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Monday, August 31, 2009

The First Day...

of school.
The morning went great. Everyone was up on time and smiling. B stayed home and made breakfast. We walked to school with K2 and K4. K3 refused our offer to stand at the bus stop with him. I don't know why. I guess 7th grade makes him too cool. ha!
Then...
Then I was relatively alone. (K1 was sleeping) With peace and quiet. And, oh goodness, I didn't know what to do with myself for a few minutes. And then I did. I edited and watched Firefly and basked in the glory of quiet and uninterrupted writing time.
The dog whined and checked the doors constantly when she wasn't pestering me with inquisitive barks and moans. The phone rang a few times and forgetting myself, I answered.
*sigh*
Then...
K1 got up and K2 came home. (K2 will be starting her internship tomorrow. Her last class ends before noon.) So, I took a break to listen to her day, check email, and eat lunch before she left to run errands and I returned my concentration to the pages. I got through more than I thought I would.
Then...
I went to meet K4 at school and found her crying because some mean boy made a rude comment about her hair.
*sigh*
And...
The neighbor has a kiddie pool at the side of their house near ours and it's full of green water. And mosquitoes. Said blood-sucking beasts attack as soon as you set foot on the back porch and I've already killed three in the house.
*sigh*
That is all for today.
Behave!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

The End of Summer

Well, technically it's not the end, but it is the end of summer vacation for the kids.
Does anyone know what happened to the time?
School starts tomorrow.
I'm bittersweet.
I think we'll have one more Summer Survival post before the journal gets retired until next summer. Though...you never know about that.
Behave!

Friday, August 28, 2009

Feel Good Friday

It's been a long not-so-fantastic week. I'm not sure how many feel-goods I can actually come up with.
But here goes:
1. Sleeping in this morning. Fantastic.
2. The fact that it's no long 812* outside with 1012% humidity.
3. Getting a handle of the fleas both animals hosted before they took over.
4. Upcoming camping trips.
5. School starting. Bittersweet to be sure.
6. Finding band aids in the reduced bin after I cut myself on a knife in same reduced bin.
7. The moon last night. It was really cool.
8. Watching movies with my kids. (Mall Cop was okay. 17 Again was okay, too. Cute.)
9. Less than 2 weeks until new Supernatural.
10. Making writing decisions that I've put off for longer than I should have.
That's all for now.
Behave!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Welcome to My World...

....This song.

In my car.

While I'm driving.

And the kids are dancing.

Repeatedly.

Behave!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Answer!

Here we go with the answer!

1. A slice of wedding cake - slightly melted due to the intense heat. But, oh so yummy. Nope. The wedding cake was very good though.

2. A shot of my plate after piling it with reception food - mashed potatoes, lobster mac 'n cheese, prime rib, seafood queso, strawberry salad. Yum. Nope. No mashed potatoes either, everything else was there, plus some stuff I forgot.

3. Shrimp 'n grits. Served in a martini glass. Not bad. Yep. The shrimp was in some kind of brown gravy and the grits were really creamy. I liked it, but I don't think anyone else at our table did. Very rich though - I couldn't have eaten more than I did.

I'll do better next week!
Behave!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

My Cat...

Will not stay off the table these days. I can totally see him doing this...Behave!

Tall Tale Tuesday

Another post-Georgia edition of Tall Tale Tuesday.

What is this?

1. A slice of wedding cake - slightly melted due to the intense heat. But, oh so yummy.

2. A shot of my plate after piling it with reception food - mashed potatoes, lobster mac 'n cheese, prime rib, seafood queso, strawberry salad. Yum.

3. Shrimp 'n grits. Served in a martini glass. Not bad.

What do you think?
Behave!

Monday, August 24, 2009

One More...

...Did I say 16 days? That's September 10th!!
Behave!

16 Days...

Until new Supernatural!!
Try this on for size:...I am sorely behind on my summer Supernatural watching! Not only did I loan seasons 1 and 2 to my niece so she could get caught up, I haven't had time to even catch Thursday night reruns. That has to change!
Behave!

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Saturday

Man. I am beat.
But we had a really fun day at B's company picnic. Lots of good food. Lots of laughing. Lots of fun stuff to do.
First on our agenda was a trail ride. It was K4's first time on a horse that wasn't led by someone else. She did fantastically and absolutely loved it. I had the same horse I had last year - he's a little ornery and kept trying to leave the trail. I like him, but I'm a little saddle sore now.
After that, we hiked up this gigantic hill to the pavilion to eat. Awards were given out. B got the "Pot of Coffee" award because he's the first one there every day.
Then, we moved on to balloon shaving. K4 had that one in the bag even though she was competing with guys who regularly shave their heads. I declined to participate in the egg toss. K2 had enough yolk on her for all of us. Gross. B's team got demolished in the tug-o-war, and I was regretting not bringing my suit when I took K4 to the pool. The kids had a blast. Well, all but K1 who ended up with a stomach bug that had him up all night.
B's company is filled with a lot of great people and it was fun to hang out with everyone away from the office. We'd planned on camping, but with the transmission issues the 'burban's having, decided the mountainous journey was probably not a good idea. After stopping by a co-workers campsite, we decided we'll definitely camp next year. Their view was incredible and the sites are so quiet.
Now, tomorrow we get to do the whole picnic thing over again with the Boy Scouts. Potato salad, anyone?
Behave!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Feel Good Friday

Here we go!
1. Sleeping in. Boy, did I need that!
2. Air conditioning. I just wish I had it throughout my house!
3. Getting stuff done. When I woke up I had over 40 emails in my box - 23 new, 17 that I needed to address. I'm down to 3 now.
4. Hearing my kids laugh.
5. Freeze tag.
6. Coffee with Vanilla Latte creamer.
7. Thunderstorms.
8. Weekend plans.
9. Finding my organization. It's still relatively elusive, but it's coming.
10. Fall coming. Though I don't know what happened to summer and I wish I could have it back. I love fall though.
That's all for now!
Behave!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

My House Lately...

Without the rabbit... />Behave!

Thursday Random

Here's a random list from my week:
1. We've had some weird storms around here lately. Yeah, I know that's summer. Could you please turn the thermostat down a little? Oh, and turn a fan on so the humidity isn't so high? I feel like I'm swimming when I go outside!
2. Traffic has pretty much sucked everywhere lately. What is up with that?
3. Chocolate chip cookies with fudge on top are so fantastic, they should be illegal!
4. People should not sit in broken chairs. I'm just sayin'.
5. Never open a bag of cheese puffys in this humidity. Just don't. You'll have stale, mushy puffys in .00001 second.
6. Somethings aren't meant to make sense. Ever.
7. One day I'm going to concur my apostrophes.
That is all for now.
Tomorrow I sleep in!
Who knows what will happen after I'm properly rested! Ha!
Behave!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Answer!

Okay, here we go with the answer!

1. A picture of my sister's windshield while we were taking her car through the automated car wash. It was the first time either of us have ever been through an automated car wash. Yes!! Believe it or not. Neither one of us had ever been through one and it was pretty nerdy cool!!

2. The foam on a glass of beer during silly time at my cousin's wedding. Nope, though it is possible I took pictures of such things at the reception!

3. The suds the kids put on the kitchen window after playing in the slippy slide. They use a little dish soap for better slide and it collects at the end of the plastic, giving them something more to play with. Also quite possible. Just not this time!!

Behave!!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Tall Tale Tuesday


Ready?
What is this?
1. A picture of my sister's windshield while we were taking her car through the automated car wash. It was the first time either of us have ever been through an automated car wash.
2. The foam on a glass of beer during silly time at my cousin's wedding.
3. The suds the kids put on the kitchen window after playing in the slippy slide. They use a little dish soap for better slide and it collects at the end of the plastic, giving them something more to play with.
So what do you think?
Behave!

Friday, August 14, 2009

Booksigning!! Don't Forget!!

TOMORROW!!!!
Waldenbooks Lebanon Valley Mall
20% of the proceeds to benefit the Lebanon Library.
SATURDAY AUGUST 15TH MULTI AUTHOR BOOKSIGNING
10-11 a.m. discussion panel on how to become an author with a publishing contract with Megan Hart, Savannah Russe, Jeri Smith-Ready, Mindy Klasky and Maria V. Snyder

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Author Signings
Angela Ginnetto Romance
Vicky Burkholder Romance
Arthur Ford Fiction
Victoria Smith Romance
T.K. Marion Civil War
Natalie Damschroder Erotic Romance
Brian Keene Horror
Savannah Russe paranormal Romance
Byron N. Morrison Fantasy
Sandy Asher Children 11-2 only
Charlene Haines young adult
Kelly Ann Butterbaugh children’s history
Doris Washington poetry
Robert Vogel Fiction
Dr. Dewey Shaak Memoir
Richard Curtin Military fiction
Dr. Laszlo Geder Memoir
Mindy Klasky Fiction
Frank Bittinger Horror
J.F. Gonzalez Horror
Maria V. Snyder Fantasy
Misty Simon Romance
Joan Landis Self Help
Megan Hart Erotic Romance til 12
Lucy Finn Romance
Andy Pete Fantasy
David Boyle Horror
Jeri Smith-Ready Fantasy
Diane Troup Autobiography
List subject to change without notice
Raffles to be held throughout the day for items donated by various merchants in the mall.
Other items to be raffled are:
Gift basket from Megan Hart
U.K. signed versions of Maria V. Snyder’s Study series

Hope to see you there!!
Behave!!

Summer Survival Journal: Entry Eight

The days stretch into an endless haze of heat and insanity.
My mind has definitely been affected more than I originally feared. The brief trip to other camps has left the natives even needier, though they survived my absence and even thrived. Now the countdown to the learning has begun. The natives look upon this with both dread and excitement. I look upon it the same way. Before they can begin their days of education, they must be properly outfitted with clothing and shoes and supplies. They are excited about this. I cringe at the outlay of shells and fluffy bits, but alas, there is no choice in the matter.
The food supplies situation has become critical. The items disappear at an alarming rate, despite numerous detection systems. This leaves me to believe the culprit is someone who either has access to our camp or someone who calls this camp home. I realize I should have recognized this possibility at the beginning, but since the natives are constantly vocalizing their hunger it did not occur to me that they are bottomless pits of aggressive hunger.
The calendar continues to remain full of various activities that require me to exercise my organizational skills. I yearn for vacation - for long days spent on the beach doing nothing but relaxing and laughing. Sadness fills me at the lack of prospects for this year since our wagon is in dire need of important mechanical work. Alas...
I am surviving. The natives now smile when they see me and the fear I held for my life has faded.
I think all will be well...
Behave!

Feel Good Friday

Here we go with Feel Good Friday for this week:
1. Surviving the week!
2. Sleeping in this morning.
3. Trudging through today's "to do" list.
4. Upcoming events.
5. Good grocery coupons. (lame, I know)
6. Surviving the heat in Georgia.
7. Having stamps when I need them.
8. Air conditioning.
Can't think of anything else.
This week has been a total blur!
Behave!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Anticipation!!!

28 Days!!!
I think I might die before then!!
Behave!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Tall Tale Tuesday: Fail

.... I did feel like this an awful lot in Georgia though. Guess it's time to start that diet again!
Behave!

Road Trip Recap

Yeah, I failed on the daily Georgia updates. Sorry.
So here's the recap...
Saturday: Mexican food for lunch. Yummy. Brief rest time in the lovely air conditioned hotel room before a pizza dinner with the folks. A walk through a blazing parking lot with a brief stop in a little shed thing that would make a perfect cabin at the creek, or a perfect office. Hanging around the hotel rooms talking and laughing and laughing. Picking up my uncle at a ridiculously late hour and going out for drinks. And getting back to the hotel at a ridiculously late hour.
Sunday: Pre-wedding luncheon. Good food. Good conversation. Back to the hotel to start getting ready for the wedding. Leave earlier than needed to make sure we knew the location of the wedding venue. Find that, then head down the street to a tiny historical town - starving and knowing we had hours before the reception food. Having empanadas at a very cool local Cuban restaurant. Off to the wedding - beautiful outdoor ceremony where we laughed and cried. Very pretty venue. Gorgeous cake. Fantastic food. Lots of laughing and dancing. (My uncle and I did the "walker dance"). Back to the hotel very late.
Monday: Up very early. Finished packing. Grabbed coffee from the hotel's breakfast buffet and checked out. Stopped for gas and hit the road. Return trip time: 12 hours. I drove some again and think I totally freaked my sister out. My foot had gone numb and we were getting off the highway during rush hour when I stalled her car and turned on the windshield wipers. (She says she wasn't stressed, but I could tell she was.) Finally make it home.
...and it's almost as hot here as it was in Georgia.
What is up with that?
I don't know if I'll have time to do a Tall Tale Tuesday post tonight. But I did take lots of potential pictures. We'll see.
Behave!

Saturday, August 08, 2009

In Georgia!

We survived our 14-hour journey and arrived here in Georgia late yesterday afternoon. The trip was mostly uneventful and I even took my turn behind the wheel of my sister's awesomely cool car. Went to dinner at my cousin's and realized that the family she's marrying into is just as nuts as my family. Very cool thing.
One thing I do have to say...
It's freaking hot here!
Really hot!
No kidding.
But, the hotel is new and has free Internet. Whoot!
They have a "Super Target" here with 32 registers.
And in about a half an hour we're heading out to lunch before going back over to my cousin's in-law's house for more fun and frivolity.
So far, so good!
More later!
Behave!

Friday, August 07, 2009

Booksigning!!

Check this out and mark it on your calendar!
(The formatting got a little messed up)

Waldenbooks Lebanon Valley Mall
20% of the proceeds to benefit the Lebanon Library.
SATURDAY AUGUST 15TH MULTI AUTHOR BOOKSIGNING
10-11 a.m. discussion panel on how to become an author with a publishing contract with Megan Hart, Savannah Russe, Jeri Smith-Ready, Mindy Klasky and Maria V. Snyder
11 a.m.-4 p.m. Author Signings
Angela Ginnetto Romance Vicky Burkholder Romance
Arthur Ford Fiction Victoria Smith Romance
T.K. Marion Civil War Natalie Damschroder Erotic Romance
Brian Keene Horror Savannah Russe paranormal Romance
Byron N. Morrison Fantasy Sandy Asher
Children 11-2 only
Charlene Haines young adult Kelly Ann Butterbaugh children’s history
Doris Washington poetry Robert Vogel Fiction
Dr. Dewey Shaak Memoir Richard Curtin Military fiction
Dr. Laszlo Geder Memoir Mindy Klasky Fiction
Frank Bittinger Horror J.F. Gonzalez Horror
Maria V. Snyder Fantasy Misty Simon Romance
Joan Landis Self Help Megan Hart Erotic Romance til 12
Lucy Finn Romance Andy Pete Fantasy
David Boyle Horror Jeri Smith-Ready Fantasy
Diane Troup Autobiography
List subject to change without notice
Raffles to be held throughout the day for items donated by various merchants in the mall.
Other items to be raffled are: Gift basket from Megan Hart
U.K. signed versions of Maria V. Snyder’s Study series

Thursday, August 06, 2009

Georgia On My Mind

So, this time tomorrow we should be close to our destination.
It's almost a 12 hour drive and that's not counting stops for food and bathroom breaks. We're caravaning with my parents and hope to run into our other sister somewhere along the way.
First, I have to get through the rest of the day, finish packing, go to a scout meeting, and try to get some sleep. Should be interesting...
I plan on blogging while there. Our hotel has free Internet, which is awesomely cool, but we'll also be busy socializing and catching up with the family.
My family is well-equipped to take care of themselves in my absence. I will not leave lists, nor make phone calls home for any other reason than to say hello. They will grocery shop, clean, cook, and take care of their own needs. Usually I would at least do the shopping, but I am out of time and after all, they are capable people. And I will miss them. Terribly.
And then next week the insanity starts again. We won't be back until late Monday night since the wedding's on Sunday, and then Tuesday...Ugh. I'm not thinking that far ahead right now.
Right now, I'm going to do my best to keep my excitement at a manageable level.
Your update after the next one will come from Georgia!
Behave!

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Answer!

Ready for the answers?

1. When I was a kid, we drove from Missouri to California to see my grandfather. My parents and five of us kids. In a station wagon. We drove through a tornado (well, kind of), saw the "Giant Ball of Twine", and stopped at Trading Posts for beaded things. My dad hit a pheasant and it began cooking while pressed against the radiator. When we stopped, he tossed it into a dumpster and someone took it out to take home. I do not remember Disney Land at all, though I know we went. False, but there are parts of it that are true. It was Kansas to California in a station wagon. My dad did hit a pheasant, but that was during another trip. The rest of the pheasant story is true. Never saw the "Giant Ball of Twine", but I do remember stopping at Trading Posts.

2. Also, when I was an older kid, we went on a road trip to Graceland. Do you remember where you were and what you were doing when you found out Elvis died? I do. That's besides the point. We were in a pick-up truck - back in the day when you could haul your kids in the back - and my brothers tormented me and my sisters the entire time. I ended up puking my guts out (probably food poisoning) and staying in the truck while everyone else toured Graceland. False. We never went to Graceland. We'll talk about the Elvis dying thing in another post. We did travel in a pick-up truck, and my brothers did torment us. The rest is a lie.

3. On a more recent road trip to Connecticut...a five hour drive ended up being nine, thanks to an accident that we would have been involved in had we not had to make an emergency pit stop for one of the K's. Our camper tire shredded right after we'd made the pit stop, and we spent an unusual hour along the side of the road. Another vehicle lost a tire and it bounced down the highway barely missing my sister's Jeep. We missed the wedding we were going to, and barely made it to the reception. Then, we spent the night in a terrible campground. This is 100% true. Believe it or not.

Behave!

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Tall Tale Tuesday

In honor of the upcoming ROAD TRIP! to see my only cousin on my mom's side get married to a great guy, this Tall Tale Tuesday will be all about ROAD TRIPS.

So, which one of these is the truth:

1. When I was a kid, we drove from Missouri to California to see my grandfather. My parents and five of us kids. In a station wagon. We drove through a tornado (well, kind of), saw the "Giant Ball of Twine", and stopped at Trading Posts for beaded things. My dad hit a pheasant and it began cooking while pressed against the radiator. When we stopped, he tossed it into a dumpster and someone took it out to take home. I do not remember Disney Land at all, though I know we went.

2. Also, when I was an older kid, we went on a road trip to Graceland. Do you remember where you were and what you were doing when you found out Elvis died? I do. That's besides the point. We were in a pick-up truck - back in the day when you could haul your kids in the back - and my brothers tormented me and my sisters the entire time. I ended up puking my guts out (probably food poisoning) and staying in the truck while everyone else toured Graceland.

3. On a more recent road trip to Connecticut...a five hour drive ended up being nine, thanks to an accident that we would have been involved in had we not had to make an emergency pit stop for one of the K's. Our camper tire shredded right after we'd made the pit stop, and we spent an unusual hour along the side of the road. Another vehicle lost a tire and it bounced down the highway barely missing my sister's Jeep. We missed the wedding we were going to, and barely made it to the reception. Then, we spent the night in a terrible campground.

So, which one?
Behave!

Monday, August 03, 2009

Monday Funny

Cute video!... />Behave!

Sunday, August 02, 2009

Summer Survival Journal: Entry Seven

My fears are realized in unexpected ways.
The natives are not building an incendiary unit, or a time travel device, though I do not doubt plans for those items are hidden somewhere in our tent.
They are working on a shrink ray.
I am filled with fear. The youngest native explained the benefits of said shrink ray. Horrifying. These benefits include: playing hide and seek inside the house, sleeping in doll houses, riding around in doll cars, and hiding. Do you sense the hiding theme?
I am not sure how beverage containers fit into this scheme, but the items have not reappeared despite my urgings to return them. Writing instruments have also begun to disappear.
The natives may be very small when I return from my road trip with my sister. Perhaps that will work out though. Doll clothes are much cheaper than school clothes.
Hmmmm......
Behave!

Saturday, August 01, 2009

Road Trip Redux

Jason Manns:



Heeeee!
Behave!

A New Month

Yeah, I'm going to say it...Holy Cow! It's August!!
What the heck?
Why is time going so blazing fast? Am I the only one who thinks this?
Just back from my monthly writing meeting. I love those people! And I really missed the ones who weren't there! There's really nothing else like being in a group of people who "get" you. I know I've said it before, but I'm going to continue to say it. If you're an author without a network, don't stay like that. Join a group, network online, do whatever you can to meet other authors. It's worth it.
What else?
I have finally gathered the required wardrobe items for the sister roadtrip to Georgia. Yay! Thanks to the generosity of Misty and her closet, I will now look presentable for the entire weekend. And without a huge outlay of cash, too. Sweet! That being taken care of helps ease the stress that's been kicking my butt lately. Now I just have to pack everything. I don't know when. Time is a huge issue this coming week. There's stuff every day and evening, and a funeral has just been added to the mix. I'm sure I'll figure it out...because, really, what choice do I have?
Anyway.
I arrived home and found my new business cards in the mail. Sweet. I'm digging them. They're really pretty - dark, but elegant. I'll be taking them along to the multi-author booksigning I'm participating in the weekend after I get back from Georgia. Details on that to follow.
And that's all I've got for you on this first day of August.
Behave!