No peaking!

Saturday my son and I are heading into to town to do some Christmas shopping (okay we were just starting!). We were smart and left the hubby and the youngest at home. They hold us back.

On the way my son and I are talking about what we are going to buy for whoever. Some how the conversation turns to peaking for presents. Now as a kid I was horrible about it. Ask my mother and she will tell you. She ended up hiding presents in the trunk of her car. That was back before they had the trunk latches by the front seat. That took all the fun out of it.

Any way, I am telling the boy that if he sneaks a peak at his presents that it takes all the excitement on Christmas morning. Without skipping a beat he says, "If it isn't exciting, then I will forget anyway."

Well at least he is honest about it.

Seasons Greetings and all that stuff

This time of the year I am usually mental or on my way. You have all that shopping, wrapping, decorating, cooking and putting up with that family member that everyone hates. Hey, you know you have one of those too!

Don't forget that stack of Christmas cards that needs to be addressed and stamped. I just spent most of the day doing mine and marking off each person off my list. I either need less friends next year or start buying in bulk at Sams Club.

It is the time of the year for reflection and being happy for what you have. I have come up with a few and wanted to share them.

First I am thankful for the 12 years or so we had with our dog, Jake. We lost him on the very first day of this new year. I am dreading that day coming up because I know what we all be thinking of.

Second, I am glad that I knew that wonderful woman known as my grandma. She was loving and courageous. She gave as good as she got. I knew this woman for 34 years and I still don't think that was long enough. So now I work hard with PanCan.org in her memory.

Third, a family member of mine (I wont say who to protect their privacy) had been diagnosed earlier this year with a awful disease. She then became pregnant a few months later. I happy to report that the baby keeps coming up negative. I hope for a happy ending because our family needs one now more then ever.

Fourth, my husbands mother had a stroke a while back. She is in her 2nd nursing home for therapy. She was finally able to lock and unlock her knees yesterday. Today she was supposed to take her first steps. She has worked very hard the last few weeks and it is good to hear that she is in better spirits.

Last, I am thankful for the roof over my families head, the food on my table and the clothes on my back. When ever it gets to that point where I want to give up (which was this year!) I think about the people who have it worse then I do and I can go on.

So this year make that list of things that you are thankful for and it should make you feel better too.

Dear Santa

A few days ago my son decided to write a letter to Santa. My husband sat down with him and helped. Every now and then I could hear my son ask how to spell this or that. I didn't pay much attention.

The following morning he puts the letter in a envelope and puts it in our mail box out front and went to school. I spent the day like I normally do, catching up on laundry or whatever else needs my attention.

Later that day he comes home from school and we are having a snack in the kitchen. We talked about his letter and how I wished I could still write Santa a letter and tell him what I wanted. My son, bless his heart, tells me, "I asked for a present for you."

"You did?" I ask confused. "What did you ask for?" In my mind I am thinking it's a video game system or something.

"I asked for a hot tub." he answers straight faced.

Now I don't remember ever asking for one. Now if Santa can get it in the sleigh, then I will take it. Hey, I am just saying.

Happy Anniversary to you...

Today would have been my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary. A big party to help celebrate that happy occasion would have been held last week with family and friends. Instead my grandpa is alone on a day that should have been spent with his bride.

This wonderful man stuck by his wife through sickness and in health. Her last few weeks on earth were spent at home together. He held her hand as she took her last breath of this world. All he could say was, "She is still beautiful."

I have to say that after only 13 years of marriage it would be hard for me to picture a life with out my husband. I can't imagine what it would be like after 60 years together.

What breaks my heart is knowing the fact that my grandpa goes through all the things that she had collected throughout the years (and there is more then you can imagine) to keep his mind off of his loss.

After she passed this September, he had her wedding ring sized to fit next to his own wedding ring. This way he thought they could still be married in spirit.

This man who I thought was one of the toughest men I know, cries now because he misses his wife. Grandma was supposed to be the emotional one, not him. He doesn't sleep at night and wont consider taking anything to help him cope.

So if you read this, say a little pray for him to get through today.

Why some animals eat their young...

I am beyond glad that tomorrow my husband and my oldest will being going back to school or work. I can't tell you how bad it has been. No, wait. Yes I can.

This past Monday and Tuesday I decided to let my oldest stay home from school so he would have a full week off. Why you ask? I have no clue. Call it a brain fart but I let him any way. By Tuesday I wanted to run away or put my WHOLE family on Ebay. The shipping would have been way too much though.

I did my shopping for Thanksgiving on Tuesday and made my son go with me so I had someone to talk to or bitch to depending on how bad it was. That trip went really well considering how many people were there at the store. We were in and out within just two hours. We ended up with the top down and singing to Papa Roach on the way home.

Thanksgiving went pretty well considering. We had snacks all day and then sat down to eat around 530. I made every ones favorite dishes. Cranberries and yams for my daughter and I. Corn bread stuffing for the hubby. Green bean bake for the boy. I also made sure that I made Pumpkin pie for the boy and Pecan pie for myself and the hubby. Mommy even broke down and bought a bottle of wine to drink with dinner. Can't remember the last time I had a adult beverage.

What happens?? The boy didn't want any of the beans that I had made just for him. He didn't want the pumpkin pie either or the yams. The hubby didn't want dessert at all either. What was the point of even making dinner people? Or even washing my good china?

Now usually I wait til after my birthday (December 11th in case you want to buy me lots of presents. I LOVE BOOKS!) before we put up the tree for Christmas. I was feeling good today so I thought we could do it today. Boy was I wrong!

I let the kids decorate the tree and they did a pretty good job this year too. Next was the stockings, decorations, and lights. My son wanted lights in his room all hung up so I did. A hour later I was sweating and pissed off. I used two freakin strands and was even on a chair to reach up high. Did I mention I am very afraid of heights even on just a chair?? No? Well now I did. When I finished the lights does my son say, "Thank you mom, that looks great?" Oh hell no! He wants more lights because it isn't good enough with just two. He wants me to do zig zags on his wall. That is when I decided to go take a shower instead of stringing him up by his toes.

I had to lock myself in the bathroom so I could do my nails. I even took the time to paint my toes too. I have to soak it in because who knows when the next time will be.

So even though tomorrow will begin at 530 or 6 am, I am looking forward to it like you couldn't believe. I love my family, no really I do. I love them so much and I will say that in court under oath and everything when I have to beat the crap out of them. I am even looking forward to a day filled with Dora and her stupid cousin Diego. I swear neither one can find their shoes with out help even with a map.

Mike vs. Mike

Here is my problem. You have Mike Rowe on the left and Mike Holmes on the right. Both have their pluses and minuses. More pluses though. *sigh*

Let us start with Mike Rowe. He is on a great show on the Discovery Channel. Does voice overs for numerous shows with that incredible voice of his. He is also a spokesman for Ford (should be Chevy). He has even done QVC.

He is tall, dark and handsome. Great bod too. *fanning self* Looks great in waders, boots and overalls.

On his show he has done numerous icky jobs. Road Kill removal, chicken sexing, bat biologist, bug killer, cleans up all kind of animal poop. He has even played with a monkey. Well sort of but the monkey won.

He does all this but the minus is that he whines the whole entire time on the show. Now I know that some of his job are rather nasty, but come on and suck it up.

Now on to Mike Holmes. He is also tall but blond instead on dark. I know I really don't care for blonds all that much but with him, I will make a exception.

He can make overalls look sexy and has such great looking arms.

What this man does is when homeowners are screwed over by contractors who were hired to renovate and they don't do the job or they do but with wrong work, he comes in and fixes it.

He doesn't cut corners at all. Far from it. I have seen on his shows how he decides that the room just needs to be teared down and started all over again from scratch. He goes the extra mile for these people who without him, would be stuck.

What I notice his how fair he is with his employees too. He shows them how to do a job but doesn't talk down to them. Far from it. He praises them often and I can't help liking him even more.

At the end of his shows he gets hugs from the families and he calls that his payment. Now how awesome is this?

Most of what he does is funded by donations and companies donating their time to help along with supplies.

The minus is that he is in Canada. *whining*

So check out his web site and find out how you can donate or find out more information about the show.

http://www.holmesonhomes.com/index.php

So now you see my problem? Too bad you couldn't have them both or put them together to make one man. Oh the possibilites!

My Best Friend, My Sister....

Have you ever had a friend who felt more like a sister then your own? I have one and I have know her more then half of life. We wont give out a figure though. Just use your imagination. I will say this, we are in double digits.

I remember us first meeting like it was yesterday. We met through a friend and after that we were each others shadow.

We fought over the same two boys. I got the first one and she got the second. She married hers and I kicked mine to the curb shortly afterwards. No hard feelings at all and have to say that they are happily married. I have known him almost as long.

I remember how we had our lives planned out. What we were going to be when we grew up. Nothing was too high back then. To me, reality is much better.

Singing together and thinking we were so good, when we were actually the equivalent of a pack yapping dogs. I only know one other person as bad as we were. Roxanne! lol

She was there the night before my wedding. She talked to me when I cried that morning because I was so scared. Should or shouldn't I? I did follow through and have been married for 13 looong years.

I was at her wedding too when she married her sweetie. I got teary eyed like a idiot standing up there witnessing them finally tie the knot.

She was there for the birth of my son and followed my son and husband when they couldn't get him to breath right. I still can picture him purple but I knew that she wouldn't lie to me if I needed answers. That is how she is, BLUNT. My daughter has her name as her middle name. Except we spell it better. *wink*

We have been through our ups and downs always knowing the other would be there to catch us if we fell. To brush us off and push us forward again. She was the only friend that stuck with me when I moved and I will never ever forget that. Hell, she drove up to help move me back home.

So I guess what I am trying to say is that through out our friendship, it was her that kept me sane. When I became a biotch, she knocked me down a peg or two. I never got mad at her because I knew that she meant well. I love her as if she was my blood sister and will always always do anything in my power for her because she would do the same.

I LOVE you Mickie!!

Writing a love scene

As some of you may know, I am trying to write my first book ever. I was doing really well there for a while. Than I hit a wall where nothing would come out of my fingers no matter how hard I tried.


Well after life got in the way, I stopped for a few months and am slowly getting back to it. I have some days still where I just walk by the computer, look at it and walk away. It probably thinks I am having an affair with the microwave.


The last few days I have found a groove and things started to flow again. I was doing really well too or at least I thought I was. I would type up scenes and send them to a friend of mine who would either ya or nay what I had written. I sometimes listened and sometimes didn't. Hey, if I feel strongly about something then I fight for it! lol


The other person I would send it to would me my mother. It was going really good too. When I was stuck on the couch after back surgery we went through ideas and actually wrote a scene together. Poor Allie got popped in the face. She needs to learn how to duck.


Anyhoo, now I am at the part where the two characters want to get it on and I can't write this knowing that my mother will read it. I know that sounds weird or even stupid but I keep seeing her reading it and falling over because it is just too much. Ya what ever.


So I bit the bullet and started it today. I got through them kissing and getting kind of heavy. Then you have the part in the story where the two people want one another and should I or shouldn't I?


So now it is time to get down to business. He has her naked and he is just waiting. This is my problem, do I do the skim over where they are kissing and hugging each other and then all of a sudden it is the next morning? The sun is shinning and the birds are singing. He looks at her and says that that extra few pounds makes her look beautiful. They say I love you and start talking about marriage. *PUKE*


Or do you give everything a different name. You don't actually come out and say what that appendage is, but give a really goofy name. I don't know about you but I kind want to know at least a little bit of what they are doing. I don't want to have sit there and figure out what they are talking about. *EWWA*


Well, that leaves us in the middle so to speak. I guess some where in the middle of skim sex and extreme. But where is that fine line? I guess I have suck it up and just do it. I don't know how these other writers do it. lol

Give me strength!!!

Have you ever got out of bed and wondered why the hell you did? That was me this morning. My two beautiful but evil children thought that since they were up at 4 that everyone else should be too.

I wouldn't have been so mad, even though the only people that should be up at that time are vampires, but they were screaming at each other at the top of their evil lungs! I tried to muffle the sound with my pillow but all I did was make it harder to breath. Yes I thought of it but no I didn't because who would do the laundry,cooking, cleaning, shopping and accounting?? Ya, that is why.

So I get up, let the dogs out to go potty because the kids can't remember that simple task. God forbid! I walk like a zombie to the kitchen and press the start button for coffee. For some reason when I went to go buy a coffee maker while on with drawls, I didn't get one with a timer. Mom without coffee is a scary mom. Ask my son because he has seen first hand.

I give my son his medicine and send both children to the appropriate room. Do they stay where I put them?? Hell no! So it is obvious that my day has started a bit to early for my taste. Might as well make the best of it.

After letting the dogs back in from going potty, good dogs, you sure are! I gave them their treats for doing their business outside and not inside. I feed the screaming cats because like the dogs, the kids couldn't do that either. Can you feel the love?? I figured that them trying to crawl up my leg was a good indication that they were hungry.

A few hours go by and I have had my 2 BIG cups of coffee. We are sitting on the couch watching "Dirty Jobs" (that man is HOT HOT HOT) when I look over at my daughter (who is only quiet when she is sleeping) is falling asleep on me. Oh hell no! It's 8 and my kids are falling asleep. *whining!*

So both my kids are asleep and I am on the couch wide awake because of those BIG cups of coffee. Life is so unfair!

PanCan and Ebay combine forces.

Since November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month, I am going to donate all sales to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCan). I am doing this to remember my Grandma who lost her fight on September 9th, 2007.

http://stores.ebay.com/Frog-Prince-Books-and-Cards

If you just want to make a one time donation, then go to their web site at http://www.pancan.org/

They even have store where you can buy bracelets, pens, t-shirts and more to help raise money.

Every little bit counts.

Get your workplace, family and friends to wear purple on November 15th as part of our Picture Your World Purple campaign.

Please check out www.pancan.org/raiseyourvoice

Thank you for helping to spread the word.

NOVEMBER IS PANCREATIC CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.As most of you know I lost my grandmother to Pancreatic Cancer on September 9th 2007.

Did you know that Pancreatic Cancer:

- Is still the 4th leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.

* In America, one in three women, and one in two men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.

It is the 3rd leading cause of cancer death among 40-59 year old men.

Approximately 37,170 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year in the United States and 33,370 people will die from it. The number of Americans diagnosed each year of pancreatic cancer continues to rise unlike other leading cancers where an investment in early detection has led to a decrease in cancer incidences.

For all stages of pancreatic cancer combined, the five year survival rate is only 5%; the lowest survival rate of all major cancers.

The average life expectancy after diagnosis with metastatic disease is just 3-6 months. 52% of pancreatic cancer patients are diagnosed with metastatic.

Pancreatic cancer affects both men and women of all races and varying ages. Men are 20% more likely to develop cancer of the pancreas than women. African Americans are 40-50% more likely to develop cancer of the pancreas than Caucasians.

- Receives the least amount of Federal research dollars among all leading cancers.

* In 2006, an estimated $66.7 million dollars of the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) cancer research investment was spent on pancreatic cancer research. This is just 1% of the NCI’s $4.8 billion dollar cancer research budget for 2006.

The country’s investment in cancer research over the last 20 years has led to a slight drop in 2006 in overall deaths due to cancer. This fact illustrates that our investment in cancer research is moving science forward in the most common cancers. However, the lack of progress in pancreatic cancer proves that we must continue to make federal funding of cancer research a priority.

- Gets little public attention.

* What does public awareness mean to the pancreatic cancer community? Raising awareness can move federal research dollars and change public policy. It can lead to more funds raised for research and patient services.

I ask you, my friends to help spread awareness. Every little bit helps. Help educate your loved ones and cherish all the time that you have with them. You never know when the end may come.

For more information on Pancreatic Cancer or how to donate, please check the following web site : http://www.pancan.org/

Never judge a book by it's cover....

You know how I have been trying different authors since I joined the JMBB? Well, I have found some hits and sadly some misses too.

After listening to Kelli talk about this baseball series, I finally gave it a try. Just know that I have never ever seen a game or even know what all that mumbo jumbo means.

I loved it! It was funny, sad, romantic and steamy. I was surprised that I like it so much.

Squeeze play starts the series off with Risk (Richard) Kincaid and Jacy Grayson. They have know each other for years. Risk helps her get over heart breaks with her boyfriends.

There is also a secondary story with Zen Driscoll and Stevie (Stephanie) Cole. Both are baseball trivia pros. Stevie is in love with Aaron Grayson the hometown boy.

Plus add 3 more baseball players known as the bat pack. You have nudist named Psycho (Cody) McMillan, a ladies man Romeo (Jesse) Bellisaro and the boy next door Chase Tallan.

There is a golf scene that almost made me pee my pants because I was laughing so hard.

The second book in the series is Curveball. It takes up 5 years after Squeeze play left off. It takes the 3 men in the bat pack into a bit of romance and pairs them with just the right woman.

Kate Angell's third book should be out next year sometime and I have added it to my wish list. It seems to never end.

A raffle to win a editor!

Hi ladies! I belong to Myspace and was given this bulletin from another author. I know there are couple of us who are writing or trying to write something and thought that not only could it help you but also help a fellow writer get back on her feet.

A fellow romance author, Dawn Thompson, has been laid up in the hospital for quite a while with illness and complications resulting from that illness. Needless to say, her hospital bills are astronomical. In order to help her out, the very generous Deborah Macgillivray has teamed up with some equally generous editors to raffle off some great opportunities for unpublished authors! Here are the basics from Deborah. Please visit her blog for all the juicy details! And good luck to those of you who enter!!! Now here's the good news from Deborah!

I am raffling off editors!!!

Listen up!!

Tired of submitting to slush piles and getting rejected before the editors even see it?

Want a chance to get your book before a print editor??? Want a guaranteed that the editor actually reads it? You don't ever get that request for a FULL manuscript??

Well here is your chance!!

Win a chance to have your completed or nearly completed manuscript read and receive a one page critique from Hilary Sares Kensington editor (Debut, Brava, Approdisia lines) YES!!!!

FIFTEEN people will win this amazing opportunity.

Yes, 15 people will have their full or nearly completed manuscripts read and will receive a one page critique from editor Hilary Sares.

How do you win this amazing chance??

RAFFLE -- $100 per entry. Enter as many times as you want. (All money is going to a worthy cause)

~~~~~~~~~ Rules: ~~~~~~~~~
You may enter as many times as you want at $100 a "ticket".The more times you enter, the better your chances are. Winners will be randomly selected from a drawing of names on December 21st, 2007.

~~~~~~~~ What do you get? ~~~~~~~~
15 people with completed or nearly completed manuscripts (Any genre!) will have their manuscript read by Hilary Sares. (Impress her and she could even want to buy you~~ if you are what she's looking for!)
All 15 will get a one page critique of their manuscript.But that is not all....RUNNERS up will get....2nd place Runners up.... (#16 and #17 winners)

Chris Keeslar Senior Editor, Dorchester Publishing (Leisure Books and Love Spell) ~~ will read and critique 100 pages ~~you get to put a proposal of 100 pages before Dorchester's editor, and receive 1 page critique.
Again, he will consider buying if you impress him! (Historical Romances, Magna, Contemporary, Paranormal)

Leah Hultenschmidt Editor for Dorchester Publishing(Leisure Books and Love Spell)~~ will read and critique a 100 pages ~! You get to put a proposal of 100 pages before Dorchester's editor, and receive 1 page critique. Again, she will consider buying if you impress her! (Historical Romances, Contemporary, Paranormal) 3rd place Runner up (#18, #19, #20 and #21 winners)

Leanne Burroughs Publisher/Editor of Highland Press, will read and critique 4 full manuscripts -the publisher/owner o fHighland Press will read and give each a 1 page critique. Again, she will consider buying. (Historical Romance, Paranormal, Contemporary,Mainstreams YA, Childrens)Trade size PRINT Books

Details....The raffle runs through midnight EST December 15, 2007.

The random drawing will be held on: December 21, 2007 so 21 people will have a very Merry Christmas!!! Winners will be notified by phone and email on that day.

All monies raised go to help author Dawn Thompson's hospital and medical bills. Dawn recently had a bad fall. She is a new writer so has to wait for nearly a year or more to start receiving her royalties. She doesn't have family to help her and has a lot of needs not being covered by her insurance. Money will go to help her pay for medicine not covered, and other needs arising from her recovery.

All drawings will be final. No Refunds. Any questions about the contest email Deborah Macgillivray Kensington, Dorchester, & Highland Press author writer@deborahmacgillivray.co.uk

To enter Name:
email address (Working email addy for you will be billed $100 through Paypal):
Pen name, if any:
Your full address:
Your Phone number:
The Title of your manuscript:
The genre of your manuscript:
Is your manuscript completed? Yes NO If no - expected completion date

Once your email application is received you will be sent a "ticket" bill through Paypal at $100.00 for each entry.You pay enter has many times as you want to increase your odds.

You will be helping a fellow writer get back on her feet after trauma, and you finally get that GUARANTEED chance to be read by some top print editors.

**************************************
I got this message earlier today and wanted to let you all know. I don't know about you but I am going to try it. So if you do try it by either entering with the fee or this other one by Joy Nash, I wish you good luck. Then we can say we knew when.

Hey, could you post this around, too??

Dorchester author, Joy Nash, is running a raffle of her own, where someone can win a chance in my raffle. This helps those unable to afford the $100 ticket price and gives them a chance, too!!

Everybody, please let anyone interested in Deborah's editor raffle that to help the cause, I'm sponsoring a contest through Nov 30 - the prize is one $100 entry fee in Deborah's raffle to help Dawn Thompson. Details are on my blog at http://joynash.blogspot.com/
Joy

www.joynash.com
IMMORTALS: THE AWAKENING a USA Today Bestseller DEEP MAGIC: Druids of Avalon #2 January 2008
THE GRAIL KING: Druids of Avalon #1 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award

When authors write you back

Have you ever written your favorite author or even a new one that just made you say, "Wow"? I have and most of the time I get answers. It may not be right away but they do.

Most send emails that are written by them and not some automatic email that gets sent out. This makes even more special.

I have written and received answer back from are:

Deidre Martin

Jenna Peterson ~ She has even sent me a autographed book when she found out I was to have back surgery. She is a sweetheart and even answers those nagging writing questions of mine.

Toni Blake aka Lacey Alexander ~ She sent me a add on Myspace so I allowed it. She then emails me thank you afterwards. She is very nice too.

Christina Dodd ~ She is wonderful in person and through email. Love her!

Farrah Rochon ~ I have two autographed books of hers and I might add, a autographed t-shirt. *go buy her book, NOW!*

Kate Angell ~ I emailed her tonight and she wrote back to me within 5 minutes. She offered to send a book as well.

Victoria Dahl ~ I found her through Farrah and her Blog. She also answers her own emails and is just as sweet as they come.

JR Ward ~ She is too busy to answer hers but I met her in Dallas for the RWA this last July. She is so nice in person. She found out that I was having a friend wait in line for me because of my back. She came around the table and gave me, me a hug.

Deidre Knight

Michelle Rowen

Julie Anne Long

Kelly St John

Annette Blake

So go email your favorite or new author and let them know that you enjoyed that book. According to one author, they don't get much fan mail.

Dee dee dee....

Here is a good question, is there one thing that you do that is completely normal to you but seems like you are a whack job to someone else?? I am talking really psycho? Well I do! lol Well, according to all my friends.

I have a thing about when I clean, (which in it's own is bizarre to my friends.) I have to have everything even. Do you know what I mean? It has to be a certain amount away from each other and equal. If I have 2 candles on one end of the table then I have to have 2 on the other side. They have to be same distance from each other too.

This equal thing follows me every where. When I go grocery shopping, I usually buy 2 of everything. 2 of this and 2 of that. I never noticed until a bagger asked me about it. Now that is all I ever think about when I am grocery shopping. It even works for clothes too. 2 shirts, 2 shorts, 2 pants etc.

I have even kept it equal for the kids too. I have what? 2~! I have 2 dogs and 2 cats. Yes I said cats. Don't ask me why because I do not know and it is a whole other story on it's own.

I honestly have no idea why I do this. I don't have OCD or anything like that. It is just something that I do all the time. Either at home or away.

So are you a whack job like me or are you a wanna be normal person?

When a man loves a woman

Since my Grandma has passed, my mother and I have taken turns in calling him. Yes it is checking on him and yes he over 80! So what. lol



Today he called me instead and we talked for a while. He was updating me on how it is going. He has been sorting through all of my Grandma's stuff. It keeps his mind off of things he said. He has come across a few interesting things too.

First of all he found a recruiting pamphlet from World War II that she had saved. He is going to donate it to the museum in DC. I think she wold enjoy that.

He also came across all the frequent flyer miles they had together. He donated some to the American Cancer Society and the other to Habitat. The reason he gave these up? He said he didn't have anyone to go with him any more.

He also told me about the pictures that he had come across from when they were dating and then got married. I have a copy of a few of them too. They looked so happy and so very much in love.

My Grandpa also took her old wedding ring to a jeweler. They sized it bigger so that he could wear it. He said that now they are still married. He started to get choked up and thought to myself, this is the man that always was a rock throughout my life, but he is also human.

This man had taken care of his sick wife through to the end. He lost sleep but what did he say after she passed? She was still beautiful.

This November will be, not would have been, will be their 60th wedding anniversary. Yesterday he told me that he wished she would have made it til then, but her pain was just too much.

Can you imagine a love that lasts that long? I just celebrated my 13th, how could I put up with mine for that long?? Just kidding. I guess this is what those romance novels talk about. Love at first sight and happily ever after. I hope to have half of that in this lifetime.

Grandma Anne

My Grandma had been disgnosed with pancreatic cancer last year. When she first told me, she kept telling me that it was ok and she had lived her life. I felt selfish that I didn't want to let her go. She had promised to see my son graduate from high school.

She went through chemo and was so optimistic about it. Sadly pancreatic cancer has no cure and is extremely painful.

She had been joking around telling me that she wanted a wig for when her hair fell out. She wanted it bright red. So then I promised her that when she needed it, I would cut my hair for her to make a wig. I said this not knowing that it takes up to 5 pony tails or more for a small wig.

I did keep my promise to her. I went and had 10 inches cut off of my hair and donated it to a charity that makes wigs for children with diseases that cause their hair to fall out. My Grandma loved children very much. I thought this way she could help through me in a way.

She lost her battle on September 9th, 2007. I think it is ironic that it was on Grandparents day. She was to celebrate her 60th wedding anniversary with my Grandpa in November.

Anne was a true lady. She was a Mother, a Grandmother and a Great Grandmother.

The best memories I have of her are from my childhood. I remember staying the night at Grandma's and Grandpa's. My cousin and I would be playing Barbies on the floor while they watched Lawrence Welk on TV.

I remember staying the night at Grandma's and Grandpa's. My cousin and I would share the twin beds in the front bedroom. Each time you moved, you could hear the plastic crinkle.

I remember watching Grandma doing those exercises with the ropes. I got scared at first until she told me what they were for. If I remember correctly, they didn't last long.

I remember sitting with her in her sewing room while we went through her buttons. To me they were just buttons made out of plastic or metal. To her they were memories of people, places and events from her life. I wish I would have known then so I could have listened more.

I remember the first time that Grandma met my husband. Once she found out that he had been an alter boy it was over. She loved him after that. I kept trying to figure out what was wrong with him since everyone liked him.

I remember the day I got married to my husband. It was a little tiny wedding chapel. Grandpa walked me down the aisle and Grandma in her green dress.

I remember the roast beef dinners with the specials carrots she would make. After everyone finished eating, Grandma and Grandpa had to argue about how the dishwasher was loaded. I find myself doing that same argument with my husband.

I remember the look on her face as she held my children for the first time. We sat in the her kitchen and I swear that my son smiled at her. Maybe it was because she called him her Valentine.

I remember how happy she was when she found out that my daughter was coming. She gave me the book about why girls are special. I have it in my daughters room and will read it to her when she is old enough to understand.
I remember how we both had to look out the window at each others houses before we could go to sleep. She told me that even after we moved she still did it. I had to admit that I did to. I think I always will and think of her. I miss the gate in the fence that you could pass through to each others yard. I loved living next door to them.

I remember the last time I saw her. We had finished packing the cars for our move to Florida. She had come over that morning to say good bye to all of us. She stood in the driveway while we drove off. That was one of the hardest things I have ever done.

I remember a lot of things about her. The most important thing I remember is that I love her and I will always miss her.

I will always miss you Grandma. Please watch my kids as they get older and nudge them in the right direction. I love you!

How I became a Dreadnaught

Two years ago this December I found the Judith Mcnaught Discussion board. The reason? I had tried one of her books that my Grandma had given me a few years before. I had nothing else to read and by the the flap on the dust jacket I didn't really want to try it. I read it any way and fell in love with her writing.

Next thing I know, I am searching the web for more of her books. I found her personal web site and the rest is history. I know that a few of the ladies on the board found her the same way.

These ladies of from every state in the US and a few countries too. Each has her own personality and yet we all get along most of the time. We all have had a few differences but it always works it self in the end.

We get together a few times a year and have fun together discussing Judith's books or other authors that we just have to share. The last party we had was at the Dallas RWA. It was a incredible experience and I was overwhelmed by how easy it was to talk to them even though we had never met face to face. I hated to see the trip end.

The funny part is that before finding her board, I had stuck with my so called "safe" authors. I don't know about you but I like to stick with what I know and HATE change. After becoming friends with some of the ladies, I found myself trying new authors and actually enjoying them ALOT. Now I am trying new ones and telling the other ladies about them all the time. Some have been good and some not so good. The funny thing is that the authors I had stuck with for so long, I don't really read that much any more. How is that for weird?
Because of this board, I have found a great friend. Her name is Kelli and she is the biggest Princess Diva you could ever meet. I guess we compliment each other because looking at us and our personalities, you would think we would be such good friends. Our children and husbands even get along together.

I even found some great Yahoo friends. We don't chat as much any more but I know that if I need them, all I would have to do is ask. They know that they can do as well. So I guess what I am trying to say is that change can actually be good in a way. Sometimes you have to leave that comfort zone and just let go. Who knows, you might some great friends like I did.

http://www.judithmcnaught.com

So check it out and make some friends like I did. You wont regret it.

No HOT Water!

You wanted to know why I almost got electrocuted. This is the story as boring at it is. This is what I have to do to keep the excitement in my life so I keep waking up in the morning.

BTW, Tuesday sucked a*s. Not just sucked but sucked a*s. You wanna know why?? I will tell you why. I woke up at the crack of dawn that morning and the previous day. We are talking 5 freakin AM here. I finished my book that morning. When I was done I thought, "Hey, a shower would be good." HAHAHA I went and turned the water on and you know what happened? COLD WATER! NO HOT WATER! Why??? Because of the thunderstorms. It tripped the breaker without me knowing. So I am running back and forth between the garage and my bathroom. I check all the breakers and run back into the house to see if it fixed it. Did it? Hell no. To top it off, the breaker in the bathroom wouldn't work after that too. I finally called my husband and asked what happened and why there was no hot water. He asked about the water in my sons bathroom. No it isn't on, already checked that. Checked all the breakers and looked at the water heater. You can't do much in a freakin robe, that much I learned.

He comes home and checks all the breakers just like I did. He looks at the water heater and lifts the panel (which I didn't know it could do that either). Bastard! He presses a button a tada! A**hole! He goes to leave thinking he is all that until I tell him that the breaker in our bathroom doesn't work. Heeee heeee. Now what!? He fixes that too, the jerk. I spent over an hour trying to figure out how to do it myself.

I don't think there was any danger of electrocution but with my luck, you never know. If there is something to trip on, bump into or just hurt yourself on, I will find it.

Getting to know you.....

This is my very first Blog and hopefully I can remember to do this every day. I am not sure if my life is exciting enough but we shall try.

I am a Domestic Diva with two kids at home. The oldest is in his thirties. I think all the wives out there know exactly what I am talking about too. It hard to decide which is worse.

One is in school thank goodness so I only have the small one to deal with. He has ADHD and needs a little more attention. This year is the first year that he is comfortable at school. His grades are up and his teacher is great.

My youngest is the mini diva. Now that she is four, she doesn't think that she needs to take naps anymore. She doesn't realize that that is the time I get to read about those sexy alpha males. The really good ones are with fangs.

I have been addicted to books since I can remember. When I was in Jr High, I remember playing sick just so I could stay home and read. How boring is that?? No I didn't stay home sick for a boyfriend but a book. Now that I think about it, I guess I was a nerd.

I am not sure if I want to use this blog about being a stay at home mom. This is not very glamorous and most of the time I am cleaning someone or something. I want to talk about books too so I guess we will just see how it all goes.

See ya tomorrow. Well, unless the kids tie me up and tie my hands behind my back. No, it hasn't happened before and I don't know where you got that idea either. Sheeesh. lol