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I saw this on my news feed on Facebook. It put a smile on my face and I hope it puts one on yours, too!



Hope you have a nice Monday!

No!

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I feel the same way as the LOLcat above! Wish we were just starting the weekend.

Rain

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I'm waiting for the rain to stop. It's been crazy wet here in the PNW. They have even mentioned the F-word...floods.

I've been putting some dents into my Christmas shopping in spite of the wetness outside. A good thing since I've been hit with a horrible head cold. But I'm not letting that stop me too much. Christmas will be here on the 25th so I can't put that off. And the kidlets need to be places. Plus I'm not about to stop writing because I don't want to wind up in crazy deadline mode come January. I do not want a repeat of November. Ever!

As soon as there is a break in the weather, we're going to cut down a Christmas tree. I miss that experience and so do the kidlets. We'll put the tree on our porch and decorate it with lights!

I also forgot to mention that the Bellingham Mountain Rescue 2011 calendars arrived. If you missed by post on them, go here to read it. The pictures are incredible. So is the quality of the calendar. It also supports a great cause. If you need a Christmas gift for someone in your life, check them out. They arrived very quickly, too.

I just got my Commando hook yesterday so I could put it up next to the table where I write. It'll provide great inspiration as I work on the new Mount Hood mountain rescuer story. Better get back to it.

Any plans for today?

Rescue Research

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I've been researching and writing my new proposal. Working title is Christmas Magic in Hood Hamlet. Not every original, but I've got a head cold that won't go away. All creativity is being saved for the words.

Yesterday I read the book Pickets and Deadmen written by a former female Mt. Rainier climbing ranger and a bunch of other mountain rescue articles on the Internet. I have the opening scene roughed out, but something isn't quite right, and I'm hoping some extra research will tell me what.

I had an idea in the shower (that's where I do my best plotting/brainstorming) and want to explore it a little. Just need to get through a few things this morning so I can take advantage of a chunk of writing time after lunch.

What are you up to today? I also want to squeeze in a trip to Borders to take advantage for their newest 40% off coupon and maybe dash by Target, too!

Sing Off

If you're not watching NBC's Sing Off, you should be. It's an awesome show with incredible talent. I just love it! It's on Monday and Wendesday nights at 8 pm. This is one of the songs from last night's show with all the groups. It's also a song from Christmas Magic on the Mountain's book soundtrack. Enjoy!



My fave group is Committed. Those guys are so talented!

Cat Carrier

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Last night I dreamed about one of my cats going everywhere with me, including Toys R Us. I think I spent most of my dream trying to catch Spirit. Using a car seat for her would have been much better!

When I woke this morning, I stretched my legs out. Not sure how many cats were sleeping on my feet and legs, but by the sounds of them falling off the bed at least two. Oops.

Well, it's a crazy Wednesday. I've already made it to Mass. There's still a lot more things on my schedule. Better get busy.

Have a great day!

Cats and trees

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The tree is up, but no decorations yet only light. We're still trying to gauge Yoda's interest in it. Last year, we didn't put any breakable ornaments up because we were worried what he would do. We may do the same this year.

Yoda is over a year old, but he's still very much a kitten only bigger. A lot bigger. He could do some serious damage if he climbed the tree. Right now he's just hanging out underneath it and standing up through the lower branches.

As for the tree, it's face with the lights already attached. We used to always have a real tree, but I finally figured out the reason I would get a sinus infection every Christmas. I'm allergic to the tree. Not sure if it's the tree itself or the mold, but it happened every single year. Except the last two!

I miss cutting down a Christmas tree so we're going to go out to a tree farm and get one for our porch. We have tons of leftover lights. The kidlets are very excited.

Is your tree up already? Is it real or an artificial one?

One Final Winner...

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The giveaway celebrating the release of Christmas Magic on the Mountain is now over. Let's see who is the final winner of an Amazon.com gift card.

Here are your random numbers:

9

Timestamp: 2010-12-06 15:04:15 UTC

The winner is Brandy with her comment on my post Help a Mountain Rescue Group. Brandy, please use my contact link above to send me your email address. Thanks!

Thanks to everyone who posted comments and entered the contest.

A To Do Weekend

My Advent cleaning and Christmas preparations start today. Later than usual, but that's because of the deadlines I had last month. We try to get things up by the first Sunday in Advent, but that didn't happen this year or last. Pretty much, nothing really got done in November except writing. So today is my catch up on the To Do list day.

I had a couple of days mid-month in between turning in the complete and getting the revisions so I could clean a little then, folding laundry and restocking the pantry and fridge. But that wasn't nearly enough now that I've had another couple of weeks doing nothing. When hubby shops, he only buys what's needed for whatever meal we're going to eat. Not sure if that's a guy thing or his thing, but it's been like that for 15 1/2 years of marriage. I don't think it's going to change.

We did manage to get the chocolate Advent calendars for the kidlets so at least I haven't been a total failure at things around here.

I also cleaned out my closet again. I've found the first time I can't get rid of everything, but I'm not as attached the second time. (A lot like revising, actually.) If something didn't fit, it went into a bag. I need to lose weight (I've lost five pounds already), but most of the smaller stuff was a few years old anyway. No reason to keep it cluttering the space. If I get to my goal weight, I can buy stuff that fits and is more in style.

So that's my plan for today, what's yours?

Kitty in Trouble

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One of my furbabies has been using the clean laundry waiting to be folded as a litter box. The only problem is we weren't sure which one. I had my suspicions, but I needed more proof.

Yesterday, I was resting when I heard something. I sat up in bed and noticed Rocket walking around on the pile of laundry. One of the cats, Spirit, likes to sleep on the clothes when they come out of the dryer so I didn't think it was her. Rocket usually likes to sleep on something soft so I figured he was looking for a place to nap.

Nope. The darn cat squatted. I shouted and jumped out of bed. Surprised, he shot out of the room before he could do his business. But he wasn't fast enough to get away from me.

He spent the rest of the day locked in the laundry room. They love to be with me, so this is a harsh punishment for them. It's time for his checkup so I'll have them check his urine, but I'm pretty sure this is a behavior issue. If things aren't just so he acts out this way. At least he's done so before, but I thought he'd outgrown it.

Time to relook at the liter box situation and a few other things.

Any big plans for you today? I'm taking it easy and resting as much as I can.

Help a Mountain Rescue Group

Those of you who have read my Hood Hamlet - Christmas Magic books know mountain rescue is near and dear to my heart. These men and women volunteer their time and skills to help others in need. It's not just climbers, but also hikers, snowshoers, skiers, snowboarders, mushroom pickers, the list goes on. They are real life heroes though they would be the first to disagree with that statement. (Trust me, I've had this discussion with several of them while researching my books!)

Bellingham Mountain Rescue in Washington state is selling 2011 calenders to raise money for their organization. Here's what one of the members has to say about their fundraiser:

For those looking for a Holiday gift as well as a way to support a good cause, please consider buying a 2011 Bellingham Mountain Rescue calendar.

The calendars are a limited edition and feature photos taken in and around Whatcom County by local photographers.

The proceeds directly support the efforts of the all volunteer Bellingham Mountain Rescue by providing us with funds for new equipment and training materials.

The calender is $15. If you want to order one, go to the BMRC website. You'll see a Paypal button where you can order.

I saw a proof of the calendar, and all I can say is it's gorgeous. If you want to see a preview, go here to the Cascade Climbers forum. Scroll down to the first post that has PREVIEW added to the header. You can download a preview of the twelve photographs used.

I'll be ordering my copies today!

Please Vote!

I received an email last night from the Cover Cafe. Christmas Magic on the Mountain is one of the ten finalists in the annual Holiday Favorites Cover Contest. If you have time, please go here to vote. One voter will be chosen to win a prize. You can vote until December 20th. Thanks!

In other news, really good news, my revisions for Not-So-Perfect Princess were accepted. I'm going to take another day off before getting the new due dates for the next Mount Hood/Hood Hamlet mountain rescuer story! I'm still pretty worn out and trying to catch up with all I let slide while writing and then jumping right into revisions!

Have a nice Wednesday!

Kittehs in Books

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The manuscript I just sent off, Not-So-Perfect-Princess, has a kitten in it. One a lot like my Yoda. I love putting pets in stories, but I don't think they'll be any animals in the new Hood Hamlet book. With my heroine's job and hobbies, I don't see her having a pet. Do you like to read books with animals in them?

I'm hoping to hear from my editor about the revisions in the next day or so. In the meanwhile, I'm researching my new project. What I really need is a break, but I spent most of yesterday volunteering at school and today I'll be running around until lunchtime then trying to get ready for the classes I teach tomorrow afternoon. I'm also trying to put together a newsletter for a Norwegian Elkhound group, but having trouble with one of the files they sent me. Fingers crossed I can figure that out since it's the group's treasurer report!

Needless to say I was up early so I could get some writing/research done! What's your day like today?

Another winner!

I emailed my revisions last night. Huge sigh of relief. Now the waiting begins. I hope my editor like the manuscript!

I came across this on a loop I belong to. The title is SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A NOVEL. It's really funny, especially since people have said similar things to me when they find out I'm a writer.



It really put a smile on my face!

It's time to announce the weekly winner. Sorry for the delay, but I had to be somewhere early this morning and just got home. No time to blog! Here are your random numbers:

15

Timestamp: 2010-11-29 21:47:56 UTC

The winner is Dru! She posted a comment on A Tale of Two Covers. Dru, please send me your email address via the contact button above. I mentioned under my contest link above, but I'll mention it again. I'm going to send all the gift cards out at once next week when the contest is over. It's just easier on me that way!

This is the final week of the Amazon gift certificate giveaway. There won't be another contest for a while so be sure to enter. Each comment on the blog gets you an entry. For more info, click on the contest link above.

Missing Black Friday

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One of favorite things to do each year is go Black Friday shopping. After dinner on Thanksgiving evening, I plan out where I want to go and what I want to buy. I lay out my clothes, my plan and advertisements ahead of time. And then I set the alarm. Hubby even packs me food!

Yes, I'm a Black Friday shopper. It may sound crazy, but I love shopping the day after Thanksgiving. It puts me in the mood for Christmas and I can usually finish up or put a big dent in my Christmas shopping list.

Black Friday is the one day of the year I think it's normal to wake up at four o'clock in the morning to stand in line in the freezing cold with all the other bargain-hunting shoppers.

But not this year.

I decided to stay home and revise my manuscript instead. I spent the entire day and evening writing. I didn't even head to the stores later in the day to see if anything was left as I did last year when I was on deadline for Christmas Magic on the Mountain.

It wasn't easy. Those flyers from yesterday's paper kept calling to me. But I resisted. My bank account thanks me, but I missed hitting the stores and scoring a with a perfect present on super sale.

Two years in a row now I've missed the early morning be there when the doors open. Last year though I headed out a little later and still managed to get what I wanted. Let's hope I'm not under deadline again next November and can be in line with all the other crazy shoppers!

Did you go shopping yesterday? If so, did you find any bargains?

A Tale of Two Covers

If you've noticed, there are some similarities with my two Hood Hamlet Christmas Magic book covers. If you want to hear what mountain rescuer heroes Jake Porter and Sean Hughes think about that, go here to read today's blog at LASR. If you want to know the question you'll need to answer about the blog to enter the $20 Amazon gift card giveaway, go here first. There's a link to get to the blog there.

Are you Black Friday shopping this?  I usually am in line before the stores open, but not this year. I'm working on my revisions this year, but I may check out a few of the online sales when I take breaks.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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I have so much to be grateful for on this Thanksgiving Day. I'm looking forward to a relaxing day with family, football and turkey.

My blog post today at LASR is on the book soundtrack for Christmas Magic on the Mountain. The opening scene of that book takes place on Thanksgiving day! For those who want to get their daily entry into the $20 Amazon gift card giveaway at LASR, go here to find out the question you need to answer.

I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Thinking

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In my revision letter, my editor wrote something that made me scratch my head. I couldn't figure out what she was talking about because I knew I didn't want my heroine to declare her love that early. When I emailed my editor about it, she gave me the page number where my heroine said she loved the hero.

The problem? I was sure I'd deleted that line before sending in my final version of the story. I even talked it over with a friend why I wanted to wait. I guess like the LOLcat above I forgot to start thinking again! Glad I could catch it in revisions.

Has something like that every happened to you?

Today's blog at LASR has short excepts about my Christmas Magic on the Mountain hero, Sean Hughes, from my other two Hood Hamlet stories, Rescued by the Magic of Christmas and Snow-Kissed Reunion. The question you'll need to answer to enter the giveaway there is here.

Letter to Santa

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Last night, my seven year old made her Christmas list. We try and send them to the North Pole right after Thanksgiving. She ended up with almost 60 items so Santa would have lots of choices. She also wrote a letter to Santa. Here it is:

Dear Santa,

How is your life? My life is good. How are the elves? Have you went thru the good girl's and good boys? do you have a magic snoe ball? I beleve in it. Can you tell me if the elves to it by hand or do you have mashins?

from Rose

Have you written your letter to Santa yet? What's on your list?

Remember to visit Long and Short Reviews and read my blog on researching Christmas Magic on the Mountain. Each day, you can email the answer to the question here about my blog to enter the $20 Amazon gift card. A comment on the blog there will give you an extra entry!

Two contests this week!

There are two contests this week. Both are being run separately, one here at my blog and one at Long and Short Reviews (LASR) where I'm in the Author Spotlight. Each day I'll be blogging about Christmas Magic on the Mountain there, so I hope you'll stop by! I'll post a link each day so you can get there easily!

Same weekly prize here on this blog, but I'm giving away a $20 Amazon.com gift certificate at LASR. Go here for all the info on how to enter the contest there.

There's also a review of Christmas Magic on the Mountain at LASR reviews. Go here to read it!

Now for this week's Amazon gift certificate winner. Here are your random numbers:

17

Timestamp: 2010-11-22 14:43:59 UTC

The winner is Jane who commented on my post So True! She wins an Amazon.com gift certificate. Jane, please send me your email via the contact link on the menu bar above. Thanks!

A new weekly giveaway starts today. Each comment on the blog equals one entry. See Contest link above for more info.

Hope you have a great Monday!