Posted this Morning on 100miles54days

Sunday Morning.
7am.
3 miles.
13 minutes.
4 CMT videos.

Keith Urban - Twice
Stupid Boy


Sara Evans - As if



Miranda Lambert - Sweet video and rockin song...
Kerosene
Dag Nabbit... there's no video on you tube!!
Oh well. No one really watches it anyway. *rzzz*

Have a good day everyone!!!!
Get out there and walk with your family.

Broke

Thirteen Things I've Broken

1. My tooth at about the age of 2. Probably looked alot like this... BIG SMILE.

2. A pair of sunglasses. I just can't keep them...

3. Contact with friends. So many when you've moved as much as I have... Still in contact with my first best friend, Lisa. Wish I could say the same for Emily. We hung out together from 1st grade through...hmmm, 6th and then on and off until 10th when I moved out of state.

4. My skin. I was my parent's held breath. I dove off rocking chairs, fell out of strollers [although, really, was that my fault? :D Just an oversight, perhaps?], stepped on a garbage bag with broken glass at the bottom of it...ouch, that hurt and needed stitches in my pinky toe, too.

5. Another pair of sunglasses. Seriously, I think I'm cursed.

6. ...oh rules. I've broken a few rules in my day. *cough*

7. Hearts? I don't think so, although my mom says yes. *shaking head* Doesn't sound right to me. I'm not a heartbreaker I don't think...

8. Bronchioles and Alvioli. I'm sure of it. Smoking will do that. Thank God I'm a quitter. LOL

9. A Toyota Tercel. Mine was white, four door, standard [I'd love a standard now... sorry kiddo, I can't dig through the diaper bag just to get you your Thomas the Tank engine toy. I'm driving. See mommy driving?]



10. Blood vessels. Not exactly the same as skin but close. Actually, funny story. My lastest bruise came from trying to grab a book with my legs. I was *cough* reading in the bathroom...come on, I'm a mom. I'm up right now at 1am and sometimes, my only free time is the 30seconds to 3 min I get in there everyday... Well, the book got bumped off the counter and I didn't want it to fall on the floor. So, I'm standing in front of the sink with wet hands and I go for it with my legs. My right calf catches that cover at just the right angle and my left knee snaps my legs together and whammo! the bookcover completely breaks in half...oh good one.

11. Book covers. Ouch, that was way more painful than expected.

12. Promises. Not seemingly, really important ones, but the important hidden promises I break by using the term maybe. For example, will you read this book to me, Mom?

"Maybe later, okay?"

13. Did I mention sunglasses? I bought a pair several weeks ago from the dollar store. I thought, they never last anyway, just go cheap. Well, those things never even made it home. Grrr.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Adelle Laudan's New Release!

Don't miss it!

NOW AVAILABLE

BUY HERE

by Adelle Laudan

Winner of Freya's Bower's Anniversary Submissions Call

Lizzy would give it all back just to hear her mother's voice one more time... the house, the furniture...even the money. Regardless, her heartless stepfather is determined to take what he feels is rightfully his. Handyman, Adam Woodward rides into Lizzy's life and vows to keep her safe, but is it enough to stop the cold, callous determination of Ben Stokes?

A Trouble Novel

Rating: Sweet

Book Length: Novel

Genre: Biker Fiction/Contemporary Romance

Today in History - October 15th

I thought about keeping with the WW2 era theme but didn't want to bore myself... ;-)
So, I thought I'd have a little fun with Lucy instead. Hope you enjoy the clips!

1951 - The situation comedy "I Love Lucy" premieres in the United States on CBS television.

Vitameatavegamin


Lucy, Lucy, Lucy


Bitter Grapes


The Diet

October 11, 2007

Hope you don't get too bored!

Thirteen Lines from last night's Chat Challenge at Romance Divas In no Particular order. 1. “I don’t have what you want. I wouldn’t tell you what you want to know… even if I did know, which I don’t.” 2. Her apartment building sat three blocks up on the right. 3. “Information, my dear. Information will win this war.” He patted her knee. “First, I need your purse.” 4. Goosebumps rose on her cooled skin when he laughed, high pitched and evil. [speaking German]“You have something I want.” 5. She was so stupid. 6. His gaze traveled from the road to her face down over her chest and into her lap. It returned to the road when he spoke, “I can be reasonable.” 7. His quirks set him apart. Her ignorance set her apart. 8. Her lips were dry, parched from licking them and biting them. When her chin trembled she clenched her teeth and moved her head to stretch the tense muscles at the back of her neck. 9. “So, you remember.” He didn’t slam the door after situating himself behind the wheel. 10. Her feelings were bolstered by an anger she hadn’t been aware existed and if Mark were really dead, she would kill Henry herself. 11. Mark is dead. 12. Could he be that moronic? Apparently… 13. Why would a man, protected by amnesia, force his hand?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

100 miles in 54 days

Decreasing that word-count induced waist line.
Feel like getting healthy? Visit the link and check it out!

Something I like about starting an exercise program...

Buying Shoes - I did, too. Men's Prospirit - Samuel, size 7


They were just more comfortable than any of the women's shoes I tried on...and they were cheaper. I bought an expensive pair of Nike shoes last fall and I wore them out, bare bones uncomfortable. So, $14.99 seems reasonable. I don't expect them to last more than 9 months anyway. Last fall, I bought all the 'clothes' so I can't go back there...unfortunately. That would be great fun.

Today I walked the kids to school. It was not a fast walk but it was up hill both ways. I might have to do the same to pick them up but I'd rather get out after dinner and really exercise... Maybe that will happen. I was thinking. If I walked at night, it might motivate me to run...away from the boogie monster.



Yeah, that could make me run.

I'm boring you...
I'm boring myself.

Listen to Nickelback, Rockstar.



Good luck today everyone.
keep up the miles...

The Question of Writing

I actually didn't get much done over the weekend.Rrrr. But I rewrote... most of what I lost last week when the power went out. Forgot one aspect so will add another page or so before moving on. After that it'll be her abduction, his return and their escape... LOL. Seems so simple. But all the while they'll be dodging Sept. 7th bombs and trying to get to the airforce base so that he can get in the air.

Should be fun...

I actually watched a really interesting WW2 documentary this past weekend. [one of the reasons I didn't get much writing done] Part of me felt...hmmm, as if i'd missed my target. There seemed to be nothing romantic about it. It was really sad and I felt that my story didn't reflect the reality. On the other hand, there were definitely glimpses of humanity - humor, love, endurance...strength - in the personal stories from the men who had been there.

I've watched a lot of productions with a WW2 theme but this one struck me. And I wonder if it's because of the story i'm trying to tell. *sigh*

One story in particular left a little hole there in my heart. An American pilot, promoted to a commanding position in eastern Europe had set up headquarters in an old monastary/church structure. During an attack, as he stood at a table reading maps, a bomb came through the side of the building and literally took the top of another soldier's head off. [I know, sorry...it's gross] Again, what struck me were his halting words and his tears after such a long time. He had been a commander and could do nothing... He had troops to direct, decisions to be made and so, he continued while others came in and cleaned the mess of blood and brain matter around him.

Sorry, I'm just feeling contemplative...
There were a lot of wonderful, life-giving stories, too.

But, I wonder, do you ever question a story that way?

Tag, you're it.

I've been tagged... by Seeley deBorn.

which means, for today, that I'm going to tell a story about myself and dancing.
Oh, I can dance...



Have I taken formal lessons? Yes, when I was about four years old. I remember a green tutu and a teacher who wore perfume... WHICH, I can still smell today. I don't know what it's called...I think it was Charlie...

but, one time, when I worked at McDonald's, someone wearing that perfume came through the drive-thru. How odd to be overwhelmed with images of dance class from thirteen years earlier. Good memories, those.

First dance at my wedding, Journey...but I don't remember what song.
Last dance at my wedding, Amanda by Boston.
Father's Dance at my wedding, could have been Whenever God Shines His Light...it, for sure, was Van Morrison.

I'm a good follower...usually. The Man dances...after a few drinks and then we get down.

I'm going to tag Dianna Street. Maybe she has a dancing story she can tell us!

*HAPPYDANCE*

For the MAN who passed the final part of his CPA exam with an 85!!!!!
THANK THE BLESSED GOOD LORD...
AND TONS OF HARD WORK.

I stole this one from Sue. She did a happy dance when they closed on their property...







in case you can't tell, that's Perry...from Scrubs.

the maker of Happy dancing.







OKAY, I THINK I"M FINISHED...




NOW, I'M FINISHED.

Whoot! T13 number 8

Thirteen Places we've been to on a DATE...


In no particular order...
1. Drover's - a unique historuical restaurant known for it's buffalo wings. Our first double date with good friends from college, Mike and Ellen. Yep, that's it... a place where drovers would stopover while herding...cattle or something way back in the prairie days. It's now run by Mark and Karen Cooper.

2. Tastee 29 - a roadside diner in Fairfax, VA...our first official, spending money kind of date.

3. Pike's Peak - a family date while we were living in Colorado. So spectacular!!!

4. Apple Orchard Inn - a wonderful Bed and Breakfast in Durango. We stayed there for our first anniversary. And yes, we had a baby with us but who cares?!! Do yo usee that setting?

5. Burke Lake - a couple of miles from home. We walked there a few times that first year we dated when our parents lived just blocks away from each other...and the park.

6. A date at the MOVIES - yes, we've seen a few movies in our time... the last one being The Bourne Ultimatum.

7. Stoney Hollow Inn - a very small bar with cheap beer and friends... it doesn't sound as appealing as it was during those college years. Cards and Kamikaze's, Music and Pool...

8. Church - Yeah, we go to church and even did so before we were married, so...yeah, it was a date. That's our church in Adena, OH. Nope, we don't live there anymore either.

9. Bowling - I do love to bowl. Not so easy with the babies.

10. The Couch - Sometimes the best dates are when the kids go for a nap on a Sunday afternoon and we can just sit and watch TV. Our couch is softer...

11. Toby Keith concert - I can't believe I almost forgot this! My birthday present last year from the Man. So Great!

12. Takin' a drive - in his pickup truck. This hardly ever happens! Especially now that he doesn't have a truck. This might seem like a picture of a house, but that's his truck sitting in front of the house. A 1978 Chevy...or was is a '74? no that was the '64, which he doesn't own anymore either.

13. Maggiano's - I liked the atmosphere... Food wasn't up to par that night but, we all have rough days, don't we?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

October 1st Birthdays and Firsts

A day in history.
A day to remember.
...Everyday.

1865 - Paul Dukas, French composer. By far the best known composition by Dukas is the symphonic scherzo L'Apprenti Sorcier. The music was recently popularized by Walt Disney, when he included a pictorial version of it in Fantasia with Mickey Mouse as the naughty apprentice.

1881 - William Boeing, aeronautics/engineering.



1900 - Bonnie Parker, Outlaw...of the Bonnie and Clyde.



1920 - Walter Matthau, actor...one of the best! Didn't you just love his portrayal of Albert Einstein in I.Q.?


what a face, eh? I loved him in Charade, too.



1924 - Jimmy Carter, United States President.



1928 - George Peppard, actor


oh, what a cutie! Think Breakfast at Tiffany's and then later, The A-Team...

1931 - The opening of the Waldorf Astoria



1933 - Richard Harris, actor


another great face...
gladiator, anyone?
King Arthur?

1935 - Julie Andrews, actress



1950 - Randy Quaid, actor


is it just me or is he looking a bit rough around the edges???

1963 - Mark McGwire, Cardinal baseball player



1971 - Disney World opens in Florida

Thirteen Traits of my Current Heroine,
Margaret Pennington.

1. Brown hair, brown eyes, freckles (just a smattering), five feet and five inches, Hippy – in that beautiful 1940’s pin up way. She’s independent and headstrong with a dash of temper thrown in.

2. Grew up in upstate NY before moving to The City.

3. A father in theater and a Russian immigrant for a mother. One word, eccentric. They supported and encouraged her choice to work in a man’s world.

...ARGH. I can't find an acceptable picture for her dad anywhere! Grrr.

4. Traveled the world between the ages of birth to twelve. By 8 she spoke 3 languages fluently. Can speak 5 languages now.

5. Earned a teaching degree at Columbia second to her studies in international relations.

6. Worked as a translator at the Foreign Embassy in NYC.

7. Took a job in London in 1938 at a private school for girls. Part-timed at the American Embassy as a translator.

8. Meets Mark Danbury (the hero) in December 1940 at a dance hall He’s quiet and, she thinks, shy…

UH, a few good men, anyone?! So, sue me, I liked the movie too. I told you I was a romantic at heart!!

9. Boy, is she wrong!

10. She *uh* loses herself in new love. *wink* Showing a truly feminine side, everything else around her takes second place to this man and their budding relationship.

11. Summer 1940, Hitler begins his assault on the military bases of Great Brittain… *laughing at the foolishness of youth* They marry in June one week after his proposal. One day before his departure.

And that, Good People…
is where the story really starts.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Slackidasical

I'm not even sure I'll even get to a T13 this week. Maybe... yes. I'll do it. Thirteen facts about the story i'm writing/plotting.

I cut 2, 098 words from the WIP this morning. Added 450 more... have the next day or so to make up for that loss. THe scene had to go, though, as it contained two extra characters that were making my story too complicated - a not so bad, bad guy and a hero potential good guy.

The fact is, a short 30k novel should have no more than 2 or 3 main characters. Especially in romance. Now if this were full length Single Title, then I could get away with another really cool secondary male character. One with the potential to have his own story. And there in lies the trouble. To see a character as clearly as I see Bradley de Born would mean running the risk of him taking over the story. I'm going to intro him at the very end, I think. Give him that segway into the next book. Make an anthology out of it...

I'm cheering my Gonzo Team on... Rah, Rah, Rah!!!
And cheering all the ladies in the Romance Divas CHAT!

Losing Teeth

What a CUTIE!

The little guy lost his tooth. Fell on the cement and knocked it into four separate peices! One little peice fell out that afternoon. What a trooper. Only cried for a short time... until we got to the dentist the next day, anyway.

So, the dentist was weird... I'm not from around here [here being where I live] but I've never had to wait outside while my kid had his teeth worked on. Thank God, DH was there. He watched through this window as the doctor and hygienists eximined, poked and prodded. DH is way more assertive than I am. Reassurance is something you can't buy!

They [the people behind the window] wanted to clean his other teeth but he was too upset so they decided to put it off until next time... DUH.

Well, the broken tooth had a cavity in it. If not for that cavity, the tooth probably would have survived meeting the cement as did all the other teeth. Okay, that's a little embarrassing...for a parent. Who knew?! The VERY NICE doctor - really the only reason we stayed to have the tooth pulled - talked us through the procedure. I was comfortable with this woman to allow her to take my child. Still weird, though...

I wonder if they would hold to that rule for my son who is blind? Hmm. We don't think we'll be going back there even if the event didn't end with traumatic written all over it.

would you take your kid to a closed-door policy dentist?

September 20, 2007 - Spoiler Alert for Nora Roberts readers, High Noon

Thirteen parallels between Nora Roberts’ High Noon and Blue Smoke I’d like to preface this almost-flaming sounding BLOG with my personal thoughts on Nora Roberts’ work. I love her stories. She is the author of my all-time, favorite book, Public Secrets. She has so many novels to her name I am hardly worthy, as an amateur writer, to even speak her name much less possibly say things that aren’t uplifting. I suppose as a reader I’m allowed my opinions, though… and I wonder how often an author needs a break. Do the facts that I’m about to display prove that Roberts is off her game? What do you think? 1. Phoebe and Reena – their mannerisms, their speech patterns… oh, and they both had a traumatic experience as a young girl of 12. They’re both cops. 2. I’d like to mention the short, choppy dialogue here – Blue Smoke had it as the heroine’s trait with minor crossover to the hero. In High Noon, everyone has it. Except for, perhaps, Ma Bee [mentioned later in this blog], it’s like fragment heaven. When Nora looked at her finished product on Word, she must have seen green squiggly lines EVERYWHERE. I just think there has to be some moderation. I got tired of the cadence. 3. Annoying insistence for hero to leave – I didn’t know how to title this, but in both books [more so in High Noon], the heroine appeals for people to leave. Get out while you can type of proposal. It was tolerable in Blue Smoke. In High Noon, after the third time, I wanted to hit a wall. Really. I was a little po-ed. Some themes should die early deaths. It showed not a lack of trust, which Duncan suggested, but a lack of respect. No means no. This bit leads to the Angry Moments… both heroes get an angry moment, which of course leads to, uh, other more passionate things. *cough* They’re mad at the heroine for her thoughtlessness, as they should be, even if it is because they care… I mean, I understand the heroine’s position, I’m just helping you to see the similarities in the story line. 4. Bowen Goodnight and Duncan Swift – despite the lottery winnings in High Noon, they are both self made men without a strong, traditional family base. 5. Family is a HUGE theme for Nora Roberts and I love her for it. There is one bit near the end when the family holes up at one member’s house…for protection, in both books. In honor of T13, I’ll mention it as a parallel but it’s not necessarily a negative one. 6. John Minger and David McVee – the older man who made a difference at a very traumatic event in a young girl’s life. Changed the course of history, so to speak. They both get it by the bad guy…I think, you can comment if I’m wrong. Didn’t Minger get beat up at some point? Hmmm. I think he did while in NY. 7. Ma Bee and Mrs. M – mother figure to hero who wants him hitched. A mentor of sorts. 8. Phineas and Brad– the best friend of hero, will see you through anything, buddy ol’ pal, like brothers and side business associates 9. Loo and Mandy – secondary, secondary female character that the hero feels great affection for but no chemistry. Coupled with the best friend character mentioned above. I mean, really… 10. Sykes/Liz and O’Donell – partner/coworker, the combo here might not be as strong but the link is still there. A good guy who’s got her back. 11. Duncan’s mother and Bowen’s Uncle – greedy bastard of a family member who’s looking to get rich. No love lost. High Noon is backstory whereas Blue Smoke dealt with it in the present. And maybe it was his Dad, dad or uncle… it’s been a while since I’ve read it. 12. Jerrald Walken and Joey Pastorelli – The villains. They have the same motivating factor—a woman who screwed up his life. I liked Joey better. He was way more intense and killed way more people. 13. Michael Vince and Tony Whathisface – the former friend of the villain. Both have families now. And two quotes to finish this up because I read High Noon and KNEW while I was reading this paragraph that I’d already read the same thing somewhere else… in a slightly different word order. “Lieutenant, if he did what you’re saying, he’s got to be out of his mind. I’ve got a wife and a baby. You can believe me when I say, I hear from Jerry, you’ll hear from me. I won’t take chances with my family.” --Michael Vince, High Noon “Things are different now. I’ve got a family. If he’s done murder, I don’t want him coming around my family” *** “…I want you to know, you’ve got my word, if he gets in touch with me again, I won’t tell him you’re looking for him. And I’ll call you first thing.” --Tony, Blue Smoke So, do I recommend this book? I do. The characters are just as intriguing as they were the first time around…

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants