Is it me?

All of a sudden I'm having a bitch of a time keeping up with my blog and emails. I haven't decided if this is:

a. I really am busy and have lots more stuff to do in my life;

b. The heat is already getting to me and is slowing me down;

c. It's Summer and I'm in a vacation state of mind;

d. You people are writing more stuff than ever; or

e. All of the above.

At any rate I'm barely keeping up. It's entertaining as hell, but I'm usually too busy at work to participate in the emails or have too many posts to get through at night to comment much.

Crap-ola, I'm complaining again, aren't I?

*sulking* How'd THAT happen??????

Someday I'm hoping to actually review books again.

What's Love Got To Do With It?

From my seees-teer. Cracked me up.

Women's Love Poem
Before I lay me down to sleep,
I pray for a man, who's not a creep,
One who's handsome, smart and strong
One who loves to listen long,
One who thinks before he speaks,
One who'll call, not wait for weeks.
I pray he's gainfully employed,
When I spend his cash, won't be annoyed.
Pulls out my chair and opens my door,
Massages my back and begs to do more.
Oh! Send me a man who'll make love to my mind,
Knows what to answer to 'how big is my behind?'
I pray that this man will love me to no end,
And always be my very best friend.


Mens Love Poem
I pray for a deaf-mute nymphomaniac with
huge boobs who owns a bar on a golf course,
and loves to send me fishing and hunting.
This doesn't rhyme and I don't give a shit.

Books and Sonic

So we were coming home from a shopping trip two weeks ago and I glance across from our freeway exit only to have my eyes bug out of my head. I do my famous Linda Blair impression and squeal out, "We have a Sonic?!"

After flinching from the shriek GG glances over and nods, "I guess so". My hunny bunny is a commuter. Technically since it takes me 30 minutes most mornings to get to work, I am too. However, since my commute is half the distance, in the opposite direction, and is through town, I don't get on the freeway.

In other words for the last several months as the very large SONIC was constructed, my beloved who drove by it 5 days a week for about three months, did not mention a very large new eating establishment going up smack in the middle of our 'restaurant row'.

It's not that I'm a huge Sonic fan. I haven't even been to a Sonic in years. However, I can't believe a huge new building and development went up and he drove by it almost every day without mentioning it. Even once. I'm just sayin'...

Anyway said new Sonic opened today. Shmoo wanted to eat there.
Yeah, had we waited in the car line we might expect to get in long about Christmas. We decided to skip it and went to In-n-Out Burger instead. Yeah, so not on the diet plan. I even ate some french fries. Not many, but still.

In other news...

I got all the books I was looking for today. Well except for the Linda Howard which apparently didn't release today. I don't think. I scoured that store and couldn't find it anywhere. The line at Customer Service was too long for me to wait in since the line to check out was very long also. After a long day at work I couldn't bear dealing with both of those lines.

Besides I was still on a high having found SAM'S CREED by Sarah McCarty. Yippee skippy doo-dah day! Can't wait to read that one.

Here's the other books I bought.

Pretty cool, huh? Anybody else have a happy book buying day?

Monday, Monday

Monday beat me up. Bad. I'm looking forward to a shorter Tuesday and new books. Anybody else racing to the bookstore?

Oh and I'm down to the last 30 "old" posts. *snaps fingers* Posts should be all caught up tomorrow. Famous last words.

Final Tally and Resisting Temptation

At 11:57 PM last night I had 64 posts to go. I skipped a couple of Megan Hart's video blogs, skimmed a few reviews, especially repeats, but I'm getting there. Next I'm getting my book lists and book shelves organized. I want to be in good shape, literally and figuratively, before I go to RWA.

It wasn't all blog reading all the time either. I did do some laundry and watch a movie with GG. Oh, and there was the divine chicken marsala and a bit of reading Julia Quinn's latest release, THE LOST DUKE OF WYNDHAM.

I saw alot of reviews for LOVER ENSHRINED by JR Ward. I'm reading between the lines but it looks like a 'meh' read for most people. Secondary characters seemed to have saved the day. I did enjoy reading Ms. Ward's account about selling the BDB series and her broken HVAC that she shared on Dear Author. However, after having a furious rant about LOVER UNBOUND last year I've had no trouble resisting purchasing LOVER ENSHRINED. Hopefully it stays that way.

It's also a first for me not to buy the latest Plum book. The 14th Stephanie Plum book by Janet Evanovich released this past week and I didn't buy it. *takes deep breath* I saw it at both Barnes & Noble and Super Target. I conquered my knee jerk Pavlovian response and passed it by. For now. Hopefully a weak moment and curiousity don't get the best of me.

Good thing this week has some good books out, with Linda Howard's book DEATH ANGEL, Marjorie M. Liu's IRON HUNT and I'm also looking forward to Lorraine Heath's IN BED WITH THE DEVIL. Word has it we can order SAM'S CREED by Sarah McCarty too. It's due out in a week so I don't know whether to order or wait. I'm really looking forward to that one.

Bring on the week. I'm ready!

I lied...231

I'm mid-list of my Google Reader. Top third of alphabet done. Bottom third done. (Sybil could you guys just stop posting for a day or two?)

Thanks to Dev's posts on Jennifer Crusie's books we ordered chicken marsala for lunch. Just me and GG...eating in (or "eating take out" whatever floats your boat) on a Sunday afternoon. Decadence. Don't you love it?

281...

I'm eating lunch and reading a book. Try not to write too much while I'm away. I'm catching up, but my eyes are also crossing at this point.

Love ya!

The Countdown...

You didn't ask, but when has that ever stopped me? I started with 635 posts to read. I'm "down" to 385. Google Reader is the bomb. You guys are so cool! You make me laugh, green with envy, rejoice and well, TIRED. Where do you find the time to do all the stuff you do? Please, somebody say it's not just me.

Crikeys did you read Jane at Dear Author's creds? Ho-lee!!! I'm a slacker. I never think there are enough hours in the day and then I read what she's been up to. Mercy!

Okay, so re-cap. I'm close to halfway through my back blog posts. I think I might need a break, but then you'll all just be adding to the posts.

Lordy if there's anything I dislike worse than procrastinating (for which in my checkered past I could have won awards) it's whining (for which I could most recently have won awards).

Damn. Laundry is beginning to look good after reading this. Which, I'm not going to do, because, I won't post it if I do.

I know. I'm not making sense. I'm blog drunk...

I'll be watching you...

I'm feeling so much better. Rested. Relaxed. I know. I know. You are thinking exactly what I would be thinking if I were reading this. Please! No more whining!

No whining today. I promise.

Now for the good stuff. I went swimming this morning. I went swimming and didn't feel like I was dragging a volkswagen behind me for the first time in what seems like forever. It felt great.

Then I dragged poor GG with me and went to see the SEX AND THE CITY movie. It was surprisingly good which is what I'd heard from people here and there and why I went. So glad I did. AND, last but most certainly not least, I'm reading! Life finally feels back to normal. Whew! Big sigh of relief there.

See Lucy? She's looking around and checking things out. That's my goal this weekend. I want to get back in the saddle again with the blogging. It's weird how you miss people you mostly know only online, but I did miss you all. Lots. And I missed your stories, comments, thoughts and reviews. Just thinking about it...well, I missed you.

But I'm back bay-bee! So watch out. Oh and you all know what a Nosy Nora I am. So just figure that I'll probably be reading and commenting on some of your older posts. Forgive me. I can't help myself. I have to know what' been going on. So, I'm off on my adventures. See ya around campus!

Thoughts on a Drive to Work

The sky is really blue today. Too bad I have to work.

Hey, I think I'll put on the radio. I haven't done that in forever.

OMG! I can't believe C____ is still on the air. Gads! I wish she'd call it a day already.

Oh. Here's a good one.... |dum* dum * dum*singing along*| It's 5 o'clock somewhere!

Love that song. What's the date today?

Today's Wednesday. Hey, it's June 18th!

Crap! Damn it! I think my TBR Review is due today.

I read that Carla Kelley book, MRS DREW PLAYS HER HAND. Did I write the review? Start it? Crap! I can't remember.

What are we doing tonight? I can do it when... Today is Wednesday. We swim on Wednesdays. We missed so much swimming last week.

|singing again| It's 5 o'clock somewhere!

I'll skip the review this month. I suck. I hate when I miss a deadline. I could still go home and do it... GG will be ready to swim.

I'm sooooo behind reading posts. When am I going to get my groove back? It hasn't been that long... It seems like FOREVER.

IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE!

I haven't had a GOOD margarita in a long time. A very lime-y, slushy margarita sounds good. It's so hot. I wonder if the sky will stay blue? This song is so perfect for summer and hot...

It's 5 o'clock somewhere!

Field Trip

Aloha!

GG and I at graduation with Beanie. We sent our pic to Shmoo and he sent us his. We shared a moment. Alas, his photo from his phone is too small to share.






Whew! He's graduated... Beanie looking on.
Side note: Beanie always wears some sort of ball cap. There's never an occasion that doesn't require a hat. He looks like he just came in from plowing the back 40. He's cute. I love him. But, the hat? *sigh*






Everyone who attended the party got their pictures taken.* Wish I could share more but I didn't get releases signed, permissons granted, etc. etc. etc. Although my nearest and dearest KNOW I have a blog, so doesn't that imply everything's game if they don't say "off the record" first? Heh heh. GG looks pained. I don't know why, I'm the one who got groped. Note the lovely garage cabinets in the background. We had a tropical back drop on the other wall. Could we take pictures there? Oh nooooooo.... it might block the path to the beer. Aargh!! I lost that argument before it even got started.

Shmoo's car got egged and saran wrapped last night. He thinks it's the ex-girlfriend. He's plotting revenge. I'm praying and lecturing while setting up a bail bond account. Yeah, everything's back to normal.

*No humans were harmed OR intoxicated in the taking of these photos. Fun was had by all.

And so it goes...

0 books read.

400 unread posts on Google Reader.

One new high school graduate.

Two ecstatic and tired parents.

One eager college-bound brother.

Luau in 48 hours.

ACCESS ROMANCE column turned in and published today by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin.

Oh blah-dee

Oh blah-dah

Life goes on...

On Reading

Miraculously today while waiting in the car while GG generously pumped gas (in my car) I got to read about 10 pages of MML's WILD ROAD. I've hardly started the book and am already struck by how well written it is. In a few sentences I was fully immersed in the story.

I finished the chapter and had to put the book down. As we drove home all I could think about was the scene I had just read. I sat there in wonder at the nuances Ms. Liu was able to capture. Then I thought about how introspective, self aware, and perceptive a good writer has to be. Sort of like a really good therapist who can interact with a patient and also observe behavior. A good writer does all that and then finds the words to evoke the observations AND emotions of the characters. Pretty fantastic stuff.

I love reading. I really do.

The longest blog and catching up...

Did you ever go into a store for a couple of things and spend $100? The bookstore doesn't count. I figure most of the people who are reading this already do that.

No I mean have you ever innocently walked into say MICHAELS arts and craft store for two things, just TWO and left with one bag that cost you $100? Well, I set some kind of land speed record when I did this yesterday in just 30 minutes. I stopped for filler pages and post extensions for Shmoo's scrapbook and began buying little things called "embellishments" for the scrapbook. Like these music ones I got for Shmoo. Anyway, the next thing I know I'm walking out of the store with one bag and $100 poorer. At this rate I'm going to request a Lloyd's of London appraisal on the scrapbook when I'm finished.

Amazingly, I've only re-done 2 pages. Which if you knew my track record you'd widen your eyes in amazement. I haven't progressed beyond the Shmoo's 2nd grade which is where I was on Monday. So I've got the next 10 years of his life to finish this weekend. I HAVE TO. When I go to bed Sunday night the scrapbook and letter book both have to be done. Finis. Finito. The End. Seriously. I CAN'T be working on it until graduation. Not happening.

You believe me...right?

On the other hand, all the stuff for the luau is awesome. The invitations turned out cute. Except for making final decisions on food we're in good shape for the party.

Fortunately, Shmoo tracked down enough tickets for everyone who will be here on graduation day. 15. The little schmuckety will have 15 people in the crowd cheering their brains out. I'll be loudest of all. He's graduating. Halleluia!

In other news, work has decided to be insane this past week. Totally nutso. My boss surprised me today and told me that I could have Wednesday, Thursday and Friday off next week. That was very welcome news. One of my sisters will be here visiting and I'll be able to enjoy my time with her AND get everything done for the party AND go to Beanie's college tour on Thursday. Yippee skippy doo-dah day!

Someday I'm going to tell you about how I almost committed a capital crime in a SPRINT store this week trying to buy my new phone. Here's my pretty.

Good Lord I've never had so much trouble giving someone money in my life. I want to buy a phone and renew my contract for two years and you'd think I was trying to rob the place instead of giving them business. All I can say is "Thank you Arnie in Texas!" for letting me buy my phone. After much angst and wailing I got my phone yesterday and finally got it activated and synced with all my stuff. It doesn't take much to make me happy. Really.

Beanie had his last day at junior college today. Three years and two AAs later he's graduating and off to Cal State Fullerton next year. You can count on hearing more about that as the summer progresses. We are all excited about his new adventure. I've worried and fretted from time to time, but I'm also very proud of him.

Shmoo has his last final tomorrow. So we are down to less than a week until graduation and 9 days until the party. Time seems accelerated right now. Posting will probably continue to be sporadic and Lord knows when I'll catch up on reading any of yours. I try to catch up and read from google reader randomly, but they seem to reproduce more quickly than I'm reading.

This is the longest post ever but I sleep better knowing I've told you more than you want to know everything. I've got my paltry (9? 10?) May reading half written. Maybe I'll get it posted over the weekend. We'll see. I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.

F R I E N D S

Look!

See?

This lovely thing came in the mail.

What am I doing with it when it doesn't release until August?

My favorite librarian, SL Wendy, sent it to me. Seems Dorchester was giving ARCs of WILD ROAD away at BEA. Knowing my love for MML Wendy snagged one for me. What a friend. A pal. A fellow lover of the written word.

How or why she found the time on Saturday to mail it to me, I'll never know, but I got it on Monday. You gotta love a friend like that.

I bow to you SL and thanks so much for the wonderful surprise and the quick delivery.

Gargoyles people! Gargoyles!!!

This was too exciting not to post. May list will be up tomorrow.

What's New in my World

In a little less than two weeks, it will all be over...Shmoo's graduation and the party. This is all keeping me young. Right? Work. Exercise. Chores. Party planning. I should be about 18 by the time the party is over. I keed... I keed... (Only sort of. Heh heh)

It's all good and aside from worrying that I'm going to have my back against the wall again with the scrapbooking, everything is going pretty well. Even the scrapbook. I always forget until I get going on this stuff how long the arranging, then rearranging, redesigning, finally cutting, pasting and hoping it's what I really like...takes. In 8 1/2 hours today I did six pages. SIX!

Unfortunately I only got to work on the scrapbook one day again this weekend. We had a very busy Saturday with shopping, chores and then a friend's birthday party. I was too beat to start anything last night. Well except for a book.

I had to read it I tell ya! I won RUNNING WILD by Sarah McCarty in a contest over at Lisabea's. I love Sarah McCarty books. So you can see why I HAD to postpone the scrapbooking until today. Don't you?

BTW, you should check out the link to her page as she has a new letter up on the home page talking about her upcoming releases. I'm excited because the next book in the Hell's Eight series SAM'S CREED is releasing in July. Just one more month and another Sarah McCarty book is out AND it's a western. Bliss I tell you. Bliss.

Anyway, I'm working on my dismal May reading list and will post that tomorrow. God willing.