tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90590092024-03-19T21:47:31.758-07:00Donna CaubarreauxScreenwriter...novelist under the name of Pepper Phillips, something that people can actually spell, say and remember.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-39324611421139497132012-11-12T18:35:00.002-08:002012-11-12T18:35:57.087-08:00Pepper Phillips Kills Her Touch Pad<br />
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In July I managed to ruin my computer, so I had to buy a new one.</div>
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I’m still learning it, but one of the things I couldn’t turn off was the
Touch Pad. I looked online, visited HP’s website, tried to tap the little box
in the upper left hand corner as directed. Nothing worked. Absolutely
nothing. All their instructions sucked big time. I could easily hire myself
out to a computer company and tell them the problems they have with their
product and why their instructions should be written in clear, concise
step-by-step instructions. They assume that I know what the hell I’m doing when
I turn that power key on. I don’t.</div>
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The problem was that my thumbs kept hitting the touch pad and moving all
over the page, cutting words I had written (a big no-no in my book).</div>
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What’s a girl to do? </div>
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I need the thumbs to hit the space bar. But it
became too much to overlook.</div>
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So, I thought I would cover it up and found a neat little coaster that I
obtained several years ago, add two strips of two inch clear strapping tape and
I thought, this will work!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhZPJ5LuepPfQrAasHcGssdUdrUNgBoVrQNYemyZLyHsfZuslnuNTBYbmQkzqx-xCgH51ZV_siRmsa8Ojea3OcSUHttjMPmgNLQJOR4l0w0PpWKkIUK1u-LRaXLaTeLEHprXEXw/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhZPJ5LuepPfQrAasHcGssdUdrUNgBoVrQNYemyZLyHsfZuslnuNTBYbmQkzqx-xCgH51ZV_siRmsa8Ojea3OcSUHttjMPmgNLQJOR4l0w0PpWKkIUK1u-LRaXLaTeLEHprXEXw/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The only problem was, it was too thin. If my fat thumbs hit the touch pad,
it would still jerk around.</div>
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Not good.</div>
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So I looked around for something stiff. Do you know how hard it is to find
exactly what you need when your only requirement is that it be hard, square and
something you won’t need again.</div>
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I walked by a cardboard box several times, then decided I would use it. I
trimmed it to fit the area, and since I didn’t like the brown industrial look, I
copied out a writer’s quote.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nFp82-IqpTcJ2-ZjSE-QhBNW2SnbjYUvOkLJZT9ECG8xeHQ6TtWkoY6XzO0OpCys4EOr92w0qU4YqkoLu76rC0faVxfHmrt2RQ3NdX3cO6xHFCbt70ep-bqQntkOHBLTurtUSQ/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nFp82-IqpTcJ2-ZjSE-QhBNW2SnbjYUvOkLJZT9ECG8xeHQ6TtWkoY6XzO0OpCys4EOr92w0qU4YqkoLu76rC0faVxfHmrt2RQ3NdX3cO6xHFCbt70ep-bqQntkOHBLTurtUSQ/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Taping the sucker down with two strips of two inch wide clear strapping
tape solved the problem. This is what it looks like.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9NRoAcZ6OYRb6zPLdAjkhMc_VgFr3_OzJNn0QW-3HVCZUlwWXYOoabUq7Z_UxdOqosfynF-lwI_6X2kZldDEo1apbdMkaqKet8ZfoR7dc7glAgdIev6S3Nw99pyJCjs_xyxWQA/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9NRoAcZ6OYRb6zPLdAjkhMc_VgFr3_OzJNn0QW-3HVCZUlwWXYOoabUq7Z_UxdOqosfynF-lwI_6X2kZldDEo1apbdMkaqKet8ZfoR7dc7glAgdIev6S3Nw99pyJCjs_xyxWQA/s320/022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And it WORKS!</div>
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Due to the fact that cardboard has two layers and the inside wavy part, if
you touch it, nothing happens. Absolutely nothing. The cost, next to
nothing.</div>
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If I want to use the touch pad, I can take off the tape. If I want to
change the quote, easily doable.</div>
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Color me a happy camper. I solved a major problem with my laptop!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-45310838094055442902012-02-18T14:50:00.000-08:002012-02-18T14:50:47.478-08:00Mardi Gras in Small Town Louisiana<div>It's coming..."Fat Tuesday" which means the diet starts on Ash Wednesday!</div><div></div><div>But before Wednesday are the parades, the costumes, the throwing of beads.</div><div></div><div>Each of the towns in Central Louisiana celebrate with parades. Some of them are put on by civic organization, others by the towns, themselves. Floats are rented, and the last I heard they were about seven hundred dollars, up to three thousand for a day. Yikes! For most organizations in small towns, they do their own floats and keep them every year or do a new design for that year.</div><div></div><div align="center"><img alt="" class="rg_hi" data-height="183" data-width="275" height="183" id="rg_hi" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="height: 183px; width: 275px;" width="275" /></div><div></div><div>People on the float might be in costume, or not.</div><div></div><div></div><div align="center"><img alt="" class="rg_hi" data-height="194" data-width="259" height="194" id="rg_hi" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSPD27kVc_oEG_6gQ3j2rXQ57ZpWQ3PlnSqOCan6VUL2zy4J_VoSw" style="height: 194px; width: 259px;" width="259" /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">There will be a lot of people on the sidelines watching the parade. Those in small towns will set up lawn chairs, ice chests, of course bring something to bring their booty home. The major part of the floats is throwing out beads, plastic cups, candy, candy, and more candy. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img alt="" class="rg_hi" data-height="194" data-width="259" height="194" id="rg_hi" 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" style="height: 194px; width: 259px;" width="259" /><img alt="" class="rg_hi" data-height="199" data-width="253" height="199" id="rg_hi" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQAzjVkjUcJLdFlM6c7Y8VDT9wd8LT5z3TkA8dMZ46Jqnovy6zy" style="height: 199px; width: 253px;" width="253" /><img alt="" class="rg_hi" data-height="191" data-width="263" height="191" id="rg_hi" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR3mc7DT0ipg8ZKfodZma9GUFI44CPdbkEq4h-t2iW-50kmb6XeRw" style="height: 191px; width: 263px;" width="263" /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img alt="" class="rg_hi" data-height="225" data-width="225" height="225" id="rg_hi" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQI03fFAgpfDD0yPYstFNNr3Q8BuopklodJfru20xNvqHABj5vh5g" style="height: 225px; width: 225px;" width="225" /><img alt="" class="rg_hi" data-height="176" data-width="180" height="176" id="rg_hi" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTjpscJh1P1LVUKK-qgbq6d9a43kkQCkjnD91saRDeKGR7k7vSZ" style="height: 176px; width: 180px;" width="180" /><img alt="" class="rg_hi" data-height="206" data-width="245" height="206" id="rg_hi" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS0gNY6VNkyr7b_Z9bDm5fT3IY1IlX41viQs89iQA8_R2UvysmP" style="height: 206px; width: 245px;" width="245" /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">You can see what's happening here...the crowd will be changing 'Throw me something Mister!"</div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><img height="420" id="il_fi" src="http://dnjournal.com/events/photos/2009/domainer-mardi-gras/review/parade-crowd.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="620" /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">The thrill and excitement only lasts for a few moments while the parade passes.</div><div align="center">But that is Mardi Gras in a small town.</div><div align="center">Or as the natives say it, "Laissez les bon temp roulet."</div><div align="center">"Let the good times roll."</div><div></div><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-63582582575588907602012-01-31T08:01:00.000-08:002012-01-31T08:01:21.489-08:00Author Interview: Pepper Phillips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zKx66Sx_u0x3uSKZAWAikG5_mTAYB5xpgSsI4fWEiA-lS1XQzToRHLlXx0Ka-lJme86FSACecL2hJfYynoDr9WxSyn9rCvfJovgW2wFgFgz-oJQBEDS7MUcHu2QkAh-gYdc6MQ/s1600/Donna+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zKx66Sx_u0x3uSKZAWAikG5_mTAYB5xpgSsI4fWEiA-lS1XQzToRHLlXx0Ka-lJme86FSACecL2hJfYynoDr9WxSyn9rCvfJovgW2wFgFgz-oJQBEDS7MUcHu2QkAh-gYdc6MQ/s320/Donna+001.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Author Interview:</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How this book came to be:</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I'm a Nursing Home Administrator, and one of our patients was in the local hospital, dying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>She was one of those ladies that I pictured as the perfect grandmother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fluffy, white-haired, brilliant blue eyes, a peach tone to her wrinkled skin, she was the grandmother pictured in all the books I read as a kid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>She was lying in the hospital bed with her eyes closed, her family around her, and I bent over and kissed her on the forehead and whispered in her ear, "Mom, come home, we miss you."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stood up, her eyes snapped open, startling the daylights out of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Three days later she was back in the nursing home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured that she heard her family talking about her demise and thought she was dying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The day she came back to the nursing home, her daughter was talking to my Director of Nurses and myself and made the comment, "We have to change out the pig in the freezer."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>My D.O.N. and I looked at each other, wondering what she was referring to, and we had to ask.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The explanation was that the family kept a roasting pig in their freezer so that when their mother died, it would be roasted for the funeral.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>We were both speechless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I went back into my office and thought for a moment, grabbed one of those 4x6 pads with advertising and wrote the beginning of The Devil Has Dimples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The excerpt is those five pages fleshed out over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took me six months to write the last line, ‘<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The next day, the daughter no one knew existed showed up in Boggy Bayou.’ </span>and that's when the story really started.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Excerpt:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="Centered" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">CHAPTER ONE</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="Centered" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">You knew Maudie Cooper was really dead when you read her funeral invite listed in the Boggy Bayou Chronicle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m T-Jack Couvillion, newspaper owner and reporter of ‘The oldest family-run newspaper in Louisiana.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t report all the news, else I’d be sued every week after the paper came out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I just ramble my thoughts down in case I need to jog my memory later on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You never know when some bit of information might sell more papers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Back to Maudie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There had been talk, of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone said Maudie was dead, but I couldn’t print her obit, ‘cuz I couldn’t find out if it were true.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Some figured she finally found a salesman gullible enough to believe her blarney about being rich.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heaven knows, she cornered every male that ate their lunch at Hank’s Hole-in-the-Wall, her hunting ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most never came back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maudie could talk them to death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fact is, she talked so much they didn’t notice she put her lunch on their tab.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or they didn’t care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a small price to pay for their freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Two or three were of the opinion that Maudie wasn’t dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They thought old Sedgewick Jeansonne had finally caved in to her amorous overtures and that the two were holed up at his place doing the naughty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one had seen him much since Maudie closed up her antique store about two weeks ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We all missed Maudie.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Silas Moreau, the town’s fix-it man, figured that she could wear out any one human being in three to five hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">When the boys who sit in front of the courthouse questioned how he knew that fact, he just turned beet red and left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Silas hasn’t lived that down yet.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The boys (the youngest being seventy-seven and the oldest being Mackie Marcotte, who lies about his age, but everyone knows he’s ninety-three) at the courthouse spent most days speculating where she might have gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They missed Maudie telling them all the news, gossip, and trash on everyone in town and the ten miles that encircle Boggy Bayou.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave most of the juicier leads to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Our number of tidbits really dropped when she disappeared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wasn’t hardly anything to talk about. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Excepting Maudie, of course.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">No man dared fool around in Boggy Bayou.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maudie always found out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And after she called the man’s wife, the rest of the town knew before he could zip up his pants.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I was in my office finishing the last details on the newspaper, when Grant St. Romain, Maudie’s attorney, brought in her funeral invite. That was a shock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said a silent prayer for her and almost busted a gut getting the revised paper out on time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Maudie would have loved the layout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hearts and flowers danced around the corners and inside big bold letters spelled out “Maudie Cooper - Last Rites.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She died in late October and her wishes were to be buried on Halloween night.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yeah, at night.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">According to the notice, everyone was invited to dress in costume and bring a candle to light during the service in the cemetery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since kids were invited, candy would be available for the trick or treaters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Afterward there would be a pig roast and beer bust at the local V.F.W. Hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most everyone thought that was a nice touch.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">All her friends and most of her enemies decided to dress up and go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not every day you get to wear a costume to a funeral.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I don’t think I’ve ever seen quite so many people at a graveside service.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Silas dressed up as a pig, complete with a snout, and went around grunting and snorting at all the ladies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He got a lot of teasing about being dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Silas didn’t need any padding, and many of us wondered why he owned a pink jumpsuit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Bitsy, Silas’s wife, ran an apple dunking contest by the front gate, welcoming everyone and thanking them for coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You would have thought it was the social event of the year, but then, she and Silas don’t get out much.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mackie Marcotte, Grant St. Romain, and I stood watching the goings on.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Mackie, you ever been to a funeral on Halloween?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">He thought for a moment, most likely turning the decades over in his mind searching for an answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Nope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the first night funeral I’ve ever been at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Makes me think it might be a good idea when my time comes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Never for me either, although I did attend a Halloween wedding once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a bit over the top,” said Grant.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Maudie’s casket was perched on a roller parked next to the grave hole.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Her casket looks like it cost a handsome dollar,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mackie nodded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They should have given her a kid’s coffin, since she was so small.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If’n I die in the next ten minutes, stuff me in there with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s more than enough room.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Grant chuckled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t think your wife would like that, Mackie.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mackie shook his head, “You’re most likely right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe I can get us a double wide and we can sleep together ‘til the end of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That would jolt her.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Grant and I couldn’t help but laugh, the visual alone was hilarious.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We watched as kids, busy munching on treats, and bobbing for apples, threw apple cores and candy wrappers all over the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The more serious-minded adults brought lawn chairs and ice chests to get a head start on the beer bust.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">When the time for the service arrived, everyone lit their candles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to tell you that was a show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The candlelight sure was pretty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the kids had their candles in hollowed-out pumpkins, so there were orange and white lights all over the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was dark enough that you couldn’t see the empty candy wrappers anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few placed candles on the built-up burial sites, making the area rather festive, even for a graveyard.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Silas managed to burn his snout almost off with his candle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bitsy threw a bucket of apples and water over him and his cronies and managed to put that fire out quite nicely.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Reverend Benny Gagnard stood at the head of the casket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drawing his fist up to his mouth, he coughed to clear his throat, then said in his loud, hearty sermon voice, “She’s dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you, Lord.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mackie turned to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That was the shortest eulogy I’ve ever heard.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Yeah,” I agreed, “He must be still ticked off ‘cause of Maudie telling his wife about his indiscretion with the choir leader.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mackie nodded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Just goes to show you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What goes around, comes around.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Then the choir led out the song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Angie Tassin, the choir leader and Maudie’s arch-enemy, raised a little triangle and whacked it twice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The choir, all Angie’s friends, began to sing, “Ding dong, the witch is dead, the wicked, wicked witch is dead.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Angie finally got her revenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They continued the song while the rest of us hooted, hollered, and laughed so hard, tears rolled down our faces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Silas fell out of his lawn chair and lost what was left of his burned snout, but didn’t spill a drop of beer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The only person who seemed to take everything serious was Sedge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was dressed up in a new black suit complete with the label still on the sleeve, a hat in his hand and even carried a bunch of yellow flowers he’d picked that grow wild along the roadside during this time of year.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mackie said, “I’ve never known Sedge to dress in a suit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Didn’t even know that he had one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Maybe he’s in costume.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“As what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A funeral director?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grant asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“He could be a mourner, what with the flowers and all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He and Maudie have been friends for a quarter of a century.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sedge placed his hand on the casket and started to cry.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The three of us stood there, uncomfortable, not knowing what to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Someone dressed up in a witch’s costume walked over to him and patted him on the back, giving him what comfort she could and handed him a handkerchief. He was so overcome with grief that he almost toppled into the grave.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Finally, the singing stopped, and while everyone wiped tears and smirks off their faces, the casket was lowered, and old Sedge dropped his bouquet on top.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Then Silas threw in Bitsy’s candle and that started a candle throwing frenzy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless to say, there was a really big blaze going in no time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The grave diggers got hopping and shoveled dirt in fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually the blaze was buried and so was Maudie.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The town’s sure going to miss that old gal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sure knew how to enjoy life, and her death wasn’t so bad either.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Then came the biggest surprise of all.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The next day, the daughter no one knew existed showed up in Boggy Bayou.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-77965471354300720112011-12-27T11:29:00.000-08:002011-12-27T11:29:40.240-08:00Jolyn Palliata - Connected<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Did you ever get a song stuck in your head? Or part of one? How did you get it out? Did you avoid the song at all costs in the blind hope it would stop hammering you into submission? Or did you listen to the song over, and over, and over, until you were so obsessed that all you could think about was that delicious, devilish little laugh….er, what was I saying? (Right. Song stuck in my head. Ahh...I mean, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">your</i> head.) Now, I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know</i> this has happened to every person reading this post, so I’m hoping you’ll relate to my little story here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PQ-fbJfiq9k/TvoXsL1YsmI/AAAAAAAAAaI/brsnlH89Yi0/s1600/Connected.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PQ-fbJfiq9k/TvoXsL1YsmI/AAAAAAAAAaI/brsnlH89Yi0/s1600/Connected.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Let me give you some background. In October, I released <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Connected (Twists of Fate #1)</i>, and here’s a brief description of the story: <span style="color: black;">A rock group’s rhythm guitarist, Rhys Alexander, dies and finds himself bound inside the body of a woman he’s never met. Can she help him move on to the other side, or will he end up finding the love of his life…after his has already ended?</span> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">For a time, I had this for free on Wattpad (where I posted as I wrote it). And several readers asked me how in the world I came up with the concept. The short answer was ‘By taking the longest route possible.’ The more involved answer is this… </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GCKTnVHuZU0/TvoYuPCwgrI/AAAAAAAAAaU/ITusuEEinPo/s1600/Connected%252520Formula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GCKTnVHuZU0/TvoYuPCwgrI/AAAAAAAAAaU/ITusuEEinPo/s1600/Connected%252520Formula.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It all started with a song—Imagine that, huh?—which began with a synthesized-sounding guitar and a sinful, maniacal laugh that made my gut quiver. (Yes, I do realize this may be an issue I need to fully address later.) It was Disturbed’s “Inside The Fire”. Add a little Framing Hanley (with that oh-so-sexy voice), and Tavion, lead singer of the band Persevere, was born. And what kind of woman would knock a strapping rock star to his knees? Why, a best-selling author, of course. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So here I had two people who worked in the entertainment industry, but were worlds apart. What could possibly bring them together? The answer seemed so simple, really: Fate. Then my next though was “What if Fate was a living, sometimes-breathing, entity? What an interesting point-of-view <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> would be!” And it spiraled from there. I dug deep into the protag, Devan (the name of the girl in Disturbed’s song), and put pieces of me and my personality into the mix. Naturally, then I had to mock myself and my works along the way. (i.e., Suddenly <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Impending Reprisals</i> became Devan’s masterpiece, and guess what…it made it all the way to the NYT Bestsellers list! Way to go, Devan!!) <o:p></o:p></span></div>.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Now, the question was ‘What inspired me to write <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Connected’</i>, and so far, I’m telling you how I started writing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Twisted (Book 2)</i>. Yeah, well, I’m getting there. (Remember how I said it was the longest route possible?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So there I was, writing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Twisted</i> and having a hell of a time. And then the unthinkable happened (insert suspenseful music here)…I got writer’s block. I’m talking a stint of writer’s block that could only have originated from the deepest, most vile and sulfuric, bowels of Hell. And, man, was it stubborn! Over a year went by before I picked it up again, and even then it wasn’t because I came up with a grand master plan, or that my head was swimming with ideas. No. It was simply because I missed my characters. So I started to reread/revise/edit the 30K words I had written, hoping it would shake something loose. Enter: two new inspirations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The first was the Demonica series by Larissa Ione. In the series, paired up mates can sense each other’s emotions and I got to wondering “What would that be like?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The next piece of inspiration came from Avenged Sevenfold (A7X). I was studying up on rock bands for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Twisted</i> (and can A7X ever ROCK!!), and checking out the band members (*drool*) and it inspired a new character—Rhys. <o:p></o:p></span></div>.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">From Ione and A7X blossomed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Connected</i> (finally!) where Rhys’ spirit was stuck inside Addison (my protag), and they could sense each other’s emotions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But I had one problem. I absolutely REFUSED to walk away from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Twisted</i> again. Soooo…how could I use this? Well, first of all, Rhys couldn’t be a lead singer since that’s what Tavion is. And secondly, I wanted this to be a fast-hitting novella used to compliment <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Twisted</i>’s story. What I needed was a supporting member of the band... Hello, Rhys, my luscious rhythm guitarist! <o:p></o:p></span></div>.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But then I had another problem. (Because I needed more, right?) I couldn’t picture Rhys in Tavion’s band, Persevere, which is a more mature, established group. No, he belonged with some just-making-it-big band that wasn’t afraid to play with the formula, to take chances, and was just enjoying the ride and what life had to offer. He belonged with the guys of Black Codex. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Then problem #3: How did Black Codex and Persevere tie in to each other? I mean, if <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Connected</i> leads into <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Twisted</i>, they have to know each other somehow, right? Well, as luck would have it, they’re all friends. (Who knew?!) Eh, okay, so actually two members from Black Codex are brothers and they grew up with a guy from Persevere, so, by association, they became friends. (It’s all in the details, right?) ;) <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">All right. Now what? I didn’t want to introduce Fate (my sassy, capricious entity) in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Connected</i> even though he’s definitely hard at work behind the scenes. It would’ve been too distracting from the plot, and I had plenty to maneuver already! (Hello…dead rock star stuck in some chicks head!!) So what I did was plot <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Connected</i> so it all occurs during the same timeframe as the first half of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Twisted</i>. Perfect! Then when people read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Twisted</i>, they’ll get all the behind-the-scenes-extras that were going on in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Connected</i> that either 1) I didn’t have time for, or 2) I couldn’t smoothly transition in. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">At the end of my long-ass journey, not only did I have <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Connected</i>, but I shook myself loose on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Twisted</i>…aaand came up with storylines for the other eight band members. (I’ll spare you the details on those. LOL) Thusly, the Twists of Fate series was born. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So, let me ask you again: Did you ever get a song stuck in your head…? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em><strong>Donna here...I bought Jolyn's book Connected and while not finished with it yet, her concept is brilliant and I don't know how she's going to get out of the corner she's painted herself in...it's a great read and I wholly recommend it.</strong></em></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">For more information on the <a href="http://jolynpalliata.wordpress.com/romance/twists-of-fate-series/"><strong>Twists of Fate series:</strong></a> </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Twists-of-Fate-Series/190217514383637"><strong>Twists of Fate series Facebook Page:</strong></a> </span></div><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&sort=relevancerank&search-alias=books&ie=UTF8&field-author=Jolyn%20Palliata"><strong>To purchase <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Connected (Twists of Fate #1)</i>:</strong></a> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-4406371100411993262011-11-30T21:03:00.000-08:002011-11-30T21:32:11.687-08:00Book Lovers' Buffet - Holiday Extravaganza<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bookloversbuffet.com/"><img border="0" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBMJNFWECwiMZiaQQidxOtxzAzQLE5nv55uvn8t1BoxH2cYERrISBU1TlHeah3kDBctqZn6Lx4Q0YBXclxjJU-xIfQ4HSKHD6X4FW3Dbe6N7hgIY0B7vhVZrZu3GmXQFmYAQuSA/s320/BLBbutton.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
CLICK ON THE BANNER!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">.</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is your chance to fill your Kindle with eBooks for under a dollar! Check it out!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-44248155784439483802011-11-16T08:38:00.000-08:002011-11-16T08:39:25.149-08:00The Gift by Mary Marvella<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZPAV1wGm2GYXMFnkLDw0oT-m0MACfJzH4uuZ2kgvnpJkqxOzXYzMyGGz_Ch227hLICKBDZbsBaNsvTKKiDBll1MHQQX-rehH-r3gkOMbZ2zpfibSJCgpU9Eidww0hgNJjP6bXw/s1600/Mary+Marvella+book-782412.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675632564045236066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZPAV1wGm2GYXMFnkLDw0oT-m0MACfJzH4uuZ2kgvnpJkqxOzXYzMyGGz_Ch227hLICKBDZbsBaNsvTKKiDBll1MHQQX-rehH-r3gkOMbZ2zpfibSJCgpU9Eidww0hgNJjP6bXw/s320/Mary+Marvella+book-782412.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Andale Mono"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">THE GIFT - </span></i><span style="font-family: "Andale Mono"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Women's Fiction</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="font-family: "Andale Mono"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">by Mary Marvella<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Andale Mono"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">On Edna Mae's 40th birthday she buried her controlling father and lost her virginity in a one-</span></span><span style="font-family: "Andale Mono"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">night stand with a stranger she never expected to see again. Her life is about to change in more ways than she could have imagined.<br />
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Like Cinderella, she had no real life. The world opens for her now that she has no sick parents demanding all of her attention. Finding new friends and a world she thought had passed her by is wonderful, but there's more!<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">THE GIFT</i> is story about an old-fashioned woman in a modern world, written in an old-fashioned way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Andale Mono"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00631OX6W"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">Amazon</span></strong></a> </span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><span style="font-family: "Andale Mono"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Andale Mono"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><a href="http://bit.ly/tFy77u"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">Barnes & Noble</span></strong></a> </span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><span style="font-family: "Andale Mono"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><a href="http://bit.ly/tIxD4m"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">Smashwords</span></strong></a> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Andale Mono"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJko1pFZuEJ8AznY3bDqsfbsbwp_KghbXmv3EJ6n-wo9rwqx8n0cXhGNHV6Vvg1ZWuRLwV7TKQ9NSrphrNWLCfu7t0gp3SoEI79WfKaxExAGJZn4uw-_22tHs-wjqaJFz5vE-LNA/s1600/Mary+Marvella-783917.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675632568915170866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJko1pFZuEJ8AznY3bDqsfbsbwp_KghbXmv3EJ6n-wo9rwqx8n0cXhGNHV6Vvg1ZWuRLwV7TKQ9NSrphrNWLCfu7t0gp3SoEI79WfKaxExAGJZn4uw-_22tHs-wjqaJFz5vE-LNA/s320/Mary+Marvella-783917.jpg" /></a></o:p></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><span style="font-family: "Andale Mono"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Mary is also the author of two paranormal romances,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Andale Mono"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Haunting Refrain</span></i><span style="font-family: "Andale Mono"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> &<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Forever Love</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">.</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><span style="font-family: "Andale Mono"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><a href="http://marymarvella.com/">http://MaryMarvella.com/</a></span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="font-family: "Andale Mono"; font-size: 14pt;">MMARVELLAB@aol.com</span><span style="font-family: "Andale Mono"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.pinkfuzzyslipperwriters.blogspot.com/">http://www.pinkfuzzyslipperwriters.blogspot.com/</a></span><br />
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</div><div align="left"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-61758767314176103722011-11-10T07:01:00.000-08:002011-11-10T07:01:27.661-08:00Hide'n Go Seek by Dale Mayer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGaAa6fqKl8JwTiiiRMakQNKlxbTo_Ic_fHa3e0ywZM2mppGBHwYEm2psdkAqeKcLFqKzVLH_mZ7uAWyLQWOLThWRbIu4rt48n2p-cyE-280WP18QnjuPevUQbLa11XvmrfLS6A/s1600/dale+mayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGaAa6fqKl8JwTiiiRMakQNKlxbTo_Ic_fHa3e0ywZM2mppGBHwYEm2psdkAqeKcLFqKzVLH_mZ7uAWyLQWOLThWRbIu4rt48n2p-cyE-280WP18QnjuPevUQbLa11XvmrfLS6A/s1600/dale+mayer.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">BLURB - <br />
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A twisted game of Hide’n Go Seek forces an unlikely alliance between a no-nonsense FBI agent and a search-and-rescue worker.<br />
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Celebrated search-and-rescue worker Kali Jordon has hidden her psychic abilities by crediting her canine partner Shiloh with the recoveries. But Kali knows the grim truth—The Sight that she inherited from her grandmother allows her to trace violent energy unerringly to victims of murder. No one knows her secret until a twisted killer challenges her to a deadly game of Hide'n Go Seek that threatens those closest to her. <br />
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Now she must rely on FBI Special Agent Grant Summers, a man who has sworn to protect her, even as he suspects there's more to Kali and Shiloh than meets the eye. As the killer draws a tighter and tighter circle around Kali, she and Grant find there's no place to hide from themselves.<br />
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Are her visions the key to finding the latest victim alive or will this twisted game of Hide’n Go Seek cost her…everything? <br />
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You can find Dale's book at <a href="http://amzn.com/B005Y8538W"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">Amazon</span></strong></a> - <a href="http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-hide039ngoseekaparanormalromanticsuspense-624870-140.html"><span style="color: yellow;"><strong>All Romance eBooks</strong></span></a><br />
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You can find Dale on her <a href="http://dalemayer.com/"><span style="color: yellow;"><strong>website</strong></span></a>:<br />
<a href="http://twitter.com/dalemayer"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">Twitter</span></strong></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/dalemayer"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">Facebook</span></strong></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-71054479476449427152011-11-06T23:10:00.000-08:002011-11-06T23:10:33.490-08:00THE PAST CAME HUNTING by Donnell Ann Bell<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8y_hfwSNR3KgjNwFiGVhhtrmGjK14KlRk7Gn0itfv2ASTtBkuli7ARsAcCvShNVGqrkKnetvc650NME5UvE0XdJ18Ud0_Q9kDaiLvJdztHsYkWomlaw2RFmdlZHyMIVU6LIHgVw/s1600/175-795310.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672144243041522850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8y_hfwSNR3KgjNwFiGVhhtrmGjK14KlRk7Gn0itfv2ASTtBkuli7ARsAcCvShNVGqrkKnetvc650NME5UvE0XdJ18Ud0_Q9kDaiLvJdztHsYkWomlaw2RFmdlZHyMIVU6LIHgVw/s320/175-795310.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Fifteen years ago a young Colorado Springs police officer arrested a teen runaway accused of aiding a convenience store robbery and attempted murder. She was innocent, but still served prison time briefly. Her testimony sent the real thief to jail for much longer. Now she's a young widow raising a son, and the man she put in prison is free and seeking revenge. She moves to a home in a new neighborhood—then learns that her next-door neighbor is the by-the-book officer who arrested her. Now he's a Colorado Springs P.D. Lieutenant. Like it or not, he may be the only one who can protect her and her son from the past he helped create. ~ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NE53WS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=awarwinnroma-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B005NE53WS" id="static_txt_preview"><span style="color: #003399;">The Past Came Hunting</span></a> by Donnell Ann Bell</span></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZy8cqJheNwVtVKqNfq8AhUgNeCBvTIig8ni78rhP-4-Er-J1evaK-p4_ITlCobP1L2hsd0KtI06dIp-Mtp5aItsDEns5y7XsbLSL2Y8CjcHYnrCNNJGg3PQCtKQrLtMgXAcd1Q/s1600/Donnell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZy8cqJheNwVtVKqNfq8AhUgNeCBvTIig8ni78rhP-4-Er-J1evaK-p4_ITlCobP1L2hsd0KtI06dIp-Mtp5aItsDEns5y7XsbLSL2Y8CjcHYnrCNNJGg3PQCtKQrLtMgXAcd1Q/s1600/Donnell.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Donnell Ann Bell is the recipient of numerous awards for her fiction writing and the co-owner of Crimescenewriters, a Yahoo group for mystery/suspense writers, which is 2,000 members strong. Donnell was raised in New Mexico's Land of Enchantment and today calls Colorado home. Visit her at <a href="http://www.donnellannbell.com/">http://www.donnellannbell.com/</a></span></span><br />
<div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">When you check out Donnell's book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NE53WS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=awarwinnroma-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B005NE53WS" id="static_txt_preview"><span style="color: #003399;">The Past Came Hunting</span></a> at Amazon.com, you'll see SEVENTEEN 5 Star Reviews. This is a book you don't want to miss. It's in my TBR pile.</span></span></div><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-89796636823991185902011-11-05T17:11:00.000-07:002011-11-05T17:11:33.338-07:00The 2010 Contest Divas Tiara Winners<div><br />
<center><a href="http://www.rhinestonejewelry.com/12561.html"><img alt="#12561 Rising Star Tiara - Medium" border="0" height="153" hspace="0" src="http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/rhinestonejewelry_2179_35789847" width="240" /></a></center> <center> </center> <center><strong>The 2010 Contest Divas Tiara Winners</strong></center> <center> </center> <center><strong>Nineteen Wins</strong></center> <center> </center> <center>Isis Rushdan</center> <center> </center> <center><strong>Most Titles - (Seven)</strong></center> <center> </center> <center>Robin Weaver</center> <center> </center> <center><strong>Grand Slam - Golden Heart Winner - 1st - 2nd - 3rd place for Lost and Found</strong></center> <center> </center> <center>Jo Anne Banker </center><center> </center><center>You can check out the announcement <a href="http://contestdivas.blogspot.com/">here.</a></center></div><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-62010985135144002812011-10-03T14:40:00.000-07:002011-10-03T14:51:21.991-07:00The Devil Has Dimples is out!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4Y6jeq1XCrC49pwFHhskIf-UuLrUqm7WpESmkY0jJaE23u-n5JqS1cHTho4sVK1_Ovp0cDTokvLXwyfrkMepPbfHKxfJnjxFTBKwRDBrtMn1oGtR8UQ0nhb9_TIqmFRrAOgVAQ/s1600/DHDcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4Y6jeq1XCrC49pwFHhskIf-UuLrUqm7WpESmkY0jJaE23u-n5JqS1cHTho4sVK1_Ovp0cDTokvLXwyfrkMepPbfHKxfJnjxFTBKwRDBrtMn1oGtR8UQ0nhb9_TIqmFRrAOgVAQ/s320/DHDcover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Adopted!</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: left;">Sara McLaughlin never knew and now she wants to find out why and who's her daddy? A question every Southern girl is defined by.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: left;">Grant St. Romain, attorney, is supposed to be helping, but the hunky dimpled devil is making her mind think of other things.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: left;">Can she find the truth? Or will she break her heart?</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: left;"><div style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em;">by Pepper Phillips<br />
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</div><div style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">"The Devil Has Dimples" available at:</span><br />
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</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Devil-Has-Dimples-ebook/dp/B005RQ26IQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1317601820&sr=1-1%0A">Amazon</a> - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1e66ae;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.22em;"><a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/93333">Smashwords</a></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1e66ae;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">Sassy Southern Romance</span><br />
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</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-15637723755167634072011-05-12T06:02:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:30:55.460-07:00Unconditionally is finally alive!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbxgRxvn-OsSLF_oXQpr_JOuTHiU-VPxWtur8EcpSRrQK3yoIB5sjj5YbfPlzHLktTuR4sRmvvBnj6y0VrGwqKL16n9zK5bBTlDGk2xAmNiquen-fRA9AwAIhK2L6B1jRiksrcg/s1600/Unconditionally.jpeg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605818884650293714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbxgRxvn-OsSLF_oXQpr_JOuTHiU-VPxWtur8EcpSRrQK3yoIB5sjj5YbfPlzHLktTuR4sRmvvBnj6y0VrGwqKL16n9zK5bBTlDGk2xAmNiquen-fRA9AwAIhK2L6B1jRiksrcg/s400/Unconditionally.jpeg" /></a><br /><br /><div>I noticed that several authors had placed their screenplays up on Kindle and Smashwords and figured why not? So here it is. And it's free for a limited time. So enjoy...</div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Lew Hunter, author of Screenwriting 434 read it and wrote 'Wow!' on the cover after he read it.</div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Award winning? Yes. In RWA's Screenwriting Chapter, Scriptscene. </div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>If you've never read a screenplay before it's a different experience. It helps if you're a visual person when you read one. </div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>It's a drama about unconditional love...there are some tender moments in there where the character's react to what is happening in their lives. </div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Trying to convert it to the different formatting venues was a challenge. Happily, Zoe Winters gave much shorter and simpler directions to convert to Amazon than anyone else. If you want to epublish get her book, "Smart Self-Publishing" available on Kindle. I have it on my hand-held Kindle, but also downloaded the free PC Kindle so I could look at each page individually. </div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>You can get a free copy <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/57995">here</a> until May 17th. The coupon code is ZZ87T.</div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Enjoy! And if you like it, how about a review?</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-75440003378645154702010-02-08T19:41:00.001-08:002010-02-08T19:43:03.222-08:00Manuscript Makeover - Chapter One - Inside Out: The Voice of StyleA group of us are reading "Manuscript Makeover" by Elizabeth Lyon and this is my take on her book. It is one you should read.<br /><br />I just read the Introduction, and I totally agree that there are as many ways to revise as there are authors.<br /><br />Pg. 4 half-way down was what I learned in Margie Lawson's Edits class. The examples were fascinating to read.<br /><br /><strong>Cultivate deep listening: </strong><br />LOL, her first sentence cracked me up. I 'mishear' words all the time. I guess it might be my tinnitus. I've read that you should read your work aloud. In judging contest entries, if there's an awkward sentence, I tell the author to read it aloud.<br /><br />I have a program on my other laptop called TextAloud. I see where you can download a free trial at <a href="http://www.nextup.com/TextAloud/">http://www.nextup.com/TextAloud/</a> . I have TMJ, I think that's the right initials, but if I talk aloud for a continuous amount of time, my jaws ache.<br /><br />I'm wondering...how many pages you should read aloud at one time? A chapter? Ten pages? Speak up, inquiring minds want to know.<br /><br /><strong>Silence critics; banish censors:</strong><br />There is a Pogo cartoon many years ago...1972..."We have met the enemy and he is us." Oh, so true...<br /><br />For nay-sayers, Julia Cameron stated in her book, "The Artist's Way", about 'crazymakers', here's a blog entry that deals with this problem.<br /><a href="http://survivingtheworkday.blogspot.com/2007/03/enter-crazymaker.html">http://survivingtheworkday.blogspot.com/2007/03/enter-crazymaker.html</a><br /><br /><strong>Practice riff-writing</strong>:<br />Now I like this part. I write very 'tight'...and it's hard to insert new writing into what has already been done. But with riff-writing, I'll be like Scarlett and 'think about that tomorrow'.<br /><br />Ms. Lyon has a great example of riff-writing. <br /><br />This is a great concept. I'm in a NaNo writing challenge this month with friends, and am having a difficult time getting the words down, even though I have an outline. So, maybe riff-writing can add words to the page and as Ms. Lyons writes this "example shows what the agents and editors mean when they say, "I know it when I see it," referring to original voice and a fully developed story."<br /><br />That's what I want!<br /><br /><strong>Revise from your truth</strong>:<br />This is where I'm going in the wrong direction. Putting in the character's emotions, truthfully, is extremely difficult. I'm thinking that the riff-writing might correct some of that. Of going into deep point of view, where I can tap the emotion so that my reader can feel the angst, the hopelessness, the decisions, the joy and the journey that my main characters are traveling toward happiness.<br /><br /><strong>Harvest your emotions:</strong><br />This section reminds me of Dwight Swain's <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=vfuvoxup8WcC&pg=PA56&lpg=PA56&dq=feeling%2Baction%2Bspeech&source=bl&ots=phXAVqiltP&sig=gFlGQ3wC68cwgiB2Da9-wqwJyD4&hl=en&ei=k9JwS6qjJInL8QbJpZzFCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CAsQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=feeling%2Baction%2Bspeech&f=false">'feeling-action-speech</a>,' in his book, "Techniques of the Selling Writer." His book is a classic. It's not an easy book to read, but he brings out techniques that every writer should know. Ms. Lyons also discusses visceral responses. Another Margie Lawson workshop explained that to me. If you haven't taken one of her workshops, do. It will improve your writing tenfold or more.<br /><br /><strong>Catch fireflies:</strong><br />Another truth, always carry a notepad, pen, and tape recorder to capture those snippets of dialogue, plot twists, etc., that come at odd moments.<br /><br />I was driving home the other night and some dialogue between two characters came to mind. It was great dialogue. No paper, as if I could even see to write it down, couldn't move to the side of the road as there wasn't any side, just a ditch. Five minutes later when I arrived home, that wondrous dialogue was lost. I might be able to capture some of the words, but I know in my heart that it won't be as good, it never is.<br /><br />I've also used my subconscious to hammer out plot problems, going to bed at night I concentrate on the problem. It took several weeks but I woke up one morning to an answer to my plot...it drives the whole story.<br /><br />Who knew what to call these 'flashes.' Fireflies is a good name.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-25060066031059506082010-01-31T15:52:00.001-08:002010-01-31T15:53:02.352-08:00Ego? I don't think so...<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" >Question: is writing about ego?</span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" >---------------</span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" ></span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" >No! </span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" ></span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" >When I was a kid, I invented stories...</span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" ></span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" >Then I received a 'puppet' book when I was around nine or ten. This was back in the day when Howdy Doody was the leading kids show. Howdy was a marionette. I looked at how the marionettes were built, their costumes constructed, and then read the play that was on the page over and over and over again.</span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" ></span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" >An only child, in a very small town, I was allowed to roam during summers. The library was my 'hangout'. It was extremely small and I read the entire kid's section. Devoured 'Toby Tyler Joins the Circus', any book written by Lois Lenski and loved to brush my fingers against the light rose fuzzy binding on 'Pollyanna'. </span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" ></span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" >At the age of twelve, I pulled down 'The Diary of Anne Frank'...I remember that the cover was black and the title was embossed in gold. When the librarian looked at the title, she then looked at me, and after a moment or two decided to allow me to check it out. Nothing was said, but I knew that she was gauging me. When I returned the book, she asked me how I liked it. 'It was okay'. Three years later when I had to reread it again for high school, it was as though it was a 'different' book. It resonated my awkward teen years.</span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" ></span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" >Books are my friends. I spend a few hours in another world, another time, another place and come out happier at the end, except for a few! 'The Lovely Bones' was the only book that 'haunted' me for days after reading it. Eileen Dreyer's 'A Man to Die For' was the first book with a ending that surprised me. Susan Sizemore's first book was another with a surprise ending. </span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" ></span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" >I want to be one of those writers who can make someone laugh, who can make someone cry and who can make someone think. If I can do that, I'd be happy.</span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" ></span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" >So to me, writing has nothing to do with ego. It's like a huge jigsaw puzzle, something you want to figure out. It still holds a fascination for me. Developing a story is such a 'creative' thing, spinning worlds out of words. Throwing problems at my characters to see if they can get themselves out of trouble, their growth process, getting to a satisfying ending. It's like a movie in my head. They are my companions when I go to bed at night while I try to figure out 'what happens next'.</span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" ></span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" >Those that are 'ego' driven are the ones who do the 'vanity' publishing route. My true name will never be on a fiction book, so that is not my goal. </span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" ></span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:windowtext;" >I have an ego, but it doesn't make me write. The story itself makes me write.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-7793584955721861762010-01-07T07:39:00.001-08:002010-01-07T07:41:03.722-08:002010 Goals2009 was a bust with my goals. So, I'm revisiting and updating that list. I have a monthly calendar dedicated to my writing, with other out-of-town conferences that I have to attend for my business. One of those dates crossed out another thing I wanted to go to...<br />Some of the months don't have any projects listed, but I want to evaluate my options during those 'free' months. But write I will.<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Writing:</strong><br />January: Finish screenplay started in 2007 for March.<br />February: George's Christmas story. GIAM Tour de Force<br />March: NOLA conference in Shreveport. Montreal Screenwriting Retreat. Finish Chloe's Choice. Do outline for ScriptFrenzy.<br />April: Script Frenzy - Do Pierre's story.<br />May: Go through projects and select which is most feasible.<br />June:<br />July: Attend RWA National. Thrillerfest??? <br />August: <br />September: <br />October: <br />November: NaNoWriMo for the month.<br />December: Enjoy the season, but write daily.<br /><br />Write at least three pages daily, try to do two hours.<br />Edit material once finished.<br />Send out queries to material that is finished and ready to go.<br />Post on blogs weekly.<br />Do Contest Column monthly.<br />Check email in the evenings when watching TV.<br />Enter at least four screenwriting contests.<br />Enter at least four romance contests.<br />Study the craft - read one chapter from craft book. <br />Adapt my writing spreadsheet to include things that might apply.<br />Read at least thirty minutes for pleasure.<br />Work on Genealogy Book for self-publication by year's end.<br />Write in daily journal, highlighting various subjects that are on this list.<br /><br /><strong>Non-writing:</strong><br />Be serious about losing weight. (Only lost one pound in 2009)<br />Exercise daily at least twenty minutes.<br />Follow my housekeeping schedule.<br />Do more in the garden.<br />Take a picture every day as an exercise. Write down why I took the picture and print it out on presentation paper and bind in a book at year's end.<br />List five daily gratitudes.<br /><br /><br /><!-- **begin egp html banner** --><br /><br /><!-- **end egp html banner** --><div style="COLOR: white; CLEAR: both" width="1">__._,_.___</div><!-- Start Recommendations --><!-- End Recommendations --><!-- **begin egp html banner** --><span style="color:#ffffff;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-37300931140449865692009-12-13T20:04:00.000-08:002009-12-13T20:30:27.397-08:00'Tis the Season to be Jolly<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhp8Gu_aEHfcZnfTDsK5NFLZpjShzsuE-T8Rk-Qa0orsmtzI-11Qfau_KTm3EYaO6dfg2N6ZQmdoaSGOozOih5w2lbZq3vAsyyuvoyVtKBK3xOo59uc-pAe9Wgrbw-EuXDQaPkDw/s1600-h/Christmas_presents.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 350px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 350px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414944388375637218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhp8Gu_aEHfcZnfTDsK5NFLZpjShzsuE-T8Rk-Qa0orsmtzI-11Qfau_KTm3EYaO6dfg2N6ZQmdoaSGOozOih5w2lbZq3vAsyyuvoyVtKBK3xOo59uc-pAe9Wgrbw-EuXDQaPkDw/s400/Christmas_presents.jpg" /></a><br /><div>And I am. Chemo and Radiation are over with, just waiting to take another mammogram to see how everything is, which isn't scheduled until January.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Life is good.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>My daughter's friend was diagnosed this month, but only has to have radiation, she's delighted that it's easily treatable. And so am I. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I celebrated another birthday, and find myself mellower (is that a word?) than I've been in ages. Maybe it's because I'm finally coming to grips with life and the lessons we can learn while we take our journey.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I'm planning my writing schedule for 2010, and it promises to be full. A screenwriting retreat is a definite, so is RWA's National Conference. There are several other excursions that I'm looking at, plus, of course, the writing.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Writing every day is a must, even on weekends. My weekend work will be at least a limit of one hour. The daily work must be at least one hour, but I rather do two. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>There is a screenplay that must be done before the middle of March. It's started, I have a complete outline, just need a great title and the rest of the pages cranked out. My working title is: Sam's Story...LOL So, you can see why I need a great title.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Then there is my series contemporary story that I started this year and need to finish.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>My middle grade story which needs some world-building, and I need to do some research. I purchased the research books, I just need to sit down and read.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I also want to read a chapter of a craft book daily and cull the neat stuff I can use. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Plus, I want to read...I have so many books and this year my book reading has been off, I've listened to a lot of books while driving myself back and forth from radiation. I keep a book in my car so I can listen to it while I drive instead of wasting time listening to music. I know, music isn't a waste of time, but my local channels only have the golden oldies or country music. Some of the books on tape/cd's are interesting, I tend to listen to thrillers, though I've listened to a mixed bag this year. I'd like to read at least fifty pages a day.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So, writing, reading, studying, conferences, retreats, etc., are covered. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>But, and here's the big but, I also need to find an agent to represent material that is already finished, and polished. Egads!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>But the time has come. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Have a wonderful, joyous Christmas!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-25531423177577951232009-10-29T20:41:00.000-07:002009-10-29T20:57:24.582-07:00The End or Is It?105 office visits later, I think I'm through.<br /><br />Though I do have an appointment next week and one in December.<br /><br />That's a hundred and five office visits. Not all of them were directly the result of cancer, there were other health issues that were included. I now have seven physicians that take care of me in one way or another.<br /><br />There's a saying that 'if you have your health, you have everything.'<br /><br />I believe in that now.<br /><br />When I was younger, I was seldom sick and if I did get sick, my mother had something about physicians, so I was generally neglected. But, my grandparents lived into their eighties and nineties, my mother is knocking around in her eighties. So, I have some good genes to draw from. But it isn't enough.<br /><br />I have one pill that I have to take for the next five years to, hopefully, deter my cancer from coming back. <br /><br />There are no guarantees. I accept that.<br /><br />Once my radiologist gives me the okay, I'll be taking another mammogram. I will as often as it's prescribed.<br /><br />One in eight women. I've been informing all my female friends to get their test yearly. It's not fun, but it can save your life.<br /><br />If you've been reading me this year, you've come along on quite a journey with me. I want to thank you for that. At times I wasn't my best. But I think at the end of this journey, that I am stronger than I thought. I've become, hopefully, a better person because of it.<br /><br />Again, many thanks...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-4941473585643396852009-09-29T21:48:00.000-07:002009-09-29T22:15:29.173-07:00"Crisp and Crunchy, or Raw" - What Radiation Really Is...For Me At LeastThe title says it all.<br /><br /><br />Last week was 'deep tissue' radiation, which left my skin red, a bright burn red. Since I've always been pale, and red only when I stayed in the sun too long, this is something else entirely.<br /><br /><br />The skin from my neck to the top of my bosom, has the quality of dried alligator skin. Not that soft belly gator skin, but the top part, the scaly part. There are blisters, peeled skin, crunchy skin, all in all, not good.<br /><br /><br />Then there is the 'girl' as Whoopi Goldberg refers to it. My girl is in poor shape. Blisters formed under the clear bandages that were used to keep my blue marking lines in place. Some other blisters broke, one bandage, along with the skin it was covering, came off completely. OUCH! There's another blister that is as big as a quarter that looks ready to burst.<br /><br /><br />So, there is raw meat. Blisters. Healing blisters. Infection. Dark purple liquid stuff that is helping to fight infection, which stains everything it touches. Plus some Silver Sulfadiazine Cream that I smear on as often as I can.<br /><br />The sports bra hurts to wear. Clothing...well, I do puff out the shirt a bit on that side. The seat belt...LOL...it didn't take me long to unclick my safety device, as the belt wrapped directly over the biggest stretch of raw meat. If the cops stop me, I don't mind showing them the 'evidence'...or maybe I need a note from my doctor, showing the girl might get me arrested. <br /><br />But, guess what. I can do this. There are three days left. The end is in sight.<br /><br />And I shouldn't complain. I feel shameful that I am, especially since watching 'So You Think You Can Dance' this evening, where a young twenty-five year old woman lost her left hand to soft tissue cancer. It was her hand or her life. <br /><br />I'm so so lucky. <br /><br />I've been blessed with the wonderful friendship that has been offered to me during this journey. <br /><br />I'm so so lucky.<br /><br />.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-15475168310059985752009-08-29T07:54:00.000-07:002009-08-29T08:09:30.076-07:00They Lied about Radiation.They lied to me about radiation.<br /><br />It's the most painful process during this whole cancer journey.<br /><br />Not the radiation part. I don't even feel that.<br /><br />It's the freaking position I have to hold to get the radiation. I can now write about the Spanish Inquisition from the prisoner's part. <br /><br />It's the only part of the treatment that has brought me to tears at almost every session.<br /><br />It's where I can't bother to chant my "I can do this" and am instead wanting to scream out, "Hurry up and get me the h*ll out of here."<br /><br />I've lost my sense of humor.<br /><br />The position...<br /><br />Imagine lying on a narrow table with your right arm in space. Now raise that arm where it is even with the side of your body, and your right hand about a foot from your head. There is a little brace to hold you just above your wrist. Since they want to give radiation to the side under my arm, they tape my arm to the brace, moving the fatty batwing that I carry around up and out of the way.<br /><br />Then the "stretch your neck and look up and over to the left"...that's another part of the pain. I should have a lovely neck on the right hand side, the left will be full of wrinkles.<br /><br />AND...hold that position for at least twenty-five to thirty minutes.<br /><br />OUCH! <br /><br />The ouch doesn't even cover the pain I'm in. I try to step up to the plate and be brave, but it's hard. If they manage to linger too long, and why do they need so many x-rays, then I'm in tears by the end of my session.<br /><br />Just think, only five freaking weeks left. FIVE FREAKING WEEKS.<br /><br />Like I said. I lost my sense of humor.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-43052936330180477532009-08-02T17:44:00.000-07:002009-08-03T08:45:10.350-07:00Radiation is in the future...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD639SJEtH12sstVKhZz-ujz_TMrudAYG5FEk4n9_hmQz24ZsDm03ky0zbyNA7ToH_hHjfKLVNwtNm-rI1YH_a4toXzs5fs81_k81xqNAXuSUTHNIDeZWYtuNjSs3YU2i5CpmyZg/s1600-h/Halloween.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 334px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 350px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365536202600824194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD639SJEtH12sstVKhZz-ujz_TMrudAYG5FEk4n9_hmQz24ZsDm03ky0zbyNA7ToH_hHjfKLVNwtNm-rI1YH_a4toXzs5fs81_k81xqNAXuSUTHNIDeZWYtuNjSs3YU2i5CpmyZg/s400/Halloween.gif" /></a><br /><div>Well, I thought I would have started my radiation by now.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>It seems that indeed, I need to learn patience.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I was told by my oncologist that I should be done with my treatment by Halloween.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Halloween!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Apparently, the trick is on me.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>My appointment on Wednesday was two weeks after my last chemo. Now I need to go to a new OB/GYN doctor, as my regular doctor doesn't accept my insurance plan, and get a PAP Smear and general check-up.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Then I have an appointment with my surgeon to discuss the removal of my port. I'll be thrilled to get rid of it. Wearing a sports bra 24/7 hasn't been comfortable. But after the consultation, then the surgery, and after that recovery.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>In mid-September there is the bone density test. Radiation has something to do with that. It's on the cancer protocol sheet and my oncologist goes by the book. Then another mammogram.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Then about ten days after that I see my oncologist again. I hope that the radiation will start after that. It's six weeks with radiation five days a week. The radiation will last for about a minute, the drive to and fro will be an hour and a half. I was going to use some of the grand kids as drivers, but school will be in session, so that plan is out. Not that I feel I need a driver, but the dh is insistent.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I am so anxious to go on a trip, to do something out of the ordinary, to visit old friends, to have a family retreat, to be determined cancer-free. Is my list too long? No. It's been almost a year since I was diagnosed. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So many people have reached out their hands to me in this time, and I truly appreciate it. They have made this journey bearable and heart-warming.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Life is good!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-17884518075072062182009-06-25T16:52:00.001-07:002009-06-25T17:12:43.954-07:00On the Downhill SlideNine weeks of the second chemo down. Three to go. Then there are six weeks of radiation. It seems like a lot, but I'm more than halfway down this journey.<br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">x</span><br />They give me liquid Benadryl first, to combat any nausea. You can feel the Benadryl as it's cold in your blood stream. It puts most of the patients to sleep. A lot of them request blankets, the lady next to me had two. But, I'm one of the few that gets wired on Benadryl. Instead of a lounge chair, I'm ready for a treadmill. Like I would actually run! I sit on the edge of the lounge chair, fidgeting, trying to read a book, antsy. Sometimes I stand as sitting is so uncomfortable. But, it doesn't take long before the procedure is over with.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">x</span><br />Three weeks ago, two of my grandchildren lost their grandfather to cancer. He was diagnosed after I was. Unfortunately, he was given three to six months to live. So, they had two grandparents with cancer at the same time. One dies. One lives.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">x</span><br />It's a hard journey for them now. One needs to check on me often.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">x</span><br />I've figured it out. Cancer is about caring for people. I've seen and felt how cancer patients are treated by others. Your true friends come across for you. Others disappear. It's been a learning process.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">x</span><br /><br />Sharman, a dear friend of mine of over thirty years has shown me what caring means, a get well card once or twice a week, small gifts relevant to cancer. I know I need to do the same thing with friends of my own. Just be there. Show you care.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">x</span><br />Rosalyn, a new friend, is a true joy. So positive, so knowledgeable, so generous. She bought pink straw hats for our little writer's group. The hat doesn't have a brim in the back which is perfect for chemo, as you can wear it and lean back in a lounger at the same time. But she challenges me, which is what I need now. Someone to push me, make me think, make me happy. She does all of that and more.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">x</span><br />I'm on a lot of group loops and I find that others are kind with sending prayers, cheering me on this journey, and reading about what's happening in my life. Then there comes a private email from several of them, asking how I'm feeling. A special touch. I need to remember that as well.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">x</span><br />Some people who were friends of mine haven't stepped up to the plate. That saddens me. I thought that they were friends, but they let too much time elapse, and now I don't want them back in my life because I don't want to be hurt again. Maybe I should open my heart to them, but I'd rather spend my limited amount of energy on those who have shown what real friendship is about.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">x<br /></span><br />My family has been so supportive. The hubby of decades worries about me all the time. He checks in on me often during the day. I feel his morning kiss on my head while I'm in that slumberland where you're not quite awake. So, even after all these years, we're closer than ever before.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPh_-CZw8MP4KKWQHbkjKnfAbNWof28SjZsZWShROOSuPrVoGf6efn731mt5OpgEPwHSz6l4BrlllY8QrG0qE5X8NsKZOD0AmrG-ws_NGRFOcwtET5iilekAynu6zR_lKD9oL96g/s1600-h/mandevilla+2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 105px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 119px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351418324491855746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPh_-CZw8MP4KKWQHbkjKnfAbNWof28SjZsZWShROOSuPrVoGf6efn731mt5OpgEPwHSz6l4BrlllY8QrG0qE5X8NsKZOD0AmrG-ws_NGRFOcwtET5iilekAynu6zR_lKD9oL96g/s400/mandevilla+2.jpg" /></a> We talk in the car driving to and from chemo, over luncheon afterwards, on the patio in the afternoons when we take a break, have a drink, coke zero for me, and enjoy our home. It's so peaceful and serene on my patio. The birds are singing, we check to see if the redheaded woodpecker is still notching out a home on the telephone pole across from the driveway, the occasional squirrel, the blue jay and yellow bellied warbler fighting for territorial rights, the cat and kittens who decided to live with us and who sneak around the corners of the property. The beautiful plants, especially the climbing pink Mandeville. Life goes on.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">x</span><br />The kids and grand kids have also shown me great love. They don't mind me walking around with no hair. I have a fuzzy growth now, but not enough to disguise the fact that I'm baldish. I've learned that hats make your head sweat, I didn't know that. So, I'll wear one for awhile, then am happy to take it off and cool off the dome. My doctor said that several women wear scarves under their hats, I can't get a scarf to stay on the head, so I don't bother fooling with them. Though I do have two that are gorgeous.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">x</span><br />So, maybe I was destined to have treatable cancer to learn some lessons. If I had to say what those lessons would be, they are:<br /><span style="color:#009900;">x</span><br />Be a caring wife, mother, grandmother, friend.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">x</span><br />Be patient. I keep wishing that I was finished on this journey, but maybe its important that the road be longer than I like.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">x</span><br />Listen to others, what they are really saying underneath the words they speak.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">x</span><br />Always tell my family, "I love you"...they need to know that I do.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">x</span><br />Life is good...enjoy it to the fullest!<br /><span style="color:#009900;">x</span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">x</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-69686078345192601942009-06-08T19:35:00.000-07:002009-06-08T19:39:36.144-07:00I Can Do ThisFinding out that you have cancer is a life altering sentence.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">.</span><br />First you're hit with fear. Will I die? Can they kill it? What's going to happen to me?<br /><span style="color:#009900;"> .</span><br />The oncologist talks to you, but your mind doesn't catch everything. What did she mean by 50/50 chance? I finally figured it out. I have a 50/50 chance of developing breast cancer even after treatment.<br /><span style="color:#009900;"> .<br /></span>The first few weeks of chemo were the hardest for me. I honestly believe that they need to prescribe anxiety/depression medicine when they tell you that you have cancer.<br /><span style="color:#009900;"> .<br /></span>It took me awhile to get over that anxiety/depression. Every time I started to slide to the dark side, I would think, "I can do this."<br /><span style="color:#009900;"> .</span><br />I prayed. I prayed to every person I knew who was no longer with me, and to God. I'd cry at night, my mind full of fear. Then I'd say, "I can do this."<br /><span style="color:#009900;"> .<br /></span>"I can do this." <br /><span style="color:#009900;"> .<br /></span>Four little words. But they helped bolster my spirits. "I can do this."<br /><span style="color:#009900;"> .<br /></span>I can, and you can too. <br /><span style="color:#009900;"> .<br /></span>There is nothing in this world that you can't stare down if you believe. Believe in yourself and in others, but mainly yourself.<br /><span style="color:#009900;"> .<br /></span>For some reason, I've been in a dark mood the past week. It might be because I'm exhausted all the time. Every chore is time-consuming. Making the bed takes a long time. First the bottom sheet. Rest. Then the top sheet. Rest again. Then the comforter, the pillows. Then throwing myself on the made up bed to rest again.<br /><span style="color:#009900;"> .<br /></span>It's not fun, but I can't give up. "I can do this."<br /><span style="color:#009900;"> .</span><br />That's my mantra. It's what's holding me together.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-76895983680357959122009-05-23T08:55:00.000-07:002009-05-23T09:15:45.136-07:00On Being Bald<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvkmMcJX3j84oisA-ss_ox8T1HrTESWtCnx4mRCOsFZRu_C93IaGHtsgTAlxLnHqztwvYpnotean28fTUj97Ftx0sFwdKtK8lxz-odOClzUtNyzRJZ9_spM_fsgydpC3aQzj8dw/s1600-h/bald+head.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339049357102385218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 118px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 89px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvkmMcJX3j84oisA-ss_ox8T1HrTESWtCnx4mRCOsFZRu_C93IaGHtsgTAlxLnHqztwvYpnotean28fTUj97Ftx0sFwdKtK8lxz-odOClzUtNyzRJZ9_spM_fsgydpC3aQzj8dw/s400/bald+head.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Well, it is done.</div><div><span style="color:#009900;">xx</span></div><div>I had my daughter clip my hair.</div><div><span style="color:#009900;">xx</span></div><div>It was looking horrible, sticking up, or straight out. So, I had it clipped. It was about a one-fourth of a inch long, but is growing.</div><div><span style="color:#009900;">xx</span></div><div>That's not a picture of me. My face is much rounder. It was pointed out to me that I look like my oldest granddaughter when she was a baby. With her little round head and bald head, I have to agree. She was precious. I don't think that I qualify for that moniker.</div><div><span style="color:#009900;">xx</span></div><div>My kidney function was misbehaving again, so no chemo this week.</div><div><span style="color:#009900;">xx</span></div><div>It was disappointing as another week has been added to my cancer treatment. Insert a big sigh here. </div><div><span style="color:#009900;">xx</span></div><div>At least I'm feeling good, though tired most of the time. It could be worse, so I'm feeling lucky.</div><div><span style="color:#009900;">xx</span></div><div>Life is still good. What else can you wish for?</div><div><span style="color:#009900;">xx</span></div><div>I'm blessed...</div><div><span style="color:#009900;">xx</span></div><div><span style="color:#009900;">xx</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-28024442269843123212009-05-07T10:08:00.000-07:002009-05-07T10:38:41.156-07:00What's Chemo Without the Chemo?Due to the low count of white blood cells, my chemo was cancelled this week. Instead I received a shot to boost my cell count.<br /><span style="color:#009900;"> x</span><br />I was disappointed.<br /><span style="color:#009900;"> x</span><br />It pushes back the end of chemo and radiation another week. I've figured out that if I stay on track, I'll be done with chemo and radiation on August 22nd. I don't want to be pushed into September, but another low count of white blood cells, might do that. I finished my third round of the new chemo drugs, and have nine more to go. If every three weeks I have to sit out, well, September it is.<br /><span style="color:#009900;"> x</span><br />Thank heavens I didn't make any firm plans on what I wanted to do to celebrate.<br /><span style="color:#009900;"> x<br /></span>Las Vegas! Oh, hello, my favorite town. The kids and I are planning to go, but we don't have a date in mind, that will come later. Vegas is more than gambling, which I like to do as well. You can spent time just cruising the hotels and looking at all the free stuff, such as the water dance in front of one of the hotels, plus, the pirate ship take over. The roller coaster ride, it costs, but it's a lot of fun.<br /> <span style="color:#009900;">x</span><br />Cruise me baby! I love cruises. I've been on three, and my next one will be in the Caribbean, the beaches are too beautiful for words. I've also taken side trips, I've seen two Mayan temples, and they have them designed to the summer and winter solstice. When the sun rises, the light goes through a hole and lights up the whole area. How did they know how to do that? I find that very interesting.<br /><span style="color:#009900;"> x</span><br />Writer's Retreat. I'm wanting to be with like-minded writers. People whose eyes don't glaze over when you talk about writing. Family and friends will ask about your writing, but if you get excited to talk about it, their eyes go blank quickly. So, a writer's retreat is on my list.<br /><span style="color:#009900;"> x</span><br />NYC. I enjoyed my trip there last Thanksgiving week. We saw a show every night, from a Korean play to Momma Mia! I visited three candy shops, (who knew!), two museums, quite a few restaurants. Food was debatable. Some restaurants weren't up to snuff. There is a steakhouse across the street from Chelsea Market that is fantastic. Our waiter worked there for over forty years! Yes, I would make time to go back there again.<br /><span style="color:#009900;"> x<br /></span>That's my list so far, I'll keep adding to it as I think of more fun things to do.<br /><span style="color:#009900;"> x</span><br />Life is still good, even if it's delayed.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">x</span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">x</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-51124425372381225982009-04-28T19:05:00.000-07:002009-04-28T20:32:19.790-07:00With Seventeen Hairs on My Head Do I Really Need a Beautician?<span style="color:#006600;"><span style="color:#006600;">. </span><br /></span><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzE2TNjdhVMMm7wxw0ybJ6QdEFAY04ppN7VbB752mLUgoFsiaypdYi94v99KBgyMxVskbny8Z4YxmwNSKn8ER4wPubXII15oIBmDSdEf0nT1JakRsOw1K9nF45q41XRtBS7MUjqw/s1600-h/6a1au85ntq6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329929690620483890" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 80px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 80px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzE2TNjdhVMMm7wxw0ybJ6QdEFAY04ppN7VbB752mLUgoFsiaypdYi94v99KBgyMxVskbny8Z4YxmwNSKn8ER4wPubXII15oIBmDSdEf0nT1JakRsOw1K9nF45q41XRtBS7MUjqw/s400/6a1au85ntq6.jpg" border="0" /></a> The average human head has one hundred thousand hairs.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">.</span><br />I now have seventeen.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">.</span><br />And I need a haircut.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">.</span><br />It's not cute when your hair sticks straight out from your head.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">.</span><br />The Chinese Crested Hairless dog in the above picture looks cuter than I do. Plus, she has a lot more hair than I do. Insert big sigh here. </div><div><span style="color:#009900;">. </span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZubfzz3cUO_kFkidy4r2ydLfobqDc4kWfpJcpSacBzLfNeGD3jHmDbO6MJGtvs2VNVjIixsyJbllqL9KBm2wDQZxaHKKb5xrWfbW3KhxwB5BliMnYo0Xkaf5hxlGUXSoyOzaq5g/s1600-h/toby.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329944768730851858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 80px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 80px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZubfzz3cUO_kFkidy4r2ydLfobqDc4kWfpJcpSacBzLfNeGD3jHmDbO6MJGtvs2VNVjIixsyJbllqL9KBm2wDQZxaHKKb5xrWfbW3KhxwB5BliMnYo0Xkaf5hxlGUXSoyOzaq5g/s400/toby.jpg" border="0" /></a>It took me a long time to find that photo, and I found out that there are Chinese Crested dogs with lots of hair, and I fell in love with Toby who is for sale in Oklahoma. Isn't he the cutest little fella...unfortunately his sale is pending.</div><div></div><div><span style="color:#009900;">. </span><br />I purchased a wig more than a year ago, but it doesn't look good on me. I think I bought the wrong size, as it rides up in the back. At least I think so. It looks like a blonde Paula Deen. Not to far off my own color (white is a color!). Then there is the bright emerald green one I bought for St. Paddy's Day. </div><span style="color:#009900;">.<br /></span><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihRRQjLJG2qKbYfhxFerIlUif6247zY0fxeMybhTas5gHlBPvaQC78P9z4PhQj0LzLb2idCOEpc_KcYmeaNM5FdREYtKpn_mCM6BXS_EhSKLnzoDMe4irLcYojYwBhRDnuiDE4qQ/s1600-h/Henna+head+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329936930252575010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 76px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 90px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihRRQjLJG2qKbYfhxFerIlUif6247zY0fxeMybhTas5gHlBPvaQC78P9z4PhQj0LzLb2idCOEpc_KcYmeaNM5FdREYtKpn_mCM6BXS_EhSKLnzoDMe4irLcYojYwBhRDnuiDE4qQ/s400/Henna+head+1.jpg" border="0" /></a>I was thinking that doing a henna job on my head might be attractive. It could look artsy, or something from the thirties. I found the <a href="http://www.chemochicks.com/">Chemo Chicks</a> on the internet, and they have a Henna Tattoo Kit available for sale.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">.</span> </div><div>Lil Kim had some face decorations when she danced this week that looked like curls on her face from a distance. I have no clue if they have anything for the total head. </div><div><span style="color:#009900;">. </span></div><div>I did find a place where I could buy <a href="http://www.getprice.com.au/Hairy-Moles-3-Stick-ons-Gpnc_431--34039991.htm">Hairy Moles</a>, perhaps enough on the head would fill in with the seventeen hairs. I wonder if they have white?<br /><span style="color:#009900;">.</span> </div><div>I was thinking that if I lost all my hair I could get the grandkids to sign my head. There are thirteen of them, so that would cover a lot of head. I wonder how long a magic marker would last on my head?<br /><span style="color:#009900;">.</span><br />I have a coupon to get a head massage that would help damaged hair shine. Wouldn't they be surprised when I walked in! Sometimes being almost bald is fun. The massage might feel good, and my hair is so damaged, I'm sure the seventeen would be lost when shampooed.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">.</span><br />Of course, that would eliminate the need for a hairdresser to trim my crown.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">.</span> </div><div>At my last RWA chapter meeting last month, I told the girls that due to my hair loss, I would be wearing a hat. All of us wore hats. We meet in a restaurant, and almost everyone that walked in looked at us and when we left, everyone did stare. It was very empowering. Who knew?<br /><span style="color:#009900;">.</span><br />I'm old enough to be a Red Hat lady, but there aren't any in our small town. I now know how they feel when they enter an establishment to eat all decked out with their red hats. One lady wore a purple one, and it was really cute. The one lady in a red baseball cap didn't have the panache that the others had. Go Red Hats!<br /><span style="color:#009900;">.</span><br />I asked my son today if I needed a hat to go out in public. (I was kidding with the question.) He is twenty-one, and very respectful, he told me to be comfortable with myself, if I felt I needed a hat to put one on. Don't you love it when your kid says something so wonderful!<br /><span style="color:#009900;">.</span><br />And that's what I do. I have hats in my car, some nice ones, some baseball caps. I wear whatever I feel like wearing. And when my head gets hot, I take it off. (In the car, otherwise, I leave it on.)<br /><span style="color:#009900;">.</span> </div><div>With hair or no hair, I'm still the same person I used to be...except maybe more caring, more tolerant, more forgiving. Which is a good thing. Maybe that is what I'm supposed to be learning from this experience.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">.</span> </div><div>Life is still good.<br /><span style="color:#009900;">. </span></div><div><span style="color:#009900;">.<br /></span></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeB5hElvs_vqce52yTdbVCLliQ0YKgPqio3sq8kq1TDqZd8k4Ls33LcSJJBYv4XwS_Yhq-l0nOlr5DFP6m8vju1FFbFk2IG59FjjlW-lFGt2rZYG8K4xU6cxPo82HOCEhRqCEKw/s1600-h/6a1au85ntq6.jpg"></a></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9059009.post-32700166828453931142009-04-15T18:48:00.000-07:002009-04-15T19:21:58.858-07:00New Beginnings - New Chemo Drugs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIau2ZLM_Csm0zjcuyPeVIXamj69zlaxRJW1XxadmurSAbbBokqTqtYLADposc0501Y0bB5J_bw4-ZoUByokLXGqALrLXztSPIeeyXjX6tJ-wjZrR9K78HXqp9_MzsErwL2uIfA/s1600-h/nurse.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325105248168290306" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 131px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 127px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIau2ZLM_Csm0zjcuyPeVIXamj69zlaxRJW1XxadmurSAbbBokqTqtYLADposc0501Y0bB5J_bw4-ZoUByokLXGqALrLXztSPIeeyXjX6tJ-wjZrR9K78HXqp9_MzsErwL2uIfA/s400/nurse.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Today was chemo day. My chemo drugs were changed. Woo Hoo!</div><span style="color:#009900;">..<br /></span><div></div><div>These are 'lighter' than the previous four chemo sessions. No coldness. I didn't feel anything.</div><span style="color:#009900;">. </span><br /><div>Of course it wasn't all fantastic. The nurse who inserted the needle into my port used a short needle, I need a long. Since she was wearing gloves, another nurse handed her the sterile long needle. It went in with a slight snap that I could feel. (No pain.)</div><div></div><span style="color:#009900;">. </span><div>Then they push in fluid to flush the port, and when they draw back on the syringe, blood is supposed to come into the needle so that they know that the chemo drugs will enter the blood stream. If it doesn't, well, the talk about the chemo drugs eating your flesh comes to mind.</div><div></div><span style="color:#009900;">. </span><br /><div>She didn't get any blood back. She asked for another syringe, again, no blood. Two syringes later, with three nurses in my cubicle, they asked me to raise my left arm in the air several times, and that did the trick. The dh was standing outside the cubicle, but knew something wasn't going well, as it was out of the norm.</div><span style="color:#009900;">. </span><br /><div>After starting the chemo, I laid back in the lounge chair. It was one of the ones that are difficult to get out of. They also push saline solution along with the chemo drugs, I imagine to dilute it. With all the fluids going in, a loo break is a necessity. </div><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="color:#009900;">. </span><br /></span><div>For some reason, I was restless. Maybe, it was the Restless Leg Syndrome, though the extra Iron I take daily has alleviated most of movement. I sat at the edge of the lounge chair. One of the nurses asked me if I needed anything, but I told her no. </div><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="color:#009900;">. </span><br /></span><div></div><div>I have to say, that the nurses, who are very attentive to their patients, and the other patients around them. You don't necessarily get the same nurse all the time, but if one is busy and your machine starts to beep, meaning that one of the bags is on empty and either needs to be changed, or that you're through and can go home, another nurse will step in and take care of you.</div><div><span style="color:#009900;">.</span></div><div>So, once we finished, it was noon. The dh took me out to eat. Since we will be going on Wednesdays for the next eleven weeks. I need to see if they have other restaurants in Alexandria that we haven't tried out yet. He likes Mediterranean food, so since next Wednesday is his birthday, that might be a neat surprise.</div><div><span style="color:#009900;">.</span></div><div>So, as my son says, "It's all good."</div><div><span style="color:#009900;">.</span></div><div>And it is. I am truly blessed.</div><div><span style="color:#009900;">.</span></div><div>Get your mammogram. I do care.</div><div><span style="color:#009900;">.</span></div><div><span style="color:#009900;">.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;"></span></div><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2