Grinchella

Deep down I do believe that Santa Claus is not a menace to society as stated by the lawyers on Miracle on 34th St. But why am I in such a funk. I've watched Christmas show after Christmas show hoping to get in the mood. I've played the holiday CDs and watched the twinkling lights. But today has really gotten to me. I made the mistake of going to the mall. My intentions were there. Really they were. I wasn't even going for myself. Old Navy was having a sale and the scarves were only $1.00. So I had this thought. I was going to get fifty scarves and take them to the local homeless shelter. I knew it wasn't going to ever be enough but it was something. Of course they were all out. But what got me the most was the people. I didn't hear people laughing. I didn't see people smiling, just hustling and bustling and shoving. They wouldn't even let me out of the dang parking lot of the store. People blocking the entrance and not giving an inch. Geez. Can we like back it up a notch and have a do over. I've got to get out of this funk. My house isn't decorated the way it normally is. There are no Christmas smells of cookies and cake baking. There are no lights blinking and other than seeing Kyle from Living Single singing on a commercial for Marshalls and TJ Maxx I haven't gotten many laughs. And I broke a finger nail.

Battle of the Sexes

I'm not sure when it happened but it did. There has been a mixture of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Matrix and the Twilaght Zone. Over and over again the past couple of days I've encountered people who I had no idea what sex they were. Now, I don't mean sexual orientation, I mean, sex as in male-female, pe-we vs va-JJ. Twice today, once yesterday and I'm sue its happened before because if it hadn't it wouldn't have piqued my interest. People are beginning to look the same. There were no bumps on the chest to yell 'I'm a female.' There were not enough curves or they weren't flat enough to say 'I'm a guy,' either. The clothes are the same, jeans, basic shirts and jackets. No makeup, no facial expressions, no facial hair. The hair style was unisex as well and at least once the person spoke and the voice was flat and so monotone I honestly couldn't tell you. I'm married so I'm not looking, but how does one know who to approach and not get smacked or punched? What happens if you approach someone thinking you might be interested in them yet lo and behold its someone of the same sex and that was not what you were looking for. What do you do? Do you just say, "oh my bad," and call it a day. I don't know how this is going to affect my people watching and character sketches. I gather so much from just looking at people this is throwing me off. I'm afraid to ask, 'who are you and what pea pod did you hatch from but it may have to come to that.

Relationships

I've been hearing and reading a lot lately about relationships and what makes them work and how people can attach such qualifications onto what they want that they are blocking something good. I would have to agree. Now don't get me wrong. I recently read a question on FB that asked which would the woman prefer, a man who's good with his hands and can fix everything in the house, the car, the plumbing etc or a man who is good in bed. Why can't we have both. What's wrong with wanting a man who will be just as good in both places but even better and I think most would agree or I at least hope so, I believe we want a man who will treat us as equals not property. A man who will treat our hearts like his soul, charish it like platinum and gold. After all, who wants CZ when we can have diamonds. And it goes both ways, your king to my queen, right. We are not trying to wear the pants just because we might make more money. If your partner makes 60k and you make 49 doesn't that equate out to 109. It did where i went to school. Sometimes we forget the basics of happiness. I'm not sure if love conquers all but it certainly puts a dent in it, wouldn't you say. We recently had this same conversation at work because one of the nurses made the statement that she didn't like dark skinned black men. She couldn't tell us why. I told her to watch what she asked for, the light skinned man can be just as ugly as the next. I remember once, way back when I was single and had just broken up with someone after two and a half years. I prayed for an attentive man, because the one I'd had was more interested in sports and his buddies than with me. What I got was a stalker want-a-be. Another girlfriend only wanted a tall man. After all she was six feet tall. She ended up in a wheelchair. Now every man is taller. So, what I'm saying is, and I mean men and woman, we've got to stop putting labels on everything and look for the good, look beyond what you have on the must have list. That person might not be the tallest, the thinnest, the longest or best hair, but I bet if that person is who you are supposed to have it will be the best thing you've ever had. And hey, wouldn't you say if a man is good with his hands outside of the bedroom, he'd certainly be good with them inside the bedroom. We can only hope.

telemarketeers

Why is it so hard for businesses like Sears to not call my house on a Sunday after noon. Now today is the third Sunday in a row that these people have called my house to ask if we want to extend the warrenty on the washer and TV we purchased. What I would like to extend is my foot into a not so pleasant place but given its Sunday, I'm gonna be good. Now it would be one thing if I hadn't already told them three weeks ago to not call me on Sunday. But Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday have gone by and not a single phone call. Sunday again and here they go, ringing my house, desturbing my relaxing time. If I wanted to do business today, I'd be on the computer writing, editing or doing that dang synopsis I've been seriously procrastinating with. Maybe that's it. Sears thinks if it calls it will get me in the work mode and I'd do some. I don't think so. Thats just not gonna work today.

Happy Thanksgiving

7-Up Pound Cake

10 oz. 7-Up soda

2 sticks margarine

1/2 cup shortening

3 cups flour

3 cups sugar

5 eggs

2 teaspoon vanilla (or 1 tsp vanilla and 1 tsp lemon)

Cream sugar, margarine, shortening together. Add eggs one at a time. Beat. Then add flour, vanilla (lemon). Add 7-Up soda. Beat. Pour in greased and lightly floured cake pan. Round cake pan or Bundt pan works best. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until done. Turn out of pan immediately, cool and enjoy.

It just wouldn't be right if I didn't tell you my story behind this wonderful cake. I developed the joy of cooking when I was very young. My father James Henry Phillips gave me this sacred recipe when I was maybe 16 years old. I charished it for a very long time. Its famous and a favorite amoung my family. Well, my father died in 1985 and a few years later I lost the recipe. I had no idea where it dissappeared to. So, I started calling Phillips family members, only to be told that no one had the recipe. I searched from the oldest of members to the youngest. I was heart broken to find out my father had never shared this recipe with anyone except me and now it was lost. For ten years we didn't have this cake. I was heartbroken and then one night at work as my coworkers and I were sitting around the nurse's station we were talking about the holidays and cooking and cakes and I told them this same story, the story of the lost cake recipe. One of the nurses said the cake sounded like a cake her grandmother in West Virginia baked sometimes. She called her grandmother the next day and low and behold it was the same cake. She sent me the recipe and I've held it close to my heart every day. However, one thing I'm doing differently than what my father did, I'm not keeping it a secret. I want the whole world to know what a wonderfully delicious pound cake this makes. Enjoy!!!

Help wanted.

This is why some people should not be put is certain jobs. Some people should stay in non customer service positions and some people should definitely NOT be given certain jobs that come with a small amount of power over other peoples lives or livelihood. These new TSA/home land security checkups are getting out of hand. Don't get me wrong, I am all for keeping me/us/mine safe. I don't mind the long lines. That's why I always get to the airport early. I don't mind taking my shoes off. I don't mind unloading my carryons. I don't even mind strange people going through my suitcase, as long as they put my stuff back in my suitcase and not in their pockets, and I don't even mind the full body scan. Hell, what are they gonna see. My skeleton and an intestine full of poop. But come on now. What happened to training the TSA employees. As a registered nurse, I've been trained to be mindful, compassionate and watchful. I'd like to think I can spot a vengeful old lady to a gang leader. I can tell you what's right and wrong. And my Lord and parents taught me compassion and respect toward one another. But to read that a TSA agent told a breast cancer woman that she needed to remove her breast prostesis at the pat down and in another TSA incident a bladder cancer man was left in his own urine after TSA compromised his urostomy bag is a bit much. Why are people being humiliated in public because TSA does not have the training or education or compassion or anything to say, (here's a thought) "we will need for you to come with us to a room where a gender appropiate agent will need to inspect your prostetic device. Go figure. I think some of these people are enjoying their jobs just a little too much. My answer to them, a triple H enema. For those of you not familiar, think High, Hot, and Hell of a Lot. Do you get my drift.

Really???

Has chivalry really gone to the way side. Has the role really reversed. Yesterday, my hubby and I took a trip to JCP for a little shopping. Hey, I had three coupons and you can't let a good coupon go to waste. Any how, I'm searching for my husband and remembered he told me if I couldn't find him he would most likely be in the car. Well, I went out to the parking lot to check the car and he wasn't there. I decided to go back into the store and there was a man who had just loaded some merchandise into the trunk of his car. He was heading back to the store as well. He approached the door ahead of me, but when he reached the door, he stood there and waited for me to open the door for him. Really. Really. Not even on a cold and rainy day in the dead of winter. Now, don't get me wrong. It would have been one thing if his hands were full or if he was challanged in some way, such as no hands or blind and that's pretty much my limit on opening the door for a man, but why would he think it was okay to do that. It is so, not okay. Not yesterday, not today and definitely not tomorrow. I don't care what anyone told you. SO NOT OKAY. And in case you're wondering, I opened the door a crack only wide enough for me, slid in and pulled it shut behind me.

Woo hoo

What's a girl to do? Its been a couple of few days since I've been able to blog, but I have a great explanation. Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines. I've been pulling my hair out trying to get the project done. There is so much on my plate, but it's a good fullness Like the kind you get after eating Thanksgiving dinner. Even though you know you should stop, take a breath, you still want a piece of pie. I wouldn't have it any other way.
I acturally went to the library today with good friends Felicia Mason and Cathy Welch. Got a good three hours in with the editing. We closed out the library and I was still in the writing mode so I came home, set up writing space at the dining room table (office still very distracting for some reason) and I got to writing. I found the perfect recipe. Lap top, glasses of wine. Yes I said, glasses. And R&B artist Jaheim on the Ipod speaker.
Between the mellow wine and his voice crooning me I finished the book. Woo Hoo!!! 7 hours later and the last edit was done. Now off to my beta reader and then the editor. Can I get a moment of silence please. At least a couple of seconds before I have to go to the next project. Red Sage edits are sitting in computer waiting for me and then edits from Sleeping Beauty with Parker Publishing. Did I say I was busy?

Something on my mind.

I know this is one of my pet peeves and everytime it happens I say I'm gonna work on my mood, but dang, do I have to. I'm at work. I do that. I go to work. I work and then I go home. I spend a lot of time on the phone communcating with people and setting up care for patients. Why is it, when some people call and leave messages, they talk as if they are speedy gonzalous and ramble through their name and number. Today I received a very important phone call from some one I'd been trying to reach but didn't have the correct number. The woman finally calls me. She leaves her name and number on my voice mail. However, she talked so fast I barely got her name and forget about the number to call her back. that was wasted. I only got the first two numbers. Oddly enough, she was so fast, I couldn't even get it on rewind. Again, dang. Is it me. Why not talk a little slower and hey, try repeating your name and number for a change. It sure would make my day go better. Maybe that's it. My day isn't supposed to go smooth.

Buy a book, stop a crook

Spent the day in Waynesboro, VA at the Bookem Book Festival. Mark Kearney has done a great job orginazing the festival. I don't even want to think about the amount of work that goes into it. I think this was my fifth time attending. The festival benefits literacy, hence the line, buy a book, stop a crook. If we can teach the children to read, just maybe we can help them stay out of the jail system. Each author attending donates part of our proceeds to literacy. To keep a child out of jail, I'd donate it all. Its a great day. A lot of author networking, workshops, panel discussions, author talks and an abundance of students from the area who volunteer. I can think of a million things a teenage could be doing on Saturday but they spent it with us.

I went to a Bookem in Charleston, SC a couple of years ago. They haven't had another one there since. I hope they do. I had a blast. This year in Waynesboro, there wasn't a lot of foot traffic. I don't know why. The weather was great, but it happens. I only sold three books. but hey, it goes like that sometimes. Once there were a lot of public in and I sold a lot of books, another time, none, another time, medium sales. But no matter how it rolls, I'll still be there. after all, buy a book, stop a crook.

3 Days 60 Miles 1 Goal

And they came out in massess. There were young people. Older people. People my age. Some could have been my siblings or my parents or even my grand parents. There were men and woman. One man walked the miles on a prosthetic leg. A woman was 36 weeks pregnant. But they came and we walked.

And boy, was it a walk! I did it. I finally did it! I participated in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk for Breast Cancer this past weekend. It was awespiring, it was painful, it was humbling, it was exhausting, it was WOW. And did I say painful.

We set out from the National Stadium in Washington D.C. and walked through D.C., through Georgetown, through Chevy Chase Maryland to Bethesda Maryland. When did D.C. and the outlying towns get so hilly. For the life of me I don't remember them and I've spent a many day and night in D.C and Bethesda. Hey, I used to work at Bethesday Naval. Now granted, I always arrived by car but I would have remembered the mountains of Georgetown and Bethesda.

Friday's walk was tiring but we survived all 20.4 miles of it. I met some really great people immediately upon arriving in D.C. Linda from NY who is a 10 year breast cancer survivor and Heather from Miami. Both had done this walk before. Lavell showed up later and for the life of me I can't remember where she was from. I'd like to say Maryland by way of New England, US by way of England, UK but I could be wrong. Being this was my first 3 day walk they took me under their wings and we suffered, um I meant walked together.

At the end of the route on Friday we were bused to Germantown, MD. Upon arrival to camp I immediately set out to find my place in tent city. For some reason, I decided to partake in the entire 3 day experience and camp with the rest of the nuts, um I meant walkers. I told myself it was an adventure. Now for those who know me, know, I DON'T CAMP. My idea of camping is going to a hotel that doesn't have cable. LOL. But I'm gonna do it for the cause. I grabbed my duffle and sleeping bag and tent. Yes, I said tent. I now had the task of putting up my own tent. This was going to be fun. NOT. Again, I DO NOT CAMP. I dropped my stuff in the empty spot that belonged to me and starred down at it. Now what. How does a non camper put up a pink pup tent. I decided to make an announcement to the people I saw near by. I sorta yelled, "How does one put up a tent if one has never put one up!" What great people. Immediately four people stopped what they were doing and came to my rescue. They helped me get my tent up. No, that's not correct. They put my tent up for me. I stood there like a deer caught in the head lights and held a pole and flash light.

Okay, it was looking up. My tent was up and secure. I unrolled the airmattress and connected the pump and got it inflated and in place in the small two person tent. My tent mate had yet to arrive. I sat my things up for the am since we had to get up before the sun to hit the route for day two. I went to the dinner tent and had dinner, which I might say was wonderful. Steak, tender enough to cut with a plastic knife, potatoes, green beans and apple pie. Yum. After dinner I hit the showers. They had 18 wheelers out fitted with shower stalls. Nice and hot too. I headed to my tent via flash light because now it was 10pm and the lights went out at 9pm. Did I say I didn't camp. It's dark, I'm scared. But hey, I chanted, 'adventure, adventure, adventrue.' but it didn't stop there. I zippered myself into the tent. that way the monsters wouldn't get me. Yeah, right. As soon as I went to lay down on the sleeping bag which was on top of the air mattress my body went straight to the ground. Where the hell did my air go?

I found out the next day, when its cold the air dissepates in the mattresses. I will never understand this. It was locked in tight. There were no holes. Go where. Out of space. Is it magic? what? This is why I never did well in physics. It just doesn't make sense. What am I going to do? It's too late to turn on the pump for the air mattress, so I decide to sleep in the sleeping bag on the ground. Thank God the tent had a vinyl flooring or I would have been in the meal tent on top of a table.

As soon as I doze off I am awakened by a horrific growl. It grumbled, mumbled and spat. I just knew the monsters had come out of the forest to get me. My eyes sprang open and I yelled in my mind, "What's that?" My eyes scanned the darkness and only when it happened again, that I realized someone was snoring. Okay, I can deal with snoring. But then it happened again and again I am jolted from sleep. I had to put my earphones in and turn on the IPod for some music. that's what I needed. Nora Jones lulled me to sleep only to be yanked out of it again with a thigh cramp. Thigh cramps are bad enough when I'm at home and I have to jump out of bed, pound on my thigh muscle, jump around and ice it. How is a girl to do that when you are zippered into a sleeping bag and even if you could get out, you can't stand up. Pup tent means exactly how it sounds. There's enough room for a puppy. Geez, Saturday morning couldn't come fast enough.

Saturday we treked 23 miles through Germantown and Gaithersburg, Maryland. More hills. What happened to the flat lands. Are there any walks in Kansas or Missouri. I've spent a lot of time in Maryland in the past but had never been to Germantown or Gaithersburg. What wonderful scenerie. Before I left camp that am I met another new friend, Desi. she's a one year breast cancer survivor and she has spunk. When her family opposed her doing this walk she stood her ground. My hat goes off to every survivor that took a step this past weekend. They gave me strength.

I had a plan as I stood at the foot of yet another hill. I was gonna make it. And I did. I crawled back into camp at 6:30 that evening. I'm gonna conquer this camping thing. I ate another great dinner. Grabbed my shower. Rubbed down in the analgestic cream I grabbed from the medical tent. Re-inflated the air mattress and made calls to home and friends to check in and check out. I took my medication to include my dear friend Mr. Vicodin and put the earphones in the ears and turned on the music. I was off to lala land in no time. No nightmarish sounds, grunts, growls. No muscle cramps and my body was suspended above the ground. Yeah!

Even though the night temps dropped to 45 degrees each night I can thank my friend Helen for the sleeping bag. I would have been in trouble with the blanket I was taking. Thank God some of my friends know what they are doing when it comes to this camping out gig. I certainly didn't. When I told my friend Yvette the next morning that I slept good Saturday night she commented that happens when you are exhausted. I told her that's what happens when you take vicodin. hehehe.

Sunday was a breeze compared to the other two days. We only needed to walk the remander of the miles on Sunday. A piece of cake. I crossed the finish line Sunday afternoon to see my husband, sister and grand nephew standing there cheering me on. I was told I didn't look like someone who'd just walked 60 miles. Maybe it was because of the broad grin spliting my face or the bounce in my step. I'm not sure but I certainly felt like some one who'd walked 60 miles. My feet hurt, my toes and ankles are swollen. Luckily I didn't get a blister until around mile 40ish. Some people got them early. My hips were very angry at me. I was suprised my knees didn't bother me... yet and my back didn't hurt.

I was humbled by the amount of people who came out to cheer up on. People stood on corners, in their drive ways and leaned out of windows to say thanks for walking. Restaurants posted signs of thanks and telling us there was water inside and clean bathrooms. What a dream. I really missed my bathroom. After spending three days with nothing but port a potties I so much wanted to feel my cushie toilet set against my cushie ass. One should not have to hover to pee. It's just not right. But it was for a good cause. It was all for a good cause. The blisters. The sore and aching muscles. The grinding bones. It was for a wonderful cause and I feel like I walked in a 60 mile walk a thon. Oh yeah, I did and will do it again. I think, next year I'll work in the medical tent. LOL. No hills.

Susan G. Komen 3 Day walk for the cure

And let the walking begin. I'm in DC. The 3 day 60 mile walk is under way. Waiting for the shuttle to talk us from the hotel to the starting point. I'm pumped, well rested and thoroughly greased. I learned a new trick from a marathon runner. Slather vasoline on the feet heavily and you won't get blisters. It works and afterwards your feet are baby soft. Now that's a great trick. I've already met some really great people. Linda from Coopersville and Heather from Miami. Immediately they greeted me and a friendship developed. There is so much comoradarie and smiles here it warms the soul. Its wonderful to see so many people come together to save the ta-tas. Sometimes I can't believe I'm doing this, 60 miles, three days and I'm sleeping in a tent. But I AM! this is for Pindi. My bestest girl who was taken from us in 2008 at 39 years young. Breast cancer was her murderer. So, lets FIGHT LIKE A GIRL AND SAVE THE TA-TAS.

Girls weekend the beginning

I'm in our nation's capital this weekend with the girl friends for our annual girlfriend's weekend. NO hubbies, no children. no work. But my question to you is, why is it that people see people with suitcases and immediately think we are tourist who just fell off the turnup truck. My girlfriends and I decided to catch the train up to D.C. Got a wonderful room at the Residence Inn on E street. Fantastic!

Well, we leave Union Station to grab a cab. No biggie. The hotel is 2 miles away. This is not going to be a problem. Well, maybe not to some people. The cab driver didn't even get out of the cab. He popped the trunk and we tossed out bags in. On arrival to the hotel the meter said, $5.75 and there was an extra fee of $1.50/extra person. So where I went to school that comes to $8.75. There were two extras.

The cab driver says $11.75. Okay, on what planet. Again, where I went to school that just didn't compute. So just to make sure I'm not mistaken I re-read the notice in the window that pretained to extra fees. We did have extra people, check. Waiting-- no. Bad weather--no. National emergency--no. I had to ask how he came up with the numbers and he tells me for the luggage.

What luggage I ask. He says the over sized luggage. Again, what over sized luggage? We each had a carry on. You know the type. The carry on size that fits into the over head compartment of the plane. Oh! that over sized luggage. Well, I think not.

Now my two girl friends are counting out money and trying to figure out a tip. Again, NOT!!!
I nicely (hehehe) redirected him to the sign hanging in his own cab and reminded him that he didn't even see our luggage so he had not idea what it looked like. Upon remembering this he jumps out, lifts it out of the trunk and says, "umm, humm, okay, that'll be 8.75." Oh, yeah, damn skippy okay. I was about to bring out the East Orange NJ that's imbedded way deep in me. And she really isn't as nice as the Virginia Denise.

My girl friend still asked, what should we tip. My only tip to him was to remember not everyone carrying a suitcase is a tourist. Oh, I forgot, he didn't know I used to live in the beltway and even when I didn't, D.C. was my old stomping ground. But even if it wasn't, why you gonna try to rob a tourist. Shame on him.

Where did the time go?

Oh my God!

It's almost October and time. Time for the Susan G. Komen 3 day walk for the cure. That's 60 miles I'll be walking to help fight breast cancer. The closer I get to the date the more nervous I become. And, the more body aches and pains I encounter. Why is it that each time I say the words 60 miles or walk or Susan or even October I get a pain. Opps, there goes another one. This time its in my butt. Yesterday it was my knee, the day before that my hip and the day before that my right foot. What's up with that.

I know its all psychological but hey, I got to get it together. I'm catching the train to D.C. the day before because the walk starts at 0630 in the am on Friday. My hubby is driving up that Saturday to cheer me on and be at the finish line on Sunday. Isn't he sweet.

I'm not going to think about the comment he made that he could get some great photo shots for his photography home work. Nooo, he's coming up for me and only me. Yeah that's it.

And to make me more nervous, I'm camping out with all of the other Komen people. Camp Komen is what they call it. Camping, did I say camping. Yes, as in tent, outside, under the stars. Yikes. Don't you know my idea of camping is staying at a hotel that doesn't have cable. Do pink pup tents have floors?

It's going to be a great experience. I know this. I'm getting more and more excited each day. Ow, just got a sharp pain in the left foot.

Oh well, I will have lots of meds with me for the aches and pains. I'm packing my TENS unit for electrical stem just in case and did I say muscle relaxants.

I will be thinking about everyone I know. The friends who I'm walking for and especially the friends and family who are sleeping in their memory foam beds, reading books with electricity and watching television. I've got the better deal. Great stories, wonderful commeradarie, laughter and fighting for the cure. Who could ask for anything more?

Well, what's a girl to do?

Well, I'm not really sleep recupped from the Authora After Dark con but I decided I really needed to get out there and do some walking. The Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk for the Cure will be here in 3 weeks. Yikes! Where did the time go?

My sister and I set out on a five mile hike today at one of the local parks. It's a beautiful trail through the trees with a winding trial and bridges over the lakes. It turned into a power walk/run. That's what happens when you notice the sun is quickly going down, you are in the middle of this nature trail and if you don't kick it up a notch it will be pitch dark or at least dark enough that your imagination will definitely run rampant on you.

I had already started envisioning what type of serial killer or paranormal alien was lurking behind the trees. It didn't help that each time we passed a strange looking tree my sister made sure she noted what type of prehistoric creature it reminded her of or a second didn't go by when she didn't say, "so, what would you do if it got suddenly dark." She acturally thought we would sleep in the middle of the trail and wait for sunlight. Oh sure, like that was going to happen. Everyone knows my idea of camping is staying at a hotel that doesn't have cable. I asked her what were we supposed to do when one monster was charging from the trees.

I told her the only reason I'm camping at the Komen camp during the walk is because there will be another thousand people for the monster to think about eating. Her response to make my head swim, "What would you do if you woke up and noticed everyone in the camp had disappeared. Thanks sis. I needed that.

She mentioned something about running. The idea of running, sounded good but that wasn't a garentee the monsters wouldn't get me. Now the thought of tripping her, pointing and yelling, TAKE HER, she's leaner!!! sounds really good. Oh, did I think that out loud? My bad. Well, we made it out alive thank goodness. After all, I do have my 60 mile walk coming up.

Speaking of that walk. I had a minor surgical procedure on my left great toe last month. The doc promised me it would be like new before the walk. It better be. Actually, its feeling pretty good. When I went back for my followup appointment he said my toe healed like a 20 somethng toe. Cool. Now can someone please tell my 20 something toe to talk to the rest of my 49+1 body, because right now, this very second, my left hip hurts like the dickins. My left knee is throbbing. There is pain in the right shoulder, right elbow and upper mid back. The left hand hurts and neck. Hey, my right knee isn't hurting. I guess its saving itself for tomorrow.

You can look for me on television when the walk starts. The local DC news caster will announce "woman laughing hysterically hits the dirt" or even better, "bites the dust."

Adults After Dark Conferance

Relaxing for a minute between events in my hotel room. It's my first time at this conferance and I must say, it is a blast. I'm meeting some really great readers. You can never have too many readers. The hostesses are wonderful. Can't thank Jacquelyn Frank and Stella Price enough for putting on such a wonderful event. The other attending authors are fantastic as well. My only problem, however, is which dessert to eat at the many meals that have served us. I also sat on two panels today. Writing series and writing IR (interacial) romance. I didn't win a door prize at the dinner tonight. That's okay. I'm quite sure my guardian angel is saving my major win for that Ipod touch and Nook e reader that they are raffling off on Saturday. Well, it's time to head back out, meet more people and have more fun. There will be no sleeping tonight.

sTOp thE MAdneSs

Okay, maybe its me. I'm on the way home from work today. Even got off a little early. I'm sitting at a corner waiting for the green light and just looking about. If you know me you know I love to watch things, especially people. Well, see what happened was.... I'm sitting in my car. The tunes are sweet coming out of the speaker and I look out the front window at a woman and yes I mean woman, who's crossing the street in front of me. She looks to be at least 18. I know people can look a whole lot older than they are but I know she wasn't a toddler or even (and this is stretching it) a pre-teen. Why, will someone, anyone tell me, why is this woman sucking her thumb as she's walking up the street. At first I thought I was mistaken so I took a longer, closer look. YES!!! her thumb was tucked so far into her mouth she could have bitten it off if startled. I know times are hard right now, and everyone is stressed but come on. Help me out here. Talk to her. Let her know this is not good. I can't stop you from doing this in the confides of your own home but while walking up the street one must keep thumb out of mouth. Chew gun. Suck on a lolly pop. Pick your nose. But absolutely no thumb sucking on public streets. Especially if you are able to cross the street without your mommy holding your hand.

Back to work again

First week back to work after vacation and yes, it was still there. The in box was still full and the undone work was still undone. One day, I'm gonna go on vacation and when I get back someone, my fairy desk angels, the house keeping staff, anybody, will have kept the inbox clean and everything that came to my desk will be completed and sent to the next level. Yeah right, like that's gonna happen. It does do a body and mind good, though when people do the happy dance when you return. It can also be very frightening. Oh well, at least I was missed.

Vacation, Everyone should take one.

Just got back from a wonderful vacation with hubby and some great family. Yeah for people who want to just do it. My husband and I have decided to stop visiting the same places and people when vacationing but to now go to places we have never been. Seattle bound and then on to our Alaska cruise with a stop in Victoria BC. Seattle is the bomb and a must see. Two days was not enough. Now I know why my friends say they could live there. I think I can too. The camera could not capture the brillance of Alaska. Green forest and snow capped mountains. I can't explain what a glacier looks like without botching it up. The best way would be to say a raging river that froze in time that reflects a strangly bewildering blue color. I think I regressed back to being a 10 year old when we went whale watching in Juneau. Nothing like seeing a whale and it wasn't on the nature channel. Totally cool. While the girls had tea at the Empress in Victoria the guys went pub hopping, claiming they needed to check out Canadian beer and ale. What ever! Everyone had a marvelous time and there were no complaints, even when I climbed the rock climbing wall and didn't ring the bell. I didn't want to show the others up. hehehe. I do believe everyone should take vacations. Don't let the economy stop you. Hey, we are going to be broke anyway. We might as well have some great memories tucked away in our heart and head to go along with it. Next stop Italy and Greece, 2012. Come go with.

Partly cloudy with a 100 % chance of fun.

And we are off. There's nothing like a five and one half hour ride to the west coast. At 9pm we are wondering why we are so tired. Well after much thought, I guess so. Our bodies and minds are still on eastern time. It's actually midnight and hey, we were up at 4am. Finally got to see the Space Needle and Pike Place Market, Salmon swiming upstream for the most dewildering reason to me and snow capped mountains rising up from nowhere. Wow. I can't wait for the rest of the trip.

When did it happen?

When did my husband and I become one of my patients. Inquiring minds want to know. As we finalize the last details of our upcoming vacation we find out from his pulmanologist that because of the high altitudes we are traveling to he may need portable oxygen as a stand by. Okay not a problem. I'm a case manager at a hospital in real life when I'm not writing. I know how to handle this. Two days later and its in the bag, signed, sealed and delivered. I then hurt my toe and have to have minor surgery on the great toe. Now I'm hobbling (is that a word) on a hurt toe. We are closing the suitcases and wondering if the medication bags are okay. So now we have a respiratory impaired hubby, a post op surgery toe wife and two bags of every day meds. When did this happen?

Could it get any better than this?

What wonderful weather today. I don't think it hit 88 degrees. A wonderful breeze and lots of sun. Could it get any better. I spent the day totally procrastinating. And boy there's lots I should have been doing. Packing for vacation. Writing. Finishing deadline papers for publisher and oh, did I say finishing papers for editor. But you see what happened was... The sun was shining. The bugs weren't biting and the heat had gone by-by. My nursing school alumni had their annual picnic today as well. It had been maybe five years since I attended so I had to go. After all, the weather was great. Ran in to some really old friends. Nooo, I didn't say old as in age, although we are all much older than we were when I graduated nursing school 25 years ago, but old as in boy are we old. LOL. Children of friends who were barely married and childless now have children graduating college or married with children of their own, whats a girld to do. After I had drinks with girl friends and then sat in swing chair in front yard with hubby once I got home. It was a really, really good day. I know, I should be doing those things afore mentioned but some times when there is a break in the hustle and bustle and the heat index that had wavered above 100 degrees for the past several weeks finally cools down you gotta do what you gotta do.

Tigers worse tourney

Everytime I read a news article or hear a television blurb about how poorly Tiger Woods is doing in his golfing comeback, the movie, The Color Purple, comes to mind. When Celie had had enough and Mister had wronged her one last time she told him (with hand up and crooked fingers pointing straight at his face in the most frightening way), "Everything you done to me gone come back on you. Until you do right by me everything you do gone fail." Not to get into Tiger's business, because I do believe America spends entirely too much time in other people's business and bedrooms, however, I wonder, has Tiger done right by his wife and children. Inquiring minds want to know.

Proscrastination

For some reason, I've been glued to the recliner for the past couple of days. Not exactly sure why. I've been working very hard these past couple of weeks trying to stay in the groove of writing. I've been mentally editing my latest work in progress in my mind. I know, I know. Working it out in the brain does not get it to the paper, but sometimes you got to sleep on it, mull it over and figure out some of the kinks before you can spit it out. That's what I've been doing. I've also gotten some great ideas to work on to tighten it up. So why is my butt still plastered in the chair. Not exactly sure myself. I'm hoping, really, really hoping, it's just a weather thing. It has been kind of hot lately. Hit 107 the other day with a heat index of 118. Oh, it just hit me. It's not the weather, it's this dang computer and the internet. Oh well, I guess I will fight that battle and click it off, but then what?

Go me!

No one can really describe the feeling that goes through a writers mind and spirit when you finish a manuscript. There is a heady mix of joy, elation but also fear and butterflies. It was long over due. I finally finished my work in progress, Lost in the Dark, book three of my St. Agnes Series. I've been working on this one for over two years. I had to stop in mid keystroke in 2009 for a neck injury with pain and muscle spasms so bad I couldn't think, sleep or sit for longer than a few minutes at a time. So forget about writing. Neck injury in stasis and I got back to the book in June of this year with a lot to do. I've been a writing fool. Got a great jump start at the Chesapeake Romance Writers Annual Writer's Retreat. I finally finished it tonight. Now to let it simmer for a couple of weeks and then on to the first draft edits. Yeah for me!!! Now we will just pray that the thousands of words written are action packed, exciting, passionate and not gobblygoop. Now that would be a kicker.

It's a bugs life... or death?

Okay, this may be because I'm tired or not. I'm just not sure any more. My question today and I'm dying to know the answer. When a bug hits the windshield of a moving car, does that bug say 'oh crap' right before the collision? Is there pain with the impact or is it sudden death and too quick to know what happened? While I was driving home today a big beattle bug (I think it was a beattle) hit the windshield. It didn't splat all of its guts on the window like so many do but he rolled up and over. How do I know it was a guy bug. Only a guy would smash his face into a moving glass. Woman are too vain to mess up our pretty face. I wondered what did it see right before the big hit and did he say 'what the hell', or was it not paying attention and didn't see it coming? How much pain was involved? Do bugs have pain receptors and if they do, what do they do for pain relief? Oh, I know, fly head on into a car.

It's a family affair

People everywhere. Food! Food! Food! Great weather too. What a fantastic weekend. Cousin Sean even did a fire work display Saturday night. Too bad I'll have to get back in my car and drive the 13 hour road trip back to Virginia today. Oh well, gotta do it. The one thing missing, thoug, I've only written one sentence since Thursday. I will have to do double time next week. And check out the cake Samm and Sarah made for the occasion. Way cool!

Road Trip

Heading to Michigan for family reunion. Yeah! Family! Gotta love them, right. Cousin Sean and wife Samm are hosting this year. Should be great because this is their first reunion as host and most of the clan haven't had a chance to get to their home in Michigan. Hopefully the 13 hour car drive won't kill me. Who knows, I might get a story out of it.

It's my birthday

It's my birthday, it's my birthday. I'm sitting here at the dining room table, just finished eating a little someum, someum and cleaning the kitchen. Then I checked out the photos I took last night at my 49+1 birthday celebration. I called my own impromptu birthday celebration the night before the actual big day. Friends and family are great. I called and they came. Tweny five wonderful peps cramed into our little home. We stood, we sat on the floor, we mingled. There were people in the living room, the dining room and of course the kitchen. Food was eaten, wine was consumed and laughter rang out throughout the rooms. What a great way to bring in the new year. 49+1 is looking grand! I might even do some writing today and then again, I might not. It's my day to do as I please, right. Haven't decided yet.

Happy Birthday

Just wanted to chime in and wish the US of A a belated birthday. I hope everyone had a wonderfully safe one. I spent my forth at home chilling. My sister said I didn't do anything all day. I beg to differ. I did a lot. I went from the bed to the recliner in the living room. It takes a lot of energy and muscle to pull that little lever on the side of the chair to life my feet up. And, what if I needed something to eat, drink or had to go to the loo. Up and down the lever must go. I could have pulled a muscle. Geez. All jokes aside, I got a lot of writing done. My third instillation to my St. Agnes series, Lost in the Dark, is moving right along. Hopefully I will be finished with first draft soon and then on to the next project. What ever that is.

What's in a number????

Okay, so I'm sitting at a friend's house last Saturday talking to a mutual friend. I'll call her Cheryl. Well, this is after I'd done one of my training walks of 17 miles, but I thought I'd recovered quite nicely. I'd bathed, napped, dressed and even combed my hair and put on make up before leaving the home. And I had on a brand spanking new dress. I'm feeling pretty good. Especially since in two weeks I'll be turning 49+1 (and if you say it we will no longer be friends). So why does a man who's sitting across the room from us ask me if I my friend Cheryl is my daughter. She's 49 +oh never mind.

Now don't get me wrong. Cheryl looks no where her age. Talk about good genes and she holds the wild card. She could pass for her daughter's sister, but hey. . . me... her mother. Even if she was 40 what does that make me, 49 +20.

The wonderful complimentary man couldn't see the err of his ways even after all of the other men in the room told him he should know what to say and what not. He told me I looked good. Well sure, I guess so for a 70 year old.

And just when I thought I was looking good. Dang, Maybe I shouldn't have done the training walk.

Sweating for a cure

I logged in a 17 mile walk yesterday as I train myself for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk for the Cure in October. I woke up at 0530 and was out the house at 0600. I immediately starting pumping the pavement. Nap sack, water, snacks and Ipod on back. I've mapped out a nice little, or should I say, long walk from my house to a park, around the park and then back home. 18.5 miles if I do it all.

5 bottles of water, 2 bottles of juice, one banana, a sandwich, a handful of carrots and two protein bars later and I could taste the cool air conditioning of my home. I was less than one half mile from home when I realized, damn its hot. Wasn't that the reason I left so early. To get home before it got hot. I guess Mother Nature had other plans.

I could see the street light on the corner that lead to my home, but my heart was beating fast and the sweat was pouring off. I might have been dizzy but I'm not entirely sure. All I kept thinking is no way was I going to have to call my hasband because of a little heat stroke or dehydration. After all, don't I fuss with him every weekend when he wants to go out side and work in the yard in the heat of day. No way was I calling him. The EMTs might, but Iwasn't. Un un, no way and you can't make me either.

I'm a nurse, I know what to do. I found a nice patch of shade, stood there for a few minutes to settle the racing heartbeat drunk some water that was warm but wet and then I gaged my distance. Two blocks up the drug store then three short blocks home. Corner meant drug store. Drug store meant drink cooler. Drink cooler meant Gatorade. Gatorade mean not EMTs. So what's that four degrees of seperation. Told ya I was smart.

I cooled myself in the blessed ac of the drug store and guzzled half of the Gatorade before setting out on the last three block trek to home. I drunk the rest as I walked. Low and behold, hubby's standing in front yard starring at me.

He says, "It's hot out, itsn't it."
No shit sherlock. But hey, I'm walking in the Susan G. Komen 3 day walk for the cure. That's 60 miles, 3 days and I'm stomping out breast cancer, one sweat drop at a time. If you'd like to follow my progress or donate you can do so at www.3dayforthecure.org. I'm the one passed out in the Rite aide with a Gatorade in one hand and a soaked napkin in the other.

What a week

What a week, what a week, what a week! Okay, enough of that. I don't want to talk about work any more. But boy, what a week. However, on a better note, I wrote every day this week and that's a great thing. Book three of my St. Agnes series is coming right along. Lost in the Dark. I'm loving it. And I know you will too. Can't wait until I'm finished. Got the beginnng and the end but its that darn middle that's missing. For the love of me I have no idea where it goes. But it's okay. It's creeping in at a nice pace.

Oh, I almost forgot. I'm hitting the pavement at Oh light thirty in the morning to do a training walk. I'm getting in shape for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk for the cure. 3 days, 60 miles and I'm doing it all. Come October, I will not hit the ground and I will not need the rescure wagon. I'm doing 60 miles. Yeah!!! My goal is to raise 3k as well. Tomorrow I'm doing one of my training walks. Walking 18.5 miles. Did it a couple/three weeks ago and boy were my knees and hips angry with me. but its okay, that's what pain meds and bengay are for. I should have taken out some stock on them.

Guest Blogging

What a wonderful way to start the week. I will be guest blogging on Author, Karen Nutts blog on Monday, June 21, all day. there will be excerpts, contest and great fun. Hope everone will stop by and drop a comment or question. I can't wait. Don't you just love Mondays. LOL.
http://KMNbooks.blogspot.com

How much is too much.

At what point do we say, we are doing too much. You have the full time job that keeps the lights on (that's if you aren't one of the lucky ones whose writing actually keeps food onthe table and the water running) and then you have the writing job. That's a full time job too. Its just the full time job that sits beside the other one. Then you have the hubby and family job and someone mentioned the other day something foolish like house work. My theory, why make the bed if you are going to just get back in it. Same goes for cleaning the dishes. What's all the fuss about? Why clean them if you are going to mess them up again. Isn't that what paper plates and take out are for? Trust me, if I could come up with a paper pan that didn't go up in flames I would. I find we have too much on our plates. Now if we can find a way to clear some of this ugly stuff off and keep the other stuff. Stuff like appointments for meeting friends at Starbucks to write, hanging at the pool with a good book and oh yeah, sleeping we'd be all right. What's on your plate?

Retreat

Wow! What a wonderful weekend. Returned home this afternoon from a weekend Writer's retreat today. There were twelve wonderful attendees with twelve wonderful brains. Not as many as past years but just as much energy. Nothing like writers collectively getting together to write, brainstorm and have fun. We were up early and up late. Collectively we wrote 534 pages. I finished a first draft manuscript for the book I'd been working on for the pass couple of months. Now on to other projects while it cools before the second look. Usually takes about three drafts before I'm ready to have critique partners go at it. Boy what a project. I reopened book three of my St. Agnes series. I had to put it aside 2008-9 when my neck got jacked up and I couldn't write. Well, guess what. I'mmmm backkkkk! Book three is a blast. Lots of action and mystery and of course romance. For those who haven't caught up, nows the time to get Whispers in the Dark and Visions in the Dark. Book 1 &2 respectively.

Nothing can stop the writer

Well... at least not mentally. The headache is gone. It receded sometime during my sleeping hours last night. Thank God. Now I'm heading out the door to meet more writers at the local B&N. The only thing that's stopping us tonight is they now close at 10pm. Pooh! That cuts an hour off of what we normally do. I guess they noticed we were having too much fun. . . Um, I meant writing.

Three for Three

I've had a spliting headache all day. So bad I can't see straight, but what am I doing. Writing on my blog. LOL, is this a blog bug or what. I hope all of my friends are proud. I'm gearing up for the Chesapeake romance writers annual writer's retreat coming up this weekend. My goal is to finish the ms I'm working on and then concentrate on another I started and had to stop because of neck injury. I will get it done, I will get it done, I will get it done!

Monday morning blues

Well, it's Monday. It's not the weekend. And, oh, did I say it was Monday. Mondays wouldn't be so bad if they weren't... Monday. Not only did it start out with a bang, I got to work to find out a co-worker and friend had lost her 4 year old grandson to drowning over the weekend. It really makes you wonder and be thankful for being alive. I can't even begin to imagine what her family is going through. I can only pray that they find strength in each other and the lord. His name was Jackson. I think I'm gonna have to use that name in a book. Just because. Hopefully Tuesday will be better. You think.

Face book

Okay, so maybe it's the rain. New blog, face book and all is one day. WOW. I'm on a roll. So, I did it. Well, I think I did it. I'm on face book. Now don't say I didn't warn you. When I finally got on myspace it seemed like the very next day everyone went to fb. I'm hoping this isn't the case. We will see.

Day one!

Okay, I folded. I'm going to give it a go and try this again. Hopefully, because my mind is fluttering with things it wants to do and accomplish this year, my blog will be a success. Don't get me wrong. I've got so much going on in my writing word what better way to keep in touch with you. I hope you will enjoy. I promised myself this weekend I would do nothing but stuff to get the book promos going. I've worked on my new website. Now if I can just figure out the last bit I'll be done and it can get posted to the web. I've worked on contact list and my monthly newsletter. Now for the blog. Lets see how this goes. It should be fun... right.