The Top Five Inventions of My Time - How About Yours?

The other day my daughter was having a Skype date with her boyfriend. The fact that she was in Australia and he was over ten thousand miles away on the other side of the world in The Netherlands, didn’t matter a whit, thanks to the wonders of modern technology ie. the Internet.
This was a far cry from the long distance dating her father and I did just thirty years ago when I donated my blood in Athens in order to be able to afford a phone call home. Oh, and I had to book that phone call 24 hours in advance!
I suppose there are people who can live without the Net—remote tribes of New Guinea, Carmelite nuns, members of the Flat Earth Society—but I’m not one of them.
Is there anything the internet can’t do? It can find you answers to all sorts of questions, keep you in touch with far-flung friends, book hotel rooms, even find you a husband. And to think, the US government wanted to keep this wonderful invention all to itself. Had it not been for its eventual application as the www we’d still be trekking to the library to research, relying on the vagaries of the postal service to keep in contact with friends, paying a fortune for travel deals etc.
That got me thinking about inventions and what I consider to be the top 5 Can’t-live-without-them inventions of the modern age.
My mother used to maintain the bobby pin was a remarkable invention. Probably. If you had enough hair to need one—or happened to like picking locks. But I need to point out that Mom was born in an age where television, walking on the moon, machines to wash dishes and clothes and even dry them, hadn’t been invented.
The Top Five Inventions that made a huge impact on my life are: Television, Immunization, Dishwashers, The Pill and the Internet.
A quick straw poll of those nearest and dearest turned up answers relative to the age of the respondent.
While our grandmothers and great-grandmothers would probably rate the invention of the radio, electricity, the old-age pension, hip and knee replacements as their Top Five, my husband’s mother maintains: Penicillin, hand held battery-driven vacuum cleaners, The Pill, electric typewriters made a huge impact on her life.
His father rates:- Television, the improved efficiency and safety of cars,antibiotics, anaesthesia, laparscopic surgery. (Can you tell he’s a surgeon?) J
My 21 yo son says:- The computer game Modern Warfare 2, stick deodorant, Toyota Landcruisers, fixed gear bikes and Atomic weapons. (what can I say, he’s a boy!) He was surprised to be told that fixed gear bikes were all we had to ride in the “olden days”!
My 24 year old skyping daughter’s are:- cell-phones, computers, iPods, skype, and MAC makeup…
My 27 yo daughter said:- ipods, laptops, wireless internet, cell phones and GHD(hair straightener). LOL!
I wonder what will our children’s children think are the greatest inventions of their era? Intergalactic travel? The cure for cancer? I can’t even begin to fathom the possibilities. Can you?
Which inventions would make your list? In-vitro fertilization? Satellite navigation? Automatic car windows? Richard Gere? Aerobics? Moosetracks icecream, credit cards, atms, something else?
I’d love to hear your Top Five. And maybe some suggestions for what kids born in the future will think are their Top Five.
I’m giving away a copy of my June release, THE SHERIFF AND THE BABY to the most interesting answer.
CC!

Missing the Olympics...

I am suffering major Olympics withdrawal right now. I had so much fun watching all the events. I found some new ones to root for with Nordic combined and ski cross. And if I loved Apolo any more, he’d need to take out a restraining order on me. The hockey games were amazing. I’m so proud that the MVP is a Michigan kid. Actually I’m so proud of all the athletes, no matter their country. They all played with so much heart. They work so hard and sacrifice so much to get to this level of competition that I can’t help but root for them all!

If like me, you’re suffering Olympics withdrawal, please remember to pick up my April book, HIS BABY SURPRISE. (I had to post that yummy cover again!) The hero, Brooks Hoover, is a hockey bad boy who’ll hopefully steal your heart like he stole mine and the heroine’s.

So who is your favorite athlete from the games? Or what was your favorite event?

EMAIL HUMOR...and THOUGHTS

All of us get those email jokes and inspiring stories that circulate. Some I read, others I delete, depending on how much time I have. I received this one the other day. The title caught my attention and then after I read it, it made me think.

Here’s the email:
What is celibacy?
It can be a choice in life, or a condition imposed by circumstances.
While attending a marriage counseling weekend, Walter and his wife Ann, listened to the instructor as he explained, “It is essential that husbands and wives know the things that are important to each other.”
He then addressed the men, “Can you name your wife’s favorite flower?”
Walter leaned over, touched Ann’s arm gently, and whispered, “Gold Medal All-Purpose, right?”
And thus began Walter’s life of celibacy…

Okay, the celibacy part didn’t make me think. After I smiled, I wondered after many years of marriage, did my husband know my favorite flower? Did I know my favorite flower? Through the years my tastes have changed. When I was younger I loved roses, still do. Don’t we all? My favorite was yellow roses. When I got married, my mom and I argued about the flowers. I wanted the bridesmaids to carry a long stem yellow rose. She wanted them to carry a bouquet of mixed spring flowers. They carried the rose (and that battle wasn’t easy to win since she was paying for the flowers).

After I read the email I sat wondering what is my favorite flower today? I like roses, irises, tulips, Gerber daises, lilies, just about anything. You give me flowers and I’ll love them. I’m not picky anymore. I decided not to test the hubby since I couldn’t quite decide on a favorite flower.

A few days later was our anniversary and, Bless his heart, I kid you not he came home with yellow roses.

I was so excited I said, “You remembered.”

He smiled and replied, “Sure I remembered. It’s our anniversary.”

I took a whiff of the flowers. “I meant about the yellow roses.”

He got that deer in the headlights look. “Uh…well…” I could see he didn’t remember so he did some fast thinking and went with the truth. “I went in for red roses but the lady said she was low and could do a mixture. I told her no I’d try somewhere else. She said her supplier sent her too many yellow roses and she’d let me have a dozen on sale. I told her she had a deal.”

Gotta love a man who gets it right—by accident—and on sale.

I guess when it comes down to it, I still love yellow roses. And the husband.

What’s your favorite flower? Or are you like me—just happy to get flowers.

Linda
http://www.lindawarren.net/
Skylar’s Outlaw – Jan ‘10

Yummy Kentucky March Recipes

In Texas, March has come in like a lamb, with mild temperatures and sunny days - so far. I'm looking forward to springtime when there are no more freezing nights, snow or ice storms. Of course, the winter storms here in the Dallas area aren't nearly as bad as the ones I grew up with in Louisville, Kentucky. The wind whipping down from the upper midwest, through the Ohio River Valley, could freeze your mittens in no time flat!



I'd like to share two wonderful Kentucky recipes with you, both made with buttermilk. The first is from a cookbook my sister sent me in 1974 when I lived in Denver. My husband had mentioned his grandmother making buttermilk pies when he was a boy, and I found this recipe in my Out of Kentucky Kitchens cookbook by Marion Flexner, Bramhall House. Here's a photo from last Thanksgiving, along with my daughter's pecan pie.

Buttermilk Pie

Make (or buy) a pie crust and place in a 9 inch pie pan. Prick the surface to keep from blistering and bake for 10 minutes at 450 degrees. It should be done but not brown.

Filling

3 eggs 3/4 t. vanilla

3/4 C. sugar 3 T. lemon juice

3 T. flour Grated rind of 1 lemon

3 T. melted butter (or substitute 1/2 t. dried lemon peel)

(no substitutes) Cinnamon to dust top

1 1/2 C. buttermilk

Beat the eggs with the sugar. When light and lemon-colored, add the flour. Beat again, then pour this mixture into the buttermilk. Add vanilla, lemon juice, grated rind and butter. Pour the filling into the baked pie crust and dust the surface with cinnamon. Return to the oven at 375 degrees and bake until filling just sets. (Usually this is about 20 -25 minutes, but check by inserting a toothpick in the center; it should come out clean if the filling is set.) Do not cook too long because this is a custard and can get too tough. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving.



This pie is also excellent cold the next morning for breakfast with a hot cup of coffee or tea!


The second recipe is one I made for my daughter's birthday a few weeks ago. This is from allrecipes.com. I baked this cake in a bundt cake pan and it turned out great.

Kentucky Butter Cake

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour (or spray) a 10 inch bundt cake pan.

3 C. unbleached all purpose flour 2 t. vanilla extract
2 C. sugar 4 eggs
1 t. salt 1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda 1 C. buttermilk
1 C. (2 sticks) butter

In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Mix in buttermilk, butter, vanilla and eggs. Beat 3 minutes at medium speed. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake 60 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Prick holes in the still warm cake. Pour the sauce (recipe follows) over the cake and let it cool before removing it from the pan.

Butter Sauce

3/4 C. sugar 1/3 C. butter
2 t. vanilla 3 T. water

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until fully melted and combined, but DO NOT BOIL.

Getting Ready

Just yesterday I made plane reservations for our son Arthur to come home in May. It’s hard to believe, but he’s just about made it through his freshman year in college.
Hmm…let’s be honest here. I’ve just about made it through his freshman year! It’s been a strange adjustment for my husband Tom and me.

Tom has had a tough time adjusting to a ‘girl’ house. He’s now outnumbered, and Lesley and I have used that to our advantage. We’re uninterested in both Sunday football and the History channel. We don’t want big breakfasts every day of the week. And we can have whole conversations about the new cute clothes we saw at the mall.
Tom’s anxiously awaiting Arthur’s return to dinner conversation. Very much so.

My daughter has gotten used to things, too. She’s taken over the basement-my son’s former lair. Now instead of the sounds of boys playing video games, I hear the unmistakable high-pitched laughter only five sixteen year-old girls can make. I predict a territorial war will break out within days of his arrival.

I would have never have guessed it, but I, too, have gotten used to him being gone. No longer am I buying frozen pizzas, canned chili, Cheese-its and real ‘Coke’. Lean Cuisines and Diet Cokes have taken their place. I like that everyone is usually asleep by eleven o’clock at night-and awake by eleven in the morning. I’ve even gotten used to doing less laundry-which, by the way, I cried about last August.
Now I’m wondering how our life is going to change when our extremely sociable, restless, late night-boy returns.

All I’m sure about is that things will change. As they’ve changed already.

•I now care less about his grades and more about his health. Every time he calls, I say silly mom things like, “How are you feeling? Are you eating?”

•I prefer hearing about his fraternity antics after the fact. Way after the fact.

•Things just aren’t the same…even when he is home. He’s more grown up. More patient with me. Now, when I tell him stories about the dog or my writing, he actually pretends to listen. On Valentine’s Day, he called me twice…just because he knew I was home alone. These things are new. Really.

So, during these last two months before we’re a family of four once again, I guess I’ll treasure the changes that have been made and will look forward to things getting shaken up again.

Anyone have words of wisdom or a story to share…either about when your child left and came back…or you did? I’d love to know that I’m in good company.

~ Shelley Galloway

FEBRUARY WINNER!!

CONGRATULATIONS Lois! You’re the February winner. To receive your free autographed books please contact Rebecca Winters, Cathy McDavid, Ann DeFee and Michele Dunaway through their Web sites.

To enter the contest simply leave a blog comment and your name will go into the drawing. Easy and painless. And FREE BOOKS.

So check back often and be sure to leave a comment. Good luck!

Mr. Tough Guy

Sometimes, as parents, we wonder if we’ve done our job well enough – or too well.

As an empty nester, I suppose I should stop thinking about parenthood. However, I write a lot about parents: would-be parents, adoptive parents, unexpectedly pregnant parents, surrogate parents (as in my upcoming August release, His Hired Baby), and so on. So the topic feels very immediate.

Right now, I’m working on the fourth book in my Safe Harbor Medical miniseries from Harlequin American, tentatively titled Officer Daddy. This one incorporates a surprise pregnancy, so the whole parenting issue remains in the future, but it’s definitely on my heroine’s mind. Plus, she and the hero – who’s still in the dark about his impending fatherhood – volunteer to counsel teen parents.

Also, being an empty nester may mean the kids are out of my sight, but they’re hardly out of my mind, especially when the one in college. There are, for instance, those urgent NM phone calls and emails. NM, as you probably figured out, stands for Need Money.

Lately, we’ve received numerous nerve-wracking NM calls for $100 hospital emergency room copays. It seems our younger son’s shoulder, dislocated in too many tumbles off the skateboard, developed a will of its own. It’s been popping out even when the guy’s only lying in bed, perhaps dreaming about skateboarding.

Next week, my 20-year-old baby of the family is scheduled for outpatient shoulder surgery. And – here’s the did-we-do-something-wrong-or-right part – he doesn’t want his parents to come. Neither of us.

This tough guy is certain his friends and roommate can help him get home and that he can handle everything else by himself. That includes, two days later, getting on a plane and flying here for spring break.

I’m glad he’s independent. I respect his self-sufficiency and the fact that he’s charting a responsible course toward the future, doing well in his classes and planning to become a high school science teacher. I remind myself that not wanting us there doesn’t mean we’re lousy parents, only that we can be annoyingly fussy sometimes.

In fact, if he hadn’t received the love and emotional support he needed as a child, he’d probably be clinging to us a lot harder. Hmm. Makes me wonder if I should have hugged him less.

But that wasn’t really a choice, now, was it?

A REMINDER - REBECCA LYNN

Rebecca Lynn, as our January winner we have free autographed books waiting for you. Please contact Laura Bradford and Roxann Delaney through their Web sites.

Thank you.

Wow!

I just got news that I have to share: An Unexpected Father, my April release, was chosen as one of Romantic Times Book Reviews ‘Top Picks’. They gave it four and a half stars, too! I am stunned and honored.

For me, writing a book and sending it out for publication feels a little like sending my children off to school. How are they going to do? Will the other kids like them? Will they behave? Will anyone understand the effort I put in to raising them right? I know that you have to just send it off and hope for the best, but it’s difficult mothering such an unruly child. When a review and kudos like this come along, they bring grateful tears to my eyes.

When I was a teenager, my dad came home one night from work and hugged me. Just out of the blue. Now, my dad’s not really a demonstrative guy. I’d never had any doubt that he loved me, but hugs were for special occasions: birthdays, injuries, good report cards. If you’d been away on a trip—not just a weekend sleepover—yeah, a hug was due. He was glad to see me and I was glad to see him. But his return home from just another day at the office was not a ‘huggable’ event. A kiss from my mom was enough of a greeting for him.

On this particular evening, as far as I knew, I hadn’t done anything spectacular. I was a teenager; no one expected spectacular from me. Getting through those teen years was sometimes all anyone hoped for really, me included. Mostly, I think I was a relatively easy kid to raise—especially after my older brother. My parents didn’t pull their hair out too much over my moodiness, I paid attention in school, I was popular enough. You know, normal. So, I had no idea why my dad hugged me. When I asked, I was embarrassed by his answer. In a good way, though.

I had just spent the weekend with a close friend and gone out on a hike with her family. I didn’t know it, but my dad, a forester, was managing a timber sale with my friend’s father. At work that day, this father asked my dad if I was his daughter. After my dad admitted it was so, the guy shook my dad’s hand and congratulated him on having a good kid. He was impressed because I had picked up some trash on our hike and carried it back out of the woods.

This wasn’t a special thing to me; it was the way I had been raised. But it sure was to my dad. He got to find out—from a complete stranger—that all the hard work of being a parent had paid off. I feel that way about my book. The characters I loved writing went out into the world and did something good. It’s a small thing, like picking up a piece of trash, but they made me proud.

Of course, after I read the review, I hugged them, too.

Spring is a tease

Last weekend was a wonderful reprieve from our long, cold winter. It was in the mid 60s, sunny, birds were singing, and I don't think anyone was left in their houses. People around the neighborhood were jogging, walking, working in their yards, filling the bays at the car wash, etc. Finally, here was that hint of spring we'd all been waiting for. Sunday, it was 65. Monday, 45. By mid-week, we were struggling to get above freezing, snow showers filled the air, and the nights were dipping into the teens. Ugh.

Anyone who knows me knows that winter is, by far, my least favorite season. I get cold easily, I hate gray days, and I've had some bad experiences traveling in wintry weather (like doing unintentional 360s down the highway until I ended up in a ditch). Even a normal winter here in the South has me layering up in fleece and watching for the earliest sign of spring -- my daffodils popping out of the ground. Of course, lately my daffodils, which popped up a few weeks ago, have been shivering. It's been a cold, gray winter with more snowfalls than we typically have. I nearly had a stroke when I saw my last natural gas bill.

But this year, I don't think I'm the only one experiencing winter fatigue. People on the East Coast of the U.S. have been buried by one giant snowstorm after another. Residents of Texas and the Deep South even got a taste of winter -- a foot of snow in Dallas and snowfalls in atypical states such as Louisiana and Mississippi.

At times like this, I try to look for consolations and things to look forward to in order to get through the winter blues. For instance, I tell myself that it can snow and be cold now because I have to be inside reading RITA entries anyway. Maybe by the time I turn them in, the weather will have improved enough that I can start walking outside again instead of on the treadmill.

I think about where I'll be in less than a month -- Disney World! I LOVE Disney World, and it'll be a nice treat in between two deadlines and a board meeting. And at the end of next month, I'll get to enjoy a visit with my sister and nieces when they fly in for a week. Yes, my entire March is full to the brim, but there's a lot to enjoy in there. And hopefully, it won't be cold and there won't be a snowflake in sight and the daffodils will be in full bloom.

So, how has winter been where you are? Are you looking forward to spring? What do you do to get yourself through winter? Or are you a winter lover? And for our friends in the southern hemisphere, what is the weather like where you are now? It's odd for me to think that Christmas and Valentine's Day fall during your summer.

Tipsy Robins

I had planned to regale you with stories about our drunken robins today. This winter’s record lows froze the berries on our palm trees. When that happened, the palm berries fermented on the vine or, in this case, on the frond. Those same record lows sent huge flocks of robins into our heavily wooded, Central Florida back yard, and kept them there longer than usual. The birds gorged on the berries. Result—a goodly number of tipsy robins. So, we were going to talk about my drunken birds who, when they do manage to get off the ground, can’t fly straight. But…

I set off the house alarm at five a.m. this morning. So, instead of tipsy robins, I have some heavy duty apologies to make.

Especially to Dear Hubby. Last night was one of “those nights” when insomnia got the best of him. He was finally drifting off to sleep when the claxon sounded loud enough to give us both heart attacks.

I am sooo sorry about that.

I’m sorry, too, that, even though I punched the code and hit the cancel button, the monitoring company called…an hour later.

And I’m very sorry that by then I was on the treadmill and didn’t hear the phone ring. I’m sure that nice young police officer was just doing his job when he banged on our door. And no, it wasn’t my idea to invite him on a tour of the house. He just wanted to make sure no one was holding a gun to anyone’s head.

As long as I’m apologizing, I’m sorry that thieves broke into our car just before Christmas and that the house behind ours was robbed. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have had the security system installed in the first place.

Most of all, I’m sorry that, despite living in a normally quiet neighborhood in a very small and very quiet town, we also live in a world where security systems are necessary.

I promise not to set ours off at five a.m. anymore. All that racket disturbs the robins. And if there’s one thing worse than a drunken robin, it’s a tipsy robin with a hangover.

Fitness 101

posted by Lee McKenzie

I hate exercising. I really do. As a kid, I was actively involved in all kinds of physical activity—swimming, cycling, skiing, skating, field hockey, track and field. As an adult, I pretty much turned into a sloth. I became busy with family and work commitments, and I stopped making time to exercise.

Oh, I would go through periods when I had good intentions, sometimes I even went so far as to sign up for an exercise class. Tried aerobics. Hated it. Tried aquacise. Hated it. Also not a big fan of public swimming pools, but that’s a separate issue. Took out a gym membership. Hated it.

Two years ago, I had surgery for melanoma followed up with a grueling year-long course of immunotherapy. There were days when I felt not bad and other days when I felt like staying in bed. One of the profound effects was a total loss of stamina. I couldn’t walk more than a couple of blocks without being spaghetti-legged and completely out of breath.

The recovery period has been long and gradual, and in the last couple of months I have finally started to see noticeable improvement. Over the Christmas holidays, my husband and I spent a week in San Francisco and we did a lot of walking. In spite of its hills, San Francisco is a very walkable city, and I realized I could actually walk up one of those hills without requiring emergency resuscitation!

When we arrived home after New Years, I decided I really needed to get moving again. It wasn’t so much a resolution as a realization that at this stage of my life, fitness is important. That realization took me back to the dilemma of finding some form exercise I would enjoy and not quit after two sessions.

So I signed up to walk in a 10K race.

Yes, that’s 10 kilometers or 6.2 miles.

I also signed up for a training clinic and for the first time in...well, pretty much forever...I’ve found something I really, truly enjoy. The group is made up of runners, run/walkers, and walkers. The instructors and group leaders are wonderfully supportive and motivating, but best of all they remind us that they’re not just there to teach, they’re on the same journey we are. Further along, but still journeying!

Each session starts with check-in and a guest speaker. Last week it was a yoga demonstration. That’s followed by warm-up exercises, a walk or run with the appropriate group (each week the walks get a little longer), and cool-down stretches.

I’ve been properly fitted for footwear and even learned some basic techniques for walking properly—posture, stride length, arm position, and most important of all...breathing!

The race itself will be held on Sunday, April 25, so I still have a couple of months of training ahead of me. To facilitate that, and to challenge myself a little more, I signed up to walk in a 5K fun run on Sunday, March 7. My daughter has registered to run the same race, and last Sunday we decided to check out the course. I went online, printed the map and we walked the 5K route together. According to our wrist watches, we completed the course in 55 minutes.

Let’s face it, at 11 minutes per kilometer I am not breaking any records here, but on race day I now have something to aim for—walking the route in a record-breaking 54 minutes!

Until next time,
Lee
The Writer Side of Life

Promotion Updates

Promotion is the bane of some authors' existence, and, I freely admit, I'm one of them. Between writing, family, and my job, finding those few hours a week to devote to promoting myself is impossible. Right up there with finding those few hours a week to devote to exercise and losing weight (another bane of my existence).

I am happy to announce that, after six months of working on it here and there, I have a brand new website with a completely updated look. I'm really pleased with the results, and I hope you'll stop by, have a look around, and let me know what you think.

www.cathymcdavid.com

In addition to the website, I've also joined Facebook in the last couple of weeks. I've resisted for a year now, convinced online social networking was yet another task that would require too much of my time. It does, but I'm also having fun and connecting with people I haven't see in YEARS.

That also means I'm currently on the lookout for new friends. If you're a member of Facebook and you'd like to be my friend (she asks in a small voice), let me know or search my name. I'd love to connect with you and have the chance to, yet again, avoid exercising (ha, ha).

Warmest wishes,

Cathy McDavid

P.S. The promotion fairy would scold me if I didn't tell you to check out my newest release, TAKING ON TWINS, out this month!!

My Birthday Confession

Today is my birthday. That's reason enough to reflect on the past year, the past decade, or my entire adult life. Here I am at age 7, a good year in childhood because I was always looking forward to being age 10, which seemed sooooo mature. Believe it or not from this photo, I was a tomboy.

In many ways I'm not a very good adult. If I don't have to get up, I sleep late, especially because I stay up late. Way too late, actually. If there are "bad" foods to eat around the house, I will usually eat them. If there's a way to put something off, I'll find it. And don't even get me started on how I avoid exercise.

I think I just never developed any good discipline, which is ironic because I had fairly ordinary, motivated, depression-era parents who did get up early, worked hard, and served balanced meals.

Please don't tell my granddaughters, but their "Mimi" is a slacker. She would much rather run around the backyard, hide Easter eggs in January, go out for pizza, create something artistic, go for a drive or ride a carrousel than do laundry, clean house or run errands. You might say, "Well, of course. Everyone would rather do fun things than work." The problem is that I actually DO the fun things instead of work! (This is especially a problem when I'm on deadline for a book, which I am now, and I have to read eight more romance novels for the RITA first round judging. Oops.)

That's my big confession for my birthday. I'm hoping that I can finally improve over the next year. As of Feb. 21, 2011, I will reach one of those milestones that get you discounts at movie theaters and Early Bird Specials at restaurants. Doesn't it seem as if I should grow up sometime before I grow old? I think so, and I'm going to work on it. But only if it seems like fun.

Thanks for reading my confession, and if you're around or online, lend me some of your fortitude and encouragement this coming year. Best wishes, Victoria.

Serious About Series

Okay, I’ll admit it. I love reading series books. I love sequels, too. It must be because I read Trixie Belden books when I was young. I could always count on reading about Trixie, her brothers Brian, Mart, and little Bobby, and her best friends Jim, Honey and Diana. I so envied her for being a part of the Bob-Whites of the Glen, the “club” they created. There was always a good mystery in each book, but it was the friendship they shared and the comfortable feeling I had when reading. Many years later, I read Stephen King’s books, and the one thing I especially liked was that characters from previous books often made small appearances. Reading about them always made me smile.

I know I’m not the only series reader. Look at the popularity of the Twilight series and, only twenty or so years back, The Baby-Sitters Club. Little House on the Prairie, Amelia Bedelia, The Boxcar Children, even Mercer Mayer’s Little Monster books. There’s more. Oh, lots more!

Let’s face it. We’re all readers here. We all have likes and dislikes, favorites and not so favorites. Just for grins and giggles—and to appease my curiosity—here’s a list of questions that have been rolling around in my mind.

Are you a series reader?

Do you like reading about characters from past books who slide easily into and out of stories?

If you had a choice between a non-series book and a series book by, say, your favorite author, which would you buy?

Do you read each series book as it comes out, or do you save them to read one after the other?

What’s the one thing you especially like (or dislike) about series?

With the poor economy we’re dealing with, would you forego buying a series book, feeling that once the first is bought, you’re locked into buying the rest?

Have you always, like me, loved series books?

What’s your favorite series, whether from childhood or as an adult?

Have fun!

THE GREAT CHOCOLATE DEBATE

In my previous blog post, I talked about one of my hands-down, no-holds-barred, all-time-favorite subjects, chocolate.

And I confessed I’m a chocoholic.

Just to recap: this New Year’s Day, I gave up chocolate, and with my previous post, many people weighed in on my question as to whether or not I should put that sweet treat back on my menu. In case you were wondering...

...the answer is...

YES!!!!!!!!!!

(Oh, the relief! LOL)

Of course, you know it wasn’t an easy decision. I agonized, weighed all the pros and cons, even considered alternative suggestions. What I came up with was a list:


The Top Three Rules for Chocolate Consumption

1. Dark chocolate trumps any other kind, as it’s practically a health food.

2. It’s best to keep chocolate out of the house and save it as a treat away from home.

3. Chocolate (dark, of course) should be eaten in moderation.


Well, it’s confession time again, folks.

#1 I can live with. Sometimes.

#2 seems like it will be doable--just as soon as I polish off those last few candy bars in the pantry....

#3 is not something I can even think about at this time. (I told you I was weak, didn’t I? At least I’m honest.)

But, hey, two out of three ain’t bad.

Thanks to those of you who weighed in with your opinions and comments and have made me a better, stronger, healthier woman as a result!


All my best to you,

Barbara

~~~~~~

Barbara White Daille
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com

Earthquake in my backyard--practically

I live in the Chicago area so cold weather and lots of snow are the norm during the winter and compared to the East coast we've gotten off easy this season (knock on wood). I think Midwest driver's are some of the best driver's in the country when it comes tooling down the road in snow and ice--doesn’t mean we're immune to accidents, but as a population we seldom panic or change our plans when the weatherman forecasts snow. We bundle up, shovel the drive and head to work and school.

So snow had never been a big deal in my life--I grew up in Wisconsin--plenty of cold and snow there, too. What I'm not used to are earthquakes. On the 9th of this month an earthquake shook the corn fields not far from the development we live in. Around four in the morning the headboard on our bed banged against the wall and our two little yappers sleeping at the bottom of the bed began to whine. I though a plane was going to hit our house. I ran into the hallway just as my two teenagers opened their bedroom doors and asked, "What's going on?" It's difficult to explain how loud the rumble sounded, but you know it was loud if it woke teenagers out of a dead sleep.

I peaked out the windows--all my neighbors we're doing the same thing. I searched the sky for a spiraling plane when my daughter informed me that it was probably an earthquake. She then named the faults that run through Illinois before yawning and returning to bed--smarty pants. Anyway we were fortunate--no cracked walls or broken vases. But I have a new appreciation and sympathy for people who've suffered through much bigger quakes--I can't imagine how frightening those were. My deceased father-in-law survived the famous San Francisco Bay area earthquake back in October 1989.

How about you--have you experienced an earthquake or any wild weather events where you live?

Marin
A Cowboy Christmas Dec 2009
Dexter: Honorable Cowboy July 2010
www.marinthomas.com

Snowbound

Well, like Laura in Tulsa, Texas has been hit with a pretty insane winter. Twenty-four hours of the fluffy white stuff fell on Thursday. Gorgeous! At our house in a rural neighborhood close to Dallas, we ended up with a foot of snow. It was impossible to concentrate on the day job for wandering to the window to look out. But if watching it fall Thursday wasn’t pretty enough, we awoke Friday to a winter wonderland. See the picture out the small leaded glass window on our front door. Looks sort of like one of those Christmas snow globes, doesn't it?

Friday my mom and I were warm and cozy and I was working away, glancing out at nature's beauty. Hubby got to drive his truck to work and I don’t think you could have paid him to stay home. Alpha male, 4X4, and a foot of snow! WooHoo! Right up his alley. Then my aunt called and they’d been without power since Thursday night and couldn’t get out of their steep drive. So DH swung by when he got off and picked them up. Friday night, warm fire, good food, and we were five.

Saturday, my son and his two boys showed up. Then my younger son and daughter-in-law popped in and my granddaughter tossed a fit to stay and play with her cousins. Granted our youngest son and DIL went home and our oldest and his two boys planned to do the same after dinner, but voila, his brother left with the keys to his truck. (Or so we thought, as they turned up later. Long story.) Minus the snow, this revolving door is a pretty typical weekend at our house. But still, Saturday night and we were nine.

We enjoyed a weekend full of food, fun, and family. What else could we do except cook and eat? Play in the snow. Feed the birds.

For Valentine’s Day on Sunday, the power came back on at my aunt and uncle’s house. Grandkids went home. And we were back to three. Although it's been an entertaining, fun, white adventure, I’m looking forward to the sanity of a normal routine.

I'm not sure where we're living. This doesn't even resemble a Texas winter, but isn't the front yard gorgeous.

Happy Valentine's Day!!! Hope you're all having a super romantic day!!

Alas, I just put hubby on a plane bound for Toronto, Canada so looks like I've only got kids and dogs to hug and smooch!! This month's pic is of Hubby on a trip to Cozumel. We rented a Jeep and found this hidden beach bar that looked straight from a Corona commercial. Pure bliss!!

Tonight, my oldest son is making me a steak dinner, so that'll be yummy!! I've been baking cookies for two days, helping Hannah with her Valentine gifting. We made sugar cookies and peanut butter blossoms with Hershey Kisses on top. I'm supposed to be dieting, but somehow sweets keep ending up in my mouth!!

This morning we had a surprise snow, which was exciting. Tulsa has had a bizarre winter. Lots of ice and snow. I was born in Michigan and remember blizzards that kept us in the house for days. The neighbors would hide out together, sharing board games and great food. Now, while everyone else grumbles, I secretly love every beautiful flake!!

So what's everyone doing for V-Day? Any big surprises or impromptu trips? Let me know so I can live vicariously through you!! LOL!!

Confessions of a Hedonist!

When my husband recently deserted me to go heli-skiing in Canada, my daughter suggested that instead of staying home alone, I should spend the week at a Spa. Why this had never occurred to me to do before, escapes me. Firstly, because I love being pampered and secondly, because it turned out to be one of the best weeks of my life!

A quick google search of Spas in Colorado brought up St. Julien’s in Boulder. This funky, college town is nestled against the foothills of the Rockies and enjoys over 300 days of sunshine a year. I’d only spent the day here before, but I’d liked it and the thought of spending time close to home, but not too close, appealed.

Within minutes of picking up the phone I was booked into a kingbed room with a view of Boulder’s famous “Flatiron Mountains”. And less than two hours later, down the Interstate from my home in the Rockies, I was being warmly greeted by the hotel staff and shown to the Spa where I had a pedicure booked.

Positive the therapist would run screaming when she got a glimpse of my feet that had been squashed into ski boots for a good part of the season, Renee, was instead the picture of discretion. I was given a glass of water, offered grapes and dipped my feet into a swirling, warm bath. An hour later, my lower legs and feet, scrubbed, massaged, primped and nails painted, I emerged feeling as if a quarter of my body was already on the way to feeling restored. In an effort to feel fully restored I booked a sugar body scrub and revitalizing facial for the following day.

Proud of my pretty pink-painted size tens, I padded around the hotel in the hotel provided robe and slippers and went to check their restaurant menu. Not in the mood for dressing up – or dressing at all, for that matter, I opted for room service.

I caught up on emails via the free wireless internet in my room and my smoked salmon walnut salad was delivered 20 minutes later with a smile and the good wishes of my waiter to have a good night. There’s something wonderfully decadent about lounging across the bed, eating and watching really trashy TV programs. Ever wondered where they find those people in the People of Walmart emails – just take a look at some of those reality television shows – particularly ones dealing with repossessions, bounty hunting and anyone who lives outside the law!

Dinner finished, I decided on an early night as I had a book to write during my sojourn. However, sleep didn’t come easily as the plot of a new story teased at my consciousness. Midnight found me typing the first words of book four of the O’Malley Men series, about firefighting brother, Adam. Two hours later, I had over 3,000 words down and was ready for sleep. This time it came blissfully quickly as I sank into the soft-as-a-cloud mattress and pillows. Such bliss!

After a late breakfast of smoked salmon bagel, which was so delicious, I couldn’t wait for breakfast the following morning to order it again, I wandered into the spa for my Body Scrub and Vichy Shower. Having never experienced one of these before, I had visions of myself glowing in the dark, I’d be scrubbed red raw.

I was greeted by my therapist and directed me to lie on a bed in a room that looked like an enormous shower. I was draped for modesty and Mary set about massaging the rare as hens’ teeth (apparently) sugar into my legs. Far from being rubbed raw, this was an amazingly relaxing experience. I tried not to think how much dead skin was being rubbed away after a winter spent two miles high in the dust dry atmosphere of the Colorado Rockies. Backs of legs, back, shoulders and arms rubbed, it was time for the Vichy shower. As I lay on the bed, several gentle jets of water washed the sugar away as my therapist used a hand-held spray to gently wash away the last of the sugar crystals. Then it was time for my tummy, front of legs and arms to be given the treatment. I was then toweled off and massaged with a soothing palm oil butter. I emerged feeling re-energised and extraordinarily clean and smooth!

Kerrie welcomed me into the facial room where I lay on a heated bed and it was deemed my skin was in desperate need of a Revitalizing Treatment – recommended for mature, fatigued, dull, sun-damaged, pigmented, and sluggish skin types. Since I felt my skin pretty much slotted into all those adjectives, I lay back and let Kerrie do her best. I tingled when the alpha-hydroxy exfoliant was applied and felt nicely burned when she applied a paprika mixture to help the alpha absorb. None of this was unpleasant and I satisfied myself with the knowledge that the more it tingled, the more help my skin probably needed. A soothing cream was then massaged in, a honey scented mask applied and hands massaged while this did its magic. An hour later my skin felt like a two year old’s bottom and I was practically drooling with pleasure. But wait, my ecstasy dose wasn’t over yet. Then followed a hot oil head massage and foot reflexology. By the time I left the salon I was floating on air.

Back in my room I ordered a Caesar salad for lunch, then took a restorative nap. I awoke at dusk, took care of emails and started work again. I was so absorbed in my new story, that I forgot about dinner and worked till 3am.

This pretty much became the routine for the week. Wake late, take a walk around historic Boulder, shop, back to the hotel for lunch followed by an afternoon of indulgence at the spa. Dinner in front of the TV and then back to work!

By day three, I was making plans as to how I could stay in this magical place for the rest of my life. I’d gladly sell my first-born (and subsequent issue) in order to do so. I was loving being able to go to bed when I wanted, rise when I wanted and eat what and when I wanted. No children asking: What’s for dinner? No husband saying: It’s late, come to bed!

I finished up my week of indulgence with more massages of body, feet and head, facials, splurged on a body mud masque but didn’t care for it nearly as much as I’d enjoyed the sugar scrub. By the end of the week, I'd worked my way through just about every therapist at the spa and left the hotel vowing to return soon.

By the end of the week, I’d written over 20,000 words towards my new book and felt revitalized, re-energized and ten years younger. As Ryan, one of the many wonderful staff at the hotel, opened my car door, wished me a safe journey home and hoped he’d see me again soon, I decided that if I had a money tree, I’d live in a spa hotel forever!

What’s your secret indulgence? What would you do, where would you go if you had a week completely to yourself, to do as you wished?

Cheers!
CC Coburn