Chriss Hill

Manageable resolutions

2012-01-01T11:44:00.001-06:00

Happy 2012 everyone! Isn't the new year always about starting over and doing things better? Or to stop procrastinating on projects left undone last year? One of mine is to improve the look on my blog. How do you like it? I think it encompasses so much of me that is easily readable by all. So on day one, I have achieved a simple thing off my resolution list. But how about the rest? The time to make those other pesky resolutions is upon us. Can they last longer than the month of January? Qhite simply, to achive this, we should all make resolutions that are manageable:I will jot down a few of mine:Exercise at least 3 or 4 times a week 30 to 45 minutes. (If I do it first thing in the morning or right after work, this should be easy)Take breakfast/lunch to work instead of buying from the cafeteria. (I can save $800 a year by doing this. Prices in the cafeteria are outragious! And I can choose healthier options.)Eat more carb freindly fruits and vegetables. (lots of berries and sweet potatoes and more green veggies such as spinach)Eat more fish and salads (I tend to eat too much red meat so for me, these are healthier options)Be more mindful of people's feelings. ( I tend to be a bit snappy when crabby)Get more sleep. (Set my bedtime a bit earlier and strive for at least 8 hours of sleep)Write more. Get some creativity time in. (I've been lacking on this for quite awhile, so this is definetely for me.)Take time to study more (I'm taking college classes, so I got to read more and understand my classwork.)Take time to destress often (Work can get crazy; Needy family members can make you cringe- so I need to find time to listen to music, read, or just sit in quiet to balance out my life)I am sure there are more I can jot down, but I believe it's always best to start off with a few resolutions. Why overwhelm ourselves? If we can tackle these items into being routine then soon it should become second nature to us. At that point, we can add more to our list. Anything to better ourselves and get balance in our lives is supurb. It will make us feel better overall. When life's bumps get in our way, we can handle it better. As you jot down your resolutions, I hope you will strive for those that you can easily manage too. Let 2012 be a year you can accomplish all that you dream. Happy New Year to all of my friends and readers.

Slamdunked in 2011

2011-12-03T17:39:00.001-06:00

I don't know where to begin, but if I were a basketball in the game of life, I just got slamdunked in 2011. The events that happened to me were in a series of Kapow- Kapow - Kapow!! One, two, three: castrophes, chaos, or just life in general. Let's see.... what things occurred to make my world rocky to keep me from blogging? Well, back in Feb / March / April, both my mom and my oldest daughter were ill enough to get into the hospital. My mom had issues with her blood pressure. When she went in, my stepdad went to a nursing home as he had dementia. Then when my mom recovered, she moved into my house and my youngest daughter moved to her place. What an ordail of switching out furniture, getting a storage for my mother's things, and just the hassle of cleaning up at both places. Meanwhile, my daughter, in another state, had setbacks with her kids & spouse getting the crud/colds/sore throats, over and over again, enough to wear her immunity down to acquire walking pneumonia; and then on top of that a type of menigitis. Luckily it wasn't the type that could kill someone, but it was a terrible illness to endure. So I flew out to help take care of the kids, spouse, pets, her household, and especially my daughter. She got through it all (barely), with love and prayers, thank goodness. But we couldn't catch a break! In May, my stepfather died of natural causes and his funeral was a stressfull event. We didn't get along with his relatives in the first place. At the service, they didn't treat my mother very well or my family, so to endure the ceremony was bittersweet. I didn't get a chance to really mourn for my stepfather as i should have because of the ill will I had felt, but he was a good man to my mom while he lived and my children's "grampa". May he rest in peace. Now that my oldest felt better, on her first outing, she wound up in a car wreck. Totaled her car and broke a bone in her hand. My youngest granddaughter lost her bottom teeth, the same ones she had been born with! yet, you gotta be thankful things weren't any worse. The vehicle can be replaced, but not human lives. In the summer, she then decided to fly down with her toddler and visit for three weeks. What joy! We played in the pool; we talked a lot; we celebrated her 32nd birthday; we went to the zoo and visited San Antonio for a couple of days. It was terrific!!And I think she really had fun. I love being a Nana and playing with MJ. She is such a beautiful child. Smart, cute. Can't you tell I'm partial? LOL.. and these memories will last long in my heart. But soon, they flew home, back to their normal lives and I looked forward (nervously) to going back to school. This is my third attempt going to college. So when fall came, I began my psychology and american literature classes. Doing homework again has been a challenge; plus quizzes and research papers. The weeks have flown by. I've learned a lot and I find myself learning things, a bit harder but things are sticking to my braincells. LOL.. but the semester is drawing near and in two weeks, I will take exams. It is my hope to have done well in these classes and I believe I have. :)There was one major challenge that loomed over everything all year long that I haven't mentioned and that was chaos at work. I love my job and try to do the work exediently and correctly. Let's just say that another key player wasn't up to par on her work ethic and was let go. WE got overtime to clean things left undone and I must admit the extra money was great, but it wore me out trying to keep up with long hours I put in. Soon, we interviewed a great candidate and she was hired. Then the training began and I have been doing my best to teach her well, for we want her to stay a long time. Lucky for us, the work she finds interesting and challenging. And we get along great. So here it is... the middle of December... and I'm finally blogging again. Like I said, this year has been hard on me. I did forget to mention that around the 4th of july, I lost my favorite dogs, Tiny & Bella, within days of each other. Bella snuck out the yard and wondered down to a busy road. She was struck by a car. And Tiny had crawled under a neighbors fence and was mauled by his pit bulls. Horrid to see their frail bodies in this manner after their accidents. Yet I held them in my arms and witnessed their last breaths. My kids were so sad. My hubby just as heartbroken. We buried them on the side of my house- the graveyard of all our pets, it seems. The house didn't seem the same without them. Things were too quiet and it was difficult to come home without them greeting us. So within a month, we bought to puppies. Now, I do love playing with them; seeing their burst of playful energy and personalities take over our household. It will take time to build up a strong bond again, but they are not Bella or Tiny. Those special dogs will live in my heart forever and I can't wait to see them again when/if I reach heaven.I think with all that's happened, it was difficult for me to write on my own projects. My 3rd manuscript lays in a drawer and it needs much revision. I'll get to it, but don't know exactly when. There will be a short break over Christmas, but in January I will return to school again, taking biology and a speech class this time. Will the new year go by just as fast? I wonder. My only hope is that 2012 will be much kinder to my family. My hope is that all my friends and family will stay healthy and happy. I hope that love warms their souls and that their love ones will bring them inspiration and great memories. Let's all pray for a terrific 2012 and that God's love will keep us safe within his arms. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, my family and friends.

The rising of a super moon

2011-03-20T19:54:00.003-05:00

This past Saturday night, we had a full moon. Not an ordinary moon for it was deemed a Super moon. It moved closer to the earth so it either gave off an appearance of being really big or being very bright. I did watch it rise from my front porch and didn't think it any extra-ordinary. Lovely it was and very bright. You can't help but think of the Omnipresence when viewing something so beautiful and un-worldly.

I wondered if someone across the oceans had viewed it before me (or afterwards)that sat in the wake of some earthly disaster. Did they shiver in the cold and wish for it to warm them? Did they yearn for the Master upstairs to give them hope and free them from sickness or starvation? Man has seem so helpless trying to deal with their recent suffering. I feel for the people of Japan that have been left feeling so abandoned in their suffering and plight.

What is weird to me is to see the reporters speak of them as if they are like aliens from another planet. Why aren't they bringing in water and food instead of cameras? Why aren't they finding a way to bring them medicine and blankets? If the reporters can get in to the disaster areas then why can't humanitarian efforts to help them? It's just beyond me. I sat and watched a few videos the other night of these people caught by surprise of the Tsunami that rushed in their villages and ransacked their livelihoods. It was heartbreaking to see all the destruction, to wonder about all the animals and humans who were sucked into the rapid rising waters of destruction. These images are fleeting to me but they will never leave my mind. For those who experienced such things will find it never leaves their souls.

It's also odd how they sit and wait in such chaos when only a few hundred miles perchance civilization as they once knew it still exists. There are Japanese people with homes, water, food, shelter and modern day technologies. Why aren't they doing something to help their brethren?

Perhaps they are and I just don't know it. The media only shows what they will us to know about, right? I pray that the Japanese get the help they deserve and soon. I hope we learn from the triple strike to their nation. I truly believe there is someone upstairs rolling the dice for when mother nature will strike, just to remind us that we are not always in control of this planet called earth. Somewhere, he is watching to see what we do for our humanity. I just hope we learn our lessons deep from times of tragedy and do justice for the people caught in such destruction.

For the present, that night I watched a a full moon rise and was grateful for my blessings. At least I can write about it, while feeling full from my evening meal; feel quenched from the fresh water I drank; and slept soundly in my warm bed.

Yes, I did utter many prayers upon the moon..for that someone staring at it too, far away in a distant land ...that soon... very soon....they would be rewarded with these simple comforts again.

A very brrrrrrry February

2011-02-10T20:44:00.007-06:00

It's almost Valentine's Day and for once, our forecast here in Central Texas will be pleasant. As if we just didn't suffer two back to back weeks of Arctic air, bringing with it a snow day in one week; ice/sleet in the second. Frigid air assaulted our temperatures and forced them into the low twenties. Wind chill dipped even lower, like cowards. What it meant for most folks was chaos, of course. We're southerners remember? We are adjusted to searing temps going up in the summer, not dipping and freezing our spicket faucets.

Several folks like me altered our schedules, cancelling appointments and staying indoors like hibernating bears. Schools were on delayed schedules or closed all together. It really was too cold to go play in the wet snow, but many children did chance it. How often do we see snow typically? So I can understand the reasons to build a snowman, even if the snow wasn't very cooperative. And right on cue, by mid-day, the clouds allowed sunshine in to melt the white powder and ice away, bringing welcomed relief to those who had to get to work or run errands.

I guess we were lucky, as over half of the country had to stay in the cold/ice/snow for weeks at a time. I imagine it put those folks a little bit on the edge. I can understand, as we suffered cascading power brown-outs to conserve energy demands. Many travelers endured sliding cars on the streets. Even if the ground hog did predict an early spring for this year, many were stuck deep in winter havoc.

Afterwards, the first time I ventured to the grocery store, it was already jammed packed, worse than pre-Christmas holiday shopping. The sun was out and many folks were out to stock up, and to just get out of the darn house. Quickly, the shelves emptied of their products. I was lucky to find at least some necessities, such as coffee and sugar; the nectar of God that brightens up my early mornings.

But now, thank goodness, our dear weatherman has predicted a beautiful weekend, with temps rising in the fifties and sixties. Gosh, that's almost wearing shorts weather, isn't it? LOL. I know many folks will be tempted to do something to their gardens, but it is too soon. The last time we had a beautiful weekend, over two weeks ago, I busied myself in mine too; digging up weeds, transplanting a few buried plants; ridding debris and making the flower beds look fresh again. I can't wait for springtime to plant, but I realize I must begin fragile sprouts inside my warm house and keep them safeguarded until the last chill passes our area. I'm sure after Easter, it will be safe to dig them into the dirt.

I noted at the stores that many Valentine displays are up and stocked to the gill,with cookies, wrapped candies, teddy bears, and many assorted gifts. I look at these items and think it would be great to buy these for someone, like my kids and grand kids, but my family is too large and I'm not that rich. I suppose the only one i should worry about is my husband- my sweetheart. Yet, he too, is a lot like me and really candy or stuffed bears aren't impressive and neither of us need them. I think the best present we will give to ourselves is an evening out at Applebees, but most likely this will occur on another night other than Valentines. The restaurant will be too busy and we like to enjoy the ambiance of a quiet dinner. Are we getting old and fuddy duddy in our ways? I wonder, but that's just the way it is with us. I bet by 9:00 p.m, we will be tucked in for the night anticipating going to work the next day.

But that's just getting back to normal and I like it when things are routine. Perhaps I'm weary of snow/ice days putting kinks into my schedules and forcing me to stay indoors mostly. I want to be set free of the extraordinary and just live day by day. Yes, I guess I'm very much a creature of habit, but I like it. How about you? How do you feel when mother nature puts a kink to your lifestyle? How much has it impacted you? And do you feel that holidays aren't as important like when we were young?

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On a separate note, have you heard the latest? A study of more than 2500 people who drank diet soft drinks were shown to be more at risk for heart attack or stroke. Aren't diet drinks a better choice than real soda? I know there's always been a debate over this issue. I wonder what their co-morbities or medical histories were when they did this study?

For example, in my history, I'm prone to diabetes because of several factors. Of course, diet and exercise can decrease risk. So I'm thinking if someone likes to use diet soft drinks and they care for their health, their chances of heart attack and stroke might decrease right?

Watch the video link and judge for yourself: http://news.yahoo.com/video/health-15749655/24150602It's just like anything else: you gotta use things in moderation. Mix things up. don't just drink all coffee; all soft drinks or diet soft drinks. Add a little juice. Lots of water. Drink milk or soy milk. That's my theory on it.

Setbacks and willpower

2011-01-23T20:56:00.003-06:00

I have suffered some minor setbacks getting back into exercising again. First of all, after all that holiday nibbling, I found I couldn't stop myself. There was still left over candies and snacks about the house or at work. I was just getting over a bad cough. I suppose my will power just went down the drain. Thank goodness for having friends going through the same issues. They help inspire you to do the right things again.

I've met a couple through my favorite diet website at www.myfitnesspal.com . Here is a place you can simply load up a profile , enter your goals, and a time frame to reach your goal. It tabulates your calories burned through exercise and how much you've eaten each day, provided you log into it faithfully. Here is a forum of advice to help you meet your goals and a way to make new friends to support you through daily posts. My friend Nikki and Jen, who also live in Texas, struggle with the almost the same issues I do. they encouraged me to come back to log in my progress.

But again, fate threw at me an unexpected challenge- a pulled muscle in my back. After suffering with this since Wednesday morning, and I had assumed I got it from sleeping wrong on my lumpy old mattress, I finally sought medical help on Friday. After hearing my summary of symptoms, the doctor offered a shot for my back, a muscle relaxer and pain pills. Needless to say, it left me groggy and loopy all weekend. Also to my rescue was my dear husband, who went to Walmart to buy a massage pad to sit on, a medicinal patch to apply to my back, and a heating pad to put on my bed. Ahhhh, relief couldn't come soon enough. But I'm still on the mend and I want to take it easy in the next few days to come.

So exercise is on the back burner again, but it won't be for too long. I was making steady progress before this injury occurred and now my will power has been enticed with the success of seeing my blood sugars stabilize a bit more. So its my hope to get back to the gym and back to eating healthy every day. My long range goal is to lose another twenty pounds by summer and if I don't get with the program, summer will be here before we realize.

I know it will be an uphill battle to lose more weight. But with friends, and my youngest daughter's willingness to be my work out buddy, I think I can succeed my minor goals. We should all strive to set these goals and meet these challenges, for it just makes us stronger inside.

Goodbye Thanksgiving, Christmas, Germs and Happy New Year

2010-12-28T04:17:00.006-06:00

Thanksgiving and Christmas is past us and I'm really happy they are over. They sneak up on us too fast and then get chaotic buying groceries and shopping for that perfect gift on each person on your list. It gets crazy and stressful. Not to say that I don't enjoy spending time with the family, because I do.

It's just in November, I was taking two courses at work; one part of a six month college preparedness program and the other to prepare for a national exam in trauma coding. That on top of my routine daily work and one co-worker being out for part of the month (for a seminar and vacation). Somehow I pulled it off, but not without consequences.

My kids have different places to be when the official Thursday Thanksgiving comes around and I am usually offered the opportunity to work on the holiday, so I did. Our official family get-together fell on the Saturday afterwards. I cooked and made deserts and the family came over around noon. Everything was terrific. The turkey tasted great with Rosemary spices and was not overdone. The meal side dishes was a hit and around two o'clock, we had gathered outside in the chilly fall air to watch the kids run around in the yard. That's when it struck me, this horrible headache and a touch of nausea in the pit of my tummy. By the time everyone had left, I felt worse and by nightfall, I had a slight fever, chills, and a sore throat.

The next week was a kaleidoscope of symptoms that went away and new ones that appeared: a sour stomach, body aches, a nagging cough without production of phlegm. By the time I saw the doctor on the following Thursday, nothing came up when I blew my nose, but the raspiness had settled into my chest. She told me it was something viral and that I just had to tough it out; but she did give me a strong cough medicine to take with codeine. So another week went by, miserably with a stronger, hacking cough. The cough medicine brought me no relief at night and I still had to go to work every day. The raspiness in my chest sounded thicker within my chest; but I was not wheezing. I was so sick of coughing. Finally I emailed my doctor and she prescribed me an antibiotic. Within three days, the raspiness was breaking up and I was coughing less. Thank goodness!

Yet, everyone around me was coming down with different ailments too: tummy bugs, strep throat, and even the flu. My kids got sick. My co-workers got sick. And I was struggling to avoid having a relapse. In December, I had stopped going to the gym because I was too worn out; and worse, I was over eating. There were too many sweets around and I was baking for the Christmas season. I just couldn't say no and I gained back a few pounds. We also had a death in the family right during the week before Christmas, which added to my stress levels and over binging. Gosh! It got to be too much!! Yet, Christmas arrived with two family celebrations and thank goodness most of us were well enough to enjoy it.

Now it's the week into the New Year and I sit here updating my blog. My son has come down with a temperature, sore throat, and a fever just yesterday. Poor thing. I hope it's just a temporary bug, but I'm trying to avoid him and really wish for a can of Lysol to be found. I must send my hubby to the store later to purchase some. Who wants to start the New Year getting sick? I don't. I hope my son bounces back quickly and not have this linger on.

I so always enjoy the meaning of the holidays but I really can do without the stress and craziness of these bugs/illnesses floating around. I think much contributes to our bodies breaking down resistance. Like the temperatures in Texas. Starting in September, our temperatures go up and down, from 70 degrees to twenty degrees and back. Its never constant. In November and December cold fronts zoom into our area. Since the temperatures don't stay steady, the germs seem to go into hyperactive growth drive. Cultivating like fungus. Plus with everyone hugging and kissing their relatives, and traveling to see them again, the germs just have a field day.

So my hope for the New Year, when things calm down and the temperatures finally stay steadier, because it is officially winter time, is for everyone to stay well and healthy. Forget about money, or finding love, or prosperity. We can always have these things, but our health helps us appreciate what we have. It helps us endure and carry on. So for me, it's back to the gym to exercise and lower my blood sugars, to build resistance; it's constant hand washing; and buying that can of Lysol to keep around the house.

I am sure 2011 will be a better year for all of us. It's been an up and down ride in 2010 and at times fun, but I want to tuck it away in memory, just like I download all the 2010 pics to put away on a disk and see at a later time. I will remember the good and forget the pain of family discord and a recent death. Hope, health, and a new commitment to be a stronger person is my New years resolution. Whatever yours may be, best of luck and may God continue to watch over you and your loved ones.

So, Happy new year, friends. Welcome to 2011.

Simple Side Dishes

2010-11-21T07:16:00.004-06:00

More dishes for your holiday meals :)

Cheddar Corn Casserole

Ingredients:

•2 eggs
•1 can cream-style corn, (14 3/4-ounce)
•1 pint sour cream
•1 small box cornbread mix (approx. 8 ounces)
•6 tablespoons melted butter
•1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Preparation:

Grease a 9-inch square baking dish. Beat eggs in a mixing bowl. Stir in cream-style corn and sour cream until well blended. Add salt, cornbread mix and melted butter; mix well. Stir in shredded cheese.

Pour casserole ingredients into prepared baking dish. Bake in a 350° oven for 25 to 30 minutes

Southern Home-styled Cornbread Recipe:

This home-style cornbread recipe is made with fresh cornbread crumbs and optional diced chicken.

Ingredients:

•6 cups crumbled cornbread
•3 cups soft bread crumbs
•4 ounces butter
•2 cups onion, chopped
•2 cups finely chopped celery
•3 to 4 cups chicken broth
•2 cups chicken, diced, optional
•1 heaping tablespoon dried sage, crumbled
•1 1/2 teaspoons dried leaf thyme, crumbled
•1 teaspoon dried marjoram, crumbled
•1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, chopped
•1 teaspoon salt
•1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
•2 eggs, lightly beaten

Preparation:

Heat oven to 400ºF. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cornbread and white bread crumbs. In a saucepan over medium heat, sauté the onion and celery in butter until tender. Do not brown. Combine the sautéed vegetables with the bread mixture. Stir in chicken broth, using enough to moisten. Stir in the diced chicken, if using, and the seasonings and beaten eggs, blending well. Spread the mixture in a large shallow baking or roasting pan measuring about 10" x 15". Bake for 20 to 30 minutes.

Classic Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients:

•1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup
•4 cups cooked green beans
•1/8 teaspoon pepper
•1/2 cup milk
•1 1/3 cups French fried onions

Preparation:

Mix soup, milk and pepper in a 1 1/2-quart casserole dish. Stir in beans and 2/3 cup of the fried onions. Bake for about 25 minutes at 350 degrees F. Top with the remaining 2/3 cup fried onions and bake about 5 more minutes, until onions are lightly browned.
Serves 6.

Here's a variation of a cranberry side.

Cranberry-orange relish

Ingredients:

•2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, rinsed and drained
•1 large orange
•3/4 cup sugar, or to taste

Preparation:

Finely chop cranberries in food processor or put through meat grinder. Peel orange, without too much of the white pith, reserving peel; remove seeds and white membrane. Put orange and orange peel through grinder or chop in food processor. Mix all ingredients together and store in covered container in the refrigerator. Refrigerate several hours before serving.

Favorite Holiday Recipes

2010-11-19T20:12:00.008-06:00

My kids have been raiding my cookie dough! Darn it!

See, a few weeks ago, as I was browsing recipes in a magazine, I thought it would be a great idea to stock up cookie dough ahead of holiday time, and assorted ingredients to make other deserts. I mean, don't we (women) go through enough stress during the holidays, sorting out our shopping lists, for groceries and for gift giving; driving through traffic and visiting busy stores, which even inside seem like rush hour at only 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon? With all the cooking we must do to provide for our family, potatoes to peel, basting turkeys, and ensuring there aren't lumps in the gravy, wouldn't it be great when we settle down on a cool evening to pop a tray of cookies already prepared weeks in advance?

Such was my thinking. However, yesterday my daughter Kayla admitted to snagging part of a roll of oatmeal cookie dough and tattled too of how her brother ate some too. Ok, my little snitches... won't you please leave the rest for the family? And don't you know how raw egg in it isn't good for you? I know... cookie dough is tempting to eat. But resist the urge. Please.

Now, I love this holiday time, when baking can be fun and creative. I love sitting cozy on the couch at night, with a cup of hot cocoa or even flavored coffee, and munch down on a tasty treat fresh from the oven. There are so many varieties of breads, cookies, pies and deserts to make, it can get crazy choosing a favorite, but keeping recipes simple and easy are always best.

So I'd like to share a few of my favorites as we wind into Thanksgiving week and into the wonderful time of Christmas. Perhaps even until New Years Eve too, when we all stop to reflect on the past year and what lies ahead. I'm grateful, as always, for the loyal readers who stop often to read my blog and I'm happy to share these delightful recipes with you. If you have a recipe you'd like to share in return, just leave it in the comment. So enjoy, be safe if you travel, and God bless.

Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/4 tsp salt. In mixer bow beat shortening and butter for 30 seconds; add sugars and beat till fluffy. Add egg, milk, vanilla; beat well. Add dry ingredients into beaten mixture until well combined. Pour in oats and walnuts. Chill dough 2 hours; form 1 inch balls. Dip tops of balls in additional granulated sugar if desired. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Makes 36.

Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup of peanut butter
1/2 cup of granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla

Stir together flour, soda, and salt. In a mixer bowl beat butter for 30 seconds. add peanut butter and sugars; beat till fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Add dry ingredients to beaten mixture; beat till well combined. Shape dough into one inch balls; roll in granulated sugars if desired. Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet; criss-cross with the tines of a fork. Bake at 375 degrees oven about 10 minutes. Cool about 1 minute before removing to a wire rack. Makes 48.

One of my favorite childhood memories is having a cup of hot cinnamon cocoa, carefully simmered on the stove with cinnamon sticks included with the cocoa. As he milk simmers, the sticks get really soft and you can pour it into a cup. It blends very well with the melting marshmallows my mother use to add on top. The cup of hot chocolate was a delightful treat. Now, when I want to take a fast trip down memory lane, this is an easy version:

Take about two cups of milk and simmer it on low on top of the stove in a pan. Add about two to three tablespoons of Hershey's Cocoa and a dash of salt. Stir very well until the cocoa is blended into the milk. Keep stirring so the milk doesn't scald. Add a dash or two of ground Cinnamon. When the milk is heated all the way through, add a dash of vanilla. Pour into your favorite holiday mug, add marshmallows or whip cream to top, and enjoy. It's a great treat to enjoy with your young ones.

A lovely fall day

2010-11-07T18:43:00.007-06:00

Today was one of those fantastic days where you wish time could stop still forever. The sun was out. The temperatures were in the high 70's and the light breeze kept things moderately cool, but not uncomfortable. I call it sweat shirt weather.

So in this perfect day, my daughter, her boyfriend and I decided to visit one of the local parks to find pecans. Pecan trees are tall and some are centuries old. They grow in in abundance in Texas. They are native to this region such as the oak and the spruce trees. We found many still in their protective green/black casings. Not yet good for eating.

As I searched around scattered leaves and twigs in hopes to find one good nut, I stopped to look up into the tree. High on one of the branches, nestled close to the thickest part was a lone squirrel looking down at me. We made eye contact for a moment, but then he scurried up in silence to meet up with another squirrel and they disappeared around the circumference, overshadowed by other large limbs. I went back to my task, thinking how odd for it to be so quiet, because sometimes squirrels have a way to send out chatty, shrill cackles. I've heard them cluck at my dogs before in the backyard. Perhaps this squirrel thought I was out of luck finding a good stash of pecans. Perhaps he had them hidden in the tree and was being quiet so I wouldn't follow him up.

After walking around the park a bit, my daughter and her boyfriend followed me along
as I walked to investigate a hiking trail, dipping into a wooded nook. It seemed far removed from the parking lot and felt cooler. The smell of dirt and dampness penetrated my nostrils with each step. Long gray shadows fell onto the ground of heavy leaves and long stringy vines. I could imagine a possum coming out at night to scurry through it. Strange to feel this close to nature while still in town. We wanted to walk along more, but decided to head in. The afternoon seemed to be waning quickly even if we were affected by daylight savings time. We headed home in the car, thinking how terrific it felt to get out into nature and to get some exercise. We vowed to return again another weekend soon.

It had been fun and I love fall days such as these. It gives one a bit of inner peace in an otherwise hectic life. In my imagination while I was playing an explorer, I wondered if whether the Pilgrims felt such a bond in their surroundings, with dark woods, chirping squirrels, and the occasional Indian visitors stopping by their cabins? I imagine it would have been a pleasant time to be close to nature, but then the spoiled creature in me doesn't think I could survive very long without our modern conveniences, such as a grocery store, medicine, and electricity; most importantly, a bathroom.

So back to my hectic life I did return, with only a minor stash of pecans. The time out there didn't seem a total waste. It was fun to get outside to enjoy a beautiful day. I look forward to more walks in search of better pecans to put into a pie. After all, Thanksgiving is almost upon us. :)

Library Renovation ceremony with local author book signing

2010-10-03T22:30:00.006-05:00

The Temple Public Library recently had some major remodeling done and today marked the official showing of all the updates. Along with this was a ribbon cutting, where our mayor, along with other dignitaries, lined up, gave speeches and cut the ribbon with a giant pair of scissors. There was also a children's dance ceremony and an author's book signing.

It was officially my first book signing. Ironically it wasn't one of my own romance suspense books on display. Instead I proudly showed off the book, Our Written Voices - the book collaboration done with fellow authors from the Cafemom group, The Written Voice. Along with the books, I offered business cards and bookmarks.

It was interesting to see how other authors displayed their books and what tokens they offered their potential customers. One put out a dish of hard candy and had box displays to hold up their books in a handsome visible style. Several toted their supplies within pull along luggage. One author, very gifted indeed, not only displayed her books but offered a CD of her own guitar music, which I quickly bought. Another dressed up in fashion of a woman of the early 1900's, as her children's books are based in that early time period.

I traded one of my books with a gentleman who was from Iran, a convert of Muslim faith to Christianity. I can't wait to read the book he offered. There were some authors I didn't get to meet personally, but I think the festive occasion was a great time to bring us together. I had a great time and learned a lot. Mostly I found that I could muster up the confidence to speak publicly, making my sales pitch about the book. I had some interests, but a lot were casual lookers more interested in all of the festivities. Still, I chalk up this book signing as valuable experience. It's my hope another opportunity will present itself again in the near future.

Here's Me:

Me and My children who attended:

Book Signing at my local library

2010-09-03T20:15:00.005-05:00

In my hometown, our public library went through renovations during the past few months. The area will open up to the public on Sunday, October 3rd. I, along with some other local area authors, have been invited to this, to do a book signing of my books, or to just be there to speak one on one to the public visiting the facility. I am very excited about this opportunity and am looking forward to putting out a little home town press about my pastime hobby. I would say it could be a career, but my books weren't meant to be the next "Daniele Steel's". Still I put a lot of energy and time into my hobby, when I don't slow down to life's little bumps. i am also invested through an online writing group which has helped me grow as a writer. I'm far from perfect, but through this collaboration, I've learned a lot. Its my hope, that by meeting the public and other authors at this function, we might be able to produce a writers club locally. To me, to be involved with different caliber of writing talent, would be another chance to improve on the craft I love so well.

As I get more details about the book signing, I will post it here later.

Time in a bottle

2010-08-27T21:35:00.011-05:00

Gosh, today was one of those you wish you could freeze time somewhat or put it in a bottle, as the song goes. I had a day off and the best part was having my daughter hang out with me. Kayla will be attending college come Monday, so today was like sharing the last day of summer; the last day of being a kid to becoming a young responsible adult. I enjoyed my time with her, talking, eating, laughing. i just wanted to freeze certain moments from today and store them into my memory forever. I'm going to miss the "kid" inside of her, but I know it will peak out from time to time. I luv it when she reverts to this little girl voice and squeaks out "MUMMY!!!" as to when she is pleading for something she wants; or just to get my attention sorely on just her alone. Ok, is she a little demanding?? LOL.

We worked out at the gym this morning and we started off on the elliptical machines. After we built up a sweat, we climbed down and tried some of the weight machines. Gosh! My arms are so weak! Now they feel like rubber and a bit sore from trying to maneuver them with the smallest of weights. Yes. The smallest. She wanted a gym membership so she can go on her own. Perhaps we can build up our muscles over time in the fall; not that I want to make them look like the women in Muscle magazines. LOL. Just enough to build up strength.

Afterwards, we cruised through the college parking lot, looking for her buildings where her classes will take place. At least she is getting this done now and not in the panic of trying to get to class on time.

We also had stopped by her high school to pick up her graduation DVD and her last year book. We flipped through the pages and found she's in it at least three times. yay! And she also got to stop by her English teacher's classroom while she was inside and read a section to her new students. How interesting? Kayla doesn't realize it now, but high school days will certainly be a fond memory for her.. at some point.. but not now. She just laughed today, as she was under dress with a spaghetti top, holding a hall pass to get to the office where her yearbook was at; and teachers looking at her like she's late for class or for going after her for improper dress code. She said, "I wanted to shout out, "I'M NOT A STUDENT!" but she held up her pass to them. Yes, all the struggles of high school is definitely behind her. For me personally, I am just glad she's out of the TISD public school system.

Afterwards we grabbed lunch, ate Mexican food, and then came home to hang out. I got a swim in the backyard pool while she played on my computer inside, just like the kid she always was before: tongue sticking out as she writes poems; reads fan fiction, and then scampering to my fridge to raid it. I'm going to miss this kid. My baby girl. But I'm looking forward to the woman she will become. Hellooo Temple College!

Update on my weight loss project: This past Wednesday, I had my check up. I had lost five more pounds!Whippee! So I've lost almost ten pounds since I've started going to the gym. I still have a long way to go, but I'm not giving up yet. Every thirty days is a new challenge for me. My next appt will be on September 22nd. :)

Kaching! Kaching! Me and Brucie will be heading out Sunday to go to Marksville Lousianna. We will stay over night at a lovely hotel and casino. (No, the pic on the left isn't it; just a picture of a game table )

Of course it takes about seven hours to get there by bus and we will leave early Sunday morning and be back late on Monday. I can't wait to go. This is our second trip to this place and I've heard they have made some remodeling renovations since our last visit. I hope I have time to take a few pics. it's just nice to get away from it all sometimes and every year, near our September birthdays, we do this for ourselves; our own treat. I hope we come back with a little money in our pockets, so wish us luck. My son will stay home to housesit and take care of my babies (Tiny, Bella, and Chico; plus the two cats outside! :)

Wow! out of the blue I had an email from the director of our public library. they had some remodeling going on too. Their unveilment of this will be the first weekend in October and they wanted to invite local authors to do a book signing. I have two books on display there right now. i've got a third book co-written with authors from my writing group i could also showcase. And with any luck, perhaps the 3rd book of my series will finally be written. I need to hurry and get it done! And so I'm editing again! I sure hope I can pull this off. The good thing will be that my name will be in the local paper. Do I feel like a minor celebrity or what?

Well I hope those who follow this continue to stay well. Hugs to you and your families. I apologize for the late blogging, but the older I get, the more my time snowballs me away from the computer. LOL. Take care.

First 30 days update

2010-07-24T00:08:00.005-05:00

Update on my first 30 day diet/exercise challenge

As of Wednesday, July 21st, 2010:

Ok, my weight this afternoon: 202 on the scale. I lost five pounds from my last visit. Patrick is the pharmacologist who sees me on a month to month basis to help me analyze my diet, medications, and exercise since I'm diabetic. It's part of a medication management program and it has helped me a lot.

My AIC is still up, but on my last visit the level was 9.8 and now it is 9.2. He expects as long as I continue to exercise, this level will go down further. And he said I was on target for my daily average glucose readings by 40 % versus the 8% I did last month.

He was very proud of me and I was too. He wrote "great job" on his comment sheet.

I wished I had lost more weight but what I have done so far is very encouraging. It does prove how exercise and watching what you eat does make a difference. Whoooo Hooo!!

First results in my new regime are awesome

2010-07-08T09:40:00.003-05:00

Just checking in:

I went to see Marty, my doctor's physician assistant, for my regular checkup yesterday. He asked how I was doing and I couldn't wait to fill him in of my finally getting with the program: to eat sensibly and exercise at the gym. I told him I was about three weeks into it and have already seen changes with my glucose numbers. Of course, he was pleased and went to look over my lab values. However, the lab had made a mistake of not taking the main one, the A1C level, where it evaluates the three month value of the average of my blood sugars. I know on my last visit, I was around 9 something. Too high when the goal is to be around 6. And they forgot to check my thyroid levels as he had made an adjustment on that medication on my last visit too.

Still, we discussed the numbers that did show up on the lab:

My daily blood glucose level was showing 125 vs on the last visit, it being 177.

Blood pressure had dropped about 30 something points: from being in the 140's to being down to 110.

My triglycerides had an outstanding drop: from 250's down to 134.

And to him, I dropped just a couple of pounds from my last visit. Of course, my weight always yo-yo's so I'm ok with that.

I made him smile in my excitement of reading those great numbers. I yelped out "Whoo-Hoo!", because for me, it's a testimony that I'm actually doing something in the right direction.

He decided he'll get my A1C when I come back in October. Three months from now. If I continue on this journey of walking and sticking to watching what I eat and how much I eat, then I can't wait to see what my number will be then.

But as far as my mini-30 day challenge, I will see the pharmacology guy in about two weeks. That's when I want to take note of my weight. I started off at 207. Yesterday, I weighed in at 204. Not a big drop, but at least it too is going in the right direction. Whoo -Hoo!!

My personal challenge

2010-07-03T10:04:00.004-05:00

First off, Happy 4th of July! I hope everyone enjoys their family time and be safe while traveling and doing any outside activities.

I watched the weather report this morning and it seems like parts of Texas will have plenty of scattered rain showers all weekend long. Just what we need. Humid warm air as people spend time outside grilling, watching parades and enjoying 4th of July holiday activities. Our annual parade in Belton, a must see for plenty of Central Texas residents, is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. And when I awoke this morning at six a.m., it was raining. But now, at parade time, the skies are overcast and the air is sticky. I didn't make it to the parade even though our Safe Kids Van is being driven by one of my co-workers. She is our Injury Prevention coordinator for our hospital. I could have gone to support her, but I opted this morning to tend to me.

Recently, I joined a gym. Actually, it was about three weeks ago. And ten days ago, i began logging my activities/food diet on

www.myfitnesspal.com

I utilize this to keep my progress tallied. My starting weight is at 207. My blood sugars have been up over 200's for quite a long time. I've been living in denial too. It helps to have monthly visits with the pharmacology folks to monitor my diabetes. And finally, I have a guy I see to discuss things vs these skinny, young woman who are too lovely and may never have worries about a chronic disease. It might be their job to help me, but it's hard to take their advice. I can't sympathise and feel they judge me.

So after shuffling my appts, I landed seeing a guy. For the life of me, I can't think of his name, and yes, he's thin too, but his mannerism towards me is like, "lets see what we can alter or do to get these numbers down. Fill me on your foods you normally eat." And then he challenges me, "Try limiting red meat, breads, pasta as your triglycerides are up. Let's park further down on parking lots", "try walking 40 minutes per week".

It's like he's coaching me or being on my side. I like him. So, ok..the last challenge got me to thinking, I can do that. How easy! 40 minutes a week is nothing. I can do that at least 3 or 4 times a week. And for one month, I made an attempt to do it. I got it done only 3 days out of a whole month. Horrible. I was disappointed that I had failed this.. and failed him too. And then on my last visit with him, he explained to think about my high blood sugars like rocks in my system. The bang, bang, bang upon my vital organs, causing them to break down, tear down, and not work for me. All those little capillaries and nerve endings too. What a mental picture that made for me. I decided I would do something about it as I walked out the door at the end of the appointment.

I began to evaluate everything. My home life. My stress. My lack of commitment. And then I have one of my co-workers, who has budding diabetes, (which means she is suppose to manage with diet and exercise and takes minimal pills for it) who is in denial of her blooming weight gain. "As long as I'm healthy," she says, while grabbing a whole pint of ice cream from downstairs and eating it about an hour or two after we've eaten. And she had a lot of carbs for lunch. Through her, I can see myself and my own stupid denial. Her advantage is that she is about thirteen years younger than me, so there is time to make adjustments if she gets serious about it.

So, I decided to get serious. I would make myself a thirty day challenge. By the time I go back to see my pharmacology dude, I would strive to:

* Hit the gym three to four times a week.
* Increase my stamina on the treadmill.
* Watch my diet and use fitnesspal to keep tally on my carbs/fats/protein and most importantly, my calories.

I set my goal at around 1200 calories a day and 40 minutes of exercise per day, but I don't always make that. Sure I flub here and there as I make adjustments to my other commitments and to my meal plans. But I try not to skip but one day in between of getting exercise. If I eat one bad meal, then the next will be even better and on target.

Really, when you start seeing the amount of carbs/calories/fat grams one actually consumes, it is a real eye opener. I'm doing better lately. I do think I've lost five pounds so far and my blood sugars are finally hitting the normal ranges. I have lab and my regular doctor appointment on Wednesday and perhaps my recent workouts will make my lab values better, but I'm just starting out again. If they are not up to snuff, then long range, I have three more months before I go back to see my primary doc. In between, on monthly visits, I have my guy. I am in the mindset to make myself healthy again, the right way.

And just this morning, when I skipped going to the parade to concentrate on myself, I actually worked out for sixty minutes. And I did 3 miles on the treadmill. Whoo Hoo!!!

When I complete the initial thirty days, I will set more mini-goals. My long range goal is to be around 180 by the time my birthday falls in September. Wish me luck.

On the First Day of Summer

2010-06-21T17:12:00.005-05:00

Fun things to do:

1) Find a pool, lake, pond, brook to dip your body into and play/swim.
2) Find a good shady spot and nestle with a great book.
3) Find refreshing recipes for cool drinks and light hearty meals.
4) Gather friends to share some salsa/chips and drink a margarita or two.
5. Decorate your patio/backyard with garden lights and place strategic torches on the lawn filled with the right citronella fuel to ward off mosquitoes and then sit outside to enjoy an evening breeze.
6. Light up a grill and barbecue your favorite steak or chicken. Mmmm, yummy.

For me, the first day of summer is sort of like a halfway point of the year. It's on days like these, when the sun is really giving out the heat, that I stop to reflect upon my younger years and wonder how I got by without air conditioning? I recall constantly playing outside, wearing flip flops, and either rolling skating, riding my bike, or sitting in the shade playing barbies with my two best friends next door. Now as an adult, I really want to retreat indoors and the only way you find me doing anything outside is if it's not too hot or I'm near water or if there is food/drinks/friends involved. That's just me, though.

Today, my kids packed up a few snacks/drinks and decided they were going to the lake (just a fifteen minute drive away). I recall many times I would pack them up to do this when they were little. It was almost free ( usually about three bucks a car load to enter the park) and it was a great way to just let them swim until they were tired out from being in the sun. We would all come home being tanned. Ok, the first few times we'd come home red, but eventually our skin turned darker. I was surprised the kids were making this trek on their own, without their mama. They did ask if I wanted to tag along, but I thought, no. They are young and wanted to have fun. And I really didn't want to get away from the air condition. Ok, I admit it. I'm spoiled. But it's good they did an adventure on their own.

With graduation out of the way now, I can relax. My daughter, the high school senior, will become a freshman in college this fall. She is a grown up now, 18, and can figure out all the how's and why's of her life, with just a little help now and then from her mama. She's gotta learn how to make these decisions for herself and live with her own consequences, right? It's hard to let go, but then again, it's kind of nice too. I've been set free from the 100% demand of being the parent. It's my time to observe and see how well she can do it on her own; if I taught her right. We'll see.

There's time for all that, but for right now, with the temps climbing to 100 degrees and up, when I come home from a hard day at work, I just want to grab a good book and listen to some music. Once in awhile I will venture outside, with a cool drink in hand, and go read a book. And when my hubby comes home from his long day, I will ask if sandwiches will do for supper. Usually he nods as he works going in and out of a big truck all day, in the heat of it all. He's all for kicking back in the air conditioner for awhile and if he's in a really good mood, later in the evening, I can usually talk him into sitting in the tent screen outside, with the tiki torches and the garden lights all lit up. Then it feels sort of romantic for us who are young at heart.

Summer Heat

2010-05-30T20:50:00.010-05:00

The temperatures lately are in the mid-90's and already I'm scrambling to put on my window air conditioner units. I try to procrastinate as long as I can, but the humidity in the air is somewhat unbearable. My house is not geared to open up the windows if a breeze happens to flow. Plus I have animals that either want to escape out (the dogs) or want to escape in (the older cats). The cats had recent litters each (YIKES!) and when they got old enough, we managed to get rid of most but three. Well, actually we told Kayla she could keep one of the male kittens if she opted to get the older females fixed, plus the kitten. I had given two to the woman across the street, but she promptly let them outside again. So twice, they found their way back into my yard.I couldn't bare if they got accidently runned over by a car or chased by stray dogs, so they wound up in my home again. Then I find myself falling in-love with another kitten, because it is extremely furry and just lays anywhere to sleep- alot! I don't know if my hubby will be too keen in letting me keep it though. I've been trying to find them homes, but no luck so far. So they might end up going to the no-kill shelter soon. I've been procrastinating, but every morning, as they meow in unison for food, I know this must be done. I can't keep all of these animals. It's too much work and they need their own homes.

Adding insult to injury, last month's rain produced fleas in my back yard. I've treated it about four times already, with different chemicals and still they exist. It doesn't help how my neighbors on all three sides of me appear to have two to three dogs and don't treat their yards. I've not witnessed them outside spraying their perimeters with Spectracide. My poor small dogs endure baths twice a day it seem. Well pretty often, just to ensure they don't bring the little varmits in and I'm only letting them out long enough to do their business. They aren't staying out any longer than ten to fifteen minutes. Sigh. I think I'm fighting a losing battle.

We did fumigate my house mid-week when hubby and I stayed elsewhere for our anniversary and that helped out a lot. But I've got to win this battle. Hubby swears there is a powerful chemical to put on the grass that he can pick up at the local feedstore. And I'm all for that, but my question is when will he go do it? He's not the one bathing these dogs. I am!

Procrastination is a bad thing in a marriage. There comes a time for a woman when one must bite their tongue and when to cut it loose. However, if done continuously and too soon, the woman is percieved to be the big "B" word or a real nag.... and I hate when it's aimed at me. So right now, I'm binding my time and biting my toungue, waiting for my hubby to get off his touche and make that errand run to the feed store.. and to do all the countless other mini-projects so needing his attention. I do my share of the bill paying, grocery planning/shopping, errand running every single day without being told what must be done. Why can't he?? I think men have it somewhere stamped on their genes to be lazy, don't they??

So between the heat, the dog bathing, and procrastination, I'm going a little bonkers. And I've got a grad party to accomplish on Friday. I was hoping my hubby would put up the pool so the kids could swim. Well, I've volunteered to work tomorrow and he's got the day off for Memorial Day. Maybe while I'm gone, inspiration will hit, ya think???? I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

On the bright side, I had a recent visitor in my home this weekend. For about two years, Dee and I have been conversing on line in our little writing group on Cafemom, the Written Voice. We even co-authored the book produced for a charity, Our Written Voices. She didn't have major plans for the holiday and decided to take a road trip to meet me in person. Just me. WOW! I felt so honored and excited. I so hoped my hospitality made her feel comfortable as I introduced her to most of my family. I think the only one she missed meeting was my son, Keifer, who had to work and was off helping out one of his friends this weekend.

On Saturday nite, I took Dee out to the VFW to enjoy steak and karoake. My daughter, Tracy, and her family, joined us. We even got up to sing, which probably entertained Dee to no end. LOL. Karoake/steak/ and margaritas/and one tequila shot made for a fun evening. We had conversed about our families, our interest in writing, and about ideas for our online group. I found we had many things in common and we shared many hopes, ideals, and dreams. So much shared between us which just sealed our friendship further in friendship glue. I found her to be a delight, very smart, and a woman who has firm common sense about a lot of things, which was equally an eye-opener for me and very refreshing. I can't wait for us to get together again, for she is indeed a wise, wise woman and a remarkable individual. I need people like her around me for sure, to make me think, grow, and aspire to become. Yes, she is an awesome friend. :)

>

After breakfast this morning, she returned home. And I felt sad. Wished so much we lived closer, because I don't really have alot of good friends like her close by. I know acquaintances, but the connection Dee and I made on line is so strong, that I deem her to be a sister in my life. How better can feelings be for one person?

Not to leave anyone out, but I do feel this way for a few other individuals in our online group too; something strong which has built up over the last couple of years. It's my dream that one day I will get to meet them in person too. Or that we will all get together at a common local. Perhaps one day it will happen if I keep my fingers crossed on this too. :)

Of course, I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and has taken time to honor those who served our country. I believe most of the country had good weather. We finally got a break from the heat with an afternoon shower, which cooled things off for a bit; something refreshing and a needed break from early summer heat for sure.

Editing and being clearly understood

2010-04-25T19:13:00.008-05:00

Have something to say, and say it as clearly as you can. That is the only secret.
Matthew Arnold

I've taken a break from my co-admin duties on Cafemom's The Written Voice, in order to have some time to read and edit. The 3rd part of my Cross Passage Series, Hearts Restless Winds, had sat dormant on my computer for quite awhile. Although I had one printed copy of the manuscript to peruse, once I got to reading it and furiously scratching out parts, I realized the manuscript needed a huge make over.

Yet the fall, my original conception for publishing it, came and went because I got involved in another book project. Hence, my online group produced Our Written Voices, (poems and short stories), which I'm very proud to be a co-author.

But the New Year came around and then Valentine's and I realized I wasn't getting anywhere closer to getting the manuscript in order, so I told my group leader and dear friend, Susan, how much I needed a couple of months to concentrate on it and my family as well. Begrudgingly, she granted me the time and wished me luck.

And luck is what I need indeed. As I peruse each paragraph with a keen eye, I realize all the blunders within: the misuse of grammar; the occasional typo; the long winded-sentences; the lack of laying out the character's feelings or history. I suppose in hindsight being part of The Written Voice, where I enjoyed countless of poetry and short story submissions to read over, helped me with my editing process. I look at my writing a bit critical than before. Can't I take this eight sentence paragraph and punch it up with more active verbs? Can't I reduce it so it's not so long winded? Can't I take out repetitive phrases and make it more concise?

It is a grueling process.

I wish I had this critical eye a bit more available and knowledgeable when I produced my first book, Hostage to Her Heart. There are many pages flawed with a redundant usage of the word "that", where I could have easily substituted another more meaningful word, but I didn't know it then. I do now and this is where I have grown ever since.

My second book, Falling for Her Heart, reads a lot better. And thanks to my participation within The Written Voice, I find it has also shaped me into a better writer.

Do I still make an occasional mistake? Of course I do, but every good writer researches ways to make their craft better. The bottom line is to produce a book easily read and understood. We want a good story to tell and we want our characters to spring to life. When we accomplish this well, our readers convey to everyone what a wonderful story they've read. There's no better sense of pride when someone comes up to you and say, "Wow! I loved your book!"

It's what I'm trying to accomplish with Hearts Restless Winds. With luck, I may have it ready for a second proofread by mid-May and then final publication by June. One can crossfingers, light several candles to send up prayers, and then email me words of encouragement until I've done it.

Family Picnic and Senior Prom

2010-04-18T10:00:00.018-05:00

These past couple of weeks have been busy (as usual) and exciting. There was a family picnic, where the last six siblings born to my natural mother, Guadalupe, got together with our families on a picnic. It was amazing and fun.

We all gathered here in Temple at Miller's Park. It was a bit windy, but with a full sunny day, the temperatures were in the high 70's. Perfect weather for fun, pictures, and family getting reacquainted. We never got around to doing our genealogy charts as I had hoped, simply because there was so much going on.

My hubby Bruce was busy grilling hot dogs, sausage, and hamburgers, while me and my brother Tomas got it all assembled. My sisters, Mary, Delia, and Virginia were all having fun with their grand babies, as well as Richard and his wife Sarah.

There were about 15 youngsters running around, playing on the playground, to feeding ducks and geese by the pond; to busting open a pinata. They had even more fun when little prizes were given away, consisting of kites, coloring books, and - gasp!- water guns/toys. Even the grownups played. And, oh yeah.. they got some of us good! LOL. My granddaughter Mariah and my daughter Kayla snuck up on me once! Can you say Gotcha!!

At the end of the picnic, which seemed like 4 hours was not enough time, we vowed to do this again. Some of us shared face book connection to keep in touch. And we shared some pics.

The next celebration was for Kayla, my high school senior. The prom preparations were fun, from getting a perfect mask for the masquerade theme ball, to finding that perfect dress to match. We've always had luck getting something from Killeen Mall and the dress we chose was not only on sale, we got an additional 10% off for giving them an email for future advertisements. Debs is definitely the place we will always go to for special occasion dresses. Kayla already had high heel shoes from last year's prom and a wrap coat. She had already decided to wear her hair down (straightened with the hot iron) and so all was left to do was get her nails done.

It's kind of fun to sit and watch the process. She just chilled talking with mariah next to her, getting her toenails painted and her fingernails tipped and painted. I sat and watched their tv on the wall, just relaxing.

When prom night came, Kayla didn't have a date this year, so drove the car to pick up one of her girlfriends. It felt a bit odd, as all of her previous dances were escorted by her ex-beau, Chris, but this year, he was still at Army Reserves AIT training and her current beau was unable to go. I peaked in on her in the morning, as she slept, getting the camera from her purse to download pics. Surprisingly, she didn't take a whole lot of pictures at the occasion. I whispered, "Did you have fun?" and she nodded, with a small smile on her face. I think of all the dances, her senior year one should be memorable somehow and I suppose being stag, with all of her friends in attendance, will be something wonderful to recall after all.

So now we must think ahead to her graduation party (first weekend of June).I've plenty to do, from ordering invitations, getting food, to preparing a guest list. We've got a month to do it, but I fear it will go fast. For all the years my kids were in school, it's bittersweet for my last child to finished this saga of her life. But she's a bright kid with goals for her future, so I think soon enough, she will be a freshman year at college and going beyond. It's just part of watching your child grow up, but it's tough on a mom's heart to let go.

Our Easter weekend

2010-04-06T18:32:00.013-05:00

Easter weekend sprang upon us just like the Easter bunny zipping out from behind a bush. SPRINGGGGG! Lots went on. I don't think this family ever has a sane moment.

First of all, our dear friend Mark, decided to move to Texarkana. He had applied for a federal government job, with benefits, and a pay cut, but it was a new start for his life. He sold his house in Killeen and planned the big move about a month ago. Brucie had volunteered to help, forgetting it would be Easter weekend. It was ok by me though, because about that time, my daugther Tracy was planning to take her near 13 year old daughter, to Six Flags to celebrate her birthday. And since Ethan would spend the Easter weekend with his dad, that left what to do with AJ. So she asked me to babysit. So I agreed.

So on Friday nite, Bruce and Mark got the loaded up U-haul and took off to the Texarkana by the highway. I got to say goodbye, but was in the midst of doing a lot of errands (shopping for the weekend and getting stuff for my mom and paying her bills.) By the time I truly got home to sit still, it was around 9:00 p.m. I only got about two hours of "ME" alone time before I sank into bed.

The next morning, Tracy's tribe (hubby Chris, AJ, Mariah & her tag-a-long friend) came over. My youngest daughter Kayla and her beau Jonathon (Page) had decided to go in his car and follow them up to Arlington. It was last minute news to me and it did make me nervous. Kayla was adjusted to driving about Temple and she's a pretty good driver- but the HIGHWAY?? Yikes!!

But they took off around 7:15 and were on their way. Aj and I hung out at the house for about an hour, because he fell back asleep. Around 9:00, he finally woke up, had some breakfast, and then we took off to find some Easter baskets at the store. He got two actually: one stuff with car toys and an empty one for the Easter egg hunt we would attend together.

The place where I work, always puts on something for the kids, but since mine are older now, I didn't have a clue how the activities worked. We got there 20 minutes before the egg hunt began. I thought, "Wow! Just in time". We saw a helicopter across the field where children were getting to sit inside and inspect it up close. A power driven train was pulling the kids around the sidewalk. There were jumping booths and face painting; balloons were filled and given away. And drinks from a concession stand. It all looked like fun and festive. AJ waited in line for the egg hunt to begin and children lined up along the way. Then within ten minutes, the helicopter started up and flew off into the horizon. Then finally, the melee of kids springing onto the grass began.

AJ dashed here and he dashed there. He picked up all the eggs around him, jumping around like a cute rabbit. "Go AJ! Good job!" I shouted, encouraging him on. Somehow he filled up his basket and he was so proud. I was too. The egg hunt was over and much to my suprise, it signalled the end to all of the events. Wow! ok, for next year, I will know to come early. We stopped at a petting zoo where he saw some goats and a donkey. He even touched them. Still, Aj's face was turning pink. The sun was up over us and the temperatures were climbing to 80 degrees. So I figured with his blond hair and fair skin, waiting for another egg hunt elsewhere might make him too hot and tired. So we went home.

Under the shade tree, we took pictures. And then once inside the air conditioned house (Yes! I had to put it on for a bit) we rested. As he played with his new car toys and watched a cartoon movie, I whipped up some devilled eggs for our Sunday meal. I made banana pudding and then discovered I needed a few more ingredients from the store. So off we went again. By the time we got home again, we went outside to water my plants and tend to feeding the cats, which he helped. Then we went back again to be house hermits again. After a phone call from mama, a good shower, and clothed in his comfy pj's , it wasn't long until he was sound asleep. I ended up staying up late and then zonked out around midnight.

By 6:00, I was up again to get the ham ready with pineapple slices, marachino cherries, and a great honey/oj/brown sugar glaze. That went into the oven. Then I fixed an upside down pineapple cake, a lime-jello-whip cream fruit salad; Then made AJ some breakfast when he woke up and popped some sweet potatoes in the oven when the ham came out. By 10:30, my hubby was back home again. Then later, I made my fresh snap green beans and mashed potatoes. With soft drinks and tea, and some fresh rolls, we ended up with a great feast.

Tracy wasn't expecting the meal at all. So when she came to pick up AJ, her family ended up staying to have our traditional Easter gathering.At least with us and her family. She was very surprised and happy to eat the food I made. This year, my mom & stepdad didn't feel well enough to attend and my son Keifer had to work that day. My daughter Kayla and Page had decided to visit some friends up in Arlingon and she wound up eating at a cajun resteraunt, but had a great time, and came home safely.

Up in Denver, I know my daughter Lori and her family got to a church gathering for Easter. Even if the day was cold, it was a wonderful outing for her family. I can't wait for her to post pics, but she did send Mackenzie's pics with the Easter Bunny! She looks so tiny and swallowed up next to the large furry rabbit! Oh my! But how adorable and alert she seems.

And before all of these events, Chris got to pose as the Easter Bunny at AJ's school, so in this pic, that's AJ's Dad whose lap he's sitting upon! Cool, huh?

All in all, Easter ended up being a great weekend. Eventful and tiring, it is one I will always remember; especially the one-to-one time I got to spend with my youngest grandson. Until next time... take care....

The ides of March

2010-03-20T17:12:00.001-05:00

Author's Note: Ides can actually refer to any month because it simply means the middle of the month- and since I'm late posting this blog, it just made sense to use as a title, because it IS the middle of March.

Wow. I truly believe this year is flying by at a very rapid pace. Ok, I might say that all the time, but it's already mid-March and there is much up in the air.

The beginning of this year, my family was waiting for the birth of my newest granddaugther, Mackenzie, who was due in February. I flew up to Denver to assist my daughter and her family and had planned to stay for two weeks. On Feb. 3rd, I arrived, just in time to celebrate Morgan's birthday, who is Lori's first child. Got there in time as well to visit hubby Rick's new office and to pick up my other granddaughter, Preslee, at her school.

We dropped off birthday cupcakes for Morgan's class and I bet the treat was very much appreciated at the end of the day. The weather there was cool and breezy but very tolerable. After rounding up the family at the end of the day, we set off to eat at Olive Garden to do more celebrating of Morgan's birthday.

The whole time sitting there, Lori kept grimacing, as her tummy would tighten. Contractions were coming on but not staying long. So then we head home to get some sleep. Around 1:30 in the morning, the couple knocks on my door to let me know they are on their way to the hospital. I decide to stay behind with the girls and we sleep (or try to) the rest of the wee morning.

After breakfast, we trekked over to the hospital, which was a beautiful place. The nursing staff was terrific and very caring and gave Lori all the attention she needed to deliver the most beautiful little baby.

Mackenzie was born at 12:18 mountain time on February 4th.

Needless to say, the rest of the two weeks flew by too. I had a blast helping out as I could: walking Morgan to the bus stop and back after school. Attending the basketball games for both girls. (By the way, they are awesome players!) And just doing a lot of one to one woman bonding with my eldest girl and holding that new baby.

There is nothing in the world like holding a newborn close to you. (The softness of their heads, especially hers since she was born with lots of black hair!) Just feeling such soft skin upon your own and listening to them breathe. I truly appreciated watching Lori with her new baby, since I totally missed out the time she had spent with Morgan as a baby. In fact, I didn't "meet" Morgan for the first time until she was around 18 months old.
And Daddy Rick was very attentive, to both mom and new baby. He's an awesome dad and husband. It was a privilege to spend time with their family. So these moments were very special to me and will live on in my memory forever.

I got some exercise while I was there too. Lori's house has stairs, to the 2nd floor and to the basement. And those walks to the bus stop helped my legs tighten up. The altitude is a higher elevation in Colorado and that certainly made me breathe a bit more exuberantly as I burned up calories. Overall, I came home losing about 6 lbs. But it doesn't take long to get back into the swing of things again. And now we are into the Ides of March.....

Our co-written book, Our Written Voices, produced with a few members from my online writing group, The Written Voice, will be getting some publicity in the near future in New Hampshire. Paula Rockwell is a co-author and currently I am assisting with preparations for a book signing. It's important that these events come off looking professional and successful as Paula will be our greatest representative. One book signing will take place at her local library. The other will be one that the folks at David's House will do in July, to really publicize this book to the media and their guests.

Naturally, Paula is excited and nervous. I have volunteered to make up business cards and author posters. I have rallied up our Written Voice Members to donate books. Along displaying these at the table, she will also be raffling off a gift basket. All proceeds will go to David's House. Paula has first hand experience using their facility when her daughter was in the hospital. Her personal story will be a huge factor to draw in attention.

There are other things taking up my time, other than the usual routine. I have a family picnic coming up on April 10th, which will consist of the younger five siblings of my natural mother. I was adopted and there is so much to learn about myself from these two brothers and three sisters who plan to come, along with their children and grandchildren. We will attempt to give each a poster to jot down their family tree, beginning with Guadalupe, our natural mother. It will be interesting to see the result, but most importantly, it will be a way to trace out our next generations already in progress. Then the attempt will be, while we are gathered, to trace backwards the names of relatives before us. I have heard some of the history, but still there are questions and secrets. Sometimes conversations stir up cobwebs to bring those memories to the surface.

I never took an interest in genealogy before, but just listening to some family history does stir up the heart. My natural mother had several children; about 17 total, if my math is correct. I have learned there were twins born who died in infancy. They are in an unmarked grave at Hillcrest Cemetery here in Temple. My sister Mary told me that one uncle scratched the names on the blank nameplates indicating where they were laid to rest. Hillcrest is north of town and one weekend, Mary and I plan to take a walk about in a place she feels they may be buried. It would be wonderful to find it, although the chances are very slim. I found a website that listed all the buried folks in that particular cemetery and there were several infants listed with no names and no other indication of who they might be. I do know these sisters were named Dora and Ophelia. I'm unsure of their ages at the time of their demise, but my heart is stirred up that they are buried that way and we may never know where.

So with this picnic, stories are sure to surface and I will try my best to write it all down in notes. We will have a barbecue and all the 2nd cousins will have a chance to mingle, to know each other better. Which is always the intention whenever families reunite. When I was a kid and once attended something like this, I know my interest in it wasn't the greatest. I was too busy eating food and playing on nearby playgrounds. But now, as an older adult, I realize why these events are important. So much is passed on and the family is made stronger because of it. Obviously, my oldest daughter and her family will not be able to attend this, due to being out of state. Hopefully this is something we can set up annually and maybe one day, she and hubby can attend with the children.

So with all of this in the air, along with the past Saint Patrick's Day, which was my stepdad's birthday, there was/is a lot in the air. I've been busy getting things in order and getting prepared. And I know this is just the beginning: looking forward to other grandchildren's birthdays, Easter, anniversaries, and my youngest daughter's graduation party and grad day itself - but wait... that's all in the next three months! Whew! Yes, the Ides of March has hit my household and are going by way too fast. Certainly too, those warm spring breezes filtering in the windows are surfacing a lot of excitement.

So c/ya next time and as always, God bless. :)

Mysery-Thy name is Tooth!

2010-01-27T20:41:00.011-06:00

Personal Journal:
Dr. Fossum, a dentist, is my new best friend. Why? Because he ended my horrible tooth pain I've suffered with ever since the new year began. Oh, the constant ache that ruled my days and night is gone now. In place, I have endured a root canal and acquired a brand new crown upon my furthest back right top molar. I guess it was worth paying out for the higher dental plan this year, plus the $600 out of my own pocket. I had considered to get the tooth pulled out.

After all the xrays were done and the damage to my way-overdue-dental care that fell to the wayside last year was evaluated, he deemed I actually needed three root canals/ four crowns (as one tooth had a piece break off) and a filling. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch!! It seemed I might top off my insurance annual allowance probably after the second root canal and crown buildup. So yeah, pulling a tooth seemed less costly. I have had a couple of friends who did that and were no worse off, so they said. But the kind dental assistant at Dr. Fossom's office explained to me how pulling a tooth can make the rest go out of alignment. Then you risk having crooked teeth, unsupported in the spot where the missing tooth would be. To get a bridge to ameliorate this malalignment would cost more; up to $3000. Wow! I didn't realize.

And then when I spoke over the cost factor for the root canal/crown with his financial person, there was no pressure to absolutely have all the work done at once. "We can work with your schedule and your budget. We can put the immediate need first to get you out of pain." she had explained. Her mannerism is what sold me the most. She was kind, considerate of how not everyone can afford such elaborate work all of the time. If I wanted to get a tooth pull, we could go that way too.

I guess I was so impressed with his staff, the professionalism, and Dr. Fossom himself (who is a YOUTHFUL and great looking dentist !! )I decided to save the molar. I seen him around the 18th and booked the surgery on Jan. 25. And in all those days in between, I SUFFERED. Oh my. I had never had a tooth ache and ache as much as this one. I couldn't sleep well. I couldn't eat well. I alternated taking Tylenol and then Ibuprofen, downing about three pills at a time every four to six hours. When I went to work the morning of the 25th, I thought I had a slight fever.

"They won't pull the tooth if they think you have an infection" my co-worker said and my eyes went wide.

"OH NO!" I sputtered, grabbing the ibuprofen, "It's been long enough waiting for relief. I won't tell them a word!!"

I was hurting so bad that morning. So much that I was working and trying to hide my tears. So when 2:15 p.m came for me to leave for the dentist, I flew out the door. And when I sat down into the dentist chair, I told Sophia, the assistant, how I couldn't WAIT for them to numb me up. She gave me the prettiest smile and patted my hand.

"Oh, you've been hurting?" she asked, to which I nodded and then went into the explanation how that day was the worst; that I couldn't tell which tooth on that side of my mouth was hurting anymore. Was it just the back or the other one that required surgery as well. So she explained this to Dr. Fossom, who nodded and mumbled something about "We'll find out."

After about two injections, which he did very gently, we waited for the anesthesia to take affect. And the pain that had throbbed like a huge bongo drum beating out of control in some untamed jungle finally quieted into nothingness. Ahhhhh, relief. And then a sense of calmness. He came back into the room and asked, "Do you feel any pain elsewhere?" To which I said, "No, Doc. I'm feeling fine now."

"Then it is just the one tooth," he explained and sat to gather his tools, "Because I only numbed up the nerves for the back. If the other tooth was hurting too, it would still be aching."

Well this made sense to me. Then they proceeded to help me relax by putting ear phones on my head to allow me to listen to the television, while they inserted all those instruments (drill!!) into my mouth. There were times I could feel the drill pull away the root, if that makes sense. I could feel it, but it didn't hurt me. And all I could think was, "ahhh, he GOT you!!"

So after that, they fashioned a temporary crown. Then they used some funny instrument to put into my mouth. I thought it was a laser, as it had a light at the end of it. To my surprise, it was a type of camera and this enabled Dr. Fossom to create my permanent crown. It would be ready to insert with the same week. Hallelujah! Talk about convenience.

Now, when he was done, Sophia put the temporary into place. OH my! The thing felt HUGE in my mouth. And later, I discovered when I tried to chew something, it felt like i was biting down onto a rock. I couldn't chew right and I couldn't eat on that side at all. My surgery was on Monday and my permanent crown would be placed on Wednesday afternoon- Thank goodness. I was a little hesitant when they put me back into the chair. I mentioned to Dr. Fossom how the temporary had been ill fitting. But luckily, the permanent fit like a glove. Ahhhh, relief again!!

So I walked out of the office feeling very happy with the new crown and the fact I saved my tooth. And I guess sometime in February, we'll go onto to the next phase of scheduling a root canal/crown on the 2nd teeth. It will be worth not enduring another week of a horrible tooth ache.

Writing Challenges from The Written Voice:

1. Martin Luther King Jr - picture prompt Jan. 18th. My submission:

My mother lives near a street named for Martin Luther King, Jr. It used to be called something else when I was a young girl, but it was changed to honor him.

I was born in 59, about the time a young man, Martin Luther King, Jr., had already graduated with a degree in philosophy and theology. In the year of my birth, he had traveled to India to meet Ghandi. He came away a changed man, who now envisioned "that the method of nonviolent resistance is the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for justice and human dignity".

In the turbulent 60's, he used this to reach people in his sermons about civil rights. It was a time when black people could not even mingle with the whites, in restaurants, buses, or even schools. A young girl named Rosa Parks refused her seat on the bus and got arrested, which sparked an interest with the committee from the Birmingham African-American community to look into the case. Ever since then, Dr. King's crusade to reform civil rights in the United States became his life work. He took his case on a march to Washington DC to make specific demands: an end to racial segregation in public school; meaningful civil rights legislation, including a law prohibiting racial discrimination in employment; protection of civil rights workers from police brutality; a $2 minimum wage for all workers; and self-government for Washington DC , then governed by congressional committee.

He inspired many with his speech, "I have a Dream. which is one of the finest oratory speeches marked in history, next to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and Roosevelt's Infamy speech. The march was a success; the largest gathering of protesters in Washington's history.

But his life was short lived. King was shot at 6:01 p.m. April 4, 1968 while he was standing on the motel's second floor balcony. He had gone to Memphis to help Black Sanity workers get fair pay. People cried over his death. The news was on television and talked about for years as much as Kennedy's assignation

Now both of these men inspired a nation to do what was right for every citizen. They inspired dreams, courage, and having faith in yourself against adversity.

I heard a song when I was a young teenager.. singing about the loss of such men. I didn't realize all that it meant because the changes they began were already a part of my life. Kids of all races were going to the same schools. Were there some clashes? yes, but not as violent as witnessed in Alabama.

We were blending in; sharing our culture; growing as individuals and bonding as friends. I recall in high school how one of my friends was belittled for dating a black boy. She was white, but we were friends. Later, they had a child and she was happy. It's what I wanted most for my friend.

Later, I got married to a white man, but I'm Hispanic. And the older I got, the more it seemed that people were finding it easier to marry outside their own culture or race. Its not an easy path to follow as there is always someone who won't tolerate; understand; or who will cut down. But I think more people are willing to overlook to accept everyone as they are.

Just this past year, our country elected its first black President. A huge milestone in this nation's history. Did I vote for Mr. Obama? No, because my background is republican; conservative. Do I honor and respect how he goes about leading our nation? Of course I do. He's my president, of my country. I don't always have to agree with his policies, but I do admire the man. He's educated, a father who shows love to his children; a devoted husband, and a man with vision; similar to the direction that Dr King displayed during a hard time in our nations history. Mr. Obama would have never been considered a candidate without the changes Dr. King began in my toddler years.

So when I go down my mother's street and see his name on the corner post, I recall what it stands for in the back of my mind. It is a brief recall- for all he has done is like a breath of air to me; just natural. And I believe it's probably the way Dr. King wants us to think about when it comes to fair treatment to all of its citizens, no matter what race or creed. To treat everyone just natural

2) Picture prompt- Camping
She wondered what it would be like, to go without electricity, radio and television for a weekend. Her new beau was an avid outdoors man, while she had only gone to a cabin in the woods for girl scouts. She had been 12 then and could recall mosquitoes, trails with snakes and lizards, and lots of swatting of gnats by day. Yes, the campfire with smores had been fun, with the sing-a-long, but their stay had been inside a clean place, with a running toilet and electricity. Even the cot had a great mattress upon it, so it wasn't a total bad experience.

But now she was twenty five and worked in the city. She had met Tom at a local night club and somehow through the haze of smoke, loud party people, and a rocking band, they managed to talk some and exchange phone numbers. Their dates, so far, had consisted of movies and restaurants. They bowled and walked around at the mall for exercise. Their romance had begun in winter and now with the first mild-temperature weekend approaching, he wanted to go fishing and camp out under the moon and stars. His married brother and sister-in-law wanted to join them, so they wouldn't be alone. Plus, they offered tents.

"We'd be cooking on an open fire?" Megan quizzed, watching him pack items into the car,"and sleep on the ground?"

"Uh, huh, but we'd use air mattresses," he replied, cramming fishing gear into the back of the Toyota. His answer was short, being in a hurry. What rotten luck. The plan to get off at three backfired. An unexpected conference call delayed him. Then he got stuck in after hours traffic. Now, it was getting dark and they hadn't finished packing the car. Thank goodness he had asked Megan to prepare the cooler items and to get their clothes ready.

"Doesn't the park attendant leave by nine?" she asked with a frown as she looked at her watch. His scowl made for a good reply, "Will we make it?"

"Maybe," he said and with that he slammed the trunk. They were ready. Both scurried into the car. Within minutes, they were on the highway heading towards their destination 30 minutes away. They drove out of the city into the dark of the land. She could barely make out fence rails go by. They veered off the highway onto a dirt road, going down a hill towards the lake. As they made it to the bottom where the parking attendant building sat, they saw everything was dark and the gates were locked tight with chains.

"Oh, no" he said and steered the vehicle to the side of the road, turning off the engine and lights. "I guess we'll have to park here for the night and come back to retrieve it in the morning. We can climb past the gates and walk."

"All the way down to the campsite? In the dark? What if there are snakes or scorpions! You can hardly see the road past this place!"

"Don't worry. I'll hold your hand," he replied and got out, "Come on! It will be an adventure."

Luckily, his key chain had a small beam light to help guide their way. They knew the numbers of the spots and what vehicle to look for. They could feel the wind accelerate and heard a crack of lightening in the distance.

"It's going to rain?" Megan questioned, "I thought the weatherman said there was only a 30% chance tonight and it would be all clear tomorrow and the rest of the weekend."

"Guess the percent chance found us. let's hurry!" he retorted and they picked up their pace. To their dismay, when they arrived to the right spot, poor Eric and Kristen were having a major argument; and no, not a single tent was up yet.

"What's going on?" Tom cried out, rushing to their side. Kristen held up a lantern while Eric struggled to put up the support rods.

"I just bought these on sale last year. I've never used them. We got here late and I've been trying for an hour to get these support rods in. Kristen was trying to read the directions by the lantern. Then she lost them!"

"Not my fault!" she shot back, glaring," The stupid wind picked up and blew it out of my hands."

Before another word could be said, rain drops began to fall. Each drop grew faster and heavier. They had no choice but to duck under the picnic table which had a metal roof covering. The wind blew the rain onto them, so then they escaped into Eric and Kristen's small compact car. Their breaths caused the windows to steam up. The rain didn't seem to let up at all and they soon fell asleep, all cramped in their seats.

The next morning, they awoke and got out to stretch and look around. The rain had stopped and the morning sun rose behind pink clouds. Megan stood by the lake and watched tiny minnows rush around by the edge of the bank. In the distance, a huge fish jumped out of the water into the hazy mist hovering over it. Then it crashed back into the water, breaking the silence. She turned to see the men make another attempt at the tents. Upon the bush nearby, Megan saw the directions stuck in the branches. She rushed over with them and the three tackled setting up the tents. Kristen had started a fire and pulled out her cooking gear. Within minutes, the smell of bacon and brewing coffee penetrated the air. Tom went up for his vehicle and when he returned, they ate breakfast on plastic plates. The air was cool, but the morning sun was rising and warming the earth. Everything smelled fresh and natural.

In spite of their mishap , Megan sipped her coffee and absorbed the surroundings. She saw a couple heading into a nook to fish. A crane flew away, frightened off by their trespassing. A lone bass fisherman started up his trolling motor and steered the boat out onto the middle of the lake. Kids nearby threw stones across the water. Tom and Eric shared a story to make Kirsten laugh. All seemed right with the world again.. and mostly, Megan felt good being there, roughing it without modern day conveniences. Somehow, she knew the rest of their weekend adventure would go great and hoped there would be more times like these to share with Tom.

That's it for now. I hope you enjoyed. Take care until next time. :)

Do what you can for Haiti earthquake victims

2010-01-16T19:54:00.005-06:00

Note- A post I did on a recent forum on The Written Voice "What's Hot or Not" forum discussion on 1/15/10:

I can't believe no one had discussed Haiti.

True story:

Brent was assigned to be the aid of a 4-star general and they moved from Germany to Miami two months ago. The general had business in Haiti, but Brent had a bad cold, so the general told him to stay behind. A different aid went in his stead. On the day of the quake, the general went out to the car. The quake hit and the aid was caught under the rubble. They didn't know whether he was dead or alive. And poor Brent felt horrible that this young man, a father of a toddler, had been hurt. He felt he should have gone, but Brent too is a father of three older children. For two days, they waited for news as guilt sank in and lots of prayers were given. Yesterday evening, they received news the aid had been found; alive, with many injuries and broken bones. Hopefully, this young military man will be transferred for care in the states.

Haiti is in desperate need for medical personnel. My new medical director had been asked to go to help; but his passport had expired. He found out the passport agency are giving special permits for medical personnel to go to Haiti. Even American Airlines is offering free flights. He had to pass this time, but is willing to go the next time he is asked by this special group out of Dallas. They had a makeshift clinic to serve the citizens way before this earthquake hit, but now the urgency is important.

Can you imagine what it must be like to wait for help? They need clothes, blankets, food, water, medical attention. What if it was me who suffered a broken bone and laid in the street waiting for someone to pay me attention? I can't even live with a hang nail! So all my prayers are going to those poor individuals who are suffering. I heard George Clooney is trying to get a network telethon going. I hope the money will be used properly. I had given before, in a situation like this. I think it was the Tsunami victims who got a part of my donation. I will do something, even if I just gather what I have here at home and offer it to a local group planning on going there. This is a time to forget ourselves and give for the very poor; people of such desperation. Think with your hearts on this one. Think of the children who have lost someone and are confused, dirty, and hungry. The devastation is too great for one to even comprehend.

The Need to Escape ( A short Story)

2010-01-06T18:20:00.007-06:00

Author's Note: Through writing challenges, on The Written Voice, my Cafemom group where I co-admin, we create poems and short stories using many prompts. I've decided I would share these stories as I come up with them over the year.)

Words to use: tablet, labor, sun, juice, sneeze

She sat in the lawn chair, under a bright blue sky. No clouds obscured the horizon beyond the oceanside cliffs. Looking up at tall palm trees drifting in the salty breeze, bright rays of sun shine filtered past the leaves and down onto her untanned body. She felt a sneeze coming on, but squelched it. And now she surveyed all the necessary gear around her:

Suntan lotion - check!

Frozen margarita- check! check!

Her favorite pair of dark glasses- got them!!

Cosmo magazine- Check! check! check!

And a writing tablet and pen- Check!...in-case of an urge came up to write all of her friends trapped on the cold mainland. Yes, she had planned this trip for a long time, to visit this tropical paradise during the wintertime, far away from cold fronts and falling snow. This mini-three-week vacation, the fruit of her hard labor at the television station all year long, seemed well worth the escape. What could be better than this?

"Hello there," a muscular, six foot four man, holding what seemed to be some juice concoction with an umbrella in it, looked her over from head to toe. He had beautiful blue eyes, glittering like diamonds, and jet black hair. His full smile gave away pearly whites, with one gold tooth on an incisor. She could smell the aroma of his fabulous cologne. Sticking out of his khaki shorts, was a money clip, barely holding onto a wad full of hundred dollar bills. He leaned over and grabbed the lawn chair next to her, "Mind if I sit next to you? A lovely woman like you seems in need of some pleasant company."

Ok, maybe the line came out like honey to a bear and she obviously fell for it. With mouth parted open and eyes wide, she nodded, never losing focus on his handsome, perfect face. Perhaps a gasp might have escaped her lips, but within an hour, they were into full blown conversation and they were drawn together like magnets. This seemed to be the beginning of a beautiful thing... and that topped the need to escape.

We are off into the New year of 2010

2010-01-03T10:53:00.005-06:00

Well, we are off into the new year. It's hard to believe I am alive in 2010. It sounds like some star date Captain Kirk may have mentioned on the series Star Trek. I've been around since 1959 and I'm now 50 years old. A lot of stuff has occurred in my lifetime, like the assassination of President Kennedy; Mans first walk on the moon; the inventions of the cable, Internet, and cell phones and most importantly, small computers/laptops to fit into one's homes. Wow, technology at its best and some to make our lives a bit easier in the kitchen, such as the microwave. I'm so grateful to those who dreamed up these products in the first place. Sometimes when I go camping, roughing it up without these miracle conveniences, then I do take time to appreciate them. I can't imagine what it must have been like over a century ago, when someone like me, may have reflected on her life in 1910. So many changes; so much progress.

I guess as I look down the road into the next fifty years, I can only pray that I can live to see what comes next. All the good things, of course. Of course it's scary because we are going into the unknown. With the factors of Aids; homelessness; economic crisis; global warming and even terrorism, we know we must face adversity. We must learn to overcome. Our children will be very affected by things we sometimes just take for granted that comes in the news. Hopefully, they will grow and cause changes in socialism and government to be positive; to lessen the threats of these evils. With hope, there is a chance for a better future.

With this said, I can move forward into 2010. I want positive changes just in myself and within my own household. To start, my list of resolutions are small, but positive:

1) Lose weight to improve my stamina, health and control my diabetes.

2) Eat healthier selections and eliminate the junk and fast foods.

3) Organize my junk drawers, closets, and throw away or donate what's not been pulled out in over a year. Why keep if you don't wear it or use? Some one's trash maybe the treasure someone else seeks.

4) Be more time efficient in everything, so that I don't fall off schedule or run behind.

5) Take time to meditate or write often. I so need to take a quiet "me" time once in awhile as my life does get a bit crazy with work, family, and aging parents. Even taking care of the pets can be stressful. So I need to dedicate one hour per day just to zone out. And while I'm doing this, perhaps jot down ideas or goals during this reflective time.

6) Take time to be thankful for my blessings. I need to pray more often and visit my mom more. She turns 81 this year and I know the time is slipping away. I want to communicate more and show appreciation to my close friends. Without their support, I don't know how I'd pull through sometimes.

7) Vacations/getaways- My husband is my ally most days and I want to schedule more weekend getaways and plan a vacation spot to visit late this year or early next summer. He wants to go back to Ohio to show me around. I'd also like to make one trip back to Florida to re-visit old in laws and their families, and one to Denver to visit my eldest daughter with her new baby this spring

8) Most of all, I want to finish up my Cross Passage book series. I have two manuscripts to edit and I procrastinated finishing up the 3rd installment. So my goal is to have "Hearts Restless Winds" out by early spring. And then the final installment , still untitled, by winter.

9) I want to work on promoting my Cafemom group, The Written Voice, newest book. Our Written Voices, is being sold now on Amazon to benefit the David's House facility in New Hampshire. I'm so proud of our contribution of poems and short stories for such a worthy cause. I'd think it would be fun to get our members to contribute submissions again by early fall, but we'll see how we are doing by then before we commence.

(To join, click here: The Written Voice.

10) I want to help my senior daughter to realize her dream of visiting Germany in August, as sort of a belated high school graduation gift. I still have to buy her passport and airline fare. After that, it's just the target of saving for her spending money. She's just begun working a good job at the hospital, so she might be able to put away some spending cash before then.

So there's my top ten list of resolutions. I guess resolutions can be goals too. I"m sure I'd probably have missed some ideas to post but if I can reach any five of these, it would be considered milestones.

Just this past weekend, I have cleaned up my house and stored away all of the Christmas decorations. I've pretty much eaten up all of the leftover ham, candy, cookies and am ready to start anew on my diet come Monday morning. The new year is off to a good start and no matter what comes, I am ready to handle all of the challenges. With God's love and the support of great family and friends, I will enter the unknown with a smile and much courage

A Christmas present to me: A great Review

2009-12-15T16:33:00.009-06:00

For awhile now, I haven't really gone out of my way to promote my books, Hostage to Her Heart, or it's sequel, Falling For Her Heart.

The first book never took off.
The 2nd got a bad review.
It totally disheartened me.

This past summer, an author friend heard my story of disenchantment and took it to heart. She knew of a few book reviewers and told me how to contact them. So I did and sent off copies of my books. One kept in touch over the latter part of the year. She was a busy woman, who read books for a blogsite. There were things going on in her life to postpone her reading. I had sent her the 2nd book first, because I wanted to know if it would read well by itself; without the knowledge obtained from the plot of the 1st book.

And she came back with a great review. She gets my characters. She understands the overall concept of my story. For this I feel vindicated.

I feel free to further persue working on the 3rd installment of the Cross Passage Series.

I so needed this encouragement. To me, a great review is a terrific Christmas present. I will post the review site on my side bar as well. Or copy this link and post to your web browser:
http://yougottareadreviews.blogspot.com/2009/12/review-falling-for-her-heart-by-chriss.html

Christmas is just two weeks away. My home is decorated. The presents are under the tree now and piling up. I have plans to go visit my 2nd daughter's home (Tracy) when we open them all up and have our holiday dinner with all the family. It will be a joyous time. My youngest daughter's (Kayla) beau will be home for Christmas from the Army reserves training in Georgia. Her pen pal from Germany, Katrin, will be visiting as well. It should make for great pics, which I will share.

It's hard to believe 2009 is almost over. It's been a rocky year for a lot of people and I'm no exception. However, with good friends and faith, we have managed to pull through this together. For my friends who continue to visit my blog here, I hope your Christmas time is blessed with all good things. I appreciate your support and wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Flying out of October and November

2009-11-22T16:00:00.015-06:00

This month has snuck on me and is almost gone. I can't ever seem to catch up with myself lately and for those of you who do peek in on my blog, from time to time, I apologize for lack of postings.

So much is going on. First of all, during the last part of October I prompted a "Spooky Story Contest" in my writing/reading group on Cafemom, The Written Voice. Congrats to Ginny for winning the box of goodies I collected weeks before. It took a while for the members there to decide upon a winner. Three people gave great stories, so it was difficult to decide upon one. I did hear from Ginny that she really liked the assortment of goodies placed in the box. Here are some pics I took:

It was fun. Oh speaking of spooky, on Halloween, here are the girls photos I got from them in Colorado. Oh My! Gorgeous!!

They had fun and the evening was not spoiled by snow. They got some about two weeks before Halloween. Lori ran out to her backyard to show how much fell overnight. Wow!

February is a busy month for birthdays already in my family. And now it's the due date for my newest grandbaby! Which Lori is having with the due date around the
10th. The baby will be a girl and I can't wait to hold her. Babies always feel so warm and smooth and they smell like baby powder. Just makes you want one around all the time, but I do not want the diaper changing duty. LOL..No matter, there's always joy when a baby is born to the family. So I must save my vacation time and my pennies to make that trip to Colorado next year. I hear from my daughter Lori that she is doing well and the baby kicks a lot! :)

My youngest daughter Kayla just returned on Friday from a two day visit to Georgia. She went up with her beau's family to see him graduate Army Reserve basic training. Next stop after this will be training in his chosen profession with the Army reserves. He'll be gone for six more months. Kayla had fun visiting him, but was sad to return. She's patient though and knows this is all good for his future. Here is a snapshot of him in uniform. Looks good, don't he??

To make her feel better, I surprised her with a short trip to a nearby town to pick up a new dog. Another chihuahua. Like I need another one, right?? However this dog was abandoned in a backyard of a freind of a freind; and I love these tiny dogs. So I wanted to give it a home. So far, he's very friendly and seems trained to go out. He runs behind my other dogs with no problem and he gets along- a plus! My daughter wanted to name him the French name used by the Candlestick, in Beauty and the Beast. It's Lumière, but I have difficulty pronouncing it! LOL. Maybe I'll just call him Lumi for short. Ha.ha...

Thanksgiving is narrowing down to just four days away. In between, on Tuesday, is my oldest grandson's birthday. Ethan will turn six!! Hard to believe! He's such a darling little boy and smart! Here's a pic of him.

I think he looks so cute. His mom is constantly taking their pics with the cell phone and downloading it. Then she does something to the pics and send them my way. I'm always surprised when she does something she thinks is clever. They are cute, but I like natural pictures in the end. Here's an example of something she has done:

I guess to each their own sense of humor. Here is one of my youngest grandson, AJ, who is Ethan's youngest half brother. I think he looks adorable in the hat. (I couldn't leave him out of this blog- lol)

Anyways, you can tell I'm a grandmother. I love to share their pictures. And spending time with family during Thanksgiving makes on an older girl like me appreciate the children springing forth; this new generation. They are pieces of us, our bloodline continuing on to an unknown future. For now, with the time we can share with them, on holidays or any other normal day, we must take the time to show them our love; give them our bits of wisdom; give them a sense of their roots. After all, it's who they are and it's they who brings so much pride in our hearts.

To all my friends who read this, I wish you a day full of love, pride, and great memories on Thanksgiving. You all deserve the best and one thing I give thanks to always, is having friends who truly care. God bless.

Fall Chili Cookoff 10/30/09

2009-10-30T15:21:00.030-05:00

Every year my job puts on a chili cookoff contest where employees can show off their best chili, dress up, and have some fun. Usually we hold it right before Halloween. This year, my department decided to enter it. Kelly is a wonderful cook so we asked her to prepare the chili. We all threw in ideas on a theme and decided upon Hillbillies. It was a natural fit for the people who make up our department for sure. I had my daughter go around taking pictures of all participants this morning before the festivities got underway.

Jerry, who dressed up as Pa, came in first place for the costume contest. I, dressed up as Grandma/ or Ma, came in 2nd. I have never won a costume contest, so this was quite an honor. Our chili, although very delicious, did not come in top dog, but there's always next year. And we are already thinking up ideas to improve our Hillabilly theme.

Someone's Cute Dog Mascot

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Under Construction- So what was inside their building? MMMMM...

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Take A chill Pill- cute costuming

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Hmmm, Something very Fallish- Very creative I think:

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Prehistoric Theme- Look! Those prehistoric women have clubs!!

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Hey! They have a clothes hanging.. And hay! Are they copying us???

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Aha! The Wizard of Oz theme.... Cool!

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They are building a Saloon!!

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Tailgaters- They are setting up terrific chili!!

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Chili University- You all can learn how chili is done here! :)

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And now my team's booth set up- The Hillbillies!!

Here's me, caring for those grandbabies. Even got one on my leg!

There's Pa:

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All in All, we had terrific fun getting ready for the cookoff. I'll post more as I get em', ya hear? :)

Feeling proud of my daughter

2009-10-29T16:31:00.005-05:00

Hi everyone. Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Life sometimes gets either stagnant with leaving not much to talk about or it gets very busy, very fast. Then you just can't seem to catch up. October has just flown by for me very quickly.

Last week, we celebrated Kayla's 18th birthday. We had a party with just her friends in our back yard. The day before we set things up, it had rained. Luckily, the ground wasn't too soggy. We were able to set up about four tables and chairs with decorations. I recall the last time there was a party outdoors for Kayla, when she turned 16, it was at a park and it got very windy. This time around, was we set up decorations on the table, a slight breeze began to blow. By noon, the balloon weights didn't manage to hold down the balloons very well at all. Still, we managed.

The day turned warmer than expected and with kids leaving open soda cans out, it attracted some bees. What turned out funny was the background music we had playing was Michael Jackson's Beat It, and appropriately so, I was running around the yard with a fly swatter, "beating" them darn bees. The kids had the camera set to film me and they caught me attempting to dance to Thriller. A funny sight. The video is posted on Utube. Just look me up "Ladyauthor2b" to view it. The party was a success and much fun was had by all.

Now my household is gearing up for several things coming up, one being Halloween; then come November is my grandson's Ethan's birthday; then Thanksgiving. Where is the time going? The year is going so quickly.

And in the middle of the month, much to kayla's excitement, she will be heading to Georgia to visit her beau, Chris Trueblood. He's been in basic training for the Army Reserves. He left on September 1st, after being very much together for over a year. I figured the parting would be very difficult for them both. Much to my surprise, they've both been real troupers. I guess these kids have their goals set and are determined to reach them. Should they continue their relationship in the future, they both have a great start. Kayla has her eyes set in going to Temple college next year to begin freshman college classes. Her goal is to eventually go to a major university to become a psychologist, while Chris wants to use Army Reserve college money to study to be a kid pediatrician. I think these are worthy goals. And even if theirs should deviate from course, they at least have college to help them persue other activities. I'm proud of them both.

It's hard to see my little girl grow up, but it's a given that she is becoming quite a young lady. She shows much self responsibility and ethics. She works at Sonic and is pursuing working at the Transporation Department at the hospital as well. She will begin training sometime after the 24th, after she fills out paperwork and has orientation for the job. She plans to work helping transport medication and patients on weekends, going to school, and keeping her Sonic job.

Yesterday she had to line up for the Seniors Panoramic Group picture. While in line with her friend Liz, they both noticed another senior hanging out with a freshman. They watched in dismay they walk past everyone to line up on the bleachers. The freshman never left the line and was photographed with the rest of the Seniors. This made Kayla upset, naturally. For four years, she has waited to become a senior and enjoy all the privileges she has earned. Now with the group picture marred with a freshman within their midst, she came home feeling anxious about what she should do about it. Of course, she shared this with me first and I told her I would be happy to call the school about it in the morning, if she wished. And she volunteered to be called to the office to talk to the Principal about it. I was proud she stood up for what was right. Sadly, the print of the group shot was already sent to the high school right away, so there won't be a repeat done, nor is there time to digitally erase him from the photograph. Or at least I was told so. The assistant Principal's secretary did relay to me that the Freshman would be reprimanded appropriately. But this whole ordeal showed me that my daughter does have a sense of what's right and what's wrong. There are ethics and traditions that should be honored and upheld, and one should be strong enough to speak up for what's right.

I don't think I have any fear of what type of woman she will remain being in her future. I'm so proud now that she's my daughter. I guess through the years I did my job right after all. What more can I add to this but a broad smile.

Turning Fifty

2009-09-25T17:50:00.006-05:00

How did we slip into fall already? It forever seemed the dog days of summer bit into us with the steady 100 plus degree heat. Then out of the blue (or rather the northeast) a cold front came down into Texas. Welcomed relief with much needed rain. Ok, some parts of Central Texas did get their creek beds turn into mini-rivers, but here in Temple, our hard barren soils soaked up the rain like sponges. Soon everything was wet, muddy, and soggy. It didn't do well upon my hard-wooden floors with the dogs coming in and out when the rains stopped. They had to go out. It doesn't take much to wipe off floors from little Chihuahua's tromping across them.

I love fall days and I have really enjoyed the temperatures being cooler. We've had some low 60's and 70's starting off our mornings. Then the days have stayed well below 92 degrees. I can certainly tolerate it. I get to daydreaming, watching the squirrels gather nuts and watching the leaves fall down upon the earth. The breeze is cool and smells so fresh. My house doesn't have windows to really open up wide, so I sit out on my cement patio to enjoy it. It freshens up my senses and gives me a sense of appreciation. I like the changes, the colors turning. Now if only this change of season will fill up my internal senses with inspiration.

Lately, I have been feeling less inclined to write about anything. I don't seem to have anything new to say, even when conversing with people I know. There are days when I just don't want to do anything, not even watch a movie. So the patio suits me sometimes, to watch the cars pass by on my street, to watch my neighbors go about their lives, going and coming in their cars from whereabouts unknown. They usher their kids inside carrying groceries. They wave and I wave back, but I'm not motivated to do more than that. I'm becoming introverted. An observer. Is it because I am approaching a milestone in my life?

On Monday, September 28th, I will turn 50 years old. Fifty! Where the heck did the time go? It makes one look back and ponder on the accomplishments and the lack of them. It makes one cringe at past mistakes and feel appreciative when something turned out ok. I look at my writing projects and see some things unfinished. So I know in my heart my time is being limited, for everyone ages. The sight grows dimmer and the mind may become even faultier.

Already, when I go to Walmart, I must say out loud the row I'm in, to make a mental note of where I parked my car. I can be in the store five minutes and come out gaping everywhere for my vehicle. Saying out loud beforehand sort of imprints the position into memory. I don't really want to be one of those people with little voice reminders popping out of my pocket!

Still turning 50 makes me want to linger and reflect. So maybe that's why I'm not pushing myself to do anything. Maybe its ok to be stagnant for a week or two to gain my bearings. It's not everyday or every year when we reach a milestone and it does seem like my previous ones came and went like a rocket into space. Now I just hope the next years or phase of my life, this growing old bit, will go by very slow. I hope with daily walking and a few barbell exercises, I can keep my joints limber and my sugar levels down. I want to stay healthy for awhile longer, to watch my last child get married and have babies of her own. There shouldn't be a rush, considering she's turning 18 next month and not graduated high school yet. But there's the rub- I do possess a sense of urgency, as to me in one sense of it all, she's one last project I've got to see reach fruition. Do you know what I mean? And I have half of my 4-part series published. I want to finish this up by next summer to begin new projects. It's just knowing this doesn't get me going.

Instead I sit, sometimes staring off into space like a zombie, watching the world move, stress, react. I sit, inhale and exhale, and absorb, like a sponge, soaking everything inside. Perhaps in a week or two, inspiration will come upon me like the rain and I will open up again, to participate and respond; to create. Once I get this shock about my age out of my system.

Of course it helps when your granddaughter visits, looks at me while I'm getting an early present, and exclaims "Gosh, Nana! You look so young to be 50!"

Happy Grandparent's Day

2009-09-10T19:25:00.008-05:00

On Saturday, September 13th, it's officially Grandparent's Day. What a nifty little holiday for us who have survived raising our own kids and now delight in playing with theirs. I hope everyone has a terrific day filled with love from their grandchildren. I'm uncertain what will come for me personally, but whatever it is, I'm sure it will be fine.

My eldest daughter has her 8 year old daughter Morgan and a step-daughter, Pressley. They live in Colorado, over a thousand miles away from me. So the most I might recieve is a pleasant phone call. Just to hear their merry voices, filled with stories about school days and interests, will be very sufficient. They sound so grown up on the phone. And I love to hear the giggles in their voices.

My eldest granddaughter, Mariah, is twelve and lives nearby. She most likely will spring a phone call or swing by to give me a hug. Perhaps she might bring some wildflowers, a hand made card, or even candy. But seriously, the best gift is sharing a conversation about the love we share for creating a story. For this is something I have passed on to her, the love of writing. She can get into a lot of details from her talented imagination, from the detailed characters to the potential plot theories she has outlined. So I feel immense pleasure talking things over. She has seen something I accomplished, that a book can be born and published, something real to hold in your hands. She has even shown my two published novels to a show and tell class, which I didn't find out about until a few weeks later. So she's proud of me and I'm immensely proud of her, for pushing forward in this endeavor. Perhaps she will fair better than me and actually be someone everyone wants to read. Only the future will know for sure.

Now I do have two young grandsons, Ethan and Andreyes, who are Mariah's youngest half brothers. One is handsome, dark, with large brown eyes, the youngest is fair, blond with blue-grey eyes; quite a contrast from each other. Still, they are robust and very young, being 5 and 3, retrospectively. We call Ethan by Bubba and Andreyes by AJ. Now, AJ is much too young to know the revelence of Grandparent's Day, so he is quite excused. His mom might put him on the phone too just to say hello and I love you. That's ok.

Bubba is another story and a cute one. Today, we shared Grandparents Lunch at his elementary school. He's in kindergarten and his mom showed me the details so I'd show up on time. She didn't give him a hint that I would even come. So I arrived to the school five minutes before his designated lunch time. I stood in the hallway by the cafeteria with my lunch ticket. His class strolled by and at first, he didn't even notice me. I sprung out at him and called out his name, "Ethan!" His eyes went wide and then he cried out, "Nana!!" and pounced into me with a hug.

He was quite happy and we lined up in the cafeteria line along with all the youngsters. He introduced me to one of his friends, showed me where the chocolate milk containers were held, and where to get the utensils. His choice of lunch was a sandwich, green jello, a fruit cup of apples and oranges, while I had the nachos, green jello, and chocolate milk. At the end of the line, where we had to show the cafeteria lady our lunch tickets, he asked me, "Nana.. do you have money? I'd like some ice cream." So I asked the lady at the register how much it was and she told me fifty cents each. I handed over a dollar and she put the change into "his account" for next time.

Then we chose a table and sat down to eat our bounty. The lunch room was crowded with other adults visiting their grandkids. It wasn't difficult to be distracted with all the ruckus going on. He took four bites of sandwhich, ate half of the jello, the apples in the fruit cup, and a big swig of his chocolate milk. Then he dove into the huge large rocket shape ice cream on a stick of vanilla and chocolate swirls. We made conversation, but for me, it was cute to watch him eat. The biggest laugh I had was towards the end of eating that huge rocket ice cream. On the last two bites, I saw his body shiver and his teeth rattle. Then he pronounced, "Brain freeze!" I will never forget how he said it.

Afterwards, he tucked in his arms into his t-shirt, because he was cold, and I tried my best to rub him warm with a grandma hug, running my arms over his several times. I think he liked this attention.

Soon enough, it was time to return to his class, and we took the long walk there. He ran to his spot on the floor, next to his clasmates, just in time for hearing a good story from his teacher. He waved to me as I exited.

It made me happy I took the time to visit. When I returned to work, I shared his brain freeze comment with all of my co-workers, then I had to call his mother. They all got a good laugh. So all in all, it had been fun. But mostly, I think I took away more than just a cute chuckle. I took away a memory of bonding between he and I. I think this day will be in his mind to, on how I took the time to be there for him, although he won't remember the previous ones.. when I took care of him at nights when his mother worked. I can recall holding this little baby boy, rocking him to sleep, kissing his head, promising to be in his life as much as possible. This memory and this promise is so strong, even today.

So in summary, I'm very proud to be a grandmother... to all of my grandchildren. I look forward to their future, as they progressed from grade to grade and just life in general. I'm so blessed to be a part of their lives, whether they live far away or near. It's special to be a grandparent. And I hope any of you, who are grandparents, will have many special memories happen for you too, on all days.

Again, Happy Grandparent's Day.

Hearts Restless Winds in editing phase

2009-08-30T12:32:00.005-05:00

My third installment of the Cross Passage book series, Hearts Restless Winds, has remained glued on my hard drive for awhile. I've edited and edited, trying to cut out unneccessary words. I tend to be a dialogue type of writer and in some ways, it doesn't detract from the speedy reading of the chapters. However sometimes it can leave the story feeling a bit cold and unconnecting to the reader, so I'm attempting to fix this. Also with this being the 3rd book of a series, how much back history should be told at the beginning to not weigh it down and not be enough for new readers?
So I thought I would go ahead and post the first chapter, to see if it heightens interest; and to hear if readers aren't bogged down by too many details. I desire feedback. My goal is to get this ready for publication by November, 2009.

I did get one email about it being too lengthy; about not sharing all of the work online. I'm not worried about people lifting the story. The first book is copywrited with the characters and a copy is housed in the Library of Congress. If ever I had to seek legal action, the same characters in book one are in book three. And I know the history of it and it's future, where I'm taking these characters and beyond. The material is housed on about three or four floppy drives, so its proof how long back the manuscripts go. They are already written. they just need revisions.
But feedback is a a valuable thing. It helps you be aware of things lacking; grammar; whether the story gels; does it get readers involved; etc, etc. There's much I'm learning here and plenty more to come. So yes, if you came across this blog before, it's been edited and the very long copy of the chapter is gone. In it's place will be a concise shorter version. I think it will suffice to give everyone a taste of its beginning.
Again, I thank everyone for helping me along. Comments are always welcomed here.

Chapter One- New expectancies

At Tranquility City Medical Center, renowned for its multispecialty group practice, Dr. Carina Davenport sat with the medical chart propped upon her lap; expressive brown eyes conveyed warmth, but looked stern. She pressed several buttons upon the ultrasound digital scanner, noting the expectant mother readjust a thin gown and single sheet before sighing, “Please, Dr. Davenport. Jimmy promised not to miss this. Couldn’t we wait five more minutes?”
As if on cue, muffled voices came from the outside corridor. Urgent footsteps made way towards the examining room door. A nurse ushered Jimmy McFadden in.
"Sorry for being late. I got caught up in traffic,” Jimmy explained as he scrambled to get to Tara's side. He took her hand and looked at them both, “Have I missed anything?"
"Not yet, darling,” Tara smiled, relieved to see him, “Dr. Davenport had just set up.”
Jimmy nodded at Tara's obstetrician and shook her hand.
"Great. I wanted to see this."
"Of course you did,” Dr. Davenport released his hand and then reset the screen, “Now, let's get this show underway.”
The doctor set the record button and uncovered a portion of Tara's belly. Producing a warm lubricant, she squeezed it on the skin surface and then took a probe onto the abdomen. With one ebony hand, she turned a switch to dim the lights overhead. The probe moved in short, circular moments, showing 3-D shadows on the screen. Dr. Davenport stopped on a pulsating object.
“There’s the baby's heart,” she told them.
"Wow!" Jimmy stared with wide eyes. Tara strained to see it and Dr. Davenport readjusted the screen towards her direction.
“Is this better?”
"Yes. Much,” Tara replied, squinting at the enlarged features.
Was this normal at the end of her first trimester? She realized how her pants felt too tight. She also recalled how her second and third pregnancies had been classified normal. The first had produced her miracle septuplets which made her family famous in England. It seemed like a lifetime ago: the children; Danny’s death; finding Jimmy again; and now a second pregnancy with her first love. While memories spun in Tara’s head, Dr. Davenport moved the probe to show them the rest of the anatomy.
"As you can see, here is an arm ... the head…and aha!” Dr. Davenport pointed out a particular shape. Jimmy reacted.
“Is that what I think it is?” he cried out.
"Yes. This is a boy,” she replied.
"One more for our troop,” Tara muttered, as their family already contained several, “I had hoped for another girl.”
“Ah, Jamie will remain our only one,” Jimmy reached for her hand to kiss it. Dr. Davenport moved the probe to another region. Jimmy focused on the screen again, noting the peculiar look on Dr. Davenport’s face.
"Something wrong?” Jimmy asked.
"There’s another baby. You’re expecting twins,” she announced and pressed the probe down harder, “It appears one of each sex.”
“Holy Moses!” Jimmy gasped, amazed.
"Are you sure it’s just two? Dr. Davenport, I must be sure!” Tara clutched the sheet into a knot.
"Yes. Only two.” Dr. Davenport patted the patient’s hand to calm her down. Tara reached up to grab Jimmy’s collar.
"Ok. That's it, Jimmy McFadden! You seemed blessed in producing multiple babies! The first experience was quite tough. Either I'm getting my tubes tied or you’re getting a vasectomy!”
Jimmy nodded, but grinned like a lunatic. Twins! Truly God had blessed them abundantly.

An hour later, they arrived home to their two story mansion in Chestnut Heights. Home to their exuberant teens: the fraternal septuplets, along with two other siblings, Tom and Aaron. The parents gathered the septuplets first for an urgent family meeting. The news hit like a grenade and they all had to make a comment about it.
Twins!” Matthew replied first in a high tenor voice. He ran a hand through thick brown hair, “Blimy! What news!”
"I can't believe it. Are you sure?” Tristan reacted next, wiping off his gold frame glasses. His dark eyes blinked as he tried to focus.
"Yes, son. Two babies. As clear as mud.”
"So are you excited?” Jamie tossed long brown hair over slim shoulders and plopped down next to her mother. Her long lanky legs tucked in behind her. She grasped her mother’s hand. Eric, her complete look-a-like, joined them too.
Tara studied them over. She patted the small protuberance beneath her shirt.
"It’s extraordinary news,” Tara replied, “I never thought I would ever have another child after Aaron was born. It’s been over fifteen years since I even took care of baby. At least this time around, your father is here to help.”
Broad shouldered Tyler patted his father on the back.
"Way to go Dad!” he said and Jimmy chuckled.
Vincent had sat on the recliner and relinquished it to Jimmy. He stared into his father’s eyes while toying with the long earring in his ear, “Now, we know fertility drugs made mom have us, but what about this? It must be a natural occurrence.”
“Well, when my father was alive, he had told me and my brothers about our family history,” Jimmy responded, “Supposedly there were twins down the line a ways.”
"So, it’s our turn? Jesus!” Tara yelped but smiled.
“Well, I think it’s a miracle,” Edward offered, cool and composed. He sauntered into the room munching down upon a submarine sandwich, “They came by chance and gave us hope at a pivotal moment of your relationship. I think they are a gift from God and I will not argue with the Almighty about circumstances, and neither should any one of you.”
Everyone stared at Edward as he turned towards the billiard room, never realizing he choked down the substance in his mouth in a huge gulp.
“Wow! What enlightenment! So on target!” Jamie acknowledged and jumped up to join him. They could hear her exclaim, “How did you come up with such a marvelous notion?”
The others followed along too, except for Eric.
"Something on your mind son?” Jimmy asked, almost visualizing the wheels spinning in his head. Eric’s emotions brightened up his eighteen-year-old boyish face, so much like his mother.
"This does seem miraculous. If Mum hadn’t been expecting, who knows where you two might be today, as you were both stubborn about making up. Yes, these babies reunited you for a common purpose: us! They came by chance and gave us hope. Yes, Edward is quite right.”
With this, Eric jumped up, gave his mom a firm kiss upon her cheek, and dashed off to join his siblings.
Tara looked at Jimmy then.
"Well, seven down and two more to tell,” she declared, knowing Tom and Aaron would be home soon. They might react the same way, bewildered, but accepting, "When Ross brings them from their uncle’s house, we can tell them then.”
"And that's not even half who must know. Wouldn't it be easier to plaster a sign in front of the house?" Jimmy exhaled.
"Aren't you happy, honey?" Tara asked, seeing the exasperation on Jimmy’s handsome face appear.
"Of course I am. It’s just sharing important news becomes a drawn out process. I tire of repeating myself, to our family and friends. There are so many,” Jimmy explained, thinking of everyone involved with his life: the office staff, his cousin, his best friend. Tara still had the Cross Family in the midst of hers who stayed involved because of Aaron Cross and the rest of the teens.
Seeing eyebrows rise, Tara found her niche upon his lap, a favorite spot. She stared deep into his brown eyes and tousled his hair in disarray, being playful.
"Look. Why not let the kids become our messengers? Things will spread like wildfire,” she suggested.
"O.K. Why not,” Jimmy wrapped arms around her tight. Feelings of happiness overflowed, especially ever since this catalyst reunited them into the same household, without the benefit of marriage yet. They had put the cart before the horse…again.
“Say, I have a thought,” he announced.
"What?"
"If choosing names isn’t too soon, Edward’s suggestion is a wonderful idea."
Tara crinkled her nose as she recalled Edward’s words.
"I agree darling,” she replied, happy they were almost telepathic, “Chance and Hope McFadden. It just says volumes, doesn't it?"

© by Christine Hill, 2009

Reflection: The fall season of my life

2009-08-23T07:30:00.006-05:00

With these dog days of summer, I'm looking forward to fall coming, whenever that may hit. I'm so weary of these constant over-100-degree temperatures that we've encountered this year. I think we've broken some record. Usually in my neck of the woods, here in Central Texas, a cold front might pass through sometime around or after Halloween. The way this month of August is zipping, it won't be long till we see Halloween decorations around the block. I would say in stores, but I was at the Dollar General the other day and they have already begun putting out Halloween stuff on the shelves. My eyeballs wanted to spring out, much like a buffoon cartoon character might while ogling some cute female. I went, "Wow!" but then I realized that the roll of holidays has begun. You know what I mean: Labor Day (Sept), Halloween (Oct), Thanksgiving (Nov.) and then the big one, Christmas (Dec.) And the older I get, the more faster these months tumble, like dice.

I am never ready for any of them. And I always seem to wind up broke before them or afterwards: buying decorations, candy, food, etc. Perhaps this year might be easier on my household. My youngest will be turning 18 in October and she's a senior this year. Kayla also is working part time and she can easily buy her own items instead of asking mama for some cash. Perhaps this year, I can stay home and pass out candy for Halloween. It might be a bit slow because the regular kids on the block are disappearing and older citizens are moving into those particular vacant homes.
It seems a bit sad somewhat, but then I realized I have lived through my own Halloweens as a child and then lived them through my children. Now my grand babies will stop by to show off their costumes. I will take pictures and hand them a bag full of candy each, but then they take off again and I'm left with the silence. Perhaps I've have entered the "fall season" of my life too. So odd to even think about it.

This past Friday night, my hubby and I decided to escape everything: ringing phones, any kids or their friends calling or stopping by, and just spend time by ourselves. We booked a hotel room at a local stop, which wasn't the Hilton nor a rattrap. Something in between and pleasant. We met up after work. I got to go there first as I'm usually off by 3:00 p.m. I got my hotel slide card, went to the room, and changed into a bathing suit. The pool was out back and I had the entire thing to myself. It was awesome and a bit lonely too. No splashing kids, yelling, jumping or flinging water at each other. No adults telling them to get out of the deep end. Perfectly isolated. The sky was blue, the water clear and cool. The sun was bright over ahead and I jumped into clear, sparkling water that felt great. I floated. I swam some laps back and forth. I sat in the sun for a bit and then dove back in. I think I was out there for about 90 minutes. Then I went back to my hotel room, as nature called.

My hubby arrived to the room. He drank a couple of beers and I drank a Smirnoff and we watched the evening news. We ordered pizza and then about 7:00 o'clock, we went back to the pool to swim together. Again, we were alone. I guess it could have been really romantic, but we weren't young folks trying to impress each other to get to bed. We were actually enjoying the buoyancy of the water and how it de-stressed our bodies. We appreciated the evening setting down upon us, with the radiant colors off a distant sunset. We talked about ourselves for a change and future plans to make more escapes. We went back to the hotel room to relax some more and fell asleep in each other's arms. Ok, maybe that part was a bit romantic, but I'll keep those details to myself. :)

Then the next morning, I made one last dip at the poolside. Again, perfectly isolated and refreshing! We left the hotel room and went out for breakfast and returned home. The surprise of the day was that my daughter had made plans to spend the night elsewhere and was nowhere in sight. The phone didn't ring but twice and we were left alone in the house, doing our own things, but together. We grilled chicken for supper and ate by candlelight. Just the two of us.

So as I reflect this Sunday morning, I'm thinking two things. How we must all progress past that ritual of raising kids, the hoopla that they bring into the household and prepare ourselves for the next stage of life, an empty nest. One day, my youngest will be out of the house for good and silence will again come. What a transition for me, as I've been with kids the better part of about thirty years. But if I can have again real intimacy with my husband and we can gladly share time together, doing the things we enjoy, isn't this something I've earned? I am beginning to think so and I don't think this is being selfish. Personally, I can't wait to escape again somewhere, which I know will happen at the end of September as we are planning a week vacation by ourselves.

I think this fall season I'm entering, this cycle of life, will be refreshing. A time to reflect and savor, the good and the bad of my past. It's like feeling the cool breeze hit our face, lift our hair and perk our internal senses. We look to the future knowing our time is limited, but we appreciate what we do have now. And I do appreciate it. It's just that it might take me a time or two to get past feeling odd about it. It will happen soon enough. Like with everything, this too will pass, albiet a bit too quickly.

People and Websites needing your support

2009-08-11T08:34:00.007-05:00

Every so often, I come across fowards or information that touches my heart. They are so deserving of a response. I hope you will consider these:

From a friend on Cafemom:

"I am trying to help a Mommy with stage III cancer. Please read!"

And then click here to Vote. Thanks.

From Author Yolanda Renee (Murder, Madness, and Love) who hosts BookTalk on the BlogTalkRadio Network, mentioned these charities needing your support.

Books for Soldiers

The Process:
1. Join the Forum – Meet the troops; get a user ID – which is needed to use the message boards. To become a guest all you have to do is register – create a username, give an e-mail address for contact, and a password; then complete the form. Look for an activation email that the system will send you. You will need to reply to it to complete the registration.

2. Become an Official Volunteer – To provide more security for the troops they require volunteers to fill out a notarized application and mail it in. It’s a simple process but does require notarization. Remember folks nothing is more important than the security of our troops.

3. Get to Shipping – Once your application is approved, you will be able to send troops books, DVDs, games and relief supplies. You will also have access to the Pen Pal area and Post Card Jamboree. On average volunteers, fill over 1000 requests a month. Get started today and get your company, civic group, or place of worship involved with supporting the troops!

Click here

The second is: BOOKS FOR BOOTS – B4B:

BOOKS FOR BOOTS partners with authors and publishers. Authors donate their royalties and authors donate books. The money goes to the VA hospitals where it is used for special needs and emergencies. This can, in some cases, include helping families with travel costs to make that bedside visit.
The books go to the vets in the hospitals.
This program, launched in June 2007, is part of a nonprofit 501 (C)(3) corporation founded in 1984 and the founder is Rick Gelinas, author of THE VENGEANCE TRAP. Click here

The third option is: SHADOW FOREST AUTHORS:

The mission at Shadow Forest Authors – SFA – is to encourage every author worldwide and from every genre to donate just one copy of their title to fill a void in reading material and get both paperback books and e-books where they are urgently needed. Author and supporters standing together to make a difference, our humble shadows speaking volumes.

What do SFA Authors and Supporters contribute?
SFA authors donate a copy of their title to SFA beneficiary, who places books in much needed hands. Authors do not have to list with SFA to donate books. SFA would appreciate you adding a note to a beneficiary, acknowledging that you support SFA.
Everyone can help not only authors but also readers – check out the site and find out how! They also have a newsletter but more importantly, they have a list of beneficiaries all over the world:
The Australian Literacy and Numeracy foundation – Australia
Got Books – USA
Book Aid International – UK
Adult Reading Assistance Scheme – New Zealand
World Public Library – USA
Read Between the Bars – USA
The Women’s Prison Book Project – USA
Mission Australia – Australia
And many more!
Click here

PLEASE FOLKS – CHECK THEM OUT!

Goodbye Mr. John Hughes and thank you

2009-08-07T04:34:00.009-05:00

Yesterday,sometime in the late afternoon, I read that John Hughes had died. John Hughes- a name so familiar to me, a guy who made movies that were so on target about young people. Boy, did I have MIXED feelings on this. Yes, the guy stayed seclude, so I wasn't even sure what he looked like. He wasn't a guy out there in the media, say like Steven Spielburg. I know that guy's face.

No, John Hughes's private life was private. However, the movies that came out in the 1980's were awesome! Every time television shows reruns of Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, Uncle Buck, Ferris Buehler's Day Off, or even Home Alone I have to stop what I'm doing to watch them. And although I can't recall every single line from them (although snippets like "Buehler....Buehler...Buehler" rings in my ear...)... out of The Breakfast club came a terrific 80's anthem song. Come on. I know you have it in your head, so sing it, "Don't you forget about me!".... by Simple Minds.

What a DAMN GOOD song! Awesome! Every time I hear it, I think of The Breakfast Club and what it meant to me at the time.

And Molly Ringwald, James Spader, Jon Cryer, Andrew McCartney, Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson, and that skinny dude that wound up being an absolute hunk when he grew up.. Anthony Michael Hall. ..were all incredible young actors from our day. And they are still incredible actors!

So his talent shined so bright for awhile and will always remain with us. Unforgettable. So rest in peace, John Hughes and thank you for writing so damn well.. your scripts were dead on about the incredible peer pressure / teen angst of the 1980's and there will certainly be no other writer/director like you again.

Tune in by clicking here:

I felt insulted at the Senior Student Orientation

2009-08-04T19:07:00.005-05:00

Today I had to take my daughter for her school orientation. You know.. where they buy t-shirts, pay for lunches ahead or get the forms for the free/reduced lunches, pick up their schedules, get information as needed for the upcoming year. Sounds like something geared up for an upper elementary student or for a new high school freshman. Nope. It was for my high school SENIOR.

I was coerced to sit down and listen to a speech about not bringing electronics to school (cell phones, ipods), the current dress code, the recent school scores in the state, how the normal booklet of school policy would now be on line instead of handing them out, (saves paper you know... and they should have thought of this about five years ago actually) ... Oh! and what to expect for the school year and how to prod your darling child to make that next big step: COLLEGE!

The counselor dribbled on about this for about twenty minutes. Nothing new that I didn't know. I liked how she threw in personal stuff, as if it was to gloat about herself: Oh, my daughter had considered TX A&M, but she was a MUSIC minor.. and they don't offer it there.. giggle, giggle.. and without prompting from me.. she did pick out a very good school!" Well, mama.. you make good money as a counselor. I would expect her to go to some IVY league school. Then she goes into this spiel about financial aid.. and if there were average students (like my child) that they should, at the very least, apply for help because there is such a thing as the college work program, where they'd be making money to go to college. No duh!

I found her speech a bit insulting. All scholarships it sounded was just for those elite upper students, whose parents already make gobs of money and can already AFFORD to send their kid to college without a scholarship.. but yet my bright kid, who didn't choose her family or the fact that her mom gets by paycheck to paycheck, only might qualify for a work program. Why? Because if she does end up applying for such a thing as a PELL GRANT.. they will say that mama makes TOO much money. How do I know? Because my son just applied for such help and that's what the financial people told him. He would have to get a LOAN to go to school. The type you pay back when you get out. Or however that works.

I'm sorry. I think there is something fundamentally screwed up with this system somehow. Ok, yes, bright students work hard for the opportunity to go to college, but her insinuation was that scholarships are usually awarded to those special good looking, already rich, pat-ya-on-the back students born with spoons in their mouths. Maybe not. Maybe I got this whole thing wrong. I just know I was fuming when I left the room. I was already steamed up having to be there in the first place. I had to leave work and go with my daughter just to listen to this high paid school counselor because it was mandatory! Ok fine. I had listened just to be insulted. Not a good feeling and my finances are one that can't be helped. It was just the way my life evolved.

"That's ok baby," I say as I pat my daughter on the back and urge her along to get the textbooks, and the schedule change form, " we will get you there one way or another. "

Damn right!

Scattered thoughts

2009-07-26T11:14:00.009-05:00

Things are still a bit scattered at my house, including my brain. The last of my month long German visitors departed on Saturday morning, taking a domestic flight at 8:25 am from the DFW airport to Detroit, where she would make her boarding to Frankfurt, Germany. I will miss Katrin, my daughters three year pen pal, who was lovely, sweet, and who will always be missed in my home. When I returned back to my place by Saturday noon, I felt exhausted and took a long nap. When I awoke, I went around the house picking up, and noted she had left behind the cute little cat ears umbrella we had bought her over the hot 4th of July holiday. Perhaps it was an accident, or perhaps it would not fit in her luggage. I had noted that Bernd had left behind his straw hat too. I suppose I could mail these off at a later time, but as I sit and reflect on things, they really didn't buy many souvenirs. However, they did take lots of pictures, and perhaps these are far more important to take back to Germany: their memories etched upon many photographs, of us.

I've been trying to catch up on emails and just getting my vacation brain back up to snuff, to blog, to write, but with the dog-days of extreme heat outside, I don't feel much energy. I sit at the computer and do my part on Cafe mom, where I'm a co-admin person. I assist on keeping up with our group posts, the daily questions, the journal challenges and such. It's fun, but if it requires much thinking, my heart is not willing. And it needs to be. Our fearless group leader, Susan, is taking off with her Marine hubby and son, to transfer to a new location in Japan. What a transition she will be making, but she will be without the internet for a month, and so leaves behind the posting to her co-admin folks. I don't mind helping, as our group, THE WRITTEN VOICE, is a lot of fun. Right now, it's the only group I belong to at Cafe Mom. If you'd like to join a non-judgemental writing group, who takes passion of writing to a fun level, then join us at: (copy & paste to your browser:) http://www.cafemom.com/group/45990/

I also joined another social site, called the Writers and Readers of Distinct Fiction and have made some fantastic connections there. The ladies are supportive and friendly. I'm still getting my feet wet there and soon enough, will have to join in the bandwagon of their contests, blogs, and such. I have posted a banner on my page if you're interested. Just be sure to befriend me once you get started. :)

In reading the internet news this lazy Sunday morning, I saw that Lance Armstrong took 3rd place in France. Way to go Lance! I've always been a fan of his, only because he has snagged that trophy prize 7 times. What a feat! To me, he is an inspiration, someone I look up to in hopes that one day I might get my physique up to standards such as his, or at least make an attempt. Bicycling is a challenge and it's my goal to take my bike out of the garage and actually ride the damn thing. Ok, my excuse right now is it seems too darn hot outside, but when I dropped by my daughters house yesterday and pulled into the driveway, some older man, wearing shorts and a helmet, struggled up the block on his bicycle. I could tell he was sweating and breathing hard and had a thick middle-section. Did I laugh at him? No. It just reminded me of how much I need to get off my lazy keester. So I now note an item on my hubby's to do list: Put air in the bicycle tires!! And on mine "Quit procrastinating! You gotta lose twenty more pounds by Christmas for Gods Sake!"

So perhaps on this blog my thoughts do seem all over the place. I have to get focused. So much I gotta do for myself and no one is going to get me there but me. Thank goodness, atleast in my book marketing efforts, I have made new friends on line to help me along and that's a huge plus. So forgive me if my thoughts here are so random and not on target. So much has been on my plate this past month.

But now it's time to set new goals and to get things lined up. August is almost upon us and my guests have gone home. School will be starting up again. my last child at home will be a senior this year. I must get her ready for school and line up senior photos.

My 2nd daughter, Tracy, will turn 28 on the 10th of the month and I have to plan a party for her. In September, my hubby's is on the 19th and mine on the 28th, where I will turn 50. Yikes! But I know its coming and in thinking of my next decade, I must do everything to stay healthy, finish out my book series, and actually make some accomplishments to satisfy myself. God willing, the almight will help me move forward to do these things, and some coaxing from my friends and family as well.

My vacation trek in Texas

2009-07-15T18:30:00.015-05:00

I'm back from a week long vacation traveling about Texas. We left on Monday and didn't return until late Friday evening. We averaged about 1000 miles round trip, going to Galveston, cutting down to Aransas Pass/ Corpus Christi, skirting our way to Padre Island, zigging across to San Antonio and then skipping through Burnett, Marble Falls, Johnson City, Fredericksburg and back into Bell county. Whew! What a journey. We checked out Joe's Crab Shack and scrunched down on some crab meat and shrimp. We ate fish sandwiches. We tried out Tai Food at a gorgeous restaurant in Corpus Christi. The owner of the place even gave us tips on how to cross into downtown Corpus right along the night time sea shore line. It was breathtaking. I thought we were going to stop and then I might had a chance to take pictures of the sites, but we didn't. But it's in my memory for my next excursion that way.

The kids had a blast. Bern and Katrin, my German visitors, were so impressed with the sites and especially in San Antonio as we walked along the River walk during the evening. The lights were beautiful, the food smelled terrific, the place was brimming with people on all sides. The Texas heat wave did little to stop us on our excursion. We had heard, while we were on Padre Island, that the coast line was having triple digit heat with it feeling like 112 on most days.However, when you are playing in the waves, you don't actually know it's that hot. There were parts of the waves that felt cold underneath the surface. Just awesome to play in.

We even noted some guy on the pier bring up a hammerhead shark on his line. The kids ogled over it and asked plenty of questions, like how big does it have to be to keep? Is it edible? What else can you catch in those waves? Hmmm. It still didn't deter them kids from playing in the waves again. I loved the sea breeze and watching all the people lay out in the sand, play on surf boards. I was a big kid, rolling like a tumbleweed amongst the hard waves. What fun. Of course, when I did it in Galveston, some sand decided to become play dough within the liner of my swim suit. it didn't want to come out!! but Thank goodness, there was a grocery store next door where I acquired a pair of scissors to cut into the liner to get that sand out of my suit. I had to do it, because I knew i would be hitting the clean water swimming pool later that day.

Ah, what exercise I got out of this vacation. I swam and walked and walked and walked. My poor calves were sore on this trip. I think I did great with exercise considering how often we were stopping at Sonic for ice cream treats, the fast food restaurants for fast eating along the miles, and of course, the cool wet drinks that we drank down as well. I only gained one pound on this trip! Hooray! And I actually managed to swim more than I ever had done in quite awhile. Those who know me well understand how my very flat feet will cramp up under such duress of swimming exercise after an hour or so, but after a couple of days of frolicking in the water, my feet persevered! And now I can't wait to go dive into a pool again. All that activity and site seeing was quite exhilarating.

I finally got to visit the wineries in Fredericksburg. Bern has been everywhere and here is this little German community just an hour away from me. He was amazed that I had never visited it before. Yes, he has definitely inspired me to start saving my pennies to get to traveling more. There is so much to see in Texas and I haven't seen a fourth of it yet. And i was BORN here! Here is this German citizen who has visited almost every nation next to Germany and has gone to Hawaii, and the little islands near Taiwan. I don't recall the names of them, but he could describe the foods, the people, and the geography. He's been to England, Paris, and up to the Netherlands. He speaks German, Indian, French, and some Spanish. he is constantly studying language books. This guy is impressive, but is so sweet and humble and easy going. He promises if my family ever do make that trip to Germany that he will show us the nearby places. I can't wait to go there. My daughter Tracy was born in Augsburg back in 1981 and I want to show her the hometown. I want to visit the castles in Germany and see England and Paris. Yes, I will definitely need to acquire my passport and save my pennies. It's my hope I can take this trip with Kayla and Tracy and my hubby Bruce within the next three years.

However, now that my whirlwind vacation trip is done, It's also good to be home again, with such great memories from my trip. It was good to come home to see my eldest daughter, Lori, waiting for my return; who had travelled with my hubby down from colorado while I was off site seeing. She's here on a more permanent status and that's ok with me. I'm glad to have all my kids in the same vicinity. It's been a long time coming.

However, with them all here, and almost all grown, they are taking turns on picking on their mom about things. I so noted this during our barbecue the other nite! Guess that's the cycle of kids/parents in reverse. Ok, now.. I'm not that old yet and still have a mind of my own. :) I'm still independent minded and want to do my own thing. I'm not ready to be coddled by them yet, for goodness sake. I still want to get out there and LIVE! yee haw!! :)

Ok....So I posted pics from my trip on my page. It was hard to decide which one to place on here as they all turned out well. Enjoy.

Sadly, my friends from Germany will be daparting home soon. Bern on Saturday and then katrin, on the following one (the 25th). I hope they will take back good memories from their stay with me and my family. So far, Bern has taken several cat naps, eaten plenty of barbecues, and drank my world famous margaritas! He's played with my Chihuahuas's and kittens and cats, and endured the kids/teenagers who invade my house on a constant basis. Of course, Katrin has had a blast too, going to the mall, hanging out with Kayla and friends, but she's use to this, as she was our exchange student for three weeks last October. I know she'll be sad going home again. I think they will both reminisce about us in the future with the kindest thoughts. It was a great way for my family to be ambassadors for Texas and the US, to show good will by hosting them in friendship. Such an opportunity, but in all actuality, it is I who has been lucky to know them and to have them here in my home. Because in the end, they are now more than friends to me. They are part of my family, forever. And that's an optimal memory to cherish always.

2009-06-27T00:07:00.004-05:00

Two persons from my generation have recently passed on. Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. While everyone knew about one's brave battle over cancer, the sudden heart attack of a pop king took everyone by storm. Still, these two individuals faced fame from two different walks of life. Many people have opinions about them. To each their own, but for now, as I turn fifty this year, I want to stop and reflect upon them as I did when I was a teenager.

I watched in awe of Farrah on Charlie's Angels. She was the "IT" girl, with beautiful hair and long legs. She was a natural beauty and seemed like a pleasant individual. I recalled as the years rolled on and her looks somewhat faded, what a bad rap she began to recieve. Through her fight with cancer, we saw her bravery and even if her life with her family was turmoiled with secrets, with Redman's jail time and Ryans constant battles with his kids, she still was a beautiful woman within. She deserved to go thinking her son was in "rehab", so she could go to her final resting place in serenity. God give you plenty of it now, lovely Farrah. So for all eternity, rest in peace. And I will always remember your beautiful smile.

Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five burst into my young life when I was in elementary school. Even though ABC and Mama's Pearl were the popular songs, I recalled spinning a B side of a 45 in my room. I became entranced with the soulful voice of Michael Jackson, belting out "Whose loving you." I played it over and over again. I remembered my freinds and me having an opportunity to play the radio during a lunch recess. "I want you back' came on and instantly we danced and clapped along. We even tried to sing the song.

As the years went on, we saw the transitions in Michael, in his music, his life, in his physical attributions. Many called him a lunatic, some mad man who wanted to be white, but he ailed from a skin condition. then we watched the trails of the molestation accusations. The woman who claimed Michael abused her son seemed just as wacky on stand. Who knew the truth? All I know is that I felt so appalled and sad about what the publicity that ensued over him after that. Was he just an innocent soul who got messed up pretending he was still a kid?

So many people came out to give him tribute after the news of his sudden death. People from all walks of life and from everywhere. I was amazed at the outpouring. My hope is that this generous spirit won't leave if his three children need something along the way. What is their fate? Is their any money left to support them? Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if all those people in England didn't ask for their refund back on the concerts he had planned in July? He obviosly wanted to make some to save face, to save himself, to earn money again. If he had remained an ordinary man on the street asking for help, would one give it to him? I wonder.

Tonight I listened to a compilation of songs he did over three decades. Astounding music. I sat in my chair, bobbed my head, snapped my fingers to Bad, Billie Jean, Thriller, and just absorbed whenever he sang a melodic song, like Man in the Mirror, or something poignant and stirring, like You're not alone. The man had absolute talent and in spite of what was portrayed in his public life, in music, he was blessed. Very blessed. He was definetely King of Pop.

So rest in peace Michael. I will always cherish my LP Thriller albulm and all the memories of your moonwalk, your white glove, and the fantastic moves you displayed in your dances.

Organize to build up your social network and recognition

2009-06-20T05:41:00.005-05:00

I'm the type of person who seems to collect things, like stacks of magazines, old mail, oodles and oodles of information and recipes I've found in random places, that could help me as a writer or as a cook at home. Both are my favorite hobbies.

But I fail at always keeping things organized. I was perusing back through my long "collection" of old email in my inbox, wondering which I should discard and which I should save to recall the valuable information tucked on someone else's website or links. There is a lot out there and many authors have found new avenues of social networking. I'm always impressed with how they have acquired all of their new friends/fans/author support. And then I feel jealous of their popularity. I want the same for myself, but how do I achieve this?

One author claims the social networking is a valuable tool. You got to nurse it along, build upon the contacts you make, keep pumping up what you've got available. It makes sense, doesn't it? Instead of pumping out your money on bookmarks, t-shirts, or entering book contests. It's the people out there who stumble upon your website, the friends you make during this process, who will end up supporting and buying your books.

Since I'm such a collector, I realized how organization is also key. For me, I will have to dedicate a whole day to weed through each old email and pick out the websites recommended, get a list of the people who follow them, and also get a separate list started of my author friends, and of those, who in the past, I have offered a "free" pdf file or actual book. Then put these lists down into a safe place for quick access, like in an index box, in order to keep the communication flowing whenever I release future projects or to share press leases or interviews.

It won't be easy, because as I scroll down my emails, there is a lot there, but to build up my own network of readers and author friends, I must keep communication flowing, to make them feel recognized on the other side. Only then, I feel reciprocation in kind will be achieved. And it's always wonderful to be recognized somehow, isn't it?

Any tidbits of advice or comments are always welcomed here.

Why not the simple things?

2009-05-28T10:20:00.001-05:00

I've been off work the past couple of days, mostly because it happened to be my 3rd anniversary on the 27th. My hubby and me always try to take some time off just for ourselves, whether we go off somewhere romantic or not. Of course we try to do something fun, but economics lately doesn't help. Still we do things we enjoy, like barbecuing or fishing. Or just watching movies together. The point is spending quality time, right?

Anyway, I also got a little time in to catch up on reading, in books or seeing what's on the Internet. I'm a big fan of looking at stuff about celebrities. They live such an alternative lifestyle than from most average Americans like me. I came across a little blog the other day about the type of theme birthday parties they throw for their children. I believe Suri, Tom Cruise's & Katie Holmes' young daughter, just celebrated turning 2 years old and OMG! Her birthday party cost over $10,000! I could not believe what I read! And it seems to be the thing for these popular celebrities to do, just throw out huge sums of money for the kids and mostly for their posh friends!

Then this morning, on the CBS morning show, they were talking about how certain types of cell phones come with baby rattle sound effects, soothing music and sound effects, and can even be used to teach your child to spell, etc. You just give them the cell phone to play with and it would entertain them for hours! see info on gadgets here. http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/052809_natali.pdf

Well, I dunno about these trends. I think if you hand over a high tech gadget like that to a child, it doesn't teach them the value of respecting mommy's property. I have an older cell phone that doesn't do much, but even I still have problems relinquishing it to my teenager to use once in a while, because it cost me to get it in the first place and to pay for that service every month. When my daughter has lost a phone in the past, I give her a huge lecture about keeping up with her things. That's its not cheap to fork over $50 in order for her to get a replacement phone. So why do these parents think it's neat to let baby handle their cell phones like its a toy? Just to play with the sound effects to lull them to keep occupied? I think there's something wrong with this concept, somehow. Granted, maybe for a few minutes, like you're at the grocery store and trying to check out, might you hand over the phone to keep the child amused for a moment or two, but still you must teach that child to value your things.

And what about those huge parties? I am all for having them with a theme, because they can be very cute and memorable, but I don't think a party should be over $10,000. Nor do I think they should go over $100. I believe birthday parties, for a young child, should be personal, with immediate family & friends gathering to celebrate. When a child enters schools and has new friends enter their lives, then the birthday party can be for them too. Let them play in the yard, play pin the tail on the donkey, take them to swim park if its summer time, or a game zone at the mall if they are a bit older. Serve cake, punch, finger foods, and give a little gift bag with simple things like toy figurines, puzzles, crayons, or candy. I was flabbergasted to read that the little goodie bags the celebrities were winging out there had Ipods in them along with other expensive novelties, mostly for the adults who came to the party. They had customized cakes, real ponies to ride, actresses hired to portray Disney characters, etc. Wow! No wonder the cost of these parties added up, especially if they were throwing it for the adults as well.

I could never do that, but of course, I'm not a celebrity. Still I wonder what it teaches these kids in the long run, if they do this same thing every year. Wouldn't they grow up expecting a blow out from now on? I think there is still something magical about an intimate gathering of family and friends. The conversations are heart warming as they might reminsce about the day one was born, or some cute little thing done as a child. Isn't it the value of family and love that really counts and not the need to go over the top just to impress other people? What do you think? Shouldn't all this be about the simple things in life?

2009-05-14T18:26:00.006-05:00

Finally! I have succeeded publishing my sequel, Falling For Her Heart, through Createspace.com. There were some editing processes I could not figure out how to correct. By the final proof, I decided that my readers would be forgiving of these tiny inperfections that are hardly noticeable and do not detract from the reading pleasure. I'll post a link to Amazon. They are still updating the book info so there is no book thumbnail of my cover yet, but you can order the book.

If you want a signed copy of this by me, please email: chrisshill@rocketmail.com

Falling for Her Heart covers the reunion of Jimmy and Tara, who were unwittingly separated in their teens. Now successful adults what happens when two different lives collide and they discover that desire still lingers, even after all the years? Even more miraculous is that Jimmy is a father-one of three men to claim that status to Tara’s special brood- and he never had a clue! Even with her secret out, Tara feels conflicted whether to let Jimmy back into her life, when there are other men who want her too. She’s too busy to think, with an upcoming concert debut and a family wedding to attend, yet the septuplets know the truth and want to know their true father better, even if bringing together two households puts their parents in danger from old lovers scorned. With the help of the Cross Family and Jimmy’s roommates, they embark on a journey of self-discovery whether true love can overcome obstacles and unite them all as one family.

ISBN 1440473986
EAN-139781440473982

Excerpt:

"Ladies, excuse the interruption, but I came to grab a couple of soft drinks.”

Michael opened up the refrigerator, took out two cans, and then before departing, he stopped by the table to offer Anna a kiss on the forehead. Michael whistled as he went down the hallway, obviously a man quite in love. Tara sat down again, wishing for someone like him.

“In spite of these crazy fears, I do need romance and companionship again. It’s times like these when I miss Danny so much. I miss that sort of tight intimacy that we shared."

Now tears sprung to her eyes and fell down her face. She looked at Anna with a far away look in her eyes. Anna nodded compassionately, now understanding her worries.

“Oh, Tara, you’ll find your match made in heaven. Maybe it will be with Jimmy.”

"Really? Well, Jimmy and I were once so much in love, but we faced so many obstacles. I sometimes wonder what has transpired with his life. Is he over me? Is he happily married? If so, then what would be the point?"

Anna squirmed and she patted Tara’s arm.

"Actually, Tara, this may sound coincidental, but I happen to know him. Not extremely well, but just enough to help fill in the gaps."

“Why didn't you say something sooner?" Tara gasped and leaned forward to listen.

"It struck me like a bolt of lightening when you revealed his name!” Anna admitted, “We worked together before I went to England, on a few productions. So, I can understand the source of your attraction. Underneath that cool persona is a very devoted person.”

“What else, Anna? Tell me, please. Is there more?”

“Jimmy is the gentleman I mentioned earlier today, from the Spoonts Foundation, the one dating that obnoxious woman. I don’t know the full extent of their relationship, but I could speak to his secretary, Brenda Lambert, for information. She’s a good acquaintance and would share discreet information if asked properly."

"Does Jimmy seem in love?" Tara suddenly felt out of sorts for being too curious, even if she had always been cursed by such a need to know everything. Anna studied her face, looking for clues to the question and Tara wanted to be honest, "I need to be prepared for what to expect."

"I'm not sure, Tara. Jimmy is a composed soul, especially when that woman demands a lot of his attention. If I were he, she’d be sitting on the side of a curb. With what’s come to light, you must see him, somehow. After today's discussion, those kids will be ever so determined to meet the man and he will not be prepared. Things can get complicated if that woman is around.”

"Yes. You are right. However, the preparations for the concerts should distract them for awhile."

"That is wishful thinking, my dear. Once they get an idea in their heads, they finish the deed quickly! After all, they persuaded you and Ross to come across the ocean, remember?" Anna retorted and shrugged her shoulders, "They are destined for mischief and adventure. In just this short time being under my own roof, even I can see that!"

Tara sighed and felt overwhelmed. How could she speak to Jimmy without putting the man into a tizzy? Even worse, how could she prevent any strife with Ross? She had to stick to her guns or Ross would never find true happiness, in spite of their fairy tale world on stage. No point in wasting any more time hitting him with the God awful truth of her feelings. Again. For the fourth time of their lives.

Copyright © 2009 by Christine Hill

Author on the Rise: Kimberly Garrow

2009-05-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

CaféMom is one of those unique social websites that I have found to be an outlet for my writing muse. Through it, I have experienced the joy of meeting new friends, active women who come from all walks of life, who share a common bond of being involved in their interests, work, family, church, or children. The best part is when one stumbles upon someone's profile, you get real glimpses about them, the person behind their profile names. One such profile had a terrific mommy blog blossoming in abundance of great wit and story-telling. And she had comments about them. Tons of them! Ok, I might be exaggerating, but she was getting through to people.

It belonged to Kimberly Garrow, a wife and stay-at-home mom with six beautiful kids, ranging from 3 to 13. She once was a teacher before the children came along, which I think somewhat prepared her for the onslaught of chaos active children can bring. Through them, she also found an outlet to relieve the common stress of each day, her writing. I'm so thankful that she is shares so much with her readers. I akin her writing style similar to the likes of Erma Bombeck. It has depth, wit and a sense of now. Her stories draw you into her world right along beside her and you can't help but nod along to everything she writes about from home. We've all have been there, done this/done that and feel like she's our sister sharing her heart.

So I'm most happy to present our impromptu interview on my blog. If you haven't picked up her newest book, "A Mother's Journey: Through Laughter and Tears", then click on the picture sidebar right now to get your copy. Soon you'll be smiling and nodding right along too.

CH: Kim, welcome. I am most thrilled every time to read along to a new post on CafeMom. The stories are funny and fascinating. I know that everything has its beginnings and I am sure your journal did too. Can you share how this came about for you?

KG: Well, I suppose I could tell you about the voices in my head that kept demanding to be heard, but...Seriously, I am a writer, through and through. I see each day as a page in my book of life. My children fill me with such inspiration (and a desperate need for therapy on most days!) that I feel compelled to let these stories out. Sharing my journal page is therapeutic not only for me, but it is also a way for moms out there to realize they are not alone; both with "feel good" mothering moments and those other times we would rather wipe clean away from our caregiver resumes. I originally was writing my journal simply for preserving my own Mommy memories, but now I feel kind of like the poster child for mothers everywhere. I love to hear how my stories have made my audience laugh, smile or touched someone's heart. I am constantly amazed at the life that my journal page has taken all on its own-thousands have flocked to my pages! Gosh, if each of these moms bought my book I might truly be able to send my children to college someday...

CH: What prompted you to finally publish your stories and how has that experience been for you?

KG: It was Mommy peer-pressure that was the central driving force behind publishing "A Mother's Journey: Through Laughter and Tears". At this particular season in life I was completely filled with my world as a Mommy; my children my true inspiration. You see, each day there were mothering moments that I preserved in my heart-still are. Unfortunately, as time goes by those memories fade or can be all together forgotten as newer memories are formed. I had discovered though, that my own remembrances of motherhood had been triggered by tales from fellow moms and vise versa. Motherhood was universal because we have all had similar parenting moments; the first discovery that you are carrying a new life, the anticipation of being a mom, those sleep-deprived days as a new mother, the countless times we question if what we are doing is right. The entire journey of raising and molding our children into the future adults they will become. The overwhelming pride and love we feel when our name is called out-MOM! We as moms have all been there-done that! I hoped through my writings that I could be a catalyst to my audience-the water priming the well to all those moments lost or simply placed on a shelf somewhere in time. I wanted my readers to be encouraged, even on those days when they felt like a failure as a parent. I wanted them to be able to laugh at life's little "tragedies" and cry at those precious moments that we all hold in our hearts as moms. Most of all, I wanted my audience to rejoice and remember what a special gift we have received through the blessing of our children. The entire experience of "giving birth" to my book has been amazing; it truly was a labor of love!

CH: Marketing a book is hard work. Fortunately for you, the readers of CafeMom can spread news about your book easily, as you constantly post new topics. What other avenues are you seeking to market your book?

KG: I also am a humorist, inspirational writer for magazines and newsletters, as well as do speaking engagements for mothers' (women's) groups. I have done book signings, radio and media interviews, too. My favorite venue for marketing is simply being with a group of women, whether live or across a computer screen, who get a sense of "me"; audiences who I have made laugh and smile because of my words. Then they naturally seek out my book because I have touched their heart (and got them addicted to the crazy antics surrounding my Mommy world; filled with chaos and love!)

CH: Now that you have published your first book, do you think there will be a sequel in the future?

KG: Most definitely there is a sequel in the making! My children bless me with so much material to write about that I will never run out of ideas. Now if I could only increase the number of hours in my day I would be all set. Stay tuned...

CH: Are there authors or other mentors who have inspired your work?

KG: Ironically, I have often been compared to a modern day Erma Bombeck. I am completely honored that anyone would put me into a league with her. She was an amazing writer who brilliantly captured the humor in everyday life as a mother and at the same time was very poignant. One of my favorite quotes by her: When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." Words that I totally embrace...

CH: With such a busy schedule, do you ever have opportunity for "Just Me" time? What other interests do you have?

KG: Writing in not only my livelihood, but a passion that brings me great joy. In my free time (though those moments can be far in between times) I write, and read a wide assortment of books; once in a while I sneak a bath or some chocolate, praying no one finds me. I also enjoy traveling, spending time with family and friends, playing the piano, singing, watching movies...did I mention chocolate? I am highly involved in my church and MOPS (mothers of preschoolers); mothers are definitely my ministry. I also collect unicorns and carousels.

CH: You write with such pride about your children. If there was any one thing (or several) that your writing can do for them or for your entire family, what would it be?

KG: I hope that my writing can be a living legacy for my family; a written heritage that some day they can proudly share with their own children one day. I pray they would look back at my writing with a sweet smile or a laugh as they relive the moments that I chose to colorfully portray on paper, realizing I wasn't simply sharing embarrassing moments, but instead displaying a gift of my love to them. And if I make a lot of money off my writing ventures that would be a bonus; I could send the kids to college some day and a big screen TV would be nice...

CH: Your husband seems to be your strength as well as your supportive partner of your endeavors? Do you think he has any advice or funny tidbits to share with Dads out there?

KG: I'm sure he would say, "There are absolutely no cobwebs covering my wife's imagination...our house is another story, however!" My husband must be applauded for simply putting up with sometimes less than savory conditions of the home front and no matter how engaging a chapter his wife created on any given day, you just can't eat it! Bless his heart for his patience and understanding about how important my writing is to me. I commend any other husband out there who is willing to give his wife the same freedom to pursue her passion.

CH: Any last advice for mommies or new writers?

KG: To all you Mommy Writers; do you realize the powerful tools you hold in your hands-paper and pen? You have the ability to inform, inspire, lift spirits, and bring about laughter and tears. Your words could literally change the life of a person or perhaps even the lives of many. Writing is a gift. My advice to you is write and make a positive difference in this world. What are you waiting for? Don't hold back your inspiration, don't live with regrets. If you believe in yourself others will soon follow. Make sure to make "you" a priority. I know it is not easy to balance the life of a mother with a writer's world, but if you want something badly enough you manage to find a way. If you are interested, I am the owner of a writing community for moms called "Mommies with the Write Stuff". It is a wonderful group for resources and encouragement for mothers who write-check it out!

(See link on sidebar)

Kim, thanks so much for answering these few questions. You are a super busy lady with such an awesome family. May God keep you and your family under his wing for decades and decades. Keep on writing as I always look forward to read what's happened next in your wonderful world of Garrow. If you'd like to catch a glimpse of Kim's blog, please click on the link on the sidebar.

Annoying phone calls

2009-04-22T15:11:00.002-05:00

Just passing on this information that I recently received via the Moms Blogs. I always get the one where they say that my car warranty is about to expire. Heh-heh. I own a 2000 Ford Contour and my husband drives an old beat up Chevy truck. Yeah, our warranties went out ages ago. Still whenever I tell that person to drop me off their phone list, they are a bit rude. Here's how to help you figure out whose behind those annoying phone calls.

EVERYCALL.US STOPS TELEMARKETERS!

It has happened to all of us, a telemarketing call during dinner,
but how do you get them to stop calling?

This website recently launched and is helping people stop telemarketing calls by identifying who's behind those unknown numbers. The free service works in
conjunction with data from the FCC.

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Please help us spread the word by letting your readers know
about the free service. Questions? Contact us at
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Lazy spring days

2009-04-11T11:59:00.006-05:00

Ah, spring. The time of year that brings pollen to the air, warm sunshine, and fresh stormy breezes to produce up those big thunderstorms. Some of my fellow co-workers have already complained about sneezing alot, itchy eyes, and sore throats as allergies kick in. I have to fervently remember to take an allergy pill once in awhile, but for the most part, I do fairly well as the climate changes. This time of year is also for planting tomato plants and flowers.

I've got a small area in my front lawn that the kids helped me with, a place for my bird bath and feeder. We planted three Lilly plants and other annuals there. Hopefully this weekend or next, my hubby will get around to putting up the timber border around it to complete the look. I also have to get onto him about doing a little pre-maintenance work to my lawn mower: get a new spark plug, fill up the gas tank and the gas container in the garage, and tighten up the nuts and bolts. It's an old mower, but so far has kept going. I like doing yard work and I like messing around with the plants.

Once the work is done, then I like to sit back and relax. This is the time of year I can actually catch up on reading, as I like sitting outside. Unfortunately it takes me away from the computer so I don't do much for my own writing efforts, but I hope the few writing groups and blogs that I belong to will forgive my lack of submissions. It's just too pretty outside and here in Texas, by at least May, it will begin to get hot. So while the temperatures are in the low 80's, I will enjoy being outdoors. I am waiting on my proofs to come back on Sequels one and two to my first book. If the 2nd sequel looks acceptable this go round, then it will be a go for publishing through CreateSpace.com. The 3rd sequel is my newest edited draft to review and frankly I think is the Best of all the books. The 4th sequel sits on my computer and needs all that editing, and frankly with the weather being so nice, I'm not in the mood to be glued indoors on my computer right now. I have time to get to it over the summertime.

I did go fishing recently. We headed to the lake a couple of weekends ago, where we finally managed to catch a few white bass. I even caught a semi-whopper, a weird fish, that gave me a good little mini-fight coming onto shore. It's a bony fish to eat, I hear, but you can eat it. I thinks its a Gasper or a drum fish.

And in between all this, we even started up a vegi-garden at my mother's place. So that means I'll have to run out there to weed and water it. I hope the plants do well, all those tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, onions, peppers, and garlic. We are due in for thunderstorms on Easter Sunday, but it will give the garden a good soaking.

I didn't do much for Easter this year. I only bought my grandsons those filled candy/toy baskets from the grocery store. This weekend was also my son-in-law's birthday, so they were concentrating on that family effort than Easter, which is acceptable by me. I told my mother I wanted to cut back on the expenses I rack up on each holiday. I'm always the one buying all the food/drinks and preparing the meals and I'm tired of it. Not to be mean to her, but I think we should concentrate on the major end of the year holidays, like Thanksgiving and Christmas. So for Sunday, I'll probably wind up baking a chicken and making a simple meal and take some over to my mom's. I mean, the weather is suppose to be bad, so there's not much sense in her getting out in it. She accepted my reasoning this year. I know that most folks go to church and all on Sunday, but we've sort of lapsed on going ourselves. Although I still believe in a higher power and give my prayers and thanks for my blessings to Him daily.

So that's my recent update and I'm fairly content taking some time to breath easy. I think its a way to refresh our energy, our souls, so when we come back to writing projects, we can feel invigorated to do it.

I hope everyone has a Happy Easter Weekend.

Author to watch: Deirdre Kelley

2009-03-01T20:33:00.002-06:00

In an effort to support my fellow authors- my friends who relate about the trials and tribulations of getting books noticed- I'm going to post on the sidebar a link to where you can buy their books. And perhaps get them to open up for an impromptu personal interview as well, but let's begin with the first author to showcase, shall we?

Let me say, its fun meeting other writers through other websites or writing groups. When the communication blooms and something warm and cozy builds up in your relationship, the spirit of support just quadruples. We are usually in the same boat, new authors swimming like little minnows in a huge ocean. Without support, we can drown or get eaten by a sea of bigger sharks that get tons more publicity. So why not spotlight a book if the message within is one worth sharing? Right?

My friend, Dee, is an exceptional woman, so it was easy for me to shine the spotlight her way. From the very first, she has always been warm and open about herself and her family. She's adjusted to many hardships, like a bad divorce, and being a single mother providing for her young troupers at home. Not an easy thing to achieve in these modern times, but with God's grace, she found true grit and perseverance. She had a strong upbringing about faith that helped her pull through difficult situations. In her debut novel, Peace In the Storm, she weaves a story about a woman going through similar hard circumstances:

"Amy Alexander's life changed in a way she could never have foreseen after her marriage ended. Fear became her companion when her ex-husband began threatening her children in a desperate bid for money to support his drug habit. While fighting emotional battles, Amy and her sons learn their strength is a prayer away. New relationships emerge and old ones are strengthened as they seek Peace in the Storm."

CH: Wow! The book sounds intriguing and exciting. How much of your own self do you put into Amy Alexander?

DK: I get this question anytime someone asks what the book is about. There is a fair amount of my experiences in this book. It’s what I have begun to call a “fictional autobiography.” I have three sons and I am also asked which of the two are in the book. It’s actually two sides of the same child that create the boys in the book.

CH: What inspired you to write? And how challenging is the book market in your efforts to publicize this book?

DK: I have wanted to write a book since I was a teenager, but I never thought I’d actually do it. I had read somewhere that a person has to write about something they know about. I know about divorce and single parenting so that part was easy. And my desire is that this book encourages single mothers and helps them find some hope in the midst of their despair. As far as marketing the book, it is extremely difficult for a new writer, especially one that has a tight budget. It takes time and money to promote a book, neither of which I have an abundance of. I have been relying on internet searches and good friends to help get the word out.

CH: How much of the book entails your own spiritual beliefs and if there is one strong message to share with the readers of this book, what would it be?

DK: My beliefs are deeply entwined into this story. Without my faith and God at my side, I don’t know if I would have made it and still have any sanity, or hair, left. For anyone going through difficult times, we have to put ourselves in his hands and believe that he has not just the capability but the desire for us to overcome and be strong in him. He loves us with an everlasting love even when we are at our worst and he doesn’t want us to stay in a pit of despair. He is our help in time of need.

CH: I'm sure you've grown in your writing skills since the conception of this book. What helps you to improve?

DK: I write a lot and share my writing with others. I consider their recommendations for improvement; they can often see what I’m too close to see as the writer. And I read a lot too, just for comparison.

CH: Any advice for the new novelists out there?

DK: Just write that novel and sent it out into the world. William P. Young (The Shack) is a new writer and he hit the bestseller’s list first time out. Not that many will have his success but you never know...

CH: Can we look forward to any future works?

DK: I’m working on a couple of things, not sure which one will develop into the next book. But I do plan on there being one.

I look forward to this. I do appreciate Dee for her participation in this impromptu interview. The goal is to push her books sales further along as she just got word from her publisher, Authorhouse, that the copies are shipping out great. So don't miss out on a story worth reading as she shares an important message. Buy your copy through the bookstore section at www.Authorhouse.com or just click on the book cover posted on the sidebar.

We both appreciate your support, so pass this on to all of your friends, to put this book on their reading list.

I got top hits on the Polkadotbanner.com

2009-02-09T17:59:00.003-06:00

Amazing to read that in the month of January, I got the top number of hits to the website, Polkadotbanner.com.

It took awhile to achieve this, but it has been worth it. I love this site. It's a great place to show off your book and help others promote theirs too. A shared interest to help each other market our product.

So stop by and read my interview. Leave a rating and a comment too. Tell all your friends to stop by and sign up to win books. Better yet, if you are an author or know of someone struggling to promote, tell them about the PDB and sign up for free if they want a trail basis. Its a fun place with good camaraderie and support. They won't regret it. I didn't.

Visit the link listed in the side column.

New book update

2009-02-06T21:26:00.003-06:00

Well for many months, I have edited and whittled down the bulk of the manuscript which is the 2nd sequel- or make that, part of the original content from Hostage to Her Heart. I've decided to not put it into any contests, although there are several going on, through the Writer's League and through Amazon (Breakthrough novel), associated with CreateSpace and Penquin publishers. The reason I'm not doing this is because I'm an impatient soul. I don't have the entry fees nor the time to comply to all their rules and regulations. I don't have time to be patient while they decide if my material is "good enough" to pass to the next round. I don't have time simply because this sequel has been sitting on my shelf for far too long, waiting to be sprung out to a few eager readers. Even better, the third installment is halfway edited too and I predict that I can have it out by summer.

So, I am very pleased with the story's progression and the few fans that I do have are biting at the bit for Sequel one and two to make their debut.

The second quandry I had was how to publish it. I had found Createspace a few months ago, but it had a difficult outlet to submit the work into a pdf file and to create a cover. Just recently, they finally converted their software to help the authors upload a microsoft word document and convert it into a pdf file and they also found a way for us to create very basic book covers. I am very pleased with their progression.

So I have the sequel uploaded and a cover ready to go. I was so proud of it, I had to show my youngest daughter- a fan of the first book. She crinkled her nose as she looked at the title I initially gave it "When Fate and Faith Collide" and the newest idea I had, "Totally yours: now, then and forever" She frowned even more. Her boyfriend said the second title reminded him of a porn book title. Not good!

What's wrong with the first title, I dared asked.

She then went into this speech about how most book series try to stay within a certain phrase or theme. Just like Twilight, the sequels were called New Moon, Breaking Dawn, and Eclipse- things related to the night.

Well, I didn't feel I could be as creative as some authors had been with their book series. What's in a title and how far should the wording be alike? So I played around with several phrases, something similar to the first book, Hostage to Her Heart. Finally, after much "heart" discussion about the total theme throughout the
2nd book, and checking it against a google.com search for like titles, we concluded with this one: "Falling for Her Heart"

I must say it does make sense. Jimmy McFadden, an old flame, comes back to life in this book and can't help but fall for Tara all over again, no matter what their history, no matter what comes up to upset their relationship. She feels the same way about him. So in that sense, I'm satisfied with the new book title.

Currently, I'm waiting for submission approval from Createspace. I need to update the title on their system too. After this process, I can order a proof- something concrete to hold in my hands to check it over for the final publishing. I must say that they did make this incredibly easy. Far cheaper than my first experience with Authorhouse. Now my dollars can go towards promoting both books and I can't wait to get started on this. With any luck, book two will bring in more attention. It's solidly written with more romantic elements to it. A real page turner, with all the drama and a cast of characters surely to please. It's my hope that this book will have my fans "Falling For Her Heart" too.

2009-01-25T10:39:00.001-06:00

2009, a new year to ponder over last year's mistakes and then figure out a new plan for myself, my life, and my book projects. Marketing for Hostage to Her heart on my own proved very difficult. Economy made a lot of suffer and I was no exception. Money was too tight to pour into contests or other promotional sites. Even my own health took a two month decline and I became this very sick puppy. By December, I really rethought a lot of things, sort of like soul searching. I came to the conclusion to not over push myself or my book. If success happens, it will come by reaching one reader at a time and if takes several years to accomplish that, then, so be it.

It's not that I wouldn't like to walk that success road, with interviews, advertisements, book signings. Who wouldn't? But my initial intent when I began this long manuscript was to tell a story that satisfied me- that I did it- and got it into book form. Yes, H2HH is in a book form, but it's not on the shelves at the bookstore nor at a public library. So hence, my new goal. Not with H2HH, but with it's sequel.

The Texas Writers League is an organization out of Austin Texas, close to my home. I've been a member for almost a year now, but I haven't done much with it, except to notifiy them of my recent book award and about my book. This spring, they are doing a manuscript contest that will afford one the opportunity to meet with an agent at their annual summer writers/editors/agents conference. This convenes in June, a month that will be exceptionally busy for me personally, as in my real job, I am scheduled to go to a 3-day conference in Colorado for Trauma and I am also hosting a former German exchange student and her dad for a month visit. They will come at the end of June, but I'm uncertain of the exact dates. So somewhere in the midst of this, I hope to win this contest with my 2nd manuscript, When Fate and Faith Collide (working title), in order to sit down with a real agent and pump up my book.

Actually the second manuscript carries on the characters from H2HH and its a bit more in contemporary time, with the same input of flawed characters we came to love in the first book. They are just older now and still doing a lot of soul searching themselves, about their love life and their families. I think that is the most selling part about my stories, the flawed characters. They look perfect, speak perfect... and sometimes their hearts are in the right place, but they make mistakes. They are human and even if the lessons learn from their mistakes are painful, sometimes they fall victim of repeating patterns. And this is what drives the plot, to which I hope, are great conclusions.

Anyways, I'm working to revamp this website to bring more of my writing here- for sampling, for feedback. If you happen to stumble by, it's my hope that you will leave me feedback, instead of just viewing and moving on, about the quality of my work. It's also my hope that you will come back often for updates. I want friends of my site, real fans that will tell others "she's an author to watch."

Yes, it's taking this one step at a time and it's work and a thought process. Just visit often, buy the first book, give me a much needed review. And wait for the second manuscript, because if I don't win, I will manage to self publish somehow. Just bare with me as a friend.

Finalist in the National Best Books 2008 Awards

2008-10-23T21:07:00.002-05:00

Well totally unexpectant on my end, but on Monday, I recieved a terrific email:

"SAVE THIS E-MAIL !
IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT LINKS AND
INFORMATION UNAVAILABLE ONLINE!

October 20, 2008

Dear Christine:

Congratulations!

The epic results are in for the National Best Books 2008 Awards!
Your book has been honored as a "Finalist" in the "Fiction & Literature: Romance" category:
------------------------------------------------

Hostage to the Heart by Chriss Hill

Finalist -- Fiction & Literature: Romance

------------------------------------------------

Your title will be listed live on USABookNews.com for an additional six (6) months (if your listing is pending, all books will be posted online by the end of October. You will be contacted via e-mail when your full-color listing is live.)

A complete list of winners and finalists in each category can be found at:
http://www.usabooknews.com/bestbooksawards2008.html"

I was absolutely astounded. My book, one of fifteen entered into this particular category, was selected as a finalist.

And then the email gave me specific links/ newsletters/verbage to use to promote my book. Needless, to say, I feel very honored and the best thing is that I get additional promotion for this saga/romance type novel. "

I feel exhilerated and just wanted to pass on the news.

Acceptance and Rejections

2008-10-16T18:03:00.014-05:00

These past few weeks have been exceptionally busy for me, with my daughter and our household hosting a German exchange student, Katrin. She came to Texas, landing first in Dallas/Ft. Worth and then drove on a student bus to our little town here in Central Texas. This fell on September 20th. We were terribly excited to meet her as my daughter Kayla had been penpals with her for two years. My daughter is the one with the dark hair while Katrin is blond.

The two became very fast friends and the time even went just as brisk. Before we knew it, the time came for her to get back on the bus to go to San Antonio, to tour for three days before departing back to Germany on Friday, October 17th. In hindsight, we got to do alot of things while she visited. We attended a couple of parties held for them at other host houses and we even had a chance to visit the State Fair in Dallas. That was fun, but costly! Whew! This was my first time there and probably will be my last!

We also got to know another German student who I swear has the same zany humor as Dane Cook. Ok, Leo doesn't exactly look like him, but he kept us in stitches whenever he popped over.

I hated to see both of them go, although they did state that they would come back to Texas on their own in two years. I do think they will, although I told them that I was not exactly rich, and not exactly poor, but humble in means. All considering, they may also revisit just because I seem to be "mama" to alot of my children's friends. We just bonded very well and I told them that I now considerered them my son and daughter for good.

I was blessed to have them come into our lives. I miss them now, even if they've only been away just a few days. It's our hope that Kayla and I will get to travel to Germany next summer, or atleast her. We'll see. First things first is to get our passports by January for sure! And then save money like mad to have a spending spree overseas!

In the midst of all this, I did get publicity for my book through USBookNews.com. They are advertising Hostage To Her Heart for three months and it's also a contender to win the category for romance, although there are atleast fourteen others who are competing as well. Hopefully, I can atleast get honorable mention, right? I would post the link, but it never works on this program. Just copy and paste this: http://usabooknews.com/fiction/romance.html

If I win, I'll get another six months free in advertising, if anyone notices out there!

So all of this was the plus side of acceptance, now for rejections.

I had sent out a query in hopes that someone would pick up my book, either the one published (Hostage to Her Heart) or the one I'm trying to publish, (When Fate and Faith Collide). It was a no go. I got this standard reply:

"I apologize for the delay in getting back to you. Thank you so much for submitting your query to BookEnds. While your work sounds intriguing, I'm afraid I just don't think it's for me. I wish you the best of luck."

Ok, That wasn't all the rejection I got. I had tried to get my book reviewed from another source. A travel blogger from Sweden of all places, agreed to read it over. So I sent her a copy of the book back in mid August and waited three weeks before hearing that she had lost the file. So I resent it. Then I got this note:

"Hope all is well. I'm sorry to say that I will not be able to review your book after all. I have too much going on in my life right now to being able to concentrate on reading and reviewing any extensive work. I understand that you're disappointed to hear this since I said I could review your book.

with your novel and future books and once again, I'm sorry for not being able to do a review.

All the best,

Erica"

So needless to say, all this rejection in my writing queries is really bringing me down! I feel like a failure! Luckily, I do have a writers group on Cafe Mom that I just love to particape in, so I decided to just give them a free read of my novel, for better or for worse. I mean, if I was given a free read, wouldn't I do it?

I have received one or two responses so far and the ones I did get like the book! I'm not done posting all of of my chapters. It is my intention that in mid-November to announce a contest. Fifty questions answered correctly about Hostage to Her Heart may win someone a gift. I have special ordered a cute hat to promote my book from Vista Print and I will get a Visa gift card and some goodies to put with it. Some lucky reader who finished the book read and get most of the questions correct will win it.

After all, these economic times are terribly hard on alot of people. Even poor want to be discovered novelists like me, but I thought the gesture would be nice to someone who gave me the time of day. We'll see how that pans out. If someone who doesn't subscribe to cafe mom wants to read it, you can go to this link (copy and paste on your browser):
http://www.cafemom.com/home/ladyauthor2b?acl=0

I'll list the attached questions if you'd like a jump start. See how good you do! Send me your results to chrisshill@rocketmail.com to be entered into the contest. I'll count you in if you say you read it on my blogger. OK? In the meantime, I'll keep doing what I do best, daydream and write. Hopefully one day, someone will appreciate my writing. After all of those free books I gave away, maybe one of them will give me a good plug somewhere. (Not counting you, Aimee! You're the best fan one could ever have! She even started a fan club for my book on Facebook! I'm so honored! I think you can go to the page here by copying and pasting to your browser: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=38517241647)

How well do you know Hostage to Her Heart ?

Answer these questions correctly and you will be entered into a drawing to enter a $25 gift card from Visa, just in time for the holiday season. Drawing will be made December 1st, 2008. After the completion of reading the posted chapters, send a message to me with your reply. Thanks.

1. Tara and Ross were born in what city?
2. The name of the state facility where they lived?
3. Give the first names of Danny’s siblings and list their occupations.
4. What is the connection made/revealed between Danny and Ross?
5. What was the warning given to Tara by Danny and Grams about Michael?
6. What were the names of the two homes in England?
7. What was the inspiration for the style of home where Tara and Danny lived?
8. Name one idiosyncrasy that Grams possessed?
9. Who was Henry and what happened to him?
10. What happened to the nun in the first chapter? Do you think she was real or
an illusion sent to change people’s lives?
11. What did the nun do to get arrested?
12. What did the detective discover about the pills that Tara took?
13. Tara dreams of a man while in New York. Who was it and where was he going
when it finally occurs in reality?
14. Who were the barmaids in the village?
15. When Tara discovers their actions, she realizes that she is selfish, but how
else did she see herself when she smolders over what she will do?
16. What were the first names of her first born?
17. What names did she give for the others born later on and who were they named
for?
18. What facial features did Ross possess?
19. What was Helen’s passion that she shares with Ross during his initial visit
to her home?
20. What secret did she reveal about herself to Danny during Christmas?
21. Why did Tara decide to marry Danny?
22. What city / country did Tara go by airplane to mend her relationship with
Danny?
23. Sammy usually enjoyed several things? Name at least two.
24. In the beginning, Tara noticed that Danny had one bad habit. What was it and
how did he always seem?
25. Can you name the maids that took care of Tara and her household?
26. What advice did Mr. Merten give to Ross in the beginning?
27. Who was the village gossip?
28. Danny’s younger sister claimed that he liked speaking Shakespearean
sometimes. Can you recall something he said that makes you think it true?
29. Can you complete this sentence: Once, Tara forgot to fill her prescription
as she didn’t think it necessary and the other time she what?
30. What did Jamie do as an infant that caught Danny’s attention to think she
possessed musical ability?
31. When Susan and Ross discuss Danny in Paris, what similarity to human needs
did he link their musical collaboration?
32. When the children learn to call out Danny’s name, what did they say and how
did it sound?
33. After Tara went to reunite with Danny, what reason did Danny give for coming
home again permanently?
34. What was the name of the landlady in Spain?
35. Name any country or region that Danny sailed to during this book?
36. What sum of money did Danny leave behind for Tara for a possible shopping
spree?
37. Can you describe Danny’s special role within his occupation
38. In the spring of 1982, what war did Sammy write about in his letter home?
39. What talent did Danny figure out that the children possessed and what did he
do with this knowledge?
40. In London, much later in their lives, Tara has a dreadful premonition? What
was it?
41. What tribute did she give at the awards show?
42. What was the name of the commander and his wife that Danny admired?
43. Matchmaking is a circumstance in this book. Name any one pair and the
consequences of their relationship.
44. Who is referred to as Superman and why? By whom? What were the circumstances?
45. Michael meets another American and is instantly intrigued. What was her
occupation?
46. What major decision in his life did she influence?
47. Christmas time is a holiday that’s mentioned over and over. Name one thing
that is remembered, or happens, or is wished to happen during this time.
48. What things did the children discover in the attic?
49. What idea did they spring on their parents?
50. What happened in front of the fireplace in the end? How does it make you
feel?

Bonus questions-

Name one moment in the book that really touched your heart or made you a bit emotional (upset, mad, skeptical, etc)?

What was your overall review of this book that you will allow me to share?

When a fan (friend) goes to bat for you

2008-09-24T20:44:00.001-05:00

For awhile there, I had been waiting for a review to come from Coffee Time Romance. A couple of weeks ago, I finally got it, from a reviewer named Krista. I had saved the link to share on my pages. Unfortunately, I did not save the content. The reviewer gave me a 3 cup rating. Based on their criteria, I fell right in the middle, not great, or best, and not the worst either. Her remarks made me feel a bit blue. I also began to wonder if she had, in fact, read the book all the way through. She had described my leading lady as being "enamored" with her husband, Danny, in the beginning, as he had swept her off her feet. Sounds romantic, don't it? But in fact, Tara entered into a marriage of convenience because she was pregnant by another man, who was long gone out of the picture. She married Danny to secure her future for her babies and nothing more. Yes, she did kiss him once, to give him confidance that she would follow through her "duties" as his wife, but she admitted to her best friend Ross, that her new husband would "have her body, but never would have her heart."

And thus came the unfolding of a difficult situation for a young, stubborn mother-to-be. She was sent across the ocean to begin a new life. Such strange circumstances and she had to remain bedridden because of risk to her pregnancy. Danny's brother visited Tara often and won her favor. Danny had an uphill battle to win back any feelings from his own wife and the prospects looked very grim.

Krista only described what happens in the middle as the "ups and down" of their marriage, never giving an inkling what any situation might be. She said the ending left her disappointed.

I, too, was sadly disappointed by her review, but I accepted it status quo.

Now, I have a rare fan and friend that I met quite awhile back, when this novel was still under the editing/critique phases. Aimee Linde is an author herself and understands the trials and tribulations we go through. Foremost, she is indeed a great supporter of this novel and of myself. We've always shared whenever we can links/webpages to help us as writers. So I desperately needed her opinion on this. So, I sent a copy of that review and of course, she emailed me back with her own comments.

"Is that reviewer an idiot? Did she really read the book? Doesn't she realize that Tara entered a marriage of convenience and doesn't love Danny one iota in the beginning?" Of course there were more comments and I did agree with her perspective and appreciated her candor. I had been in the mindset that my talent was mediocre and that this review was valid. I couldn't do anything more about it, but to be fair I posted the link to my websites.

However, I wasn't aware that Aimee took steps further. She contacted the website administrator and complained about the review. She gave them her piece of mind. They, of course, said they could not change the outcome. Aimee felt better that she had given them her viewpoints. She thought the matter was settled.

But last night, I got a call from Aimee, who was breathless and excited. She cried out in my ear, "Guess what! Someone else reviewed your book and you got bumped up in score! It's now posted on their website."

First of all, I was shocked to hear from her. Second I was shocked to hear her news. Third, I practically fell over in disbelief of what she did for me. The woman went to bat for me and struck a home run! What adulation and the best compliment in the entire world of her belief in my novel and in my writing. Ok, one adoring fan (and a terrific friend). How does one go about thanking such a remarkable person?

So thanks to her, my review is available on their website and it does, in fact, show that this reviewer "understood my book". What a blessing. She even sent me an email to update me on the link: http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/Hostagetoherheart.html

However, this time, I'm going to copy and paste what she said:

HOSTAGE TO HER HEART
CHRISS HILL
ISBN#: 978-1-4343-6044-1
April 30, 2008
Author House
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200 Bloomington, IN 47403
Paperback
$16.99
599 pages
Fiction/Romance
Rating: 4 cups

Tara Reece never had a family. From orphanage to orphanage the only constant person in her life was a boy named Ross Kelly. But she lost touch with him after she came of age for a few years. Tara became pregnant and the father was rushed off to another city and Tara is once again left lonely but also pregnant. Tara finds Ross, and he eagerly takes her in. Tara cares deeply for Ross like a brother, but he wants more. Tara has a dream of handsome man and it held deep meaning to her.

Daniel(Danny) Cross lives in England and is in the Navy. Danny always wanted a woman to love him and have a happy marriage. Danny never has been good with relationships and women seems he never found someone he felt was right. When he is sent to New York, he meets a very pregnant Tara and falls deeply in love. Danny takes Tara and Ross with him to England, knowing Tara would feel better with Ross with them.

Ross Kelly never had a family like Tara all they ever had was each other. Ross has loved Tara for a long time, but knows she does not feel the same for him. Ross thinks that Daniel is just what Tara needs. Ross never realized what the move would do for him. After living in a one-bedroom apartment and little money, Danny’s family helped Ross get started on his own career.

After Tara and Danny get settled in their own home, the problems began. Danny knew it would take a while for Tara to fall in love with him, but he believed with time love would surely come. But for a few years there is turmoil between them, even though Danny loves the children and still loves Tara. But years go by and Tara learns the hard way about true love, lust and life. With the help of a family, children and others maybe just maybe Tara will find true happiness.

This is a very emotional and heartfelt story. Exceptional characters and some important second characters are the foundation for this awesome tale. Deep set morals and values as well as commitment is prominent with these characters, it was hard to cheer one character on and not another. With plenty of life’s twists and turns, life and death this story is filled with every aspect of true life. An extraordinary read, just right for a rainy day.

Wateena
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books

Ah, now I have it. And I have Aimee to thank for this. You are a true blue fan and best friend and I'm so happy we hooked up back in the early stages of this book.

And by the way, the reviewer did say more, to me personally, by email:

A fabulous story, but I have to ask, are you going to write a story where Tara finds her love of life or are you leaving that to your readers to finish in their minds? Either way, it is a great story.

.... There is a lot I could not put in because of word count, like their career as singers, and such. And no she was not enamoured with Danny at the beginning, in fact when they got together he hoped she would feel like he did, she only did it for the children. But later she realized what she had, which I am really glad.... Anyway, yeah I am glad to see the story continue for her and I hope Ross finds happiness also.

Many thanks to her too. At least she got the story. Isn't that what counts? I think that's the most important things that a reviewer can do for an author. Pinpoint the parts that have meaning and those that didn't make the mark. That's what helps us improve.

This time I'm very happy with the 4-cup status. It atleast tells me that I did put life into an extraordinary story. Many kuddos to my friend Aimee, whose determination pulled out a miracle for me. God bless you.

Coffee time romance review

2008-09-15T09:39:00.004-05:00

http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/Hostagetoherheart.html

Not everyone gets this book, but I wanted to be fair and post this. If you have read the book and disagree, then please post a comment. I appreciate it.

REVIEW .. 3 cups:

Tara Reese knows she is pregnant and is not sure what to do. Her best friend, Ross is there to support her as best as he can. Yet when she meets a charming fellow Daniel, she is completely swept off her feet by him. Confused and unsure of how well she can do taking care of the babies with Ross, she accepts Daniel’s proposal of marriage. He has taken her heart and captivated it. Now leaving for a new place in England, can she keep her feelings strong for him?

This book is full of ups and downs. Unsure of how I would like this book, I focused on the book intently. Ms. Hill has a great way with words but sometimes the characters themselves are too flawed. I understand that love can surpass everything, but I was surprised with some of the events in this book. The ending left too many questions for me to be happy.

Krista
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books

The waiting game

2008-09-05T21:49:00.001-05:00

I've recently seen where a few fellow authors are recieving their reviews regarding their novels, some very well deserved for their products and their talent. I confess, that in the way that some can construct their words and convey their passion, they tend to leave me a bit in the dust. I'm still a novice to this writing game but I do feel that it's getting better. My second manuscript is complete and I'm currently giving it one more quick read through before I offer it for queries. To me, the writing is more active, more compelling.

However, my first novel, (print on demand through Authorhouse), is something I'm still promoting. Marketing on your own sure is hard work. I'm still waiting to get my own valid reviews on Hostage To Her Heart, something concrete to say "yes, Chriss Hill- you do have talent". It's not enough to get kudos from merely your good friends and co-workers. You need a non-biased overview of your creation.

There are a few avenues I have gone to get these done. It's just now I'm playing a waiting game to get them in. In all actuality, these should have been submitted way back in February or March, way before the publishing date, but I had no book agent in my corner to send these out; someone with knowledge on how this business is run. In hindsight, I see the errors of this.

How to remedy this with my 2nd manuscript? I'm actually quering an agency to see if they'll pick up my first book to represent, to seek a publisher for a broader distribution. I have told them that my 2nd manuscript is available, with two more on the wings. I have hinted that my platform is growing, as I've joined social blogs and writer groups to be active in their circles, to get my name/my book out there. If the agent sees I'm doing all I can to represent myself wholeheartedly, perhaps she will take a chance on a newbie, inspite of the minor blunders done with going POD with the first book. We all learn and grow from our efforts, right?

So now I sit for feedback. From the readers who have received free copies as a gift; from the reviewers who will give official overviews that have validity; and perhaps from an agent who is returning from maternity leave on September 15th. Hopefully I will recieve good news from all, that Hostage to Her Heart is a great read and that everyone will be anxious to pick up on the sequel, which I may name, When Fate and Faith Colide. Just a waiting game I'm playing now - a huge gamble on my future- but one I hope will pay off in the end.

To my fellow author friends who are getting feedback/reviews and are exceptionally pleased with the returns, I applaud you and wish you all continued success.

The First Year at School- A Perspective

2008-08-23T07:53:00.002-05:00

Author's Note: As many children go to school for the first time, it's also an emotional event for the parent. As the years roll along, and every fall a new school year begins, it causes us to reflect upon those days with our children. This story is inspired by a similar event by my first child attending kindergarten

The alarm bell rings loud and my daughter covers her ears. She doesn't like it. It signals change and change is sometimes scary. She dresses. She eats. She brushes her hair and her teeth. I urge her along as we must get moving to another destination. She stalls. She whines. It's something she doesn't want to do.

"But why, mommy? Do I have to go? " she cries and her face is glistened with tears running down her cheeks. Her mouth pouts and she sniffs loudly.

"Yes, honey, you must. Now, don't worry. This is a good thing and you'll be fine at the end of your day," I say, trying my best to soothe her woes. I wrap arms around her tight and bend down to her level, " I love you sweetie. Now, you be a big girl now. C'mon. You can do it and time will ease your pain."

So reluctantly she goes, into my Ford pinto, and we drive the equivolent of ten blocks. We arrive to a large brick building and she enters inside, along with all the other children her age, entering kindergarten for the first time. She tugs on her backpack to adjust it before going in herself. She turns to wave and I feel a tug at my heart.

I think, yes, this is a good thing. She will learn from this experience. She will grow up a little inside and treasure the memories that this will bring. One day, she will see this is meant to be.

On a different day, we do the same:

The bell rings loud in the hallway and my daughter covers her ears. She doesn't like it. It signals change and change is sometimes scary. I urge her along as we must get moving to another destination. She stalls. She whines. It's something she doesn't want to do.

"But why, mommy? Do I have to go? " she cries and her face is glistened with tears running down her cheeks. Her mouth pouts and she sniffs loudly. Her hands clasp tightly to all her rewards received that long year, for improvement in writing, for good conduct, for perfect attendance.

"Yes, honey, you must. Now, don't worry. This is a good thing and you'll be fine at the end of your day," I say, trying my best to sooth her woes.

So reluctantly she follows me, out of the auditorium and onto the school lawn. My pinto sits along the curbside. The children rush out of the building. Summer waits, but my daughter pauses on the sidewalk and looks back. She adjusts her backpack and waves at a young, pretty lady standing close by, near the steps. Then all at once, my daughter makes a mad dash towards her and wraps arms tightly about her waist.

"Oh, Miss Tina, I'm going to miss you!" my daughter cries. The teacher smiles and places her hand over her heart. She bends down to her level.

"Yes, I know. I'll miss you too. But summer goes by fast and soon fall will come around again. You'll be entering the first grade and my class will be just down the hall. We'll see each other again. You can do this and time will ease your pain. Trust me."

"I do trust you, Miss Tina, and I'll always love you," My daughter says, embraces her once more, and then dashes back to me. I see the teacher wipe her eyes as my daughter waves madly to her as we pull away from the curb. My daughter sits back into her seat and studies her papers, smiling with pride.

And then in silence, I drive us back the equivolent of ten city blocks to our home. Along the way, I think, yes, this is a good thing. She will learn from this experience. She will grow up a little inside and treasure the memories. One day, she will see this was all meant to be.

@ August 2008 by Chriss Hill

Songs that stick to you, like gum on bottom of shoe

2008-08-17T08:43:00.003-05:00

Here in Texas, the summer season seems to last and last, right up until the time Halloween gets here. School begins around the 26th and so we had opportunity on Saturday to have a barbecue- one last family hoorah before the sunny days are gone and the kids get too caught up with school activities. It was also a perfect way just to have fun with the family.

And so, I invited my mother and step-dad over and my daughter Tracy and her husband, who are in their late 20's, and their kids. We had a great time, blending in the generations, sharing stories, and just bonding. Of course, we can't get too rowdy around Grandma and Grandpa. But once we were fed and had too much frozen margaritas, my mom and step dad went home, packed up with good leftovers. Then the real party began.

Tracy had brought over her Karaoke machine. My youngest daughter, Kayla, and my granddaughter, Mariah were busy looking up songs on Youtube to sing along with us. When you get your own family to act goofy in front of a microphone, it can get really funny. My hubby sang a rendition of Johnny Cash's "I walk the line" , which I highly doubt that he could have, considering all he drank that afternoon. You know it gets hot barbecuing chicken and sausage, so he needed all that "wet stuff" to cool him off. Yeah, sounded like a good excuse, but when he got up to sing, not his usual thing to do at all, it was hilarious!

My son-in-law crooned to "When a Man loves a woman", to Tracy and she batted her eyes like she was in heaven. (ah, young love) while I belted something by the B-52's "Love Shack" and the "Macarena" to get everyone singing along and dancing. Tracy sang something by "Madonna", while her daughter just watched how silly all of us became. Now my youngest, Kayla, has a wide assortment of music that she likes, ranging from Christian music to country, some occasional rap and pop rock tunes. Every once in a while, she will get hung up on a song she finds on the Internet, and then I'm introduced to a whole realm of new music. This is the way I was introduced to my favorite Dutch band, Within Temptation. When you connect with the younger generation through music, it keeps our conversations interesting and since she is a teenager, experiencing new looks and new things, I get involved. Is it wholesome? Is it too influential? That sort of thing.

But recently, she came across this one group that blended in a bit of 1930'ish German Cabaret with modern pop/rock sounds and goth lyrics, displaying just a hint of sexy appeal. The group is called The Dresden Dolls", a boy drummer and a girl pianist/soloist, and they came about on the music scene really around 1984. I guess she happened into their music, but just one session of watching their Youtube video, and I was hooked on this one crazy song called "Coin-operated boy".

I found the song really catchy and the look really cabaret. The girl isn't beautiful, but she looks like a typical young woman seeking to find honest love, after being so deceived by the "real boys". She looks great in this video even with the strange eyeliner design penciled upon her brow. The boy, with his mime-type makeup, I find strangely appealing as well, especially the way he looks when she mentions taking him to the "bath". The ending is kind of bitter sweet. Perhaps a reflection that even something dreamt up can't be fulfilling. It brings up a discussion about love and disillusionment, the sort of angst that teenagers question as they begin their meanderings through relationships, all things being new and them being very inexperienced. So yeah, when Kayla brings up new music, I like that we can have frank discussions about the music, content, and why she finds it appealing.

Music has always been a strong influence among my family members. I can remember many times belting out songs while driving to the store and my kids being in the back singing along. There have always been songs to put us in a happy mood, or bring back memories, or allow us to cry when we were feeling down. There are songs, like "Coin Operated Boy" that are a bit unusual and will stick to your head no -matter what.

So, how has music influenced you? What songs make you feel a certain way and why? And do you have any unusual songs that stick to your brain like gum on bottom of shoe, no matter what you do to get it out of your head? Share with me some of your stories.

And as I sit here on Sunday morning, drinking my coffee, I'm going to play that song for the 5th time, because i like it and I can't get it out of my head. I'm sharing this with you too, so if it sticks with you, you can blame it on me. :)

Has the economy made an impact on your life?

2008-08-07T19:09:00.005-05:00

This morning, I happened to catch a news segment on tv about a young
couple facing financial difficulties. The mother of two middle-school
boys had visited a food pantry for assistance and was in tears as she
went about with the helper getting food for her family. Her crying had
caught my attention so I sat down to watch for a few minutes, as I had
to leave for work.

The story told that the couple was facing foreclosure and had given up
many items through pawnshops or just selling them outright. The husband
had given up a prized motorcyle. This all stemmed because of an injury
he sustained at work as a subcontractor. He had fallen and was now left
with nerve damage to his legs. There was no insurance coverage. He once
earned over $70 thousand a year, but now only received disability. His
wife went to work part time as a cleaning person in a church to help
ends meet. Their income now was about $25 thousand a year. A very
significant life change and they struggled to keep things "normal" for
their sons.

As I watched the young mother look around the shelves to pick out food
items, my heart went out to her. I could feel her pain and I could feel
her sense of gratefullness when she turned to the food pantry worker and
told her thanks and then hugged her.

Since my link never works properly on this page, you can view the actual story from CBS by copying this link to your browswer:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/06/eveningnews/main4326277.shtml

I think a lot of people are feeling economic woes and some are not even
caused by something drastic as this. I know in my own family, we are
tightening up our belts, but on some days, with gas and food prices up,
it doesn't seem enough. My husband has been lucky to be covering for two
guys at the warehouse being out on surgery leave. That allows him to get
some overtime. But when it came time to pay bills recently, we were
still in need of more money . An opportunity came for me to work in my
hospital part-time, to assist the nurses on the floors with simple
patient care, so I jumped at the chance. Granted, it takes me away from being on my computer in the afternoons to promote my book here,so I apologize for a late blog being posted, but I'm getting satisfaction for caring for others. Plus I'm helping my family finances so we can stay afloat.

I stopped by the bank this morning to put in money to cover a "check" I
had authorized on line for paying one of my bills. I spoke with one of
the bank managers in passing. She had told me she had taken back her
married son and wife into her household, as things were too tough for
them to get a good start. She had more adults in the household,
including a son who is a senior and another son who is single and just
working, all trying to get by on these trying times. I left there
thinking, "Wow!"

So I think a lot of us are in the same boat. I think all of us are
learning to cut back on habits of dining out, driving around for fun,
and just blowing money on stuff we want versus stuff we really need.
Sure is hard to do, even for me. Nowdays, if I just buy a happy meal from
McDonalds, that is a major splurge for me. How about you? What are you
doing to cut back or alter in your spending habits? Do you think this
will be a short term thing or will you be more tight-stringed for a long
time to come? How has the economic situation impacted your family?

A 30 year class reunion

2008-07-27T01:58:00.003-05:00

Last night, I attended my high school 30th reunion. Wow! Where did the time go? To say this group of adults from the Class of 1978 were all molded by 70’s music like KC & the Sunshine Band or the music blasting from Saturday Night Fever, and have lived through women’s liberation and freedom from the Vietnam War, is a lot. We had mood rings or pet rocks. We drove around in decked out Chevy Vans. We said things like “Here comes the judge” and knew what Michael Jackson looked like before plastic surgery. We watched the Sonny and Cher show or Carol Burnet and didn’t own any type of mobile phone. Color television and cable were introduced in our time and thank goodness someone out in California decided to condense the size of gigantic computers so we could eventually own them in our homes to fit upon a desk. We saw a man walk on the moon and just knew that we could do anything we chose too if we just put our hearts into it. Our theme song was “Come Sail Away” by Styx and when we left the halls of Temple High School, we were headed for destinies unknown, to sail across an ocean uncharted.

So to gather again thirty years later is one major accomplishment. We were survivors. However, we did reflect on former classmates who could not attend because their time came way too soon. Our homage to them is a reminder on how much life is very precious and should never be taken for granted. At our age, this is a poignant point.

As I cruised through the crowd with my camera in hand, I really could care less if anyone thought I was a bit psycho. I think we’ve grown to inherit that sort of attitude in some way or another. Why? Because we’ve endured much to get to this point. Each has seen our shares of sorrows and has witnessed times of joy. We’ve had good marriages and bad marriages. We’ve had some failures in our careers right along with those successes. Some of us are graying and getting rounder, while some of us still look “pretty damn good!” (For those of you that do, I’m envious!) Still, as I went from person to person snapping pictures, I felt very comfortable saying hello, even to those who didn’t know me well back in school. At any rate, the majority took my hand and conveyed that look, “What the hell” and smiled when I aimed the camera.

Yes, by the Grace of God, we’ve reached a pinnacle point of our lives.

There were many classmates that I’ve not seen since high school, even if I had gone to our 10th reunion. How evident to see how we’ve grown and changed. I learned so much just in random conversations. I enjoyed meeting the spouses and listening about your children, and with a few, the grandchildren. I shared pictures of families, heard about the events going on in your lives. In everything, we could relate.

So our 30th reunion is in fact a major celebration of the milestones we’ve reached through the years. It is a celebration of whom we once were and who we are today, as we approach the Big 5-0. I’m glad I attended and I do look forward to the next gathering. I think our generation is very “young at heart” and we will slide into our golden years with ease. As I sat on the balcony, feeling a balmy breeze at the Dead Fish Grill overlooking beautiful Lake Belton, I felt in wonder to watch all the camaraderie, the hugs, the lively conversation. To be a part of this only left me great exhilaration. I do think on this happy occasion, our class song seemed most appropriate. Let’s all sail away, to more happy times, and the next phase of our lives.

(Pictures are posted on sidebar)

Ross Kelly, a near perfect man

2008-07-25T20:29:00.005-05:00

I don't really elaborate much about Ross Kelly, a main character from my book Hostage to Her Heart, but I should. For one, he's the best friend to my leading lady, Tara Reese. He's a guy who grew up right along beside her since they were babies in a cold state facility. You can imagine such a place: gray walls of cement or stone, where others in the same boat use any means to survive. A girl like Tara would need someone strong, like Ross,to endure such hardship. A friend that is steadfast, honest, and true. But to Tara, that's what he is and no more, and Ross would do anything to shine in her eyes as she sees other men, who he thinks are flawed or naive in some way. Will he ever win her heart?

Now in writing about him, I wanted to show that Ross does possess honest qualities and that he's human in the choices he makes to improve his lifestyle. He is also a man possessed with musical ability and is, as one of my daughter's friends puts it, "is way too cool!" because he can play guitar and sing. The descriptions I give away in the book basically tells you that he has dark features (dark eyes, jet black hair) and that he transforms from a skinny aloof teenager to a muscular young man. I guess any girl could drool about him as they read along, but I wanted him to shine for women too. So any man with a sensual smile, a humble demeanor, and a sexy body could make a woman melt with just that kind of fantasy in her mind. And his sexual prowess had to match that look, as he takes his time to undress his lovers and explore the many ways to bring them pleasure in his bed. He's not in any hurry there and what woman wouldn't appreciate someone giving them that great of attention?

So while reading Hostage to Her Heart, we see Ross grow, both on the inside and the outside, and as his world changes from poverty to prosperity and then down again, we see how his trials and tribulations also makes him a better man- nay a near 'perfect' man, one who we can befriend, fantasize, and appreciate like a loved one in our own mundane lines. Ross is a hero of sorts, someone bigger than life, and even if he does or does not win the girl, he has won the hearts of my readers forever.

2008-07-13T19:48:00.004-05:00

Well, this weekend, after I tended to my mother's needs, I finally had some time to catch up with my errands at home (laundry, shopping, cooking, etc) and I got about three hours fishing yesterday, but didn't catch anything worth keeping, but it was fun and I needed the break. Its too hot these days to do much outside, so I usually find myself propped upon my chair in front of the computer, browsing websites and catching up with my own blogs. Lots of times, I listened to the music posted there to promote my current book, Hostage to Her Heart. I actually love the music selected. A favorite example is by Clay Aiken.

Isn't he gorgeous here? It's really a most current picture and I think he's very handsome with his hair that way. I don't care what some people think about the guy. I've been in-love with him and his singing since premiering on American Idol way back in the 2nd season! In fact I voted for the guy versus Ruben- and look, he's still around! It's ok if Clay came in second. He's doing ok on his own and when his CD came out, A Thousand Different Ways, I had to buy it right away. He's suppose to have come out with a new CD. I'll have to check on amazon to get me a copy too. So there! On A Thousand Different Ways CD, most of the songs were stuff already done by other artists, but he takes them and molds them into his own style. When I want to relax, I listen to him sing. That natural southern accent flowing in his tonation is just gorgeous to hear.

One of the songs from this CD I really liked off the bat was "Broken Wings." There is a narration done within the song by Erin Taylor:

We are in this life together, even when one moves without the other. Different pages from the same story. This aching is familiar. It's something I remember. We Can't touch without feeling. Can't heal without healing. Only the young could fall so hard. Could be so careless and ignore the scars. So we will move out of the way this time, making room for each other. One without the other. We are broken, but we are moving still. A thousand different ways.

When I first heard them, I wasn't sure what she meant, but when you put these words against the backdrop of what Tara and Danny goes through in my novel, Hostage to Her Heart- OMG! It just hits the nail on the head! So since I had lots of time this afternoon, I dug out some images and tried to put the words strategically along with the story line. Although just a tad bit out sync, it still works, or at least gives you a good idea of the internal conflict this couple feels as they try to sort out their marital problems and affairs- and I mean affairs quite literally. Enjoy the video. I had lots of fun doing it. (Don't forget to turn off music button at bottom of page to hear the video without conflict) And please comment to let me know what you think of it too. Thanks.

My mom had a bad fall

2008-07-10T18:02:00.000-05:00

On Sunday, July 6th, at about 4:30 in the afternoon, my mom attempted to go into her house, carrying a carton of eggs, newspapers from the lawn, and had climbed up three steep steps. She was about four feet off the level of the ground below. My mother reached for the door handle and totally missed it, sending her body to lose balance and tumble backwards straight down upon the sidewalk. Her hip struck the bottom step. The back of her head hit the concrete and she laid there sprawled out.

My stepdad hurried down as fast as his 85 year old body could go. He tried to help her up and panicked, looking around for help, but unfortunately, the nearest neighbors were not outside or at home. My mother, in a daze, somehow got up and managed to get into the house. I don't know how she did it. Confused, she tried to think of my phone number. After a few moments, it came to her and she dialed the number, but got my answering machine, as I had stepped somewhere and did not hear the phone ring. I think I was outside. When I came in side I saw the flashing light and almost let it slide, as sometimes my kids friends call to leave messages. Something made me check it and I heard "Chriss.... I need you. I fell. I'm hurt" Not my mom's usual strong voice. So I called her back in a hurry and she answered, very confused, and told me what happened and that she felt sick and dizzy. Not a good sign.

Let me back track about 45 minutes before this incident. My son was on his way to see his dad in another town. His tire blew out. he called to say he was stuck on the highway with no spare. So my hubby, his step-dad, headed out to give assistance. And I thought he had taken my car to get there.

So when I talked to my mom, she even thought he had taken my car, because she had stopped by my house to let me know she was in town. She was there when my son's call had come in. So thinking I had no transportation, she told my step dad to come get me. So he was on his way. By this time, I had stepped outside and saw my car, but it was too late to change things. For five minutes I waited for him. The man gets easily confused. His eyesight is challenged and so is his memory. I was sweating bullets, but he finally showed up. Thank God! I switched places with him and rushed to my mom. I knew he clutched the door handles as I drove 55 miles down 35-40 mph lanes, but I needed to get to her! I didn't care about speed limits.

When I got there, my poor mom was sitting on the pot in the bathroom. She had the urge to go for some reason. One end had done it's business while the other was upchucking, and the room was small and it reeked! But we can't help what comes out of our bodies- from either end. I had to clean her up, find something to put on, as she was so dizzy, nauseated, and confused, I had called 911. I knew she would be greatly embarrased if found with no bottoms on, so I scrounged around and found a pair of emergency Depends she keeps whenever her bladder doesn't cooperate. (When you get old, that can happen.)

The EMTs arrived fairly quickly. By that time, she was hitting another round of nausea. I called my hubby to let him know what had transpired, and five minutes later, as the EMTs had brought my mother to the living room and going over her medications, he appeared. Apparently, he didn't care about speed limits either!

The EMT'S and the fire dept had both responded to the call. The big firemen picked up my mom sitting on a chair like a throne and hoisted her outside to the stretcher. It was just easier to get her outside than getting that long stretcher into her tiny living room. They whisked her into the ambulance and in the meanwhile, me and hubby loaded up my stepdad into the car and we flew to the hospital. We beat the ambulance by twenty minutes.

After several hours, she felt slightly better, after the morphine kicked in. No over night stay was needed as the xrays didn't reveal any broken bones and her confusion had eased up. My mom went home, we tucked her into bed, and she managed to sleep. The next day, we could better assess the damage: her buttocks had major wide bruising extending across from her left buttock to her right, almost a blackish blue. She had bruising on her elbow and on the back of her shoulders. She had bruising on the back of her neck and big bump and abrasion on the back of her head. OUCH! Two days later, her right eye swolled up and then turned bluish. The doctor said it could have been an after affect of veins popping. It looked like someone socked her in the eye!

Between my children, and my aunts visiting, we have managed to care for her needs somehow these last few days, but it's been very tough for me. I could have requested time off from work, but I was sorely needed there and the timing of this was just bad, but I was able to take off half days and take care of my mom in the afternoons until the evening.

I've cooked, served meals, done dishes, swept floors, taken out trash, and divied out medicines, not just to one parent, but two! Luckily, as it's finally Thursday, my mom is moving around a bit better. A person came by today to get us started with getting short term homehealth until we can qualify for longer term overall. My mom really needs this. She's always been the caretaker for my stepdad, but now she needs assistance. All I know is that this week has been a bit overwhelming. I've barely kept up with my kids, my house, and my errands. My laundry has stacked up and so has the dust bunnies under my bed - but this will be dealt with over the weekend once I can bark out commands to my hubby and kids.

However, there's nothing I wouldn't do for my mother. I'm just grateful that nothing worse has happened to her. I guess you just never know what each day can bring forth, so thank your blessings for the normal ones. And as for my son, his car is running the roads again- with a brand new tire. And he was a good grandson on Tuesday and came over to fix his grandmother bacon and eggs. I'm glad he likes to eat because his talent in cooking sure did come in handy!

Road trip to Brenham Texas

2008-07-05T21:02:00.008-05:00

After all the festivities and fireworks on the night of July 4th, Saturday sort of slid in a little ho-hum. We were tired from barbecuing and socializing with family, but we just couldn't sit at home and vegitate. I had a box ready to mail/or Federal Express to The Corner Gallery in Brenham. I could pay the same amount of money to mail out or put into my gas tank to actually visit the town. We voted on a road trip.

So hubby and I, along with a close friend, took a two hour trek along Hwy. 190. We passed through Rogers and Cameron, which we are very familiar with, as we have family and friends there. We drove into Caldwell and it seemed like a very busy area. My mom was born in Caldwell, so one day I hope to make a real visit there and get to know the place.

We went into Somerville and finally reached Brenham, with it's little shops up and down the streets and some tourists milling around.

A quaint historical little town that seemed so pretty. We drove up a bit, but found that some of the roads were blocked as they were setting up early for an evening concert, a part of their Hot nights, cool tunes concert series. One of the local people say that this brings in lots of people from the surrounding areas. They have it right in their historic downtown square.

The afternoon sun bore down on us as we looked around. There were clouds blooming in the distance. The wind picked up a bit, but it didn't discourage the town folk getting things ready. We also couldn't help but notice the wonderful aroma of barbeque in the air. Oh gee! It assaulted our nostrils and made our mouths water! Too bad we were still full from a late breakfast! Next time, we'll try out the food.

However, our mission was to find The Corner Gallery, who have waited patiently for copies of my new fiction romance novel, Hostage To Her Heart. A minor misunderstanding on my part, I wasn't aware that they were waiting on me to send my books over in the latter part of June. I had waited on a go-head after I signed an agreement with the store. No matter, we found the place about two blocks from where I had parked. Unfortunately, they were closed. Oh, how I wished there was a number to call to let someone know I was in town, but I didn't want to spoil someone's day off. This trip was totally spontaneous on our part. But my book will be available for purchase. Just stop by when they are open.

So anyway, I had this box and thought about finding the local post office. How silly it seemed to send it by mail after driving to hand deliver it in person, but then I got an idea. Across the street, I saw the sign for JR's Antiques & Collectibles, located on 207 East Alamo. We went inside and met the proprietor right away, Glen Vierus, an extremely gracious kind man, who listened to the reason I was in the area, offered to assist, and took the box of books off my hands to deliver later to The Corner Gallery. Thank you so much, Mr. Vierus! I appreciate you!

He has a wonderful shop inside, full of all sorts of antiques, candles, dishes, and much-much more!If you are in need of something for a birthday, wedding, or anniversary, this place should be on your list to shop. And if you do visit, please let Mr. Vierus know that you read it here on my blog. We had a nice discussion about his work, about Brenham. This business started off as sort of a retirement hobby and just bloomed from thence on. Nowadays, he's so wrapped up in what he does, he doesn't have time to work the internet. So with my blogs, I don't mind giving him a good nod for his pleasant professional mannerism and kind heart in my time of need. If he treats a total stranger in this fine way, I'm sure he is exceptional with his customers! Do visit his store, located on 207 East Alamo.

I wanted to take a picture of him, but my camera batteries had failed me. So we exchanged information and I promised to come back to visit. We left and trotted down the streets to find the nearest grocers and obtain fresh batteries. However, a storm seemed to be brewing to our east and we knew we had to hurry along.

I snapped a few pictures afterwards and with these, made up a short video of my experience, where you can watch on the link I posted on the sidebar. This application does not show up within this blog as there is a glitch to this program. (Sorry about that!)

The mini-road trip was extremely fun and I learned something new about the area. There are plenty of bed-&-breakfast places here, lots of neat shops, and nearby Somerville has a lake with campsites and a RV park. This place is also known for the Blue Bell Creameries! I learned from Mr. Vierus that Brenham is known for being the "Birthplace of Texas." This is where our independence was signed. Such a picturesque and historical place indeed. I will make it a point to come back to stay longer. You should do the same very soon.

Happy 4th of July

2008-07-04T08:21:00.002-05:00

I hope that everyone has a safe 4th of July holiday. I'm sure communities everywhere are gearing up for some type of celebrations over this long weekend, be it carnivals, rodeos, parades, kid booths, food booths, music, and much more. Of course the biggest event of the day hits in the evening, with fireworks. I have always loved watching them, the big ta-boom, and fiery colors filling the dark sky. Beautiful. Best to remember why we can sit at leisure to watch such a show, because some brave men fought for our freedom and gave us liberty. So I salute those souls of our past and pray for the brave men and women everywhere today serving our country. We just don't give them enough kuddos, do we? They deserve so much for what they do. If you have a loved one serving in Iraq or Afganistan, I understand the worry you feel for their safety. However, they make us proud for all of their sacrifices. I also salute the vet who has come home again, or not, and have earned his spot in heaven and in our hearts.

So fly a flag proudly in your front yard, mom, dad, sister, brother, or child! I know that I am!

Really chasing the dream

2008-06-24T19:59:00.006-05:00

How did it come to this? LOL.. OMG! I'm always on this computer and then I feel like I'm not on it enough to accomplish everything I want to do. There are blogs to visit, emails to type up or to respond to, research to do for promoting my book, and visiting webpages that can possibly help me do this. In the past six months, I have joined atleast 5 different groups on yahoo, four groups on cafemom, and then I have my own blogs to keep up with (myspace, freewebs, blogger, facebook). I have signed up for the The Polka Dot Banner just recently. That's a neat little niche to check out some books. But all this, after working a full time job during the week, is like having a part time job! It's work!

Anyway, I think I'm getting carpal tunnel syndrome from the keystrokes! LOL! My poor hubby is very patient with me. He understands what I'm trying to do, which is to get my name/my book out there to the masses. Authorhouse does not promote, although they can do a wire press release for me. Something I still need to pay for out of pocket. I'm getting there.

In the meanwhile, on cafemom, I'm doing a very short run contest for a free book. I have a link posted here. Not sure if you can add your name to the list, but if you respond here with a comment, I'll add you on. I'll draw on July 4th. From the comments so far who have seen the book trailer, they are indeed intrigued! Everything flashing before your eyes is like the book- it takes you at a quick pace through the heart of the action.

Yet for you to believe in it, like I do, you need real feedback. I did submit for book reviews to a couple of writer/reader websites, but am still waiting for results on that. Luckily, I had a couple of friends submit something to freewebs and Barnes & Nobles which I've copied and posted. Do I want more reviews? Well, that would be terrific if you have recieved a book from me or bought one.

I poured my heart into this book. In fact, I became Hostage to This book! LOL.. But the outcome needs personal feedback from more readers. Something real. Something honest. If for nothing else but to let others know it's worth the price that the publishers put it out there for ($16.99 a pop!) I know that's more than the customary paperback that you can probably pick up at a nickel and dime store for a buck. Is it worth the price? I believe so.

So I'll keep plugging away to knock down people's skeptism. It's not your average run of the mill book. It's a terrific story. Get a copy! Tell your friends about it.

Ok, now I can post this. And maybe spend ten minutes in conversation with my husband while I grab a soda and take a potty run. I think he'll be happy to see my face and not the back of my head.

Sharing two reviews

2008-06-21T18:36:00.002-05:00

HOSTAGE TO HER HEART BOOK REVIEW

Here's a blurb from an author of a new children's book, KobiKobis Island:

Aimee Linde: "Hostage to her Heart is an incredible story about a woman who has to find herself -amidst the sudden role of motherhood that hits her at a young age. Her journey to self discovery keeps you guessing who she falls for: her handsome husband, she married out of convienience; or her best friend from childhood. This is a breath of fresh air compared to other smutty romance novels. This book will keep you involved and guessing, but most of all you love the characters and find yourself in their shoes right along with them.

I recomend this book to everyone. It's an amazing story and you'll be glad you read it!!! TRUST ME!!!

stars...between 1-5.....My score 10 "

Thanks Aimee!!

If you look on Barnes and Nobles, you will find this review for my book:

Customer Reviews
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A reviewer
Kelly, an avid reader of books, 06/18/2008

I really enjoyed this book. One of the first that I have read with a combined family, such as with real life. The book was engaging with many twists and kept me wanting more. I can't wait to see where the next book takes these characters...

Anonymous Mom 3

2008-06-16T18:50:00.001-05:00

Anonymous Momgreat free widgetsWidgetbox

My son is a highschool graduate

2008-06-08T10:17:00.002-05:00

My son is a highschool graduate now- the Class of 2008- from Temple High School. It's a proud moment in our family and I've shared some pics here. There were about 420 students at the Expo Center getting their diplomas and the day was sunny and windy outside. So when we all gathered outside to take pics, we tried not to get blown away. LOL..

Ok- had to brag a bit. I'm so proud of my son. Now he can look foward to his future. With any luck, if I raised him up right, he will make wonderful choices.