I've Missed You

I've been away for far too long, but I'm back now! And I have some exciting news...

I'm publishing my new book and I can't wait to share it with you! I plan to post the first few chapters in December, and I'll announce when it is available to purchase on Amazon.com.

The cover is in the final revision stage, but I want to share something, so here is the background photo for the cover:

It doesn't look exactly like this, as we've stylized it quite a bit, but I think you get the idea. Stay tuned for more book news -

My Kind of Knight

Ryan Kwanten who plays Jason Stackhouse on True Blood seems like a lot of fun, doesn't he? He looks like he would be a blast to hang out with and have a few beers. I'm not so fond of the whole shift-into-a-jaguar storyline he's in on the show right now, but mostly because he's hardly said anything. The most endearing part of Jason is his one-liners that show how self-aware he truly is. Without his shirt on. Mmmm.

So even though he's wearing a shirt (and a suit of armor), I had to check out the trailer for his new movie, Knights of Badassdom. Let me just say, it does not disappoint.



Love the idea, love the humor, love the title, love it all!  And Steve Zahn cracks me up - I've loved him since That Thing You Do! and Happy, Texas. The best I could find for a release date is late 2011. I think this is one I'll have to head to the theater to see.

RIP Amy Winehouse

I remember the first time I heard "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse on BBC Radio1. The retro sound and unique voice got my attention. I searched and searched for the song and the album, but no luck. This was before Amy's music came to the US, and I hated that I had to wait for months to buy it. Any time that "Rehab" played on Radio1, I smiled and turned it up as loud as I could. Once it hit the iTunes store, I bought the album and loved it. Loved it.

While "Rehab" made me notice her, her single "Back to Black" made me a fan.

Her whole album made me feel like a woman again at at time when I was surrounded by preschool songs and cartoons. The G-rated life I led with two toddlers was draining me, and Amy made me remember that I could still like things that were R-rated, that I could listen to songs with bad words (as long as the kids were asleep or I wore headphones). I made it through many a laundry pile, listening while folding, swaying while ironing. I even caught myself trying her signature thick black eyeliner for a party. A little over-the-top for my usual style, I didn't care. It made me feel good, feel young, feel sexy.

I may have to break out the black eyeliner again.

Rest in peace...

#Fail or #NoFail

 

I had big goals for the week. I was going to get to 40,000 words on my WIP. I was going to blog. I was going to tweet. I was going to do it all. 

But my weeks never quite go according to plan. 

So I only hit 16,000 words. And I didn't blog. And I barely tweeted. #Fail? Maybe not.

I did spend a lot of time with my kids. I saw them play with friends and have fun. I watched them read in the late afternoon under our oak tree. I laughed as they told jokes that didn't make any sense. And I smiled when I checked on them at night, their soft breath whistling in their quiet rooms.

Today I remembered to cherish these times with them. Today I was thankful for my interruptions, my distractions and the calls of, "Mom! Can you..." Because today I read an article that reminded me of a news story that gave me nightmares two years ago, a story about a horrific car crash broke three families to pieces. I actually cried that day when I read that all three little girls in one family had been killed, along with their cousin, aunt, and three other people. 

I don't wish to bring up the accident to relive the tragedy; I want to remember to love every moment I have with my kids. We all forget how fragile our lives can be, and we take for granted the fact that everyone will still be there when we wake each morning. 

The mother of those three girls is now pregnant, hoping to start again with her husband by her side. Once again, I cried a little when I read of her struggle these past two years and tried to imagine what our house would be like without my son and daughter.

I never want to know what that would be like. 

But I rejoice with this husband and wife as they take a brave step to finding a way to live, to keep going. Because that's what it's all about. We each have to find a way to make it through our lives the best we can, loving and being loved, holding and being held. 

I'm going to sit with my kids and watch Spongebob now. And I will find the time to write and blog and tweet when they are asleep.

I hope you have a great evening, too.

Crushed Candy

New lipgloss alert! 

I saw this gem in the grocery store and had to take a closer look. 

When I read the back, I was sold!

For me? :) Why thank you!

It tastes just like crushed peppermints, and it is cute and shiny. Love. Hugs. Happy Lips. Happy Saturday.

Not Sleeping

It's hell getting old. My mind thinks I'm still 22. My body, not so much.

But even though it's hell, there's something that's worse. My dog is getting old.

Flickr photo by Pirate Scott

This is not what my pup looked like 12 years ago, but he was just as cute.

Now he's getting old, and neither of us are sleeping well. He forgets where he is and where I am, so he howls this lonely call in the middle of the night. It breaks my heart. I try to sleep through it, but I can't. So I go to him.

Then he'll sleep for a few hours, and so will I. And even though I'm right there next to him, he'll still wake and howl to me, looking for comfort.

I used to be able to call to him to say that I'm right here, it's OK.

But now he's deaf, too. And my call fades away, worthless and empty.

So I get out of bed, and I walk to him, rub his head, calm him as best I can. And once he remembers that I'm here, that he's home, he goes back to sleep.

In two hours, we do the dance again. And it's exhausting both of us.

So we'll get old together, at least for a little while, until we reach the day that we won't. And then I'll be the one howling.

Wondering

I know it's Monday. I know it's the 4th of July. But I'm wondering why I'm so excited today.

I'm not a big picnic person. I hate mosquitoes. I don't even really like fireworks that much.

Don't get me wrong - I oooohh and aaaaahhh as much as the next person. But I don't have the deep need to be there, in person, to see it happen. I'm fine watching from a distance, in my yard, glass of wine in hand.

Flickr photo by cory.cousins

But I'm ready to go, wearing my red, white and blue. I even put on a layer of bug repellant that smells surprisingly nice. And I have my last bit of my favorite lip gloss ready to go - Red Velvet Cake. It's so hard to find, but I'm going to have to get another tube. I've squeezed this one to the last drop.

Stay safe - enjoy the fireworks - Happy 4th!

Seriously

Sunrise through the clouds, a photo by Betchaboy on Flickr.

Wow - that last post was very sad. I was in a very bad place a year ago. But I'm in a much better place now.

See? :)

I didn't actually take this photo, but it matches where I am right now. So thanks for waiting for me to come back.

I think I'll stick around this time.