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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

A Vacation for the Vacation Impaired


As I was cleaning the small wisps of dust bunnies collected in the corner under my desk this morning, I began to think, I’m not normal.  After all, most people vacation at the beach or the mountains.  Even if they only lay on their sofa eating Cheetos while watching Lifetime movies—they relax.  Unwind.  Decompress.  Yet, here I was after months of unceasing hard work; scrubbing the corners of my house only I see.  This alone may not be so unusual, but let me tell you how it all began.

The week of Thanksgiving arrived and I’ve never been so thankful.  My manuscript was sent off.  My Golden Heart entry was in the mail and finally I could enjoy the vacation I had been dreaming of—for months.  I had plans.  I was going to read books, take naps and enjoy spending the holiday with my little monkey and Mr. Alpha Male…

That was when I got the call that my mom had gone back into the hospital—again.  Now, let me pause and explain for those of you who don’t know me very well.  I have an unhealthy obsession involving adhering to traditions at the holidays.  And hospital or no hospital we were going to have a giant Thanksgiving dinner.  If you question my resolve on this issue, I will have to tell you the story of the Christmas ice storm when I cooked a huge ham dinner with no electricity and no running water using a miner’s hat for light and a barbeque grill.  But for now, take my word for it. 

So, by the next day I had traveled to South Carolina with my little monkey in tow, bought the last turkey at the grocery store and started cooking.  I cooked all afternoon in between trips to the hospital and then I cooked all night.  Soon, food started to pile high on the countertops filling the house with the spicy scent of cinnamon and nutmeg.  By the next morning, my parent’s house was bursting with laughter and chatter as Mr. Alpha Male’s parents arrived for lunch.  Even with my family not there, it was beginning to feel more like the holiday I love.  That afternoon we packed coolers with another Thanksgiving to be served picnic style in the hospital.  (Yes, you counted that right—I cooked 2 Thanksgiving dinners from scratch.)  We got some funny looks from the hospital staff, but we managed to save Thanksgiving for my parents and for that I am very thankful.

When I got back home on day 3 of vacation I should have picked up a bag of the previously mentioned Cheetos and flopped on my sofa.  But instead, I decided my kitchen could use a coat of paint.  I grabbed some paint at the store and went to work.  Then, I wrapped the last of the Christmas presents, completed the final touches of my holiday decorations, and took the Monkey to see Santa.   That brings us to today, day 6 of vacation.  It was just after cleaning dust bunnies, while considering the organization of my pantry when I decided to end this vacation for the vacation impaired and go back to writing.  Vacation smacation.  Who needs them? Not me.  Am I the only one out there who’s vacation impaired?  

Friday, November 18, 2011

Two Is Better Than One

We're at the tail end of NaNoWriMo and EMichels is at the five yard line of finishing her manuscript, SO that means two things: 
1)  One more week of pic spam blog posting before we get serious and actually write something. :)
2)  Mimosas will be forthcoming.

First, the pic spam.  The contemporary I'm working on features a few characters in law enforcement.  As I write (and research) their scenes, it has me thinking about all the law enforcement characters I've watched or read about over the years.  There are A LOT.  Once I took a moment to quantify how many crime/police/procedural shows and books I've consumed over the years, it surprised me.  No thanks on the hospital dramas, but obviously I have no issue with crime shows.  What appeals to me most is the crime fighting or case solving duo or team.  Something about the camaraderie and joint goal, along with all the drama and suspense. 

You know I play favorites, so here's a gallery of some faves.  Some are good, some are bad, some are serious, others are funny.  Some are hilarious in the way only the 80s can be.  Enjoy!

Law & Order - old school
Law & Order SVU
Bones
Kay Scarpetta & Pete Marino
SouthLAnd
Rush Hour
Hot Fuzz
Miami Vice

Needs no caption ;o)

Monday, November 7, 2011

My Goodness, My Ireland!

Since EMichels is diligently working on a full for submission and I'm currently knee deep in Nano, the blog posts this month will be predominantly pictorial and purely for fun. 

This week's is gratuitous.  My Nano project is a contemporary and it's taken me away from my paranormal series featuring Celtic themes and some Irish hotties.  Hence, I miss them!  In honor of them (and Irish hotties everywhere), I present Eire's finest:

Actor, Peter O'Toole.  A classic.  And few have baby blues like him.
Actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers.  He made me love to hate Henry the VIII.


Actor, Stuart Townsend.  Ooooozes Vampire Lestat.  Just sayin.

Actor, Colin Farrell.  Love him or hate him, he is the epitome of an Irish rogue.

Michael Fassbender.  Okay, okay so he was born in Germany, but he was RAISED in Killarney!  AND he got to say, "Then we shall fight in the shade."

Rob Kearney, Rugby player.  No cauliflower ear, lots of Forearms & Kneeeeeeeees!

Finally, the entire sport of hurling!  Recently, in a movie with Jason Statham, it was compared to a cross between hockey and murder.  A vicious predecessor to lacrosse.  Only the Irish.  They've been playing it for centuries and the counties take it as seriously as Southerners take their football.