Happy 2006 Everyone!!!

Wishing everyone blessings for the new year.


I'll leave you with some cyber toasts, poems and quotes, etc...

I used to know a clever toast
But now I cannot think it
So fill your glass to anything
And damn your souls, I'll drink it!
Life, alas Is very drear
Up with the glass
Down with the beer!



Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
-- Lord Tennyson

I do think New Year's resolutions can't technically be expected to begin on New Year's Day, don't you? Since, because it's an extension of New Year's Eve, smokers are already on a smoking roll and cannot be expected to stop abruptly on the stroke of midnight with so much nicotine in the system. Also dieting on New Year's Day isn't a good idea as you can't eat rationally but really need to be free to consume whatever is necessary, moment by moment, in order to ease your hangover. I think it would be much more sensible if resolutions began generally on January the second.
-- Helen Fielding, Bridget Jones's Diary

There's Nothing like a good Historical

This is my first shameless plug. I just finished reading Smuggler's Bride written by Darlene Marshall, one of the talented ladies at RWA Online. Below is from her website:

Smuggler's Bride is greeted with enthusiastic reviews!
"Darlene Marshall has written a wonderful story filled with romance and humor...This book will keep you up late into the night. It is impossible to put down. " -- Coffee Time Romance

Florida Territory--1843

Julia Cooper is following in the footsteps of her parents, who put an end to the career of a notorious brigand in PIRATE'S PRICE and she has a secret that could cost her her life.

Someone is smuggling contraband into frontier Florida and when her disguise as a cleaning woman at her uncle's tavern gets her kidnapped and taken deep into the pine woods, she has to think fast to stay alive while asking herself who would kidnap a cleaning woman?

I love historicals, and this one is good. It's very good. The author does a fine job of creating a sense of place--the historical setting is beautifully depicted. Her descriptions are lovely, the plot is interesting and fun, and the main characters--including the cracker farmers--are lovable. (Get that image of saltines on stems out of your head--crackers are what the farmers were called. LOL!) If you appreciate a well-written, and well-researched historical (as this obviously was), then I recommend this book. You can buy it as an ebook or paperback. I chose paperback for this, as well as the first in this series, Pirate's Price, which I just ordered off her website.

Man, Am I Oblivious!

Your Observation Skills Get A C+

You tend to notice the big things in life... But the details aren't exactly your forte

How Observant Are You?

Reindeer Games

Santa Slider:

http://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/games/games2.htm

Puzzle:

http://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/games/games1.htm

And, because I was a "fruitcake" in another quiz, I thought I'd post the recipe:
Christmas Fruitcake Recipe

4 Oz. Fruit Bits
1 Railroad Tie
Wood Saw
Large Rubber Mallot
Safety Goggles (WEAR YOUR SAFETY GOGGLES).

Children: Get help from an adult!

Cut a one-foot section from the middle of your railroad tie.The resulting block of wood should be the size and shape of a loaf ofbread.

Then, take some fruit bits and pound them into the blockwith your rubber mallot. Spread the colors around, or you might wind up withan ugly fruitcake. Don't be afraid to throw some elbow greaseinto that mallot! Good fruit bits should be much harder than the railroad tie,so you can't break anything.

For best result, you should pre-treat the fruit bits bysetting them on top of your garage for a year (or by microwaving them onHIGH for 30 minutes).

Finally, cover it tightly in plastic wrap, and give yourloved ones the timeless and enduring gift of fruitcake!

~~~~~~~~

Don't forget to visit Alphabet girls for the new soup.

If I Were a Man . . .

The other night dh and I saw Matthew McConahahahahay (you know--the sexiest man alive) in a movie with Jennifer Lopez, which started a conversation along these lines--

Me: It's the dimples. I really like the dimples. What do you think of Jennifer Lopez? You and every man seems to love her and Angelina.

Him: Jennifer Lopez is okay. But, I really don't like Angelina Jolie--she's strange. You know who I really like--you pointed her out the other day. Said you thought she was hot.

Me: Huh? Oh, I know who you mean. No, what I said was "If I were a man, I'd think she was hot. She's stunning" (we referred to Catherine Zeta Jones). And, I added, Penelope Cruz is gorgeous too. If I were a guy, I'd like her. (This stems from being fair-haired as a child and hair-envying my brunette Dawn doll). Oh, and I'd like Gwyneth Pultrow and Jennifer Aniston -- the girls next door-- too. And, if I were a guy, I'd just LOVE Ashley Judd, 'cuz she's a great actress, intelligent, and darned cute.

Me again, not expecting an answer: If you were a woman, which man would you like?

Him: Okay. I'll play. (He turns red and kind of kicks the floor with the toe of his shoe. Clearly men aren't as comfortable with role reversal). I guess I'd like George Clooney. Probably Mel Gibson. Maybe that Bond guy who used to be Remington Steele (Pierce Brosnan). And probably Sean Connery.

(This is cool--I like those guys too).

Me: What about Hugh Jackman. Wouldn't you like Hugh?

Him: Who?

Me: Hugh. (no, this is not a Dr. Seuss book and dh has no idea who Hugh is).

Me: What about Jeremy Northum? Colin Firth? The non-Hollywood guys?

Him: Who? (okay--I'm satisfied with George, Pierce, Mel and Sean).

Just for fun, who would your dh, boyfriend, male co-worker, like if he were a woman?
Which babe would you find "hot" if you were a man? *Grin*

Friends

Band concert
Cute Eryn, Kristen's daughter and flute player extraordinaire, is on the left. She played a beautiful solo at the band concert last night.

My daughter, Roxie, is on the right. She played a solo too--a Christmas tune on the drums.

But it was a Big Damned Diamond!

Dh and I watched Titanic tonight--not our 1st viewing, probably not the last.

After crying my requisite 5 hankies worth, I watched again in disbelief as 101 year old Rose tossed that giant diamond--The Heart of the Ocean--into the sea.

Chris just sputtered. He demanded to know: Why didn't she give it to the nice salvage guy? (Bill Paxton--cutie).

Well, I answer, it's some kind of symbolism that she never let go (of her heart) as she promised Jack, but now she's returning it to the ocean to be with him because she was going to die that night in her bed like he said she would, and join him in the ever-after.

Chris: But it was a big damned diamond!

What do you all think? Go with the romantic gesture? Or spread the bling joy around?

TAG-O-RAMA!

The lovely, sassy, and very southern Miss Mel tagged me to list 15 facts and personal preferences (quirks, habits, whatever) about books.

Hmm . . . I read her list and have to confess, I agree with her preferences and quirks—well, except for skipping to the 1st love scene sometimes before buying a book. I don’t remember doing that before. Although, maybe I should.

Here’s my read on things:

1. Books are essential to me, like breathing or eating.
2. I have spent entire days browsing Amazon for different books by different authors.
3. If I were to be trapped by an earthquake in a building, I’d want it to be the library, provided I had a bottle of water and a Baby Ruth. Maybe a Ding Dong or two.
4. If I haven’t read the author before, I always read the bio on the back cover, and the first page or two. I usually know immediately if I like their style.
5. I prefer some authors on audio tape and only if read by certain narrators.
6. I hate audio book abridgements. Won’t listen to ‘em anymore.
7. I can no longer clean my house without listening to an audio book.
8. I will not read books with the man and woman in a torrid embrace on the cover if I’m in a restaurant or on a plane. However, in the privacy of my own home, the h/h can be nekkid and writhing on the ground for all I care.
9. I hate it when the man and woman on the cover do NOT match the author’s description. The heroine has red hair, but the buxom woman on the cover is a blonde.
10. I, too, hate heroines who are TSTL. It’s okay if they’re klutzy or quirky or funny, just NOT stupid!
11. I like heroes who are quietly Strong. Loyal. Flawed. Brave. Smart.
12. I love most classic literature, poetry, and some contemporary lit. However, while the story doesn’t have to be a romance, I HATE to finish the book and feel depressed. And, like Mel, I can’t stomach literary snobs.
13. I can’t sell my books. I probably have hundreds in the basement and could make a few bucks. Can’t do it. Not even one book. What if I’m poor someday and only have my stash to sustain me!!!
14. When I’ve really loved a book, I’ve stayed up all night to read it. If I start to fall asleep, I’ll get up and walk around and splash cold water on my face. That’s how pathetic I am.
15. I LOVE BOOKS!

So, I need to pass this on. Like a chain letter. I see that a few AG girls have been tagged already, and they'll no doubt snag other AG girls, so I'll need fresh meat. *Muwhahahaha*

The lucky tagees are . . . Heather F. and Jan C.