Last Friday of 2011

How is it possible that it's December 30th?

I'm not even CLOSE to finishing building the new LASR website and blogs. :::panics:::

Was supposed to visit with an old friend today who's here from PA, but she emailed yesterday and told me she and her son have the flu and they're driving home early. It's very sad as she was my first and dearest friend here and I miss having her around. But I understand, and it's probably a blessing. Assuming my family will let me WORK, maybe I'll get the site built in time for the 1/1/12 relaunch.

Aside from the fact that it's FREEZING here, nothing else much is going on. Best part about having an artificial Christmas tree? I can LEAVE IT UP. And I'm actually really enjoying having it.

Happy Friday all. Wish me luck!

=================

You Need Some Black in Your Life

Black will make you feel powerful, in control, and not bound to what other people think of you. And with a little black, you will project a aura of mystery, rebellion, and dominance. If you want people to respect you, you've got to get a little black in your life! For extra punch: Combine black with orange or red The downside of black: People won't be able to "read" you - and may perceive you as more aggressive than you actually are The consequences of more black in your life: You'll become a figure of intrigue and speculation You'll be better prepared for life's unknown path You'll rest better and free yourself of expectations

What Color Do You Need?

Okay ... time for some black!

===============

Sacrifice

Some days I see things that make me feel awed a bit. I didn't have a good day yesterday, due to a great number of things so maybe, emotionally, things hit me differently.

It was FREEZING here in the afternoon (still is) and extremely windy, so I was taking the dog out on a different side of the house, through the back garage door, so that I wouldn't have to stand in the wind and weather while she puttered around looking for the exactly right place to pee.

I looked up and saw this on the squishy, padded weather stripping -- it's where it won't be exposed to the bad weather (except when I open the door) and it was one smart mama who put it there.



Yes, it's a spider egg sac, and yes, I'm leaving it right where it is. I hope it hatches a hundred spideys in the spring so they can help keep the insect population down a bit.

But that wasn't what touched me... it was what was just below the egg sac. It's all very "Charlotte's Web":



Mama stayed there with her egg sac, protecting it until she couldn't anymore. Good mama.

And then that made me think of this article I saw online yesterday:

Idaho Teen With Cancer Trades Her Life for Her New Son

So whenever I think things are hopeless, I can remember the good things people do at the risk of their own lives. People and, apparently, spiders. *G*

The world is an abundantly cruel place and nature especially so, but there is beauty and kindness and love that can be found if we just know where to look.

======================

You Are "Carpe Diem"

You are very open to the world. You try to say yes to as many opportunities as possible. You are a pleasure seeker. You're a bit of a hedonist, and you enjoy the finer things in life. You are easily distracted. There's so much going on in the world, and you think focus is overrated. You are energetic and lively. You stay high-energy throughout the day.

What's Your Motivational Phrase?

This couldn't be more wrong...

==============

A Down Day

Well... I'm ending my year with a rejection from Samhain on "Now and Forever". They didn't even ask for changes or a resubmission, though it wasn't a form rejection and she explained what she thought would help make the story better in her opinion.

*sigh*

I'm going to set it aside a bit and give some thought as to what to do next.

Today I have a dentist appointment. So, yep, the day just keeps getting better!

DH is finally feeling better, but DD has been sick. She hit the wall yesterday (she tends to have one really bad day and night, and I think she just had it).

It's been an interesting week so far, and we still have the rest with DH and DD off.

Thanks to all for exercise suggestions. Charity, I wish I could do half of what you said, but since my knee problems from last year, I'm extremely limited. I can't do anything weight bearing (so no squats, no significant stair climbing), nothing more than low impact (no jumping, jogging, marching in place) and nothing that twists my knee (which leaves out zumba and most dancing). Mostly ... I walk. And in crappy NE winter weather, that's hard. And DD isn't into doing anything alone. We're looking to eventually buy a treadmill, but finances haven't allowed for it yet.

And so are the days of my life.

=====================

You Are the 7

You value personal growth. If you're not changing, it's likely something is going wrong in your life. You are a lucky person, but it's partially due to how you've crafted you're life. You are a great leader, and you lead without your ego. You know where you're going, and others want to follow. You are comfortable with and really appreciate freedom. You think it's important to be able to do your own thing.

What Slot Machine Symbol Are You?

Mostly right.

==================

Weight...

I scared myself today -- I stepped on the scale!

DH mentioned last night that DD was looking a little... robust. I didn't disagree, but I felt a bit more robust than usual myself. I sat down with DD (because he can't -- she falls to pieces when he talks to her about anything) and discussed how BOTH of us were going to start a new eating and exercise regimen effective immediately.

First order of business was hitting the scale. She has to do so when she wakes up the a.m.

I hate doing it. I don't want her to feel fat the rest of her life (I did, after my drama teacher saw me eating a candy bar once and strongly suggested I not do that anymore and once, at high school age, my step father said to me -- as I reached for a second helping of potatoes, "More for you, my plump little dove?"), but the truth is, she runs to being heavy, has "heavy" genes on both sides of the family and I don't want her to have to start her life on the heavy side.

It's not the weight, per se, or even how she looks -- it's all about health. Healthy heart, healthy blood, healthy joints. Too much weight or not-so-great food can affect all of those things.

It's my fault. She tends to love, Love, LOVE carbs of all kinds -- bread, pasta, potatoes, sweets -- and loads up on them. She eats good foot, too. Loves fruits and veggies. But it's the unhealthy stuff that's going to get to her.

So after weigh-in today, we both start keeping food diaries to become more aware. After this week of doing so, we'll move on to adjusting what we eat (though I think writing it all down will start with that ... there's something about actually making a notation that says "Three sugar cookies" that is frightening.

Exercise is tougher. I get cold very, very easily (doctor blames it on my extremely low blood pressure) so walking, hiking, etc., in the winter here is tough. But I'm going to have to figure it out, because if I go, she'll go.

I should drop at least 20 pounds, and even then I'll be 25 pounds heavier than I was when I was married, which is frightening. I need to do it for my knee, more than anything. I'd like to keep from having surgery at all costs, and carrying less weight will help.

It's a cliche to try to lose weight at the New Year. But I'm not so much looking at this as a New Year's Resolution. The timing is coincidental. I need this to be a permanent lifestyle change for the both of us.

====================

Your Name is Gray

Your name tells people that you are calm and level headed. Your name makes you seem honest and fair. You are able to look at things clearly and without emotion. You tend to remain neutral in most disputes. People see you as reliable and trustworthy. You treat everyone equally, and you don't tend to have any prejudices. You are naturally calculating and even a bit cunning. You don't like to show your cards too early in the game.

What Color Is Your Name?

Yeah. That's very true.

=============

The Day After Christmas

How was your Christmas?

I admit, after the early morning when no on was awake, I stayed off the computer. I opened it once so my mom could check birthdays on Facebook, but that was it. And I didn't suffer *much* withdrawal (though I did check my emails a few times using the phone).

We had a quiet Christmas. My mom came over in the morning to open gifts and have a homemade cinnamon roll. Then the next couple hours were spent getting dinner ready.

DH was sick, so we didn't attend the after dinner family gathering. Made it a lot less stressful for me and DH, though DD said it didn't feel like Christmas without going.

She and I hung out all afternoon doing this:



I love puzzles. I remember when DD was little, I hated doing all those little kid, 25-piece puzzles, so when she was about four we started doing smaller, adult puzzles. Yanno, 500 pieces with a very simple picture.

It was a challenge for her at first, but I spent time sharing puzzle hints and tricks and after not too much time (by the time she was six or seven) we had advanced to 1000 piece, more challenging puzzles. I remember, two Christmases ago, one of her aunts gave her a 100 piece puzzle. She said thank you, but gave me this look.

Actually, sometimes I wonder if adults realize that kids grow and change at a rapid pace. Two of DD's gifts yesterday weren't age appropriate. She got this science lab project book with the "equipment" (things like a balloon, packs of salt and pepper, etc) that is clearly meant for a kid around 8 y.o. And she got two pairs of Christmas socks from a cousin that are kids sized 6 - 8. My DD has bigger feet than I do (she wears a woman's 10 currently).

Then, conversely, we got a family gift from those same cousins -- a really neat game from Cranium -- that DD can't really play. It has cards with words on them (events, things, people, etc) and then a set of six dice with letters. The object is to roll the dice and use those letters to give one word clues to the word on the card.

Fun, right? Until you realize some clues are things like: Woodstock. Botox. Poodle Skirts. The Grateful Dead.

DD hasn't a clue what those are (well, she does NOW because I told her ... but even so, were she to play, "Woodstock" wouldn't really be something in her frame of reference).

She didn't get any books, but she did get one Barnes and Noble GC (thanks, Judy!) and a Visa GC (thanks, Mom!). She also got a pair of Croc-like shoes so she can stop stealing MINE (Thanks, Mom!). No electronics -- we really don't do that here. She doesn't have an iPod (she listens to music on her Nook). She doesn't have a gaming system of any kid, handheld or otherwise (unless you count my phone, lol). And yet, she still had a wonderful day -- she drew on her new sketch pad with her new pen set, wearing her new fuzzy socks.

DH and I agreed it would be a very, very, very small Christmas gift-wise. He actually made me another, smaller cutting board (out of scraps from our oak stair treads from when we put in the hardwood stairs). It's gorgeous.



Today, I'm going to hit the after Christmas sales for some Christmas items I ran out of: cards, tissue paper and more. I'll keep an eye out for gifts as well -- it's the best time to buy (if you're a cheapskate frugal like I am).

Hope you had a wonderful day celebrating.

===================

Your Holiday Spirit Comes From Making Treats

You are the type of person who relaxes by doing. And there's nothing more relaxing than a little holiday baking. You're also quite generous, and you enjoy giving out the delicious creations that come out of your kitchen. You are affectionate yet mischievous. You have a warm, welcoming spirit - but you also like to spice things up. Every single one of your friends feels valued. You are true through thick and thin.

Where Does Your Holiday Spirit Come From?

That's about right. My DH doesn't undertand the "you relax by doing" thing about me. He likes to go out into the woods or out on the boat and just sit... for hours. :::shudders::: I'd lose my mind.

===================

Merry Christmas!

Wishing all of you a very blessed and Merry Christmas.

====================

Merry Christmas Eve Eve

It's snowing here. While I suppose it does make it more festive, it does put a bit of a damper on last minute gift-buying plans. Maybe we'll stay home and bake instead.

In any case, my husband is up -- early. Cranky and sick... so I'll sign off and wish you a merry Christmas!

====================

Winter Solstice

I crave sunlight. Winter, with its cold weather and short days is difficult for me. Someday, I swear I'll go live on the equator where days are longer than they are here, no matter the time of year. I practically live in Canada, and I never realized how much shorter my days are here than for folks down south until I was chatting with my biz partner and friend, Judy, one evening and mentioned I needed to step away to close the blinds and turn on the lights. And she mentioned it was still light where she was -- Georgia. Same time zone, twelve hundred miles farther south.

As the days start getting noticeably shorter in the late fall, I look forward to this day. I know, it probably doesn't make sense to WANT it to be the shortest day of the year, except ... in my odd little brain, what it really means is that we've passed the worst and everything is better from here on out (which is why, conversely, I'm terribly depressed on the summer solstice).

So: HAPPY, HAPPY, JOY, JOY -- we're heading for summer now!



=================

You Are a Pegasus

You are a perfectionist, with an eye for beauty. You know how to live a good life - and you rarely deviate from your good taste. While you aren't outgoing, you have excellent social skills. People admire you and feel very comfortable around you.

What Mythological Creature Are You?

Mostly right.

==================

More Christmas Spirit

Okay ... I'm still working on the whole Christmas spirit thing. I've managed to get at least *some* of my cards out. Presents are wrapped.

Today, I thought I'd share some parts of my favorite all time Christmas movies.





Sadly.... I couldn't find a video for my fave all time Christmas movie: the original "Miracle on 34th Street". But imagine it here.

What are some of your favorite Christmas movies?

====================

You Are Content

You seek moderation by compensating for extremes. If you're extreme one way, you're also extreme the other way. While you can be brutally honest, you're still quite a charmer. You say it all with a smile. You are magnetic, endearing, and people tend to love you. You are a positive force in this world. You're a bit of an introvert, but you're never lonely. You know how to entertain yourself.

The Adventure Test

That's probably mostly right ... maybe 75%?

===================

Christmas Spirit

I've struggled to get into the Christmas spirit this year for a large number of reasons. It's been so bad that when I hear Christmas music on the radio, I've switched the channel.

So yesterday, I purposely turned on an "all Christmas" radio station and listened, hoping to hear some of my favorites. It saddens me when it's pretty much all secular music. Yes "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" makes me laugh, but I don't even think you have to be Christian to enjoy songs like this:



Or this:



I love this song, too:



Or this one -- and I loved this version when he sang with his wife and daughters:



This one is for my husband who, when he was stationed in San Diego in the navy made this song his mantra at Christmas:



Help me get into the Christmas spirit -- what are some of your favorite songs?

====================

Your Home Means Simplicity

You start every day fresh. You are optimistic about what's to come. You like your home to be functional but not fussy. More stuff just means more cleaning. You believe in taking it easy. Whenever possible, you don't set yourself up for failure. You rather do less and have less because it means you'll be happier. You are a proud minimalist.

What Does Your Home Mean to You?

This is mostly wrong...

====================

Christmas Prep

Tried three times to get caught up on everyone's blogs this weekend, but Google Reader kept crashing (or actually, the entire screen would go black) after just a few blogs.

I'll keep trying. Maybe I should set up a special email account and follow everyone via email instead.

This weekend was pretty quiet, except DD hadn't finished making gifts for her teachers (something else new we have to remember -- gifts for teachers on holidays). Then, last night she checked the school website portal and found she had Spanish homework. So, there was some drama, but not as much as usual.

I still don't have my Christmas cards out (maybe today?) and I have a couple more things to get for Christmas TODAY (because they're for the kidlet, and she's off school after Tuesday).

We did buy an artificial tree. That's something we've been wanting to do for several years now, but couldn't find one reasonably priced that had the "real" looking spruce needles. Saturday, at a warehouse club store, I actually found one. It was marked down under $100 and pretty darn nice looking.



You see, we have a problem with our trees. The woodstove keeps it SO hot and dry in our house that a real tree dies in a matter of days, no matter what we do. This year, I could sit in the dining room and hear the needles falling off. Worse, the branches all drooped so the lights, tinsel AND ornaments kept sliding off.

So Saturday night, DH and I put the new artificial tree together and then the three of us "undecorated" the old tree and put it outside, then decorated the new one.

It's SUCH a relief to not have to sweep needles every five minutes and the decorations are sliding off.

Yesterday, though, was the true test -- the in-laws stopping by unexpectedly. The front lawn is littered with needles from the old tree, and they commented on it. DH said we'd tossed the old tree, and the in-laws said: "And you went out and got another tree?"

"Yes."

"It looks good."

"It's fake."

"Really?!"

So it passed the test. *G*

Other than that, I've been working on the new LASR website. Haven't figured out WordPress, but might have found someone willing to "consult" for a reasonable fee. For now, we're using the tools we know how to use, but our plan is to have the entire site up on WordPress eventually, since WP is so much more versatile than Blogger and we want the ability for several people to make changes and additions to the site (right now, I'm the only one who can build the site proper -- so panic ensues when I lose power AND I can never take vacation -- haven't had time off in four years).

I can't believe it's only a week until Christmas. Hope you all are more ready for it than I am!!

=====================

You Are a Success

You are ardent and passionate. You have a intensity that burns brightly. You are career-focused. You get a lot of satisfaction from working hard. You are both charming and gracious. People find you to be very desirable. Crafty and creative, you are able to adapt freely to almost any situation.

The Over the Rainbow Test

Um....well.. yeah. Pretty much spot on.

It always freaks me out a little when that happens...

====================

Guest Blog and Giveaway: Tracey Cramer-Kelly and the Making of a Music Video

Tracey Cramer-Kelly is here on a stop for her tour with Goddess Fish Promotions for the military romance, "True Surrender". She's giving away a FALLEN SOLDIER T-Shirt to someone who comments on her tour stops, so don't forget to let her know you stopped by!

In the meantime, I was fascinated by the fact she made a music video and asked her to share her experience with us.

THE MAKING OF A MUSIC VIDEO

I was an MTV junkie. I especially liked the music videos that told a story. But when I first thought about doing a music video myself, I was curious: how would my passion for singing, writing and the power of the visual come together?

THE MUSIC

Here’s where it all starts, of course. I could have used a stock song, but I’m a singer and I’ve done some recording … and it just so happened that friends from the Mark Cameron Band had recently helped me record what I call the “Surrender Version” of Bette Midler’s classic song, “The Rose.” (It’s got a bluesy feel and a more upbeat rhythm.)

THE ACTORS

To find actors to enact scenes from True Surrender, we posted a project summary and request on craigslist.com. We conducted two auditions. From those, we choose Zac and Jennifer … and luckily they were both available when we wanted to shoot. We gave them a script and a week to prepare…

THE PLANNING

I handled props, clothing, makeup arrangements and timing issues; my co-director took care of shooting scripts, lighting, locations and the camera folks. Thank goodness I didn’t have to do everything myself, because I had no idea how many details needed to be covered!

THE FILMING

We spent one exhausting 12-hour day shooting scenes at a Physical Therapy department, a cemetery and a friend’s condo. For me, it was amazing seeing my words come to life - and without any dialogue! (I am still in awe of the actors.) The following morning we were up early to shoot video of singing (and guitar) along the Rum River near my home, and we wrapped it up later that week when we shot video of my 4-year-old daughter (whose cameo appearance is at the end of the video).

THE AFTERMATH

My co-director had to get all 140 minutes of footage onto disks (called “dailies”) … and then my sleepless nights began. I watched scenes for hours - evaluating the best parts of each, looking for those seconds when the camera caught something special. Once I had my favorite ‘bites,’ it took another two full days to pull it all together.

THE FALLOUT

I could not have had a better experience creating my first music video. I was blessed with a great group of people to work with (I really enjoyed the creative interplay). This was truly a collaborative effort and I was both humbled and exhilarated. I love the video - and I hope you do, too.



When Major Aaron Bricewick is rescued from Afghanistan terrorists, he thinks the worst is over. But his personal journey is just beginning...

The first surprise is the amputation of one of his legs.

The second is the woman he left behind, now a widow with a 4-year-old son - and his new prosthetist (artificial limb maker).

He vows that losing his leg won't derail his career. But maintaining his outward appearance as a got-it-together officer becomes increasingly difficult as he faces one personal demon after another - and sees his career aspirations slipping away. And though he has no intention of expanding his life to include a woman, his heart has other ideas - and he finds himself questioning the very foundation of his personal beliefs.

When violence - and unexpected redemption - touch his life again, Aaron must make a stand. Which will he choose: duty or love?

About Tracey: Tracey’s work fuses writing, music and visual imagery whenever possible, and includes novels, short stories, essays and music videos. True Surrender is her second novel. Her first, Last Chance Rescue, is an Indie Award finalist. Her first full-length music video, The Rose (Surrender Version), includes scenes from True Surrender. Her writing draws from her experience as an Army Reserve paramedic and helicopter pilot. When not managing the family business, Leader Motorcycle Accessories, she enjoys motorcycling and outdoor activities with her husband and two young children.

Web site/blog: http://www.TraceyCramerKelly.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TraceyCramerKelly
Twitter: http://twitter.com/TraceyCramerKel

The Dog Dish with Margo Hoornstra (and Heidi)

I had the pleasure of "meeting" Margo recently, when she toured with Goddess Fish Promotions. As we chatted, she mentioned two things that made me offer to have her here on my blog. 1: She has a dog! So, of course, we needed her here. 2. Her book, "Honorable Intentions" is available FREE today only at her publisher (and mine!), The Wild Rose Press. She also has two other free reads for download there, so get over and check it out! Here's her author page with all her stories so you can get them all.

Now, we'll turn the floor over to Dakota and Margo's rescued German Shepherd, Heidi.

So, your human writes books. Does this mean she is home all day and easy to access? Elaborate if necessary.

She writes books and short stories. And, yes, she’s usually home with me all day, which was really nice when I first got to her house. You see, I’m what they call a "rescue". I won’t go into details of my life before-let’s just say I’ve had some separation issues.

What are your techniques for distracting your human during crucial writing moments, just because it's fun? Whose primary job is it? What do the rest of you do to support the one doing the main distracting?

I have another friend like me around here for a while. Our favorite game is to run around the dining room table begging to go outside. (This game is the most fun when our human is deeply involved typing on her laptop.) Then, and this is the good part, once we get outside we run up on the deck like we want to come back in. As soon as she gets up, we pretend to see something important in the back yard and take off barking. It’s our version of what human’s do when they ring someone’s doorbell and run away before anyone answers the door.

What indignities and neglect have you suffered because of your human's writing career?

Let me first of all admit to having a fear of cats. I know, I know, being a big German Shepherd, that should be the other way around, but I’ve accepted it’s part of who I am. Anyway, once I wandered into the bedroom where The Cat was sleeping and my owner, the writer, became so distracted with her latest project she accidentally shut the two of us in there—alone. I sat very still until I heard her call for me then barked very softly so The Cat wouldn’t notice me until I was let out.

Tell me about the animals in your human's fiction. How often do they appear and how big a part do they play?

She wrote a short story once, and even sold it, about a dog they had before me. As I understand, he refused to chase out the rabbits who invaded their garden in the summer. My owner said he adhered to the philosophy of peaceful coexistence. I think that’s something I should discuss with The Cat.

On the off-chance your human has yet to incorporate animals into a story, what are your plans for making sure she rectifies this egregious error and demonstration of poor writing skills?

Animals as characters is something that is lacking in her recent books. I’ll have to talk to her about that.

What movies involving animals does your human enjoy sharing with you? Books with animals?

Sometimes I get to watch TV shows with dogs who look like me and have important day jobs. The babies around here have barnyard books they sometimes read to me.

If you could make one change to your human, what would it be?

I wish they’d let me sit at the table with them when they eat.

Are you happy with your human? If you could tell your human one thing, what would it be?

Thank you for teaching me to play that game you call fetch. (I wasn’t allowed to play at all where I came from.)

What things does your human do that would mortify her it if known? What does your human do that most annoys?

I have things in my past I’m not proud of either, so I'm going to keep my muzzle shut on this one.

Has your human named a character for you? Are you pleased? If not, why?

She hasn’t yet, but when she does, I think I’d like to be the heroine’s best friend.

And did your human name you for a fictional character? Hate it or love it? If you could rename yourself, what would your name be?

As I mentioned, being a rescue, these humans didn’t name me. I’m okay with Heidi. I’m not sure what I would rename myself, but the husband here sometimes calls me Precious. I think he’s being sarcastic. I’ve heard him call The Cat by some different names too.

Thanks for stopping by, Heidi -- next time we'll have to make time to play!

***

Former cop Samantha Wells is the last person single dad Chase Canfield wants chaperoning his young, impressionable daughter. Not if she's the same beautiful stranger who shamelessly came on to him with all the promise of unfulfilled passion, making her impossible to forget.

Samantha must prove to Chase she's a competent, trustworthy professional. That the sultry seductress he knew was only a pretense, her misguided alter ego acting on a stupid dare.

To save her reputation, she has to make him believe the mind blowing kisses and undeniable connection they shared meant nothing.

The hard part will be convincing herself.

Visit Margo at her website.

Gunshots, Guest Blogs and Goofy Dogs

So ... I got a text early this morning from my mom: "Police standoff at (her apartment complex name). Tear gas canisters. More shots just heard."

Yeah -- that's enough to stop my heart.

Thing is, she's in a really nice complex off the beaten path. It's not a place you picture police standoffs happening. However, someone robbed a bank at gunpoint in town yesterday evening (my bank, actually, in a strange turn of events, especially since I was there a little earlier in the day) and apparently the cops identified him and went to serve a warrant. It seems he took offense. With his gun.

Thankfully, he's in a completely different building than my mom. But still -- oy vey. There's tear gas and SWAT teams... Even in a little teeny town in a rural state, bad things happen.

In other news ... DD and I are featured today at Maria Zannini's blog during her DIY Christmas series. It's not up as I write this post, but I'm sure it will be soon. We show you how to make a very simple, but pretty, pair of Christmas earrings. And, we're giving that pair of earrings away to someone who comments on the post, so go visit! She has a pile of other folks there, too, and many have giveaways (nevermind the cool recipes and craft ideas). You should check it out.

Dakota nearly stopped my heart yesterday. We were outside with a neighbor and her dog when the FedEx truck lumbered up the street. For some reason, Dakota decided she didn't want that truck on our road and ran in front of it, barking. Thankfully, the driver was paying attention, wasn't going that fast and stopped before he hit her. But, he didn't let me get to her before he started again, and she decided to chase him down the road. She finally came back to my frantic screaming authoritative recall command and was in BIG trouble.

Took about an hour for the adrenaline to recede.

==================

You Speak General American English!

55% General American English 20% Yankee 15% Upper Midwestern 10% Dixie 0% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

Work is Hard. Time for Blogthings!

The 20% Yankee must be from living here the past 13 years ... and I admit to using "y'all" despite being from California, hence the 10% Dixie. I did live in Colorado (the midwest) so something must have rubbed off on me there, too. Sheesh.

=================

Here!

Sorry about missing yesterday -- woke up late and then realized I hadn't edited any of the reviews for yesterday on LASR/WC -- something I usually do over the weekend, but had been focused on setting up the blogs for our huge Stuff Your Stocking With Books promo that will be going on for two weeks.

I'm not sure today is going to be any better. I'm annoyed with DD's BFF, for starters. The class is going on a field trip to buy things at the dollar store to make gift bags for the homeless shelter here and then were going to stop at McDonald's for lunch. It would have been a fun treat for the kids, and a break for me not having to pack a lunch. But BFF is a vegetarian and pitched a fit (because apparently it would have killed her to pack a lunch and let the other kids eat there), so now they aren't going. Or maybe they are. But maybe not. And DD doesn't know and it created MUCH drama last night that just spiraled into more until we had some lovely shouting matches and DD was so stressed she went to bed at seven.

She's up early today to pack a super special lunch for herself. If they go to McD's she'll just eat her packed lunch. And if they do go, and she eats her packed lunch, I'm sure I'll have more drama today.

She told me last night she didn't WANT to be a teenager. "Mom, I don't want to be angry at you." and she says sometimes she hears things come out of her mouth that she doesn't want to say.

I was so mentally and emotionally wrung out, that I shut off the computer early and crawled into bed with a notepad. I sketched out the bones of a story I want to work on, and then pulled out a really old Nora Roberts comfort read and lulled myself to sleep.

I really, really hope today is less full of drama.

And I'm still struggling with Word Press, but have hopes I may actually figure it out some day.

================

You Are Conservative and Professional

You are efficient and precise. You like to get down to business. You are tactful and polite. You are well bred enough not to offend anyone. Focused and super charged, your instincts are a good guide for your next step. You need to mull things over for a long time. You prefer to take your time when making up your mind.

The Bra Test

That's mostly right.

=====================

Whazzup...

So WOW! The temperatures here have dropped like a rock. We went from balmy and in the 60s to "HOLY COW it's winter!". Of course, we're getting our chimney cleaned today, so can't have a fire in the stove to keep the house toasty -- and when we heat with oil, we keep the thermostat WAY down. :::shivers:::

Still, I can't complain. It's been very mild (last year was FREEZING) and, really, even though it's cold, it's not as cold as it usually is in December. And, Sarita? In response to your kind offer yesterday, no I don't want any snow. Thank you anyway. *G*

I realized today that we're nearly in double digits for December and I don't even have my cards out. That's on my list of things to do for this weekend. Used to be I had my cards out the day after Thanksgiving and that I started my Christmas shopping the day after Christmas (because WOW the deals!). Now? I'm lucky if I remember it IS time for Christmas and show up on the 25th.

It's amazing how much of DD's homework is done on the computer. Right now, she's using our old desktop, but next year she's required to have a laptop. Add THAT to my school supplies shopping list -- whee!

Last night she was working on a science assignment in Google documents. And once it's done, they simply share it with the teacher so he can grade it. Crazy. And her teachers are all readily available via email and many of them are on the school chat in the evening for questions. I wonder if public school does stuff like that? Is it the wave of the future?

No big plans for the weekend aside from getting my cards out. And mastering Word Press (hahaha).

You?

===================

You Are Meticulous

You are smart, clever, and perceptive. You know how to synthesize and process information. You notice every detail, and you are good at finding inconsistencies. Nothing slips by you. You often see things that other people never notice. When you imagine how something should look, you see it clearly in your mind. You are more of a thinker than a talker. When you speak, you usually have something important to say.

The Diagonal Test

That's mostly right (except that I can't seem to grasp the concept of Word Press). And the funny thing? I didn't *want* to choose that one -- I kept thinking I should like one of the pink ones better, but they annoyed me. The only one I looked at that didn't grate on my nerves was this one. Funny.

And... a nod to my title -- who remembers when this came out?



======================

Behind!

Crazy weather -- rain all night, HEAVY, and then winds, EVEN HEAVIER. Woke up at 4 a.m. with every intention of getting some work done ... discovered the power was out. Didn't come back on until 5:30 a.m. I'm grateful it wasn't out long, and I'm grateful there was no snow (since they were predicting 2 - 5") but I'm already behind. After putting up LASR/WC pages and feeding the four legged family members, I had to wake DD and the day begins with me accomplishing nothing.

Worse, the wind is still blowing like crazy and who knows if the power will stay on?

Anyway, that's it for my blog post today because I need to make DD's lunch, get dressed and get ready to leave.

:::waves:::

================

You Are Thoughtful and Gentle

You approach the holidays with restraint and wisdom. For you, the holidays are all about the people you love. You tend to concentrate on spending time with loved ones and reconnecting. You never forget what the holidays mean to you, and you succeed in not getting caught up in the chaos. Of all the types, you're the most likely to enjoy the ritual of wrapping presents. You're also the most likely to give a small but very meaningful gift.

The Wrapping Paper Test

Um... that's about 75% wrong.

=================

Christmas Music

Woke up late and I already behind .... so thought I'd share two videos that I've posted on Facebook, but that I find absolutely amazing.

SO clever!


And how can you NOT smile at this one?



Have a great hump day!

===================

You Are Wise

You are too much of a generalist to specialize in anything. The problem is that you're good at everything. You try to live an enlightened life. You are benevolent, noble, and intuitive. You are sensitive and intuitive. You understand others and yourself well. You are honest about your opinions and feelings. You rather be blunt, even if it upsets people.

The Cappuccino Test

This is about 75% right....

======================

Warm Weather and Word Press

Woke up this morning to Gmail forcing me onto their "new look". I understand why they're doing it -- but I hate icons. I can read, thankyouverymuch, and don't need a little trash can for "delete". Drives me NUTS.

/rant

It's going to be almost 60 here today. In the northeast (hello -- Canada is our neighbor). In December. Yesterday on Facebook I saw Liz Fichera had posted a picture of snow. In the desert in Arizona. Can you say "weird weather trends"?

Not that I'm complaining. I love mild weather and have often told my DH that if he dies before me, I'll bury him on my way out of town as I move south. My DD is also terrified of my driving her to school in the snow or sleet. She says she worries every day that I'm going to get in a car accident and die. Poor kidlet.

Otherwise, nothing much going on here. Still trying to figure out WordPress. It's still kicking my butt. I looked into having someone build the site for us -- but holy COW it doesn't come cheap. And since I'm not stupid, and a gazillion people use Word Press I must be able to figure it out on my own. I'm determined. And I'm crazy... because, I have three weeks.

So are the days of my life. Buried in work so far I can't breathe. But enjoying the weather.

=======================

You Are Calm and Content

You are calm and relaxed. You seek out serenity and tranquility. You are agreeable... to a point. You know when it's time to do your own thing. Building real and deep relationships matters to you. You are a person of substance looking for others of substance. You are accommodating and peace-seeking. You do your best to make others happy.

The Snowman Test

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... no. Some of the answer fits me, but calm and content? Not so much.

======================

Of Pies and Men

I had a remarkably quiet, relatively drama free weekend. I could use more like that. Did a little Christmas shopping with my mom and DD. Cleaned some house. Did some work. But about midday yesterday I realized that I hadn't felt stressed out in a significant way all weekend. That's seriously unusual and I'm very grateful.

On Saturday, DH went to a friend's house to do some auto repair stuff (he was welding a part for another friend). Turns out that the friend had baked bread and a pie! My DH was suitably impressed to the point he took pictures of it and showed me.

Last night, not to be outdone, my DH decided he had to bake a pie as well. He kept asking me questions and I finally told him it was HIS pie and handed him my 1952 Better Crocker cookbook where everything is from scratch, got him the pastry cutter and pastry mat and let him work.



He was so intent and determined to make it the best pie in the world (he's still convinced that he succeeded -- it's amazing how much a little sweat and blood contributes to the flavor of your food). Honestly, he really did do a great job, and I told him he could bake ALL pies from now on.

Here's the crust... pretty good, huh?



He made pumpkin pie, btw. The recipe in Betty Crocker was for two crusts, so we ended up with two pies. A little heavy on the cloves, but otherwise very tasty.

Still no word from Samhain. *sigh*

How was your weekend?

===========================

You Are the Recipe Creation

You try to keep things open. You dislike committing to people. You are self-contained and self-sufficient. You know how to take care of yourself. You are a risk taker. You love to roll the dice on everything. You have high morals and live life right. You have great confidence in yourself and others.

What Part of Baking Are You?

About 50/50...

========================

Books for Christmas!

One of the advantages to running a reviews site and an author promotions site is that I'm exposed to about a zillion books and authors I would never have seen otherwise. It's making my Christmas shopping just a little easier, especially since I really like to support authors as much as possible.

For instance, I have a friend, my best friend who I met in Junior High (32 years ago ... holy cow) and she's horribly hard to buy for. She's a voracious reader -- especially horror novels and thrillers, so it makes it hard to actually buy her books because I don't know what she already has. BUT, she's completely unaware of the entire Indie/Small Press thing (except for my book, of course). So this year? We toured a self-published thriller / suspense author (Gordon Kessler) and his books are excellently written and are right up her alley. I would never have known he existed if we hadn't run his tours. And, no, she doesn't read my blog.

I've found books for DD via some YA authors and blogs. Books for friends. It's been great. And the best part? Because I actually interact with most of these authors, I can get my friends and family autographed copies. :-)

BTW, folks... never be too shy to email an author and find out if there is a way to get autographed copies. One of my reviewers, who's been around since the site started, needed an extra special four year anniversary gift from us. So we contacted one of her fave authors, Carrie Vaughn. This reviewer is a HUGE fan of her Kitty books.

We never had any experience working with this author. She didn't know us from Adam (or maybe that should be Eve). Even so, we were told exactly how to go about getting personalized, autographed books -- an entire set! -- for our reviewer.

By and large (with only some exceptions) authors, all authors -- even the really big name ones -- are very cool.

So, are books on your Christmas shopping list? Any suggestions?

=========================

You Should Hail a Cab in NYC

Your life feels empty without lots of people in it. You make new friends everywhere you go. You live in the fast lane. You love action, risk, and competition. Deep down you are a wild child. You definitely have a manic side. You are very animated and energetic. People find you dazzling and charming.

What City Should You Hail a Cab In?

HAHAHAHA... not so much. Maybe, maybe 25% right.

==================

Things...

Truthfully, today I'm blank. Life is uneventful, I'm swamped and the weather is warm for December (in the 40s).

I did see "The Three Musketeers" over the weekend at the cheap movies with my friend, Michele, who was up visiting. It was pretty dang good.



Anyone else see it?

======================

You Are Insomnia

You have a restlessness about you that's hard to shake. You have difficulty calming down. You want to rise to the top. You are extremely ambitious and driven. You can't stand by and be complacent. You try to take action whenever possible, and when you can't act, you worry. In general, you consider sleeping to be a waste of time. You'll sleep when you're dead.

What Sleep Disorder Are You?

ROFL... um... Yeah.

=========================