Archive for August, 2007
I went to last night’s signing in Naperville, IL. If you recall, the prospect of this went a considerable distance towards reconciling me to having to move to an area FAR outside my income level (not that I can afford to live in actual Naperville, but even my new home of Aurora costs twice as much as Syracuse).
The signing occurred in Anderson’s, a family-owned independent bookstore with knowledgeable staff. When I bought AatHm last Tuesday, I received a line ticket, so the signing could proceed in an orderly fashion - I was #5. I arrived early, because a) I wasn’t doing anything useful at work and b) I was excited and wanted to make sure that I didn’t mess up and go to a wrong door or anything. They assured me that the center of the store would be cleared out and chairs set up, as well as the table for Jenny and Bob and Cerise.
So, I went to the chocolate lounge in the next block and got an iced moccachino, a cinnamon truffle and a chocapolitan chocolate. I didn’t realize it, but I somehow got moccachino down the front of my cherrybomb tank! I buttoned up the shirt I was wearing over it, but, re-arriving at the bookstore, realized it could be turned around to show the cherrybomb logo on the back, while the overshirt covered the moccachino. Phew. The tag might or might not have been showing.
Bob wandered in, and some people noticed him, but everyone gave him his space. Jenny came in and started hugging people and chatting - she said Bob was looking for a dark spot (not an easy task in that well-lit location). Women had started gathering on the 40 or so chairs, with their books to be signed. I asked about Lost Girls, which they DID allow people to buy (so I got one). The associate who got it for me was a Jenny fan (and had seen her at the store before), who, by the time Jenny arrived, was wearing an Agnes apron and carrying a frying pan!
So, Bob and Jenny talked about Agnes and the collaboration and then took some questions. Some was stuff that those of us who read the blogs know all about (like, how did your collaboration get started, so they told an abbreviated version of the Maui story), and I asked about Maria’s father.
Enough taunting!
Jenny, who was in fine snarky form, said that she had written the short story, but that people who had read it (including Krissie/ Anne Stewart, and if you’ve read her recent stuff, that SAYS something) said it was too violent. So, she’s going to look it over again and a re-written version will show up in the newsletter as a link. When the newsletter comes out. Someday.
Sorry, KL, but i really wanted someone to send me the link. Which reminds me, I’d better bookmark it.
When I went up with my books, Jenny said that I had seemed to know all about stuff, so I said, yes, I was a CherryBomb, and she wrote something about that when she signed it, so that was cool. I was very early getting my book signed, and keeping on hanging out afterwards while others did made me feel like a groupie, so after collecting a postcard from Cathie Linz regarding her forthcoming signing, I left. I hope nothing too fabulous happened after that, because I missed it.
I’m sure you’ll all have an even more terrific time when there’s a whole whack of you there in Dayton. Try not to scare Bob too much!
August 28th, 2007
My name is WapakGram and I am a “hurrier.” I am never early. I am rarely late. But to get anywhere on time is a real challenge for me. There is always something that “comes up.” The last 2 weeks have been ridiculously non-stop. Sound familiar everyone?
I was born a month early, and of course, I blame my mother because I have been hunting that month forever. That time of rest and floating in a warm universe.
You know what is coming next. Yes, I married a man that MUST be 1/2 early or he is late. We have been playing this game for almost 30 years. I make him tell me EXACTLY the moment that he has to leave the house. He cannot tell me to hurry up OR make me leave any earlier. I am usually running down the stairs yelling at him to grab my purse or cell phone and “I’m ready.”
Why oh why can’t I ever schedule enough time to get somewhere calmly? I was typing a press release 10 minutes before a meeting tonight and ran down the hall to the meeting as the door was closing. On time, but barely.
I get things done, people can count on me. But I drive everyone around me nuts. My mother kept to a rigid schedule all of her life. Dishes done before leaving the house, ALWAYS. Bed always made, dust mop run, then off to work. I envied her her ability to not let the world intrude.
But I told my sister that once. (She is just like my mom, we call her “Martha” for you know who.) She, too, doesn’t allow anything to mess with her schedule. She said she envied me the way I could go with the flow. I told her that it was an iceberg and the Titanic was sinking fast.
But I have been like that all of my life. Maybe it is all the shiny stuff out there that distracts me. Maybe it is ADD and I have a HUGE case of it. Maybe there is just too much life to be lived. Maybe I am a control freak and just do it myself. Maybe there are things to be done, and I know I can help do them.
I have always been a night owl - It’s 10:45pm and I have a second wind and am finishing up all the stuff I was assigned when I went to the meeting I was almost late for. I tell myself again and again that I have to get my @#$@ together. But at the ripe old age of 51, I’ve decided I was just born that way, and I just deal with it.
But you can be assured of one thing. NEXT week, I will be early and on time, and mellowed out. The CB’s are coming to town. With shovels. With the Cherry and GAM.
It’s been a tough time for a number of my fellow CB’s. So here is the question- what is your favorite thing about yourself? What do people admire about you? This is like “I AM a Great Writer” that Jenny made us do.
Oh, and here is the latest pictures of MAX! Brian, please do your magic.
~ magic done. go forth and say “aww!” - bjw
August 22nd, 2007
It’s been a long couple of weeks for me and I’ve done pretty much nothing but read, read, and read. I’ve read a lot of books in the last two weeks and I’m going to share them with you.
Lets start with the obvious - LOST GIRLS - by Robert Doherty (aka Bob Mayer) - By far, this is the best book I’ve read all summer. I have nothing negative to say about it. It totally blew me away. I have read almost all of his books. I’m not kidding. The first book of Bob’s I ever read I think was Dragon Sim 13. I was pregnant and on bed rest and a freind brought me the book. I loved it. I have the entire Area 51 Series and the Atlantis Series, along with all the Dave Riley books (Drangon Sim) except for one. I can tell you that CUT-OUT is an excellent read too. Another one of my favorite books is PSYCHIC WARRIOR. Excellent read.
*******Adding One!************
Okay, since I bought AGNES AND THE HITMAN by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer yesterday, and read it in one sitting I can now feel wonderful about recommending this book to the world. It’s very fun read. The characters are excellent. The story line is interesting, and some the the twists and turns, kind of shocking. It truly is disfucntion at it’s best. Loved it.
*******Adding One!***********
Another book I read this summer that I absolutely loved is KILLER WEEKEND by Ridley Pearson. Excellent book. A must read.
STEALING THE DRAGON - by Tim Maleeny. I mentioned this before, but since I blogged on my own blog today about Tim, I’m mentioning it again. Go to www.jen-t.blogspot.com to see my interview with Tim. What a great writer. Here is his website if you want more information. www.timmaleeny.com
ISABELLA MOON - by Laura Benedict. Now this book won’t be available until September 25th, but since I got an ARC I read it and I can tell you that it is wonderful. Really, when it comes out, buy it. You won’t be disappointed. This is also my friend with the great (but a bit scary) book trailer. www.laurabenedict.com
THE BOOK OF FATE - by Brad Meltzer. This is not for the weak at heart. I loved this book, but I will it’s not for everyone. It’s a bit, well, let’s just say if you think I’m out there…
For my birthday a friend graced me with the entire series of DUNE by Frank Herbert. I read the first one. DUNE. I loved it. I plan on reading the rest of them soon.
DOUBLE TAKE - by Catherine Coulter.
I’LL BE WATCHING YOU - by Andera Kane.
EVERY MOVE SHE MAKES - by Robin Burcell
Okay, those are the fiction books I’ve read lately. I’ve also been reading non-fiction. Just for fun I’ll give you the titles, but something tells me I’m the only one interested in these books.
MURDER MOST RARE - the Female Serial killer - by - Michael D. Kelleher and CL Kelleher
THE SEARCH FOR THE “MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE” By - John Marks
CONSPIRACIES AND SECRET SOCIETIES by Brad and Sherry Steiger.
THE 2548 BEST THINGS ANYBODY EVER SAID by - Robert Bryne
The last one I have not finished yet. It’s really freaking thick, but really freaking funny. I’ll leave you with a few quotes from it for fun.
“The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it’s limits.” Unknown
“Sex is the most fun you can have without smiling.” Unknown
“Why do writers write? Because it isn’t there.” Thomas Berger
“Writing is easy. All you do is stare at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.” Gene Fowler
“You’re life story would not make a good book. Don’t even try.” Fran Lebowitz
“I never trust a man unless I’ve got his pecker in my pocket.” Lyndon Baines Johnson
“I’m at a phone booth at teh corner of Walk and Don’t Walk.” Unknown
August 19th, 2007
Okay, for starters, I’m an historian. That means I live in the past, so 24 hours late is actually on time for me. That said….
I went to Sturgis, South Dakota last week. This is a sweet little town in the Black Hills that is sleepy and slumbering about 50 weeks out of the year. The other two weeks it is the hub of The Black Hills Rally which bikers just call Stugis.
I went glamping (glamor camping) with my sister (Hi Moe) and her family. There is something to be said for the glamping, hot showers and air conditioning being on the top of the list. I also enjoyed having my own room, even if the evil sister in law was banished to the garage, it was a nice garage. But it misses something that tent camping has since you’re not sitting around outside and getting to know your neighbors. Oh well.
We camped in Keystone, which is the front door of Mount Rushmore. It was the perfect place, close enough to everything we could go and play, far enough away it was very quiet at night. Had a creek flowing behind the camp site and presidential faces looking down on us. The boardwalk, which is where things were happening in Keystone was about a block away, as was the Alpine Slide, which we of course had to go down.
The bikes were great. Deadwood was so crowded we didn’t get a chance to play non-biker tourist but I do believe I’ll go back later and enjoy. Custer was a fun little town with a senior center that made amazing buffalo sloppy Joe’s. Custer State Park was beautiful. The Needles Highway is a breathtaking experience. Crazy Horse Memorial was humbling. But Mount Rushmore…
We went and did the Mount Rushmore evening show. Apparently they have a few shows that they rotate through, which is good for everyone. And I truly wish all the politicians would quit their squabbling long enough to go and see this. After the main show they invited vets, active military, and families who had folks serving overseas or who had lost folks in military service to come down to the stage. Everyone stood and sang The Star Spangled Banner, and then they did they retired the colors for the evening.
Picture it, after dark, a crowded stage at the bottom of amphitheater seating, the only lights in the area are on the stage and the presidents faces looking down on them. The rain is starting to gently fall. Most of the people that stepped forward to do the flag ceremony were bikers. The national anthem is sung and the colors are retired by large men in leather with two young boys “helping” and hanging on every action and every word. The guy who was calling was miced, so it was this almost surreal set of actions taking place. And I’m standing at the top of the amphitheater, in the light rain, and I realize some of those raindrops are warmer than others. Tears are silently streaming down my cheeks. It was amazing, humbling, heart warming, touching, tender, and so many other things I don’t have the words for.
So, after that ramble… When have you found yourself unexpectedly touched by something: a bright shaft of joy, sadness, humbleness, love, anything that
you weren’t expecting?
August 16th, 2007
This is not the post I had originally intended, but ever since last week’s repeat visits to the jukebox it has been on my mind.
Way back when we were still in the basement we sat around on the sofa one day (this was before the infamous dip incident) debating why exactly we all kept coming back. Then someone, I do not recall who (or whom, as the case may be), said that they always felt welcomed there, that someone always noticed if they had been away for awhile and it really made them feel good. I think there was a general agreement to this as well as comments on how we all felt better after visiting for a bit, a little more rested, a little stronger, in a better frame of mind … as if we had just spent time with the cast from Cheers. And thus was our motto born. No, the other one.
Everyone knows the theme song to Cheers, right? Or at least we all think we do. Here for your enjoyment, ponderment, bemusement, and edification I present you with the lyrics to “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” in its entirety, because apparently it was a song before it was a theme. These are the real honest-to-Bob lyrics, and it turns out that the whole song is an even better fit for us. Huh, who knew?
Where Everybody Knows Your Name
Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you’ve got
Taking a break from all your worries
Sure would help a lot
Wouldn’t you like to get away …
All those nights when you’ve got no lights
The check is in the mail
And your little angel
Hung the cat up by its tail
And your third fiancée didn’t show
Sometimes you want to go …
Where everybody knows your name
And they’re always glad you came
You want to be where you can see
Our troubles are all the same
You want to be where everybody knows your name
Roll out of bed, Mr. Coffee’s dead
The morning’s looking bright
And your shrink ran off to Europe
And didn’t even write
And your husband wants to be a girl
Be glad there’s one place in the world …
Where everybody knows your name
And they’re always glad you came
You want to go where people know
People are all the same
You want to go where everybody knows your name
Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo
August 13th, 2007
Finally - the picture of me and Vince Flynn!
While the man is the sweetest guy in the world for saying I look like Cheryl Crow, I so do not. But you know what, I’ll take it. It’s better than being told you look like Jo on the facts of life. Or worse, when you are like 18 and the world tells you that you like like Jennifer Heart from Heart to Heart (Stephanie Powers) and she is like way older than you. Yeah, I like Vince Flynn’s take on my looks better.
I’ve read a lot of Vince’s books and he’s damn good.
Speaking of damn good - LOST GIRLS is flipping excellent. I kid you not. I read it one sitting and I could not put it down. I sort of wrote a review of it, no spoilers, so go to my blog and read it. Mr. Mayer out did himself this time!
August 11th, 2007
I was sitting around the other day with a good friend eating Endangered Species Chocolate. It’s supposed to be fair-trade, organic and donates 10% of profits to support habitats. I prefer Wolf - dark chocolate with cranberries and almonds. It’s the kind of chocolate that you let melt in your mouth. Not only because it’s so darn expensive but because it has a taste to savor. It’s chocolate with a conscience. I was enjoying it with the friend with whom I have some of the deepest conversations. Kate never fails to help me see things from an interesting perspective.
Ever since they were in Canada, Cathy and I have been having an ongoing discussion about the differences in our two nations. That led to a question on her blog about what we want our epitaphs to read. Both Mom and Kate wanted theirs to read, “She made a difference in the world.”
We try to support companies who embrace that philosophy(hence the choice in chocolate) but honestly if the product isn’t good, we’ll find another philanthropic organization. It’s important to balance quality with endurance and practicality. It’s a bit naive of me to assume big business is overly worried about its epitaph. Maybe it is. I’m not trying to start a political/economic debate.
I’m thinking more on a global scale about how as individuals we do affect one another. We play a part in our jobs that, while they can be filled by others, bring an energy only we have. The group dynamic would continue without us but in a different vein. It may be subtle but our influence can be felt in every area of our life.
Kate’s point in the discussion was the need to focus more on our personal relationships rather than our work. It’s only at home, with friends and family, that we are truly irreplaceable. I’ve certainly seen enough people come and go at work where the turnover seems to happen every three months(I’m an old-timer at six years) We adapt quickly to the new person’s methods and style.
Born a military brat, I moved constantly - nine schools in twelve years. I changed friends a lot. But I remember a fair chunk of them. One even found me recently, thanks to the Internet. We touched each other’s lives in ways that were unforgettable. No one’s ever asked me to go back to a job after twelve years. The company has moved on without me, as I have. It’s the way of things. I miss the people, stay in touch with individuals. Because it’s the personal connection that makes life enjoyable.
Kate’s discussions have a way of sticking with me, rolling around in my brain until it all clicks. This one didn’t take as long as some others (some day I’ll tell you about the time she suggested I change the genders of my main characters, six months later I was ready to discuss it)
Every morning, I wake up and sing the morning prayer from Goodbye Mr. Chips. I’ve been doing it off and on since I was a kid and Mom would play the record (large, black discs for OH’s benefit) while we cleaned the house.
In the morning of my life/I shall look to the sunrise/at the moment in my life when the world is new/and the blessing I will ask is that God will grant me/is to be brave and strong and true/and to fill the world with love/my whole life through
To fill the world with love my whole life through resonates with me. It’s why I keep my friends regardless of dissension, it’s why I bring strays home, why I surround my optimism with bright shiny things. A little love, and some good chocolate, can make a difference in the world.
How do you make a difference(this blog counts, ask Scope)
August 8th, 2007
Many conversations were flowing that Saturday at the all-afternoon CB lunch. I heard McB say “We’re the Delta readers.”
I looked at her like she’d sprouted 2 heads (me nice? I don’t think so!), and said something like “I know there are Beta readers. What about the Gamma readers? Gamma comes before Delta, and Delta means change, or maybe you all are reading the third revision.” You know, Original as alpha, then revisions beta, gamma, and delta.
She looked back with a little bit of a crossed-fingered look to ward off what she knew was going to be some math evil something. “You know, like in Delta Force.”
“Aha!” I said with an understanding look on my face, barely understanding. See, Delta (the triangle version of the Greek version of the letter D) is used a lot in math, particularly calculus as a symbol for change. But I’m wandering.where you don’t want to go…
So, CHANGE. We’ve been reading that Jenny has BIG CHANGES in her life, most of them her own choice.
But what about us? Our LITTLE changes?
I’ve just come back from paying big bucks to get the lenses in 2 sets of glasses replaced with a new prescription. Of course they wanted me to pick out new frames (More $ for them). I LOVE my everyday frames. They’re not particularly up-to-date, but they’re light, they cover most of my sight, and they’re not too noticeable. When I bought the frames 3 lens changes ago, I spent BIG BUCKS because I loved the function they provide for me. They’ll last through at least 2 more sets of lenses. Change my lenses, but DON’T MESS WITH MY FRAMES.
About 35 or so years ago I saw the dishes I wanted. I loved them. I love them. We scrimped for a summer to save $70 for them. They’re perfect. Later my SIL wanted the same; so we picked out a set for her, one dish at a time. Eventually she got tired of them and gave them to me. So I have a service for 16, minus some breakage. They were hand done by little old ladies at Iron Mountain Stoneware in Mountain Bloomery, Tennessee. They can’t be replaced. DH got tired of them about 5 years ago and persuaded me to have a set of 4 from Mexico. $400. They’re kinda pretty. Can’t be microwaved because of metal in the colors, slightly too big to close the cabinet door where they’re stored. Did I say I LOVE MY STONEWARE?
Then, about a year and a half ago I got into a change that I hadn’t anticipated. I sneered at people participating in blogs. What were they doing? Oh, well, live and let live, but not for me. Anyway, I was interested in what some of my favorite authors were up to, only to discover that Jennifer Cruise was coauthoring a new novel. Weird! Anyway, I started participating in their blog occasionally. One thing led to another, and, TA DA, I have a slew of real, virtual friends, most of whom I don’t know their names or faces. What a lovely surprise.
Remember I’ve got a sofa coming? I’ve never had one like it. Love at first sight. Change.
With these examples I may appear stodgy and not liking change. I’m really an Agent of Change. Change for the betterment, not change for change’s sake. I scare the bejeebers out of my family when I change my mind (because I have more information). No one else is an Agent of Change. It takes all kinds.
How about you? Are you an Agent? Do you hate change? Do you have a change story? Or a story that keeps change from happening?
August 5th, 2007
Some of you know that my black lab, Quincy the Wonder Dog, had surgery on his knee
earlier this summer. He had a torn something-or-other muscle which they replaced with some super-strength artificial stuff. Highly technical. Here’s a picture of him, taken last night. Isn’t he handsome? And aren’t I talented, figuring out how to follow directions for uploading pictures? [ahem] Helps if you actually read said directions.
But like any surgery, there is a recovery period. A time during which the dog may be a bit lethargic or out of sorts and perhaps lose his appetite. So they told us. QtWD’s recovery period lasted as long as it took for the anesthesia to wear off. He was up and jumping around the very next morning, overjoyed to be sporting a row of stitches as long as my forearm. The vet said he’d never seen anything quite like it.
There have been follow-up visits. QtWD dragged me along to the first one. He let me drive, but other than that, he was pretty much in control. I decided any subsequent visits were a job for DD19 and her father, who is The Dog’s Favorite Person. Not that I minded being dragged across the parking lot to that over-used patch of grass. Or being pulled out of my chair every time another critter entered the waiting room. Or returning home covered in dog hair and slobber. Nope, didn’t mind a bit. Not at all. I just figured QtWD would be happier if TDFP were in charge.
We’ve learned stretching exercises to regain range of motion. Only to discover that QtWD happens to think his range of motion is just fine, thank you. So we’ve learned to be Firm and Insistent.
Then we learned strengthening exercises which were, of course, Entirely Reasonable. Too bad QtWD didn’t agree. One involved laying a ladder down flat on the ground and having QtWD walk the length of it, so he’d be forced to pick up his leg and place it down between rungs. Uh huh. Or to quote DD, after listening to the vet explain it, “He’s kidding, right?”
But she was determined to try. The first attempt, QtWD charged through some adjacent bushes instead. The second attempt, he just sat there and very patiently refused to budge. Short of pulling the poor dear’s head off, there isn’t much a 120-pound girl can do to make an 85-pound black lab move if he doesn’t want to move. Once I stopped laughing, I decided any attempt on my part would be equally futile.
Other remedies were similarly discarded. The only remaining alternative was swimming. QtWD loves to swim. Unfortunately, so do other small animals. Since enrolling him in water aerobics class at the local YMCA was perhaps unrealistic, the trick was to find a lake where ducks and small children were not present. QtWD once chased a family of ducks and got so excited he accidentally stepped on one of the babies. It died. To my knowledge, he has never stepped on a small child, but most mothers emit panicked shrieks at the sight of a large black dog barreling toward their progeny with intent to slobber. We try to avoid them. Mothers, that is.
The closest lake that fits the description is 20 minutes north of here. But we can only go there during the week, as it’s a favorite weekend hangout for families with small children and baby ducks. And let’s not even talk about the geese.
So it has been a struggle. We’re getting used to those big brown eyes filled with tolerant confusion, gazing at us as if to say, “I hope you realize I will always love and protect you, no matter how long you continue this nonsense.” Unless someone offers him a Kleenex, then all bets are off.
Slowly but surely, Quincy the Wonder Dog is getting stronger. But so are we.
And I’m taking notes about how to successfully avoid PT after knee surgery — because my turn is coming.
August 2nd, 2007
while i was reading about BCB’s mountain of things to do, my mom handed me a piece of paper that I decided you could all laugh about it (or go “i knew it!”) while we wait for BCB to post. so here it is (hope it makes you smile during your day):
In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.
Then using God’s great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream and Krispy Kreme Donuts. And Satan said, “You want chocolate with that?”
And Man said “Yes!” and Woman said “and as long as you’re at it, add some sprinkles.” And they gained 10 pounds. And Satan smiled.
And God created the healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair. And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat, and sugar from the cane, and combined them. And Woman went from size 6 to size 14.
So God said, “Try my fresh green salad.” And Satan presented Thousand-Island Dressing, buttery croutons and garlic toast on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.
God then said, “I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them.” And Satan brought forth deep fried fish and chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof.
God then created a light, fluffy white cake, named it “Angel Food Cake” and said, “It is good.” Satan then created chocolate cake and named it “Devil’s Food.”
God then brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds. And Satan gave cable TV with a remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light and gained pounds.
Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fried them. And Man gained pounds.
God then gave lean beef so that Man could consme fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite. And Satan created McDonald’s and its 99-cent double cheeseburger. Then said, “You wnat fries with that?” And Man replied, “Yes! And super size them!” And Satan said, “It is good.” And Man went into cardiac arrest.
God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery.
Then Satan created HMOs.
August 1st, 2007
