Sunday, May 31, 2009

I Rant About This At Least Once a Year

Once again it was Bull v. Matador in Madrid and the bull clearly WON. I can't believe that so many people not only enjoy bull fights but worship it as a traditional part of their culture. I also can't believe these horrific animal-torture acts haven't been outlawed.

Judging from the irate comments posted on multiple sites I'm not the only one devoid of sympathy for the matador. Too bad, either way, the bull loses its life.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

New STW Giveway

Thanks to the fabulous DEBBI MICHIKO FLORENCE, author of CHINA: A Kaleidescope Kids Book and the upcoming JAPAN (July)--there's another chance to win a signed copy of SAY THE WORD. Check out Deb's LJ and LEAVE A COMMENT between now and June 7th. Winner will be drawn at random on June 8th.

Debbi also came up with some great interview questions which are now posted on her website.

Thank you, Debbi! And good luck to everyone.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

So far today:

Watched 2 biopics: "Lady Sings the Blues" (Billie Holiday) and "Star" (Gertrude Lawrence). I love Julie Andrews but "Star" was hokey and beyond boring--why haven't they made a *real* movie about the life of Gertrude Lawrence? And while I'm not a huuuge Diana Ross fan (not since her Motown years) I see why people screamed racism when she lost the Oscar that year to Liza Minnelli. Her performance was phenomenal!

Drank coffee.

Then I had ice cream for breakfast.

And coffee.

Then I emailed, Twittered, the usual stuff.

Then on one trip outside I had to pry a fresh dead bird out of puppy's mouth--headless, warm, soaked with blood. Thank you, little kitty who lives right behind us whose Idiot Owners let him roam the neighborhood at will. Eli charged him once. Next time I'm letting go of the leash. Message to cat: This here's a huntin' dog, buddy, and he's hankerin' bad for some free fee-line @$$.

More coffee.

Read 50 more pages of OpheliaLaughs's outstanding manuscript which BY ALL RIGHTS BELONGS ON A BOOKSTORE SHELF!

Fell asleep for ten minutes. Hey, I've been up since 5:30 a.m.

Decided against a second serving of ice cream; there's only a smidge left at the bottom of the carton, so I'll be thoughtful and leave it for someone else to lick out.

Now I have to get ready for work so I can get there early and VOTE on a contract issue even though the contract isn't up and this whole thing ticks me off. But hey, that's another story.

I'm revising tomorrow if it kills me!

Monday, May 25, 2009

IDIOCY

I assume this school is teaching sex ed by sixth grade. If that's the case, I'm sure those same kids already know what "gay" means. So what's with THIS?

"Theresa Grace, principal of Mt. Woodsen Elementary School, which Natalie attends, decided that before Natalie's fellow sixth graders could learn about Harvey Milk's life and death, they'd need permission from their parents."

Nobody asked MY permission when our school district forced my children to watch the freaking OJ trial! Please. Because if I'd known about it ahead of time, no way would I have allowed it.

I'd have let them stay home those days and read a few banned books.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Good Luck!

Attention all writers looking for some quick cash, please respond to this exciting new opportunity, courtesy of Craigslist:

"I am looking for not just ANY writer to complete what I have...this
writer needs to be well versed in writing true life story's, they need
to have a spiritual depth to them as the story I have revolves around
true life happenings and God's intervention. I already have an 8 page
draft of the complete story, but it needs to be flushed out to where I
am happy with it, at the moment it portrays certain people as what they
truly are not.

"If you think you can write this piece, then please tell me about
yourself, send some samples of your work, tell me your fee, let me know
your turn around time, and let me know who would own the piece if it
was written by you."


Sorry I don't have the exact link but if you look hard enough, I'm sure you'll find it. Good luck to all of you! No stampedes, please.

Thanks, Kathie. =D

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

American Idol Finale LIVE!

My Immediate Impressions of the American Idol finale, recorded live while show in progress (warning--minimal proof-reading):

Two cute guys in glittering Elvis suits. Looove Adam's boots.

I've heard that "Rock Star" song so many frickin' times in the past few months--did they have to open the finale with that?

David Cook forgot to shave. If you're gonna look that scraggly, why bother with the haircut?

Outstanding Male Performance Nominess

Will: faker!
Michael: L.D. I wish their families wouldn't let them do this.
Guy: so bad I forgot his name in 3 seconds. Sang with his mouth shut.
Dean Anthony: Can't get past the fugly coat so who cares what he sounds like?
Nick: Needs Haldol, preferably the injectable variety.

Winner: Nick

If Queen Latifah can wear THAT (yikes) in front of a gazillion people, I'm wearing shorts this summer.

I wish I could see the rest of Paula's dress. The top looks like it's made of armor.

I love this song and I don't know the title or who the dude is that sings it and I can't understand the lyrics--but I love it!

(I just googled it: Jason Mraz--"I'm Yours")

Keith Urban + Kris. You know, this has got to be one of the BIGGEST thrills for these kids, singing with the stars. :)

It's 8:39. If I smoked I'd be having a cigarette at the next commercial break.

In my lifetime, I just want to see one single commercial about a household product (laundry detergent, Pledge, etc.) that has a GUY doing the laundry, dusting, vaccuuming, etc. with NO female in sight. I fear this may never happen.

Fergie looks fabulous; not so much the Black Eyed Peas dude with the crotch of his pants down to his knees. My gangsta patients wear their pajama bottoms like that. "Boom, boom" indeed.

I Already Forgot What This Category Is:

Katrina: (bikini girl): annoying.
Alexis: OMG, don't wear out those fingers.
Tiffany: Simon said she sang like a donkey. THAT was rude. True, but rude.

Katrina wins? Pleaase. Simon only liked her b/c she was, uh, mosly naked (and still is). But hey, she can sing!

Almost 9:00. How much longer can I keep this up? Puppy's snoring. I'd like to join him, except...not in the crate.

Cindy Lauper's "Time After Time"--lovely! Is that a zither she's playing?

I love seeing Kris's and Adam's parents.

Danny Gokey and David Cook have matching face scraggle. But Danny's performance is beautiful--and now he's singing with LIONEL RITCHIE!!! How can he not faint?

(Rats, now I wish I'd bought those buy-one-get-one-free Rainbow Twizzlers I passed up this morning cuz I am jonseing for something, anything--!!!)

Randy looks spiffy. Why can't I remember that new judge's name? Niiiice gown, girlfriend. Still haven't gotten a good look at Simon.

OMG, looks like Adam's auditioning for the part of Edward Scissorhands. But he's singing "Beth" which means...

YESSSS! KISS!!!

(whyyyy do they have to bust a perfectly good guitar at the end?)

Kara. Her name is KARA.

Santana's "Black Magic Woman" segued perfectly into Adam and "Smooth." Pure awesomeness. :) :) :)

Note: I'm rooting for Adam if you haven't figured that out by now.

Simon, as usual, looks like he wishes he were somewhere else...

Sometimes I'm so entranced by the instruments I pay no attention to the singers. Or even to the people playing the instruments. Did I notice it was Steve Martin playing the banjo? Nope.

9:35. Ice cream might be nice. Too bad I don't have any. Too bad nobody'll run out and buy me any.

OK, the guys are singing Rod Stewart. Does that mean...?

...waiting...

OMG. OK, this show ROCKS!

Although...*cough* Rod's plaid jacket kinda reminds me of the coat I made fun of above. You know I got tickets to see Elton John and Billy Joel this weekend, right? Now if I can just see Rod one of these days before one of us croaks.

You know in shows like this, they only let the young, cute, hip people up front near the stage? Yep. I know because I saw Paul Simon and John Mayer at the Rock Hall where they were taping a special for VH1. There were people looking everyone over and telling them exactly where to sit. Groups were broken UP! Er, it goes without saying I ended up waaaaaaaay in the back.

Outstanding Female Performance

Girl that sounded like cat jumping off Empire State Building: don't insult dead cats.
Irene: sang 4 lines before I realized it was "Over the Rainbow."
Girl in hat: hahahahahaha!
Tatiana: why tasers were invented.

Winner: Tatiana

Adam and Kris singing "We Are the Champions" which means--yeah, I figured this out all by myself, haha--that Queen's coming on. Not quite the same without Freddie Mercury, though.

They still made me smile. I don't know if it was nostalgia or the sight of these old dudes ROCKIN' their a$$es off!

9:58. No results yet. It's gonna be ADAM, right? Right?

Ryan says: "THIS IS IT."

The envelope is at hand, the results verified. Drag it out some more, NOT.

The winner is: KRIS

Well.

It was the eyeliner, right?

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

The Moral of the Story is...

...pretty non-existent, which is what I posted in my guest blog for Bookluver-Carol's Reviews. This is also a contest, so be sure to leave a comment after you read. I'd love some feedback from you guys on the subject matter. :)

Contest: Two for One

Ohhh, God. Keep me away from Twitter--it's more addictive than blogging which is "one" reason I haven't, um, been blogging much. Not Blogging is ba-a-ad. Bad, baaaaaaaad, BAD! Down, girl. Play dead. Go eat a worm.

Today, hubby said: "You need to figure out how to work your writing back into your schedule." I guess he realized I'm actually hanging around here lately.

"Dad! Dad! Who's that stranger in our living room!" "That's your mom, son." "My what?" "Your MOM. And be nice to her--she's cooking dinner tonight."

I am, too: a meatloaf...though I might trade it in for a mixing bowl-sized portion of Coco Puffs. Have I mentioned how much I dislike meatloaf?

OK, for lack of any excitement in my life at the moment, I'll self promote: For a chance to win a copy of both Say the Word and Before/After, please check out BOOKS BY THEIR COVER and leave a comment. This contest will run through the end of the week. Say hi to Yan!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Guest Blog and Review of Say the Word

For an inside look at one of the reasons I wrote Say the Word, here's my guest blog plus a very nice review by BOOK CHIC. If you post a comment you may win a signed copy. :)

Warning: one spoiler in my piece, but hey--go!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Monday!

1. I rescheduled my scope for the first week in June. Unfortunately this means juggling my schedule at work.

2. Beth has a thingy on her eyelid which means an appointment at 11:30 tomorrow. It might be a good day to drop Eli off at CBW even though I'm working and will have to pick him up at 1:30. If I do, though, I might be able to squeeze in some writing (or, more likely, cleaning).

3. Got an iTunes card and box of candy for Mothers Day--"In spite of your evilness," is how Nate affectionately put it before he handed it over, lol.

4. I just realized I've never had the flu in my life. According to one of my fave doctors at work (yeah, I have them) you don't vomit with the "real" flu. I've never had the flu and *not* thrown up...which means I evidently never had the flu.

Why do do I bring up "vomit" so often on this blog?

5. Can't wait to see The Soloist. Nathaniel Ayres, who lived in Cleveland before he move to the west coast, was well known to several of my coworkers. They described perfectly how, when hospitalized, he'd sit on the floor in the hall and play his two-stringed violin.

P.S. Hubby says, "Don't you get enough of that at work?"

Please

Mia Farrow needs to adopt another kid. She has waaay too much time on her hands.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

OW OW OW

How many TUMS are considered "too many"? Like, what's the overdose ratio? More than 10 in 4 hours? Cuz I just ate another 10.That's right: another 10. I'm supposed to be "scoped" in July--don't you love that expression? like someone's gonna douse me in minty fresh mouthwash?--but something tells me I better get in sooner before I start spewing blood.

Okay, I'm a drama queen. I promise not to spew blood. But I swear I've got the esophagus of a hard-core alcoholic and I barely toss back three drinks a year. Stress. I'm convinced.

So...anybody out there ever OD on Tums?

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

A Happy Reunion

3 months later, Elijah and his "godfather" Brandon--who rescued him from the side of the road, and gave my family one of the greatest gifts imaginable--finally get to meet each other again!

Photobucket

Eli recognized him! I swear!

Thank you again, Brandon. xox

Monday, May 4, 2009

New REVIEW

Thank you, Becky, for the GREAT REVIEW of SAY THE WORD!

In the meantime I still struggling with revisions of my paranormal. But, funny enough, it's a "happy" struggle. :)