Monday

For once I woke up on a Monday morning fully rested. That took falling asleep early. Unplanned, of course. I'd been writing last night. I remember closing my eyes for just a minute. The next thing I knew hubby was taking my MacBook Pro off me and my glasses. I'd been asleep for two hours.

I got up, changed into jammies, brushed my teeth and went straight back to bed. Even the puppy behaved himself this morning and waited until after 5 am to want out. Amazing how nice even a Monday morning looks when you're not tired!

We had a great weekend. Swim meet all three days and soccer on Friday. A good thing I'm rested because it's going to be a busy week with a soccer Jamboree tonight and a three day tournament this coming weekend, not to mention a dance recital. All of those are for one kid too, our youngest!

But once the recital is over, no more dancing. She had the choice of playing rec soccer and continuing her dance class or playing club soccer and not dancing. She wanted to play at the competitive level so we can scratch one activity off her list!

Hope you had a nice weekend! Enjoy your Monday!

Summer Take 2

The sun has returned to the Pacific Northwest. After all the rain and gray skies we've had, temperatures soared above ninety yesterday. Our second glimpse of summer this spring! Fingers crossed it continues. I'm tired of rain!

I love grumpy cat. Feeling a little grumpy myself this morning, but I hope it passes. I have lots on my To Do list including attend my swim clinic class. I'm now on the 3rd session. Now to build endurance so I don't die when we have to do 50m or 100m. I much prefer 25m at a time!

Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!

Cato is back!

Our puppy Cato is back home with us. He's been with the breeder since the first weekend in April. Boy, has he grown! We're hoping he can stay permanently. He had a couple issues that needed sorting out so we'll see how he does.

Unfortunately that meant sweet little Nash went back to the breeder. We miss him, especially my son. Nash is a very nice little puppy. So much smaller than Cato, but he's nearly three months younger, too. But it was great to have him for the last six weeks! I spoke with the breeder last night and he's doing fine.

So is Cato. It didn't take long (a few minutes) for him to remember the house and get very excited. He even ran to where his old cushion used to be. (Nash wet on it so it had to go away, but we'll get Cato a new one.)

Needless to say, we're all very happy and happy that our baby boy is back home!

Whole 30 Take 3

Cake on Day2? Now that's my kind of diet!

I'm on Day 25 of my third Whole 30 (did the others last year.) It's been easier this time around. I haven't missed not having cake on the diet or candy or had any real cravings. Maybe it's because I know what to expect. Maybe it's because I feel so much better. Or maybe it's because I like having my pants fit looser already!

The key to success that I learned during the second time is preparation. The first time I had a pantry and fridge full of things I could eat. I printed out recipes, figured out menus ahead of time. The second time I didn't. It was awful. I made it the thirty days but was so sick of salad and meat I set myself up for failure when it was over which is why it's taken me 8 months to try it again.

This time I wasn't as prepared as the first time, but I did better than the second. To keep me on track when it's over I ordered a sample pack of food from Pre-Made Paleo that I can heat up if I don't have time to cook as well as some Primal Pacs. My biggest problem is when hubby goes out of town (which happens a lot) since he does most of the cooking around here. I'm hoping having some ready-made-food/snacks will keep me on track after Day 30!

Hope you have a great Wednesday!

Happy Mother's Day

Hope your day is wonderful, Moms! 

Big Brothers

On Wednesday, Rose went to a friend's house for a playdate. Kids call it something else these days, but it's still a playdate. She hurt her middle finger on her left hand.

I didn't think too much about the injury. She wasn't crying. There wasn't much swelling or bruising. But she kept saying it hurt to bend it.

On Thursday morning, the finger was swollen like a sausage and black & blue. Oops. But it was state testing day so she had to do that! A good thing it wasn't her writing hand.

After lunch as we were driving home I told her we were going to Urgent Care to have her finger looked at. Rose was fine with that until...

Finn told her to say goodbye to her finger because if she couldn't bend it the doctor would chop it off. He said it so seriously and then backed it up with totally made up science as to why amputation would be necessary.

I got on him right away, but the damage was done. Rose was sure her finger was a goner. Big crocodile tears streamed from her eyes. She kept saying she didn't want to lose her finger. She wasn't going to the doctor's now.

Meanwhile Finn is laughing like a fiend.  He finally fessed up, but the damage was done.

When we finally got to Urgent Care, she had her first X-ray and yes, I had to assure her that 1) It wouldn't hurt and 2) Her finger would still be there when she was finished.

Sigh...

The joy of having a big brother.

Did you have a brother who did stuff like that to you?

Tuesday Teaser!

Today I'm participating in Teaser Tuesday on my Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to read it.) I'll be posting a snippet from Winning Back His Wife and tagging ten other offers who are participating.

The goal is to introduce readers to our writing as well as new-to-them authors and maybe get a few more "Likes" on our pages!

Click this link if you want to visit my page! And be sure to check out the authors I tagged!

This!

If you ever wanted to know what dinnertime is like at my house, just look at the pic to the left. I wish I were kidding, but I'm not. My cats aren't on the table (though they'll try) but they lean off the cat tree like they might bound onto your plate at any minute, especially if salmon or chicken in being served.

You'd think they are starving. They aren't. But they like to eat, especially what we are eating.

Of course, we also have Chaos, who thinks she's the official taste tester for each of us. Fortunately she listens better than the cats.

The worst time is during deadlines when food is brought to me. The cats keep getting closer and closer to me. Okay, my plate. I have to eat fast and not because I should get back to work!

I hope you have a nice Monday and that this week goes much better than last for all of us! 

My Turn

Finn was sick last week. Now it's my turn.

I caught whatever he had. My throat is burning. Swallowing hurts. Head pounding.

The kid spent three days on the couch or in bed, sleeping much of the time. Unfortunately, I don't have time for that.

Sigh...

I think there should be some automatic immunity given to someone caring for the sick. Too bad the germs don't agree.

I'm heading back to bed once I know my oldest is ready and off to school.

Hope you're feeling well!

Finicky Cats

This morning two cats decided they did not want to finish breakfast. Instead one went over and licked the dog bowl. I'd added a little goat's milk to that one to soften up the kibbles. The other disappeared to see if there was food elsewhere in the house. He'll soon be back disappointed.

Of course, this means the hunger pains that hit around lunchtime (they eat three times a day) will start a little earlier unless I give them a snack (a bowl of something to self-feed.) I do mix up the foods and brands they get so they don't get bored, but I wonder if they do this on purpose in order to get a snack. But that would take concerted effort, one I haven't seen since my old three (two of which are no longer with us) rallied against Chaos after we adopted her. Or maybe they're picky and finicky because their cats. That's much more likely.

I just hope they don't expect lunch at 9 am today!

Have a great Wednesday!

Insane day

I feel like applying my face to the wall. It's still early but so far:

1) Minivan was dropped off at the car dealership at 7 am to be fixed.

2) Interview and giveaway scheduled for today postponed due to the website's host being down. I feel so bad for her because it's totally out of her hands and I now how frustrating that can be when I had issues with a site hosting my fonts (they were recently switched because of that.)

3) One of the cats threw up this morning while I was doing #1 and made a total mess in the landing.

Are you having a normal day or an insane one.

Wish Our Devil Dog A Happy Birthday!

 Back in November, we adopted a Marine through Soldiers' Angels. SA is a fantastic organization that helps deployed service members, wounded warriors, veterans and families. There are lots of different ways to get involved. Some don't take much money, just a little time to write a letter and a stamp to mail it!

I've mentioned this before, but I joined SA after watching a web show on SOFREP called INSIDE THE TEAM ROOM featuring three former Navy SEALs including Chris Kyle, who inspired me to do more than just say "Thanks for your service" when I saw a uniformed service member or met a veteran.

I sent off our first letter, introducing our family to him, then went about making a care package. A Christmas care package due to the date and mailing time to the Middle East. Delivery times slow way down to the volume being sent.


Many times, you never hear from your adoptee. You're told when you sign up not to expect a response. Who can blame the service members for not being in touch. They are busy over there, working long hours, often seven days a week. But you keep writing your letters and sending your care packages to show your support and gratitude for what they're doing and hope what you're sending is things your "silent soldier" wants or needs.

Sometimes you get an adoptee who has access to a computer or likes to write letters. Those letters are called "free mail" because the service members aren't required to use a stamp. They write "Free" where the stamp would go. When you receive an email or letter, you feel oh-so-blessed to have heard back.


I wasn't expecting to hear back from our adoptee. But we received an email from our adoptee the day his letter arrived. Talk about a wonderful surprise. He sounded so nice and excited to hear from us. Since then, we have been in almost daily contact (depending on his workload and what he's doing). It's been an awesome experience for the entire family.

We love him so much. He calls us his "beautiful family" and he is a big part of it now!

Well it's his birthday!

His cake arrived in time, but his other birthday boxes didn't so this will be a prolonged celebration. (So glad I thought to stick a couple boxes of Little Debbie snack cakes in the party box!)

I thought it would be nice to collect birthday greetings in the comment section and email them to our favorite Devil Dog. I'll also give him a link to the comment section.

If you'd like to leave our Marine a birthday greeting, please post a comment and I'll send it his way.

Thanks! And oorah!

Semper Fi

Mock Trial

Yesterday was the start to Mackenna's Mock Trial competition. She's a prosecutor and doing the closing statement. This is her freshman year so we had no idea what to expect. It was really interesting.

The case involves domestic terrorism and a sovereign nation citizen. Bomb maker, linguistic professors from Stanford, mushroom picker... It's pretty interesting to see the kids get into character when they hit the witness stand.

Mackenna looked very lawyer-like in one of her suits, black pumps with heels and panty-hose. It was hard to believe this young woman standing up and and saying "Objection!" was my daughter! I was very proud.

Lawyers are the jury and go over notes with the students after each trial to help them learn from the experience. Later today, they'll find out how they did with each time they go to trial. I believe each team tries the case three time against other schools.

Not sure I'll make it back to the Clark County Court House for the final case today, but I was so glad I attended her two cases yesterday.

Have a great day!

A Slow Start

I had wanted to get into an exercise routine back at the start of the new year. I miss doing Crossfit, but wasn't sure I was up for going back since I can't do anything where my wrists are at a 90 degree angle (give or take a few degrees) so that means no push-ups, burpees, etc.

Of course, getting sick in January and then having the deadline in February meant everything, including exercise took a back seat. So with March right around the corner, I'm going to try again! The kids are dying to go skiing. And I want to climb! Anything has to be better than what I'm doing now...which isn't much!

Are you working out? What's your fave thing to do?

Yawn...

I must admit this is how I feel this Monday morning. Chalk it up to a busy three days at the swim meet, trying to keep up with what the rest of the family was up to while away then catching up when we arrived home!

The swim meet turned out great for Finn: 5 personal best times (and one disqualification) in individual events. He moved up his seed ranking in all but the DQ event! His two relay teams dropped time, too. We had some nice mother/son bonding time, too!

The girls had a better results at Sunday's dog show than Saturday's. Rose placed 4th in Juniors with Piper, an Australian Shepherd. Mackenna didn't place in Juniors, but showed Grand Finale in Breed and received Winners Bitch and Best Opposite!

Last night, when we were all back together, we had pizza and watched the Oscars! I loved the Les Mis song. I was happy with the results for the big awards, too.

How was your weekend?

Done!

I emailed the complete of the final Hood Hamlet series book! Such a relief to be finished. Of course, I'm only really starting since I have to wait for revisions then after that page proofs!

But getting this complete in was a big deal for me. I love this series so much, but writing about a character who's been in my head for six years meant he took over, and sometimes in a big way. I'm normally a stick to the synopsis type, but Bill Paulson didn't agree with that. Needless to say, I'm a bit nervous what the revisions might be. Only time will tell!

Not much else to say except now I can get caught up on giving out the giveaway prizes, sending autographed books and cleaning. All things that got shoved aside the last few weeks so I could write!

My weekend was spent writing until my head hurt. What did you do?

Happy Valentine's Day!

I can't believe it's February 14th! Wasn't it just New Year's day?

Yesterday the kidlets got their Valentine's cards together. Rose is passing out wild animal cards. Finn made LEGO Anakin ones with a glo-bracelet for the Lightsaber that I found on the Internet. Mackenna didn't seem that interested in cards or anything.

My day will be spent writing and with hubby! He's in town so I want to make the most of that and celebrate the day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Do you have any big plans?

Cave Writing

I wish I had an editor kitty who fixed plots and helped me make my deadlines. Unfortunately I have spoiled kitties who don't understand that mommy needs to write and think I have all day and night to give them love.

Thankfully I'm being disciplined. The deadline is only days away so I'm retreating into my writing cave.

Must. Get. It. Done.

Of course, the cats are coming with me. They go everywhere I go. Well, if I'm in my house and I've yet to find an actual cave where I could have an unlimited supply of ice tea, snacks and WiFi.

Do you have any thing you must finish?

Friday!

I haven't been blogging or on-line much. My latest manuscript is due next Friday so I've been saving all my words for the story!

I wish I could spend my Friday writing, but there's a field trip to OMSI I've got to take the kidlets, too. I'm bringing my MacBook just in case I can find a few minutes to write. The last two weeks of a deadline are always like this, but I've got a very sick cat (Rocket) and am ready to be finished. Even if it means closing the book on Hood Hamlet literally.

What have you got going on this Friday?

All Aboard!

I'm taking a train to Seattle this morning. I haven't traveled by train in years, but my friend Elizabeth Boyle suggested I do that instead of drive so I could have time to write. Given my upcoming deadline and need to make up some pages, this should work out perfectly.

I'm heading north to participate on a romance author panel at the ALA (American Library Association) conference on Saturday. There's also a book signing. The icing is getting to spend time with Elizabeth and her family!

What are you up to this weekend?