until page 347, when it's revealed he's the killer.

2. Also, if writing a murder mystery, it's good to keep the reader guessing but when they reach the last page of a story and they still are wondering who the hell the killer is, something's wrong - and it's not with the reader. I may be dense but when you have to email the author and ask who the killer is and you still don't get/see it, there's a problem. S-P-E-L-L I-T O-U-T! There's your clue!

3. If you're writing a series, each book should be a stand-alone. Nothing pisses me off more than to get to the end of a book only to realize that resolution won't happen until later in the series. I won't know how it's resolved either because I will not be forced to buy another book to find out! You will have lost me for any other books you've written too because, I may not always remember who the best authors are, but I never forget an author who has pissed me off. I also don't want to be forced to read the story in a particular order. I want to be able to pick up any book in the series and be able to follow the action. If you don't know how this is done, go read the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich.

4. Also in a series, do not introduce characters into the story in book one and make them pivotal characters if you're not going to deal with them until book three (see comment 3 above).

5. I read to escape. I want to be swept up in the fantasy. If I wanted to read something depressing, I'd subscribe to the newspaper. There doesn't have to be a hero / heroine traditional happily ever after but if I get to the end of the story and want to slit my own wrists, it's not good. Give the reader some hope.

6. No means no. I'm sorry but I cannot suspend disbelief when a woman says she doesn't want to have sex but the man "has his way" anyway. That's not an alpha male in my book, that's a rapist. As I read the rest of the book, I'll be wondering what message the author wanted to send by making a rapist the hero of her story. It will also likely be the last book of yours I'll read.

7. I don't write many "fan" emails to authors so if I write you one, it means I really LOVED your book and will be on the lookout for more of your books. It's not necessary to respond and plug your next book - I probably would've bought it anyway if I liked the one enough to write you. But, since I don't like pushy sales people, you just made me less likely to pick it up.

8. I know that bad things happen in life but I don't want to read about them (see comment 5 above) in your book. It is never necessary to be cruel to animals in a book. Do it once and I might be able to look the other way. Do it repeatedly and you will not only lose me as a reader, but anyone else I can influence.

9. If you're writing a comedy, tell more than one joke. What was funny on page 15 is not going to be funny if told again on page 16 and 17 and 18 and 19 and..... Lots of things can be funny. Be creative.

10. Be original. If you have to steal from another author, hang it up. This also goes for your own stories. If all you've done is superimpose new names over the characters of your last story, it's not good. I've heard there are no new stories and I'm easy enough to fool that it's a new story but you're gonna have to do more than change names.

Anyway, those are a few of my writing pet peeves. What annoys you?

Squirrelly neighbors

I've blogged before about my neighbors. Neighbors whose names I don't know and who I could not pick out of a line up if my life depended on it (but I can identify when they're in their own yard). Neighbors who I've spoken to a couple of times in the couple of years they've been neighbors of mine but who set a bad first impression with me and I've never quite gotten over it.

Yesterday did not help the impression.

I was sitting in my living room, minding my own business, when I see feet pass by one of my living room windows. (I raise the blinds a little so that the boys can look out and see what's going on in the world outside.) Now, I was expecting someone to come do some gutter work for me but seeing as the person coming for that was a stalker guy, I figured he would've rang my doorbell first (which, when he showed up, he did). So, I was curious who was on my property and went to look out the window than I'd seen the feet pass...a different window closer to my fenceline.

Imagine my surprise when I see a woman with a crazed look on her face looking intently at my window, a rake raised over her head and then swing it down HARD on my window. It totally freaked me out. I was staring in disbelief when she raised the rake over her head again. I yelled at her, asking "What are you doing?" There was no indication that she heard me as she brought the rake down on my window again hard (I figure the voices in her head had drowned me out.).

This time I see something fall down the window and then "fly" back up. The crazy lady is wielding her rake at some poor animal!

I ran outside in time to see the rake go over her head again. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING???" I yelled again.

She looked over at me and I watched in awe how the crazed look went to almost normal in seconds (how do they do that?) and she brought the rake down to her side. "That was in my attic," she said, pointing to the frightened squirrel that was hanging on for dear life to the side of my BRICK house (I've never seen any animal that clutched on to brick!).

She goes on to tell me how it had gotten into their attic through a hole in their overhang (which she pointed to, several times), that it made a lot of noise in the attic and they had to board the hole up. And all I can think is, it's out and they've blocked its entry and it's now on MY propery - leave it the f alone! I stepped towards the squirrel and it flinched, like an animal that's been abused does when it's approached and thinks it's about to be hit. It broke my heart.

So I kind of got between the squirrel and the crazy lady and asked if she was wanting to kill the poor thing and she said no. After that, I don't really remember what we said to each other after that (although I do remember her repeating several times "look at her! she was in my attic! we had to put up a board to keep her out!") but I said something and her response made me think she would leave the poor critter alone so I came into the house.

I really think she would have killed the squirrel had I not gone out there and I came into my house and all I could think was, "it was probably gathering nuts to take home to its family and what would have happened if it never made it back".

Is it too much to hope that one day I'll have a nice, normal, animal friendly family live next door to me? Although the lady who lived there before was a cat lover (known in the city - by everyone - as the cat lady). She was obsessed with cats and had dozens of them. She couldn't stand any other animal though. Someone in between the two extremes I've seen would be nice? Is that too much to ask?

But, what about you? Do you have good neighbors or not?