Thursday September 30, 2010

In honor of my new book coming out tomorrow (OMG! TOMORROW!!!)

I'm a guest over at Drunk Writer Talk.  Check it out at http://drunkwritertalk.blogspot.com/

Marvelous Monday 9-27-10

What, you might say, reading my heading.  Marvelous Monday?  Has she gone insane?  No, not yet.  Not yet.  The reason I call this day marvelous is because it's 53 degrees outside right now, with a projected high of 73.  Yes, you heard me correctly.  A HIGH of 73.  Happy dancing here!

Saturday night, Lonnie and I decided to try this local place we've been hearing about forever. It was featured on Diners, Dives, and Drive-Ins.  Our regular waitress at Chili's (Hi Amy!) has been raving about it.  It's a strange place, because it's a five-star restaurant... in a gas station.

That's right.  It's inside of a Conoco station in a nearby town called Watauga.  Apparently the owner couldn't get the bank to loan him money for a restaurant, but they'd loan it to him for a gas station.  So he opened a gas station with a restaurant inside.  He called it Chef's Point Cafe because he wanted to make a point.  And he has, let me tell you!

Even at 5:30, the place was packed.  When we left there were people standing in line outside to get in.  A lot of people.  I've heard there can even be a two hour wait.

There were things on the menu like Duck and German Style Liver and Onions.  Because we'd heard raves about the stuffed mushrooms, we started with those. (called What Nots!)  I have to say, these were the absolute best stuffed mushrooms I've ever eaten, bar none.  It was funny eating gourmet food inside a gas station.  Cheap tables and chairs, minimal decor, and behind you are the coolers with drinks and rows of chips.  Hilarious.  In front of you, the chefs cook furiously and the smell is fabulous.  They had a full staff working, plenty of wait-people and bus-people. 

For the main course, Lonnie had the Liver and Onions.  I had mussels and a salad.  He said his liver meal was absolutely fantastic.  My mussels were a tad overcooked, though still tasty.  For dessert, we had the famous bread pudding.  Oh.  My.  Gawd.  Best bread pudding ever (and it was voted Best Bread Pudding in North Texas by some newspaper or magazine or something!)  We had iced tea as they don't serve wine or beer.

It was kind of pricey ($50 for all that), but not exhorbantly so.  We'll go back, if only to try some of the other intriguing menu items.  There's a seafood stew I'm dying to try, and tons of pasta dishes.  Oh, and they have some kind of fried chicken called Better Than Sex Fried Chicken.  I certainly have to try that!

From YouTube, here's the DDD episode.  If you're ever in Watauga, TX, you have to try this out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVixyyGIvEE

9-23-10

Four years ago today, my husband and I drove up to Oklahoma to pick up Mac Macadoo, our purebred Boxer puppy (and our first Boxer).  We drove 5 hours and the breeder drove 5 hours to meet us.  I fell in love with these pictures on the breeder's web page;

Can you believe how cute?

Mac has been the best dog.  Still is.  We never thought we wanted another big dog, but he captured our hearts.  My husband's,

my daughter's

And of course, mine

We love this big old, goofy, clown of a dog

He makes us laugh

He can swim



And does a mean high dive

And is endlessly amusing



So in honor of Mac's "Gotcha Day", I'm putting this out there.  We love him.

Wednesday September 22,2010

The weatherpeople on the TV news keep saying it's almost fall.  Uh, right.  Where?  It's still in the 90's here and even when I went up to Boulder, it was hot.  I want fall weather! (Picture me throwing a temper tantrum!)

Last weekend at the lake, I snapped some pics of the sunset.  They were beautiful and, even though the beauty is more stunning in person, the pics came out pretty good.  Here they are.

Tuesday September 21, 2010

It's nearing the end of the September and I'm gearing up for the release of my Silhouette Romantic Suspense Profile of Seduction.  I'm doing a guest blog on Drunk Writer Talk (fabulous site), my agent's site, The Romantic Times site, E-harlequin, among others. 

And I'm still working on another book.  As always.  And, as seems to be my method, with barely 6 weeks to go, I'm having to start over.  I don't know why I do this.  It's like I get to know the people, realize what isn't working, and after talking to my critique partner Anna Adams, figure out how to fix it.

So... I've got some serious work to do.

And, after having been gone from my evil day job for an entire week, I'm still digging out from the pile of work.  Hoping to get caught up soon so I can go back to writing during the day job as well.

Finally, with the first day of fall looming, I'm hoping for some cooler temps!

Monday September 20, 2010

Back to reality.  It's Monday, I'm home, and I'm sure my desk is piled high at work.  I'm still exhausted, still out of sorts and getting stung by a wasp didn't help. 

I'll post more later - and maybe some pics - once I get settled and caught up.

Tuesday September 14, 2010

Well, I made it.  I'm typing this from my Dad's livingroom overlooking the Flatirons and trying to unwind from yesterday's grueling drive.  14 hours.  Totally exhausting.  But not much traffic and good, open roads. 

Unable to sleep Sunday night, I had been awake since four am, hit the road at 6:30.  Made it to Boulder around 8:30 my time.  Went to bed around midnight and got up at 9:30 this time (Mountain Time).

Today I'm just hanging out at my dad's place.  Eventually, I'll make my normal trip to Pearl Street Mall and shop and to McGuckin's Hardware where my dad worked for so long.  Then Friday, I'll do the drive all over again, in reverse.

Sunday night, 7-12-10

I'm leaving for Colorado in the morning.  Hoping to drive straight through, and get there by 8pm tomorrow night.  I'm both nervous and excited - nervous because the longest drive I've ever made with me as driver was six hours and this is 12 hours or so, 670 miles according to an online mileage calculator.  There's a lot of beautiful scenery once you get out of Texas , but sadly much of the drive is IN Texas.  I go up 287 to Dumas, then 87 over to NM, and up 25 until Denver, then 36 into Boulder.  I've got my husband's GPS and his radar detector, a bag of snacks, and an ice chest that I'm packing with lemonaide and Snapple and Diet Dr. Pepper.

I'm ready. 

Hopefully, my next post will be from Colorado. 

9-11-2010

Every year, I do the same post on this same day.  Because sometimes, certain words bear repeating.

Never Forget

Friday September 10th

As I watch the Stand Up For Cancer special, I remember when I was 27 years old and learned I had cervical cancer.   The doctor called me and left a message at the house while I was on vacation.  I was at Six Flags with my daughter and had called my husband from a payphone and checked in and he told me the doctor had called.  I called back from the pay phone and learned the news.  I was stunned.  Shocked.  I went home, called my husband back and told him the news, and cried. 

I was lucky, my cancer was stage 1, non-invasive.  I had a partial hysterectomy and was done.  Though I couldn't have any more children, I was alive and I was glad.

Several years later  I got skin cancer.  I've had it several times more since the first time - too much sun when I was a teenager and tanning beds later.  Again, I was lucky - basil cell mostly, no melanoma.  All removed, though I had to have surgery on my nose and a lot removed and rebuilt.

A few years ago, my brother in law got a brain tumor.  He fought the good fight, but lost.  We supported him and loved him and watched as he gradually deteriorated.  Brain tumors are an awful form of cancer - relentless, without pity. 

Lately, I've been dealing with my daughter's friend who got breast cancer at 29.  She went through it all - the chemo, radiation, breast removal, beginning the reconstruction after a lot of suffering when they found more cancer.   She's now - at 31 - going through her second round of chemo.  I pray for her often.  I hope - no, I KNOW she will beat this.  She has to.  She just got engaged.  Is just starting her life.

So, if you can, donate to cancer research.  Too many people suffer, too many die.  Help make a difference.

Thursday Sept 9th

I'm getting ready to take a trip to visit my dad.  A long car drive, by me - a person who has only put 13,000 miles on her car in the last five years. 

I'm going home. 

I'm slightly nervous, even as I remind myself that my friend Anna does this all the time.  As do scores of other women.  And I'll have company.  My 84 year old "aunt" is riding with me. 

As I prepare - loading up my Ipod, charging my digital camera, making sure the GPS is loaded with new maps, borrowing my husband's radar detector, loading up my Kindle - do you see a pattern here?  So many electronics that I apparently consider essential to my survival.  I'm also bringing my Alphasmart and my laptop.  So there.  Pfffft. 

I'll be leaving Monday and coming home Friday.  My dear husband is looking after the dogs.  I get a break from the day job, the personal trainer, and the sadistic massage therapist (not really) who is working on my problem IT Band.  I don't get a break from writing, as there is a deadline after all. 

And I get to see my dad.  So I need to stop being nervous.  Right?

Boulder, Colorado in February 2008

Tuesday September 7, 2010

                                                Back to reality.  After a weekend of this

And this

It was heavenly.  I didn't want to come home.  I want to live there.

Mitchell got to ride in the boat.  He loved it.

He swam in the lake.

Mac got to play with his lake toy.  A lot.

Daisy wore Lonnie's cap

We went out in the boat and fished.  A lot.

But it's good to be home too.  I guess.  It's raining here and cooler, which I love.  I have work to do.  A lot of work.  Writing work, Insurance work, and stuff around the house.  But still... I miss the lake.  A lot.