Hello there...

The long Easter Holiday went by much too fast. But I see most of my friends, unlike myself, did not abandon the blogosphere and stuck to the A-Z blogfest! I haven't been around as much lately due to family obligations and one last edit on my manuscript before sending it out into the world, so I apologize if I haven't been by your blog lately. It's not personal. My stalking will pick back up very soon.

In the meantime, let us bow our heads in respect for those lost over the weekend.

Reflections and Resolutions...

For the New Year, as prompted by the peeps of Walmart:

Dress for success.

Try new hairstyles.

Be more positive. 

Respect those in authority.

Spend more time with family and friends.

Keep the spirit of Christmas all year long. 

I think these are resolutions I can live with.

If you feel the need to cleanse your palette (or scrub your brain) after all these Walmart pictures, I recommend my friend Mark.

Happy New Year!

What I did on My Chistmas Vacation

Ate and Read.  That's pretty much it.  You don't want to hear about shopping nightmares, a frenzied Christmas morning, washing stacks of dishes every few hours, or the fact that toward the end my cleaning consisted of scooting toys into a big pile in the corner with my foot.

I ate and read.  I also took a day to write but it wasn't easy after finishing this trilogy.

I can't tell you about it.  I wouldn't be able to do it justice.  Just read it and know that for a few days afterward everything you write will sound like sh** in comparison.  Get over it.  You don't want to be the next Suzanne Collins.  You want to be the next you. 

So, what did you do on your Christmas Vacation?  Anything exciting?  Tell me so I can live vicariously through your adventures.

The Dark Side of Christmas

...or cherished holiday memories.

Pictures with Santa...or Uncle Jerry recovering from a rough Saturday night at the local bar? Are those prison tats on his hands?

Everyone passing out after an awesome holiday dinner or...just dodging a plea to help with the dishes?

Wrestling with a beloved sibling or...a carefully disguised murder attempt over the unauthorized use of your presents?

Normal fear over the power of Santa...or pure terror because your brothers told you he would eat you if you were naughty? 

Fun holiday family photo...or cult induction ceremony?  Perms are mandatory.

Perspective is everything.

Merry Christmas!!!

Thank You, and You, and You

Thanksgiving is about giving thanks for our blessings...even though as a child I thought it had something to do with celebrating turkeys.  Whatever you believe, it's a recognized holiday and I don't have to work. 

So I am spending this week with my family and stuffing myself until I can barely walk, then waiting a few hours before doing it all over again.  Why exactly do most of our holidays involve eating?

I'll be back next week or sooner if I just can't stand to be unplugged for that long but before I go I just want to say...thank you. 

To every friend I've made online, to each person who comments and to those who just lurk, to all the aspiring writers who struggle with me every day, and to those who've made it but haven't forgotten a second of what it was like. Thank you.  For all your support, for every single time you make me laugh, and even for those times you make me cry. 

Thank you.

And remember:

This is how pumpkin pies are really made.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Scare Me

Looking for a little extra scare tonight?  Try these old movies out.  In my opinion they are still the best.  Even if you're too busy to watch, having them play in the background is mandatory if you want to freak out trick or treaters.  And who doesn't?

Although I'm not really sure what is scarier, that white mask or Jamie Lee Curtis' hair.  You be the judge.

Nothing can touch the level of creepiness that is Christopher Walken.

But if you're just hanging with the family, these are great pics for teenagers:

Pretend you don't still think Jason Patric is smokin' hot.  And no one can rock a mullet like Keifer.

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.

And these for under 8 and over 80.  It's all these same when you're in that zone.

 This movie is to Halloween like It's a Wonderful Life is to Christmas.  Watch it!

Funny, freaky, and kid friendly.  I liked it wayyyy more than I wanted to admit as a mature adult.  But who am I kidding?  I still watch SpongeBob even when no kids are in the room.

Have a Scaretastic Halloween!!!

Labor Day

This was supposed to post yesterday but something happened to the scheduling.  I blame Blogger.

The US Department of Labor explains this holiday as 'the first Monday in September, a creation of the labor movement and dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.'

It was actually created by workers within the labor unions who protested substandard working conditions and 12 hour workdays.

San Francisco

New York

And not by Oscar Meyer in an effort to sell more hotdogs.

 

I'm Back

Hello there.  I am back from vacation...sort of.  Relatives visited us from out of state and we had a great time.  We spent a day at the beach:

Almost had heat stroke shopping at the quaint little village nearby:

And realized at some point if we did a little creative matchmaking with our blended families some of the kids could actually say their grandfather was also their uncle.  This was a lot funnier after a few bottles of wine.

Why does everyone expect after a few days off you will come back rested and relaxed?  I feel more like this:

And my brain feels like a pencil with the lead end snapped off.

So...what did I miss?  Anything exciting happen while I was away?  It's going to take me a while but I plan on reading all of your blog posts while I was out!

PS: Thank you to the family.  BEST TIME EVER.

Vacation

I'll be back next week!!

Finally Friday and Memorial Monday

Maybe it's just me but this week has been abnormally long.  Waiting for a three day weekend may have played a part, but an earlier work schedule didn't help either.  None of that matters now because it's FRIDAY!!!

And this is going to be my theme song all weekend:



I wish.  Not combing my hair is a serious possibility though. 

I'm actually going to be writing every spare moment on my b-nip (best selling novel in progress), spending time with the family, and maybe if I'm feeling especially ambitious...paint my bathroom.  Oh yeah.  I feel your envy. 

This weekend is also about remembering those loved and lost who fought in defense of our freedom.  Brothers and sisters, moms and dads, who won't be at the barbecue this year because they gave their life so we could live a better one. 

We will remember.

The Easter Fallen

Let us remember those less fortunate than us who did not make it through this Easter Holiday.

Hope you had an egg-cellent Easter.

Is It Over Yet?

Sorry I've been gone so long...but I'm still recuperating from the holidays.  What?  It's not over yet?  Say it ain't so.  I think I'll spend New Years watching TV and eating popcorn. 

Hope everyone had a great Christmas!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Monday Must: Buy Special Gifts

The season of giving is upon us and I have not even started to shop yet. But it’s ok, I have a detailed list. Now I just have to actually go and purchase these items since I have waited much too late to have them shipped.

I plan to sacrifice an entire day to my list and do one marathon shopping trip. My peeps aren’t hard to buy for. Video games, NFL paraphernalia, and anything made by Little Tykes should cover it. What for me, you ask??? They all know the B&N gift card is what makes me the happiest. Of course it has taken many years of strange and sometimes scary gifts to make them understand and remember.

And in the spirit of giving and trying to find that one special gift…I give you a list of items that you probably won’t be able to pick up at your local Wal-Mart…nor want to.

A selection of Vin Diesel brand shampoo products.
A gift certificate for Hannibal Lechter's new BBQ restaurant.
Xbox 359
Fairly Serious Putty
Lil' Electrical Outlet Licker
New treasure hunt toy: You get to comb out the beard of the Men's Wearhouse Guy. I guarantee it!
The Duncan YO: It never comes back up. It teaches kids how to live with disappointment.



Happy Monday!  Like that'll ever happen.

Turkey Thoughts

Pre-Dinner:

Sweats and bunny slippers should be considered appropriate attire for dinner.

Holidays force you to eat with people you can’t stand and have nothing in common with.

Why the hell is the grocery store so busy? Did everyone else forget dinner rolls too?


During Dinner:

OMG, my husband is an awesome cook. If more men cooked, there would be fewer divorces. I am sure of this.

I laugh politely at horrible jokes as I pass the gravy. If these were characters in my story, I would have killed them by the second chapter.

A stray happy thought crosses my mind: I do not share a gene pool with most of them.


Post Dinner:

There is such a thing as Eater’s Remorse.

I love holidays, and I really love these people…we should get together more often.

 
Hope you had a great holiday!!!
 

Happy 4th of July!!!

Leave A Message

Easter Aftermath

Everyone loves Easter but no one wants to think about the victims of this holiday.

We must all face what this celebration does to others.

I hope you had an egg-cellent Easter.