Ten Years Ago Today . . .

I gave birth to my sweet little boy. He's a great source of joy for us, and I can't imagine a world without him in it.

Happy birthday James!!! May you have a kazillion more!

Baring All for the Planet

Per CNN, NY artist Spencer Tunick, famous for photographing naked people in public settings around the world, is calling for volunteers who will strip to their birthday suits and stand on a freezing cold Alpine glacier in Switzerland next month. The above picture was previously shot in Mexico City.

The point to the exercise in gettin' nekkid on a humungo block of ice is to draw attention to global warming. Unless measures are taken, most Swiss glaciers will melt away by the year 2080.

Given how freaking hot it's been here this month, I don't doubt the glaciers' fate. Our family does a lot of little things to try to conserve energy. We also recycle where we can, etc. But I know there's a lot more we could be doing to help the planetary distress.

Would you, um, bare all for something you believed in? I think I might - if I could only lose 20 pounds. LOL.

Come one, come all for our Friday chat!

Everyone's welcome at RWAOnline's public chat tonight! It's from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm eastern.

You do not need to be a member of RWA. You do not need to be a writer. If you'd like to chat with some authors, have lots of fun, and perhaps take home a nice door prize, please come to the chat tonight!!!

Here's the link. Just type in the name you'd like as your user name, and make up a password. Hope to see you there!

Can You Hear Me Now?

Last night - after reading tons of material on communicating with your kids - I had a heart-to-heart talk with dh about sitting down as a family. The idea is that as a team:

a) everyone presents things they think could be improved around the house (for instance, I'll say that the house is too messy and I can't do it all myself)

b) everyone contributes solutions (kids say things like "hire a maid", or "pretend not to see the mess", while the parents talk about chores and allowance)

c) we discuss said solutions and hammer out a plan to implement them (set time for chores each day, with bonuses for doing chores each week without reminders)

The idea is that if the kids are part of the problem-solving, they'll be more likely to participate than if being yelled at to "pick up your room!".

So, the kids roll into the kitchen after I've made my case to dh, who, by the way, just nodded and tried not to laugh. I start telling the kids about the plan for the meeting and what we'll do and how wonderful it will be to have open communication with each other. And . . .

Nobody's listening to me. Daughter's talking to dad about the game she's playing. Son's watching TV and not hearing me. Dh's still trying not to laugh.

So much for communication. *sigh*

What's everyone doing this weekend?

Bare Your Soul

over at the Deadline Divas blog today.

It's nothing too scary. Really.

*muwhahaha*

My daughter on My Space

Daughter took me on a tour of her My Space account today (I hound her to make sure a) her real name/location isn't out there b) only invited people can get on c) the content is appropriate).

Some of the images she's decorated it with baffled me; some cracked me up.

I thought I'd share...















My alma mater - Gonzaga U:








Have a good weekend, everyone!

If you could pick ONE

act of daring, what would it be? I've already floated in a hot air balloon. I think I'd like to try parasailing next. I know this is a fairly mild event, but for me, it's huge.

Recently, a friend said they would skydive. I don't think I'd have the courage, but looking at this video tempts me...awesome!

Calling All Writers and Readers!!!

Please join us RWAOnline writers who are not attending the national conference in Dallas (and perhaps some who are) when we chat tonight at 6:00 pm pacific time, 9:00 pm eastern.

The chat will be open to the public and we would love to see you there!!!

Here's the link. Stop by and join the fun! Marly and I (Chat Divas) and many other authors will be there to welcome you. :)

Happy Friday!

In the News

It's a strange world after all . . .

When Katie Couric goes around bitch-slapping folks.

Apparently, she has an aversion to the word sputum. I think it's rather a fun and edgy word. Don't you?

More news from New York: an advertisement for bidets, which sported a lovely row of shiny derrieres, has gotten church folk riled. Of course it did. LOL. Personally, I couldn't help comparing my own hiney to those in the ad. I definitely don't measure up. If I could choose, I'd pick #1 or #6, I think.

Finally, we leave the states for news from Paris where the mayor is begging the city to be more polite to tourists. Apparently, their excessive rudeness is hurting tourism. "Frank"ly, I'd put up with a bit of grumpiness in order to visit there. Still, it couldn't hurt for them to turn that frown upsidedown. *snort*

Have a fabulous week, everyone!

Exciting New Release!

My friend, Vivienne Lorret, has a new release today! She's a wonderful writer, so run, don't walk, to The Wild Rose Press for your copy.



She doesn't belong here…

Coerced by a wealthy friend to attend a masquerade with the social elite, Raleigh feels completely out of place. The only thing keeping her here is the mask over her face and the possibility of meeting the dark stranger who stole her attention when she first walked through the door. No matter what happens by night's end, nothing will change. Her hectic life won't allow time for romance and especially not for love.

He'd rather be anywhere else…

Wolfgang isn't looking to complicate his life. He only wants to have a good time, and maybe live up to the playboy reputation he's cultivated. Unfortunately everyone here at his eccentric mother's party knows him. Everyone except for one. The only thing keeping him here is the prospect of meeting the luscious woman at the door.
However, what he discovers at night's end could be the beginning of the biggest complication he's ever faced.

Love.

Life in the boonies

The fireworks were magical last night. We sat on our deck and watched the hundreds of colorful explosions that stretched up and down the river and at the middle school across from us.

Anyway, I couldn't sleep and about 3:00 a.m. I heard a cat screaming in the woods - sounded like a coyote ripping a kitty to shreds. Since four of our little feline darlings were outside at the time, I tore down the stairs and onto the back deck, where I yelled and clapped loudly, trying to scare the predator away.

The noise stopped. I called for the cats. Nothing.

After debating whether or not to get dressed and traipse the five acres looking for them, I convinced myself they were okay and went back to bed. A few minutes later...more screaming cat, this time like a mournful yowl.

OH. GOD. I raced outside again, clapping and calling. Two of the four showed up - one with a fright-fluffed tail. I went back to bed and got about two hours of sleep. This morning, all but one has shown up - the most feral of our adoptees who refuses to come in the house. She's tough though, so I'm hopeful that she's okay.

Aside from the lack of sleep and the cat scare, the fourth was wonderful for us. How about you? Have a fun time?

Road Trip Tuesday

Bloggin' at the Divas today.

We might be discussing aluminum foil. Or foil-covered chocolates. Or a fencing sword.

I forget, but come visit us anyway!