Virus X 2

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I've been offline since my Norton detected a virus that had gotten into my computer. Off to computer hospital, where my "doctor" got my baby up and running again. Very very annoying. I went camping to the Colorado River for Thanksgiving. Was with a large group of friends and family and we had a great time. Ate wonderful food, laughed a lot, sat by the fire and talked, went for boat rides, played Scrabble (though I truly was not worthy--there were some serious Scrabble players there!) and had lots and lots of fun. The weather was perfect (I even got a sunburn) and at night, so many stars! I'll put some pictures up soon on my site. So back to the title of this blog--why? Because I came home from all that fun with a virus--the kind that makes your throat hurt, fever and chills! I'm much better now, thank goodness, but I don't want to see any kind of virus again for a long long time!

Back From Vegas

I'm home and rested from my trip--had a fabulous time! I even won a little money! The conservatory at the Bellagio was awesome, with pumpkins the size of a Volkswagon bug and flower displays to knock your flip flops off! The new Wynn hotel was a blast, the employees there nicer than any other casino and the buffet! Oh my, don't get me started! Let's just say I think it's the best I've had. Probably the priciest, though, too, but worth every bite. (Well, actually it was free, sort of--after getting a player's card and putting 50 points on the card, I got two buffets for free--didn't take me much gambling to get those 50 points!) Didn't get a chance to check out the shops, but I would have just been window shopping. Just didn't have enough time to do everything I wanted--next time! Glad to be home and back to work. My heroine, Kiera, was is currently giving my hero, Sam, a piece of her mind and Sam's about to "shut her up" if you know what I mean...

Elvis--Here I Come!

Viva Las Vegas Baby! I'm leaving for Sin City in three hours and thirty-four minutes. I've worked all weekend and I'm taking a break. Just for one day, mind you. It's a forty-five minute hop from Burbank to Vegas and air fare is cheap. Leave today, play, eat, take in the new Wynn hotel and the Bellagio conservatory, then home tomorrow. And back to work... My hero is on the edge of his breaking point...can't wait to see what happens when he snaps. Wish me Luck!

Five Minutes a Day...

It's not easy to quiet the restless mind. Life comes at us in warp speed these days. Cell phones, fax machines, instant messaging. Where are the still moments? The moments when we can dream, when we can move into a peaceful place and simply think without being bombarded by the craziness? We need to make those moments. No one is going to give them to us. We must demand them. We need to say no more often to others, and say yes to ourselves. Even five minutes will help, but I challenge you to start with fifteen. Set the timer if need be. Close your eyes, put your feet up. Let the quiet absorb you and see what comes to you. (Not the errands or cleaning or work projects--they must wait outside your mind) This is when you refill the well, calm the spirit, heal the soul. Breathe. You deserve it. Don't ask for permission from anyone but yourself . TAKE IT, then seize the moment.

Gone Gardening

I spent Saturday planting flowers. Snapdragons, pansies, violas, stocks, delphiniums. Five hours straight, friends. My flower beds look great, but every muscle in my body aches. I am bruised (wheelbarrow fell over on my leg) scratched (those nasty rose bushes got me good) rash (trimming the morning glory, I think) Soaked in epsom salts till I looked like a prune, and I still ache. It's a good ache, though. Feels good to get something done! Though it's never really done. Watering, trimming, weeding, feeding. Still, it's a labor of love, bruises, scratches and all. It's a lot like writing. After hours of sitting in front of the computer, digging around inside my characters head, I often come after feeling a bit bruised and definitely achy. Some times I have to dig deeper, and there are rocks and roots blocking my way. But I have to keep hacking away so I can get that one beautiful flower to grow. And when it does, there's just nothing like it. And then there's the next scene, the next chapter. The next book. Like gardening, it's never really done, but it doesn't matter. It's a labor of love.

Gender Bender

Did you know that non-living things have a gender? 1) Ziploc Bags are Male, because they hold everything in, but you cansee right through them .2) Copiers are Female, because once turned off; it takes a while to warmthem up again. It's an effective reproductive device if the rightbuttons are pushed, but can wreak havoc if the wrong buttons are pushed. 3) A Tire is Male, because it goes bald and it's often over-inflated. 4) A Hot Air Balloon is Male, because, to get it to go anywhere, youhave to light a fire under it, and of course, there's the hot air part. 5) Sponges are Female, because they're soft, squeezable and retainwater.6) A Web Page is Female, because it's always getting hit on. 7) A Subway is Male, because it uses the same old lines to pick peopleup. 8) An Hourglass is Female, because over time, the weight shifts to thebottom. 9) A Hammer is Male, because it hasn't changed much over the last 5,000years, but it's handy to have around. 10) A Remote Control is Female. Ha! You thought it'd be male, didn'tyou? But consider this - it gives a man pleasure, he'd be lost withoutit, and while he doesn't always know the right buttons to push, he keeps trying!

For Glowing Skin...

I read this last night and tried it this morning: Mix a little baking soda with your liquid facial cleanser and gently scrub, then rinse well, pat dry and apply moisturizer. This is a great exfoliater and leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth, and you don't have to go buy anything! (that's the best part!) My skin felt great all day. I don't know about you all, but I need all the help I can get. If you try it let me know what you think.

And We're Off...

Happy November everyone! I always feel that the beginning of November is the official starting time for the holidays. Like we're all racehorses, in the chute, waiting for that bell to go off so we can run like crazy in circles toward that finish line. Not that I don't enjoy it, mind you. I LOVE the holidays. I'm a nut for Christmas (boxes come out of attic in exactly 21 days) But like everyone, I have a tendency to do too much and suddenly get overwhelmed. Have to constantly remind myself to slooow down, have a cup of herbal tea. Take a lavender scented bath. Light a candle. Put on some Christmas music. But I'm ahead of myself. This month, I want to concentrate on remembering to be thankful for all I have. Not the "things" (though I do like my things, too!) but my family and friends and the fact that I woke up today. That's a good thing! Now to get that Halloween stuff packed away...