I like my rub the same way I like my men. . .

Hot and Spicy!

The 4th of July holiday weekend I decided to try my hand at smoking meat. Pork butt to be specific, AKA pulled pork.

Let me start at the beginning. First, I had to get a smoker. I did.
Then I had to put it together. That took two days! Note to self: Don't try following directions and pictures after drinking a margarita or three. (Click here Perfect Margarita Recipe.

Sunday morning I managed to take the smoker apart and put it back together again so by late Sunday morning I was ready to cook some meat.

First step in smoking pulled pork is soaking the meat in a brine.

Brine Recipe:

1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sea salt
4 cups water

Soak meat in brine for 4 hours upto overnight.

Then you have to rub the meat. Now be careful here. If you rub the meat right, uh, wrong, this could cause excitements and giggles. Oh! And it will definitely be messy.

Pork Rub Recipe:

1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup paprika (half regular paprika/half smoked paprika)
3 tablespoons sea salt
2 tablespoons black pepper
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons dry mustard
2 tablespoons Mexican chili powder
1 teaspoon white pepper

Once you have throuroughly rubbed your meat, you then are ready to smoke it.

To smoke the meat you heat up the grill to 220 to 230 degrees. The charcoal (which is the only thing I use...no gas for this girl) is heated up to the side of where the meat will be placed to cook. This is indirect heat. No flames are allowed to kiss this butt.

Depending on the size or weight of you meat you will be slow cooking AKA smoking the pork for at least 4 to six hours. The key to making this fun is to invite a few friends over to keep you company. That and bring out the beer.

About the time you finish one beer you will want to go back and check the heat, more than likely add some more charcoal to the fire. Sometimes my heat got a little too hot, well, duh, we are talking about me. Of course the meat got overheated.

Not to worry, just walk away slowly, no swish in your hips, have another beer and the next time you visit the meat its temperature will be back down to warm and not smokin' hot.

The pork is ready when it's meat thermometer says 160 degrees or when you can pull the meat apart with your bare fingers or a fork, whichever you prefer.


When the meat is done, Pull it apart and chop it up and serve it with homemade BBQ sauce and coleslaw. Something I had to teach a few friends this weekend. You cannot have southern style pulled pork without having coleslaw. It's a MUST!

Stay tuned and I will share the BBQ sauce recipe on Saturday.

This weekend I will be trying my hand at pork ribs. Going to use the same rub and sauce, so I'm all set except for cooking the meat and making some fresh coleslaw.

She watched his. . .

Yesterday was Writing Prompt Wednesday. I could have gone so many ways with this prompt and this is certainly the cleaner of all versions that popped into my creative little head.

How did you do?

Here is my clean yet creative shot at yesterday's writing prompt.

Writing prompt: She watched his. . .


She watched his lips slide into a sly grin as he tilted his head closer, within an inch of her own lips. Then his mouth parted ever so slightly and she felt his warm, sweet breath breeze across her lips.

The tug to lean into him, close here eyes and let her self be taken by this man was so strong that for a moment she felt as if a tidal wave engulfed her and she would soon sink in. At the last minute, she shook herself back to reality. She shoved at his chest and stepped out of his reach.

In slow motion, she watched his arms windmill, his feet give way, and then. . .SPLASH!

Writing Prompt Wednesday

It's Wednesday and you know what that means...Writing Prompt!!

Every now and again we all need a little creativity boost. It doesn't matter that you aren't a writer. We all need that extra incentive now and again and a writing prompt is a good way to get your mind to open up and have some fun.

How does this work?

I post the beginning of a sentence and you finish it. You can write one sentence, a paragraph, or even a page if you like. Just let your mind go and write whatever comes into it. You'd be amazed at the results.

Today's writing prompt - She watched his. . .

Now all you have to do is write. Finish the sentence and if you feel like sharing we would love to see what you come up with. It's amazing to see how we all go in different directions.

Most of all Have fun!

Brief 4th of July poem

Wearing my red, white, and blue
Thinking of you,
On this sunny 4th of July afternoon.

Happy 4th of July!

A recipe for the Firework Weekend

For this 4th of July holiday weekend, I thought I would share with you my favorite drink recipe that will add a few more sparks to all those fireworks.

This recipe is for "The Perfect Margarita". It's the smae recipe that had me winning the margarita contest last year at this time.

Hope you enjoy!


The Perfect Margarita

2 oz. Gold Tequila (I use Patron Gold)

1/2 oz. Cointreau (I use Patron Citronage - Orange Liquor)

1/2 oz Grand Marnier

1/2 oz Orange Juice (no pulp) and this is the secret to the “perfect” recipe

1 oz. Rose’s Sweetened Lime Juice

4 oz. Lemate’s Sweet & Sour Mix

Put in pitcher and add some ice. This will only fill pitcher about 1/4 of the way so quadruple this recipe if you want enough to have some friends drinking with you. [GRIN]

Happy fourth of July!

Sometimes you just have to grab the bull by the horns

What is it with men?

It’s okay for them to always want to “fix” it when all we want is for them to listen. But when the tables are turned they don’t want to hear us tell them what to do.

So what? I am just supposed to let a friend tell me his woes and frustrations and then nod my head. Let him give every excuse not to chase his dream even if the excuses are the investors’ excuses. If you want it, don’t let some jackass holding the purse strings stand in the way. Man up and go find another investor with a wad of cash!

Oh! And then when I throw all these ideas at him that he could do or show the investors that what he said made sense, what do I get in return? I get the “Investors aren’t emotional” crap.

I just have to say this because at this point I did want to get emotional and scream. Just because women are usually more passionate than men does NOT make us more emotional. Only a jackass of a man will say such an idiotic statement when he is losing the argument.

I wanted to say to him, “Look, pull your head out and screw it back on. You can sell yourself to anyone even someone who has no money and they will give you their last dollar.” He is that good.

I also wanted to tell him, “At least you have a business idea to invest in. Something tangible that an investor would want to spend money on. I don’t have that. My dream is not a tangible thing that I can say, ‘Please, Mr. Investor, can you give me some money while I write this book or these twenty books or as many books as I can until I die. Please, Mr. Investor, I want to quit my day job so I can pursue my passion of writing.’”

But I didn’t say that, because hello, I was focusing on him.

Now that I have ranted and gotten this out of my system let me tell you men and women. If you want something, then “man up” and go for it. Stop coming up with excuses or listening to someone else’s excuses and chase that dang dream all the way to the end goal.

Take the bull by the horns and make that dream a reality. Listen to the family and friends who push you and ignore the others who would hold you back. Cuz why are they holding you back? Not for your sake but for their own. If people volunteer help, don’t be a man and try to do it on your own, take the help because it might just get you to that end goal that much sooner.

In this life, we make it what we will. If you settle for something less then you get what you deserve. If you strive for something more, then guess what, you WILL get more.

Tell us what you're reading

I don't know if it's the warm weather or the bum knee, but I have been a reading fool.

Last weekend I read two books while propping my knee up in the hopes that my knee doctor gives me the okay to go back to running. Yes, that was a good plan because he gave me the okay to work up to it.


Now I'm reading The Warrior Elite: The Forging of Seal Class 228 by Dick Couch.

After reading Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson I wanted to learn more about these Navy SEALS and what they go through to become one. Marcus had mentioned Dick Couch's book so here I am.

Overview: With a postscript describing SEAL efforts in Afghanistan, The Warrior Elite takes you into the toughest, longest, and most relentless military training in the world.

What does it take to become a Navy SEAL? What makes talented, intelligent young men volunteer for physical punishment, cold water, and days without sleep? In The Warrior Elite, former Navy SEAL Dick Couch documents the process that transforms young men into warriors. SEAL training is the distillation of the human spirit, a tradition-bound ordeal that seeks to find men with character, courage, and the burning desire to win at all costs, men who would rather die than quit.

I have to say I am loving this book! The writer makes you feel as if you were right there, feeling every cold jolt, every muscle aches, and every ounce of determination that these men experience.


I'm also reading Night Watch by Suzanne Brockmann and another story about a Navy SEAL, albeit a fiction story.

I'm a hige Suzanne Brockmann fan and love every one of her books. Night Watch is no exception. I got home last night after a long day at work and then a haircut appointment. By the time I arrived home it was 9:30 at night and all I wanted to do was relax. I put up my feet, opened up the book and read the first 50 pages in 30 minutes. Nice!

Overview: When U.S. Navy SEAL chief Wes Skelly was sent to L.A. on assignment, he agreed to go on a blind date with beautiful single mother Brittany Evans, sister-in-law of a fellow SEAL. After all, he had been secretly in love for years, albeit with a woman who belonged to another man. So what did he have to lose?

Plenty, it turned out. Because suddenly the woman he'd thought he could never have was available. However, so was Brittany—and not only that, she was in danger. Because of him. He knew he could keep her safe. But why was he increasingly certain that he was the one in danger?


In the car, on my long commute to and from work I've been listening to Captivated by Nora Roberts.

Can you tell I am a rather eclectic reader? I like everything! Well, maybe not everything. I will try books the same way I will try food. I will try anything once and twice if I like it.

Overview: His interest in her was purely professional . . . Or so he told himself. Nash Kirkland had sought out the alluring Morgana Donovan to help him research his latest screenplay, though the hardheaded skeptic didn't believe for a minute she was what she professed to be. But, as Morgana revealed herself to him, Nash found himself falling under her bewitching spell. Nash had never trusted his feelings and always kept them in check. So how could he be sure the irresistible passion he felt for Morgana was real and not just some conjurer's trick?

Okay, every girl needs a little romance in her reading so this is mine this week. And besides, the heroine is a witch of long-standing Irish tradition. How can I not like this story?

Writing Prompt Wednesday

It's Wednesday and you know what that means...Writing Prompt!!

Every now and again we all need a little creativity boost. It doesn't matter that you aren't a writer. We all need that extra incentive now and again and a writing prompt is a good way to get your mind to open up and have some fun.

How does this work?

I post the beginning of a sentence and you finish it. You can write one sentence, a paragraph, or even a page if you like. Just let your mind go and write whatever comes into it. You'd be amazed at the results.

Today's writing prompt - She ducked as. . .

Now all you have to do is write. Finish the sentence and if you feel like sharing we would love to see what you come up with. It's amazing to see how we all go in different directions.

Most of all Have fun!

Funny thing happened while playing in my yard

I don't know about the weather where you are, but the weather here in New England this past Saturday was a tad wet. It rained most of the day and night.

When Sunday rolled around and the sun decided to show it's brilliant self, I immediately went outside...after doing some early morning writing.

And here is where my story begins. With me dressed in shorts and tank top, sandals, hair pulled back in some thingy that makes me look like I'm about twelve years old, and work gloves. I do make quite the picture for 'Farming USA'.

Anyway, I'm out there pulling weeds and planting plants, radio blaring my one and only Zac Brown Band CD when I look up to see my neighbor walking across the street and in my direction. Mike has been in the neighborhood for not quite two years and we speak at least once a week, share a beer between mowing our yards, and the occasional ice cream cone when the ice cream truck guy drives by and I happen to catch him. I mean who wouldn't want an ice cream on a hot summer day.

At first I asked Mike if the radio was too loud. He responded with, "Huh?" and held up his hand to his ear.

Ha ha. Very funny. Actually it was loud so I asked him If he wanted me to turn it down. "He said he liked music."

Great. So I let it keep playing.

Then Mike turns to me and asks if it is a secret.

"What is a secret?"

"That you're an author?"

Then he proceeds to tell me how his girlfriend looked me up on Facebook, found my website and that I was an author. She called Mike and told him, "You have to go check out this website."

He, being the good boyfriend did and to his amazement he was staring at my website. Apparently, it was quite the shocker. So much so that he then called his mother and told her the story of his author neighbor and while they were on the phone speaking, she ordered a copy of IT HAPPENS IN THREES for her Nook. How cool is that?!

After that Mike decided to spread the word and tell a few of his friends and work colleagues. Maybe I should hire Mike as my publicist.

A week later, Mike is in my yard giving me grief for never having mentioned it and telling me he wants to read CONNECT THE DOTS, which of course, I will give him a copy.

[SHRUG] I guess that by this time I assumed everyone knew I was a writer. Oops!

Note to self: Put a sign in yard that says, "Author lives here." Or perhaps, rather than wearing my Ireland or Boston Red Sox cap while playing in my garden I should wear a hat that says, "Have you read one of my books yet?" Hm...that would make a great T-shirt.

Thanks Mike for making my day.

Writing Prompt Wednesday

It's Wednesday and you know what that means...Writing Prompt!!

Every now and again we all need a little creativity boost. It doesn't matter that you aren't a writer. We all need that extra incentive now and again and a writing prompt is a good way to get your mind to open up and have some fun.

How does this work?

I post the beginning of a sentence and you finish it. You can write one sentence, a paragraph, or even a page if you like. Just let your mind go and write whatever comes into it. You'd be amazed at the results.

Today's writing prompt - She stared at the credit card. . .

Now all you have to do is write. Finish the sentence and if you feel like sharing we would love to see what you come up with. It's amazing to see how we all go in different directions.

Most of all Have fun!

Books received in Afghanistan

I received a note from my friend overseas this week. The books that you all donated in my give-a-book, get-a-book giveaway were shipped and are now in the hands of some military folks over in Afghanistan.

Here is the email I received.

Hey Girl,

Just a short note to Thank you and the rest of your crew for the books. We received them yesterday and there were already 5 taken within the first few minutes of me opening the box.

Okay, gotta get back to it.

Thanks again!

Dewd

I want to personally thank each and every person who donated to this giveaway. Thanks to you all, a few more military people are enjoying a good book and a little bit of home.

More importantly, thank you to the men and women serving in the military and keeping us safe and protecting our freedom. May you come home soon.

Who would you like to meet?

If you could meet anyone or even several people in this world, who would you most like to meet?

I recently read the book, Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson. After reading that book I would definitely like to meet Marcus Luttrell and his brother Morgan. Of course, I wouldn’t mind meeting Billy Shelton to see if he can whip my hiney into shape. Not that I want to be a Navy SEAL. Although, I do love to scuba dive.

The technology side of me would like to meet Bill Gates. I mean here’s a man who started a business when he was practically a kid and it’s still around today doing well and an organization that companies strive to compete with. Not to mention the fact that the man is a humanitarian and always looking to donate money and/or resources for various organizations and people and he is a true believer in education. Education is a passion with me.

The truly geeky side of me and the side of me that reads an article or a book and then has to learn more would love to meet Bryant Linares, President and CEO of Apollo Diamond, Inc. Yes, ladies, part of what his company does is create diamonds. When I say create, I mean manmade “real” diamonds. But he doesn’t create them for us to wear, although that has been a byproduct of his work. Through the use of nanotechnology, Apollo Diamond, Inc creates diamonds to be used in technology like the replacement for silicon computer chips. Diamonds are better heat conductors than silicon. In his garage, Mr. Linares built a machine that “makes” REAL diamonds. Today, he runs his business out of a secret location. Cool, huh!

While I am not a political person. . .actually, I deplore politics. I do however have a great deal of respect for one politician out of Oklahoma, Thomas Coburn. He’s a politician second and a practicing doctor first. He believes in term-limits and calls things like they are. While I may not agree with all of his views, I respect any man that steps up to the podium and tells people what he thinks and why, without regard for his party line. He actually reads things as black and white and foregoes the gray matter in the middle that most politicians thrive on.

Since I’m talking about men I respect, I would like to meet a guy who works for me. Yeah, that sounds kind of funny, right? But it’s true. I’ve worked with a man by the name of Mike Finn for over two years now, but have yet to meet him in person. I have a picture of him taped to my phone so whenever the team does con-calls we all can put a face to a name, it is not the same as meeting someone and getting to know them. Mike is a terrific engineer, probably one of the best I have ever had the opportunity to work with, but beyond that, he is a man that realizes there is more to life than work. He enjoys his family and revels in his free time to do things like play music with his band and make home brewed beer. By the way, I’ve tasted some of the beer…very good!
Of course there are many authors that I would love to meet, to sit and just have lunch with and pick their brains. To hear from them the trials and tribulations they went through to get to where they are today.

One more that will probably surprise you all is an artist by the name of Dale Chihuly. Mr. Chihuly is a famous blown glass artist. Ever since I read a book by Nora Roberts years ago, I have been fascinated by glass blowing. Well, this man is the epitome of art in he glass world. Look him and his work up. Beautiful doesn’t come close to describing his work or his talent.

Writing prompt spurs creativity

There are days when a simple writing prompt will spark the creativity and spur that writing desire. Today was one of those days!

I took this morning's writing prompt and went with it, let it go to wherever it took me and here is where I landed.



Writing prompt: He slammed. . .


He slammed his fist into the other man’s face.

“Shit!” It was like hitting a brick wall.

Sucking in air, he cocked his arm back to launch another blow and hope this time he didn’t break another knuckle when a woman strolled right between him and the Neanderthal and stopped. Was she out of her bloody mind?

“What the hell do you think you are doing, lady?” he asked as he picked her up, one hand firmly clamped on either of her arms and lifted her out of harms way. “Do you have a death wish?” He tugged a tumbled chair from its perch beneath a table, righted it, and brushed the seat with his bloodied and bruised hand.

She sat like a real lady, he thought, as she tucked her brief skirt beneath her derriere and crossed her legs at the ankles.

“I’m going to kick your ass!” yelled his opponent.

Diego glanced over to see the bigger man coming at him, meaty fist drawn back ready to take his head off.

“Excuse me for a second,” he told the fair-haired woman with glittering green eyes.

He turned just in time that the man barreling in his direction missed his head and landed a solid punch in his chest. The blow knocked him back a step, but he righted himself quick enough and was ready when the drunk charged him again.

This time, instead of trying to knock the guy out with his fist to the man’s steel jaw, he waited. When the guy raised his fist to take a swing, he kicked him in the gut, knocking the air out of the other man. When the man bent over gasping for air, he slammed his elbow against the back of the man’s thick neck and sent him sprawling to the wood floor covered in alcohol and peanut shells. He paused to see if the man would get up. He didn’t. The man was out cold.

Wiping his hands on his jean-clad legs, Diego straightened his shirt and walked over to the table, to the lady still sitting there sipping her ale. Cool as a cucumber, he mused as he tied back his thick mane of black hair with a leather strap. There had to be something completely wrong with a woman who could sit in the middle of a bar fight and drink her ale without any screaming. He was used to women screaming. Especially in his bed chamber as they writhed beneath him in pleasure.

But this woman. . .this woman. . . He eyed her up and down, took in the sight of her sitting there with bright pink painted nails, black, slim-fitting leather skirt, 3-inch spike heels, and briefcase was completely out of place.

With his hands shoved into the front pockets of his jeans, he approached the beautiful woman. “Are you lost?”

“No,” she said and grinned up at him. His heart skipped a beat when her green gaze glittered up at him as if she had found her quarry and he was it. Maybe this was his lucky day after all.

“Want a drink?” She handed him a pint. He drank half the glass and set it down, shoving his hands back into his pockets.

“I was looking for you, Mr. Elias Black. I found you.”

As if the woman had sucker punched him, he took a step in retreat. He eyed her now, wary of those sparkling eyes and intoxicating smile.

“You have the wrong man. My name is Diego. Diego Jones.”

The lady’s red lips kicked up at one corner and she stood. Long legs met snug black leather that hugged all the right curves. She leaned in and his nostrils flared as her perfume wafted over him. She smelled like spring and sophistication.

“I don’t have the wrong man,” she whispered. “Your name is Elias Black. You grew up in Houston, Texas and are now living in a shack in Guadalajara. You live there because you had a fight with your father and you walked away.”

His heart started beating in his chest and the palms of his hands were sweating. He took them out of his pockets and wiped them against the front of his jeans.

“I know you’re Elias Black.”

One of his dark brows winged upward.

“I know because of the birthmark on your buttocks. It’s in the shape of a crescent moon.”

He stiffened, felt his spine almost snap in half at the mention of his birthmark. How did she. . . It didn’t matter, he told himself, shaking his head.

“As beautiful as you might be and as much as I’d like to see you naked and writhing beneath me, I am not going to bare ass so you can prove or disprove my identity.”

His vision started to blur and his head started to feel heavy as if swimming through a muddy river.

“You. . .You. . .”

His speech slurred before he hit the wooden floor face down and everything went black.

The woman grinned, stepped over her prey, and ignoring everyone staring at the fallen man, she squatted next to him. With gentle fingers, she tugged down his jeans just enough to make her identification. Yes, at the top of his left hip before hip meets butt cheek, she saw the crescent moon.

Writing Prompt Wednesday

It's Wednesday and you know what that means...Writing Prompt!!

Every now and again we all need a little creativity boost. It doesn't matter that you aren't a writer. We all need that extra incentive now and again and a writing prompt is a good way to get your mind to open up and have some fun.

How does this work?

I post the beginning of a sentence and you finish it. You can write one sentence, a paragraph, or even a page if you like. Just let your mind go and write whatever comes into it. You'd be amazed at the results. My 5th novel, Phish NET Stalkings came from a writing prompt.

Today's writing prompt - He slammed. . .

Now all you have to do is write. Finish the sentence and if you feel like sharing we would love to see what you come up with. It's amazing to see how we all go in different directions.

Most of all Have fun!

Pull up your pants

I just have to say this…

I may not be speaking for all women, but I’m pretty sure I am speaking for a good majority of them.

Men…pull up your pants!

It’s one thing to be a plumber or a construction guy where you wear a heavy tool belt and that weighs down your pants. While it’s not necessarily a pretty sight, as a matter of fact, it can be quite blinding to experience a plumber crack, it’s at least excusable.

On the other hand, when a guy wears his pants without a belt so that they droop past his hips and you see the top of his boxers or tighty-whiteys that is a whole different story. That is NOT attractive. I mean seriously, do women go around flashing you so you see the color of our panties?

OH-MY-GOSH! What if you have skid marks on your drawers. How is that going to attract some interested female? [SHUDDER] Ew! If I saw that I would turn tail and bolt for the nearest door.

And what is with these other guys who not only forego a belt so that the world is exposed to far too much detail on the posterior, but who actually buy their pants two sizes too big on purpose. Is this some new kind of mating ritual that skipped right past me? Does the sight of men’s underwear hanging out of their pants turn some women on? Or perhaps it is the sight of a man trying to walk with his slacks hanging around his knees without them slipping all the way to their ankles.

There are only two, maybe three reasons a man should have his pants at his knees and since I am too much of a lady to tell you, I will let you use your imagination.

Now that you’ve cleared your mind of those instructional videos let’s return to our subject at hand. Men…pull up your pants!

Men, do you really think the woman of your dreams is going to swoon at your feet if she sees you wearing your underwear on the OUTSIDE of your pants? Or the lady of your desire is going to fall into your arms if she sees you bent over a water fountain and instead of seeing a firm tight ass that she would like to caress she is smacked in the face with the visual of a furry crack. AT that point the poor woman would be screaming down the hall yelling, “My eyes! My eyes!”

For all us women out there who love a man in a pair of jeans, please wear your pants around your waist and leave a little room for our very vivid imagination.

And if that doesn't give you incentive then think back to what your mama saud when you were about the age of three.

"Pull up your pants, honey. You're a big boy now."

Writing at the edge of a grave

I've never stood at the edge of a grave or at a funeral, but if I did this is what I would imagine.

Sean stood at the edge of her parents’ grave with a stiff spine, an empty shot glass in his hand, and recited the Irish funeral prayer. “May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. May the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, May the Lord hold you in the palm of His hand.”

When Sean returned to her side, she reached out and touched his cheek. She saw tears swimming in his eyes. He was burying his second family and saying goodbye to the folks who helped raise him. She let her hand drop and took his hand in hers as Mrs. Doyle, her mother’s best friend stepped forward and gave her prayer. “Do not stand at my grave and weep. I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on the snow. I am the sunlight that ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn's rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush; Of quiet birds in circled flight, I am the soft star that shines at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry. I am not there. I did not die.”

Then Diego stepped forward surprising her. Tears immediately welled in her eyes as she held her breath and waited for him to speak. His misty gaze on hers, he recited the words, “Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; Love leaves a memory no one can steal.”

Oh, jeez! She couldn’t hold back the tears any longer, they came flooding out and streaming down her cheeks. She dropped her gaze from his and willed the tears away. Then she felt a hand lift her chin. He brushed her face with the back of his hand then kissed her cheek.

“There won’t be a dry eye in the house when you finish singing,” he whispered so only she could hear.

Her mouth dropped open. How did he know?

“Your father told me.” He stepped next to her, placed his hand at her lower back and gave her a gentle yet forceful shove.

Taking the hint, she stepped forward, holding her mother’s favorite flowers, Stargazer lilies with their bright pink petals smiling up at her in her hand. Sean stepped up next to her, pressed the butt of the fiddle to his chin and gave her the nod. Ready when she was. She took a deep breath, nodded back, and waited for the first note of the fiddle’s strings. Then the words to One More Day tumbled out low and gentle. As the words moved her, her voice grew strong and loud, clear as the day and echoing off the river. The river that was her father.

Her voice moved into a sweet and powerful lilt as she sang the Irish lyrics of the song knowing her father would have loved to hear her sing “the Irish,” as he would say. Waves lapped along the rocks of the river as she moved into the last chorus.

Dry all your tears
Come what may
And in the end the sun will rise
On one more day
Hey
The sun will rise on one more day. . .

She looked up, across the graves and out to the river. As she did, she pictured her Mum and Da standing before her smiling in the sun and waving goodbye. Hand-in-hand they turned to walk away when her father paused and glanced over his shoulder. Over the movement of the people, the breeze, and the gentle waves of the river, she could have sworn she heard her father’s words.

“Tá grá agam duit.”

“I love you, too, Da,” she breathed then turned and tossed the flowers into the graves. “Goodbye.”

From great reading, comes great inspiration

Don't you think that is an accurate statement?

Me, personally, I think it is absolutely perfect. A good book should inspire you to want to learn more, to read more, maybe even do more. It doesn't even have to be a book, it could be a well-written article in a newspaper, in a magazine, or online maybe in a blog.

I once read an article on diamond computer chips. Yeah, okay, I'm a geek by day and this was fascinating. Beyond the use of diamonds to make computer chips it inspired me to go out and learn more about nanotechnology. I even invested in a nanotechnology fund. Hey! I know a good thing when I see it.

I read a fiction book where the heroine was a glass artist. The details and descriptions were so wonderful I had to go look into what exactly glass-blowing was. It intrigued me so much that I signed up to take a class. I have since taken three classes. Gotta love art!

Right now I am reading the book Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson. I'm only halfway through the book and just getting to what I know will be the worst and best part of the story, but this book is inspirational.

Navy SEALS are amazing human beings who put their lives on the line for us, for our country. It's what they do. Not only do they do it, but they want to do it. You see, these guys literally go through hell to become a SEAL. Not that every military person doesn't, but these guys go through something beyond your wildest dreams. At least beyond my dreams.

Some of the strongest men entertain the idea of being a Navy SEAL and they may even get a shot at it, but it's not strength that makes a man a SEAL, it's determination and endurance. Determination to succeeed and achieve something not everyone can, and endurance to get through hell just so you can go through it all over again in the real world when they are fighting to save our freedoms. They have to want this beyond anything they have ever wanted in their entire lives.

What Marcus Luttrell describes in his book is only bits and pieces of the real deal, of that I am sure. But what he does describe is enlightening and inspiring. Just to get indoctrined into the SEAL training program these guys have to achieve the following:

1. Run 1.5 miles (while wearing boots and long pants) in 11 minutes, 30 seconds
2. Swim 500 yards (breast stroke or side stroke) in 12 minutes, 30 seconds
3. Minimum of 42 push-ups in 2 minutes
4. Minimum of 50 sit-ups in 2 minutes
5. Minimum of 6 dead-hang pull-ups

This is just the beginning. It gets a heck of a lot worse from there. And that only gives you a taste of the physical stamina required. It doesn't even touch on the strategic and tactical skills that have to be learned, retained, and tested. Without those skills you can't be a SEAL.

I'm not suggesting that I'm inspired to go out and be a Navy SEAL, because let's face it, I don't have the right equipment. I do, however, have the personality to set myself some goals and achieve them.

Since I've already achieved my goal of running 3 road races this year before I messed up my knee, I'm thinking I might set new goals for myself. Yeah, no, I cannot do all of those 5 points a potential SEAL has to complete, but I can shoot for some of them. After my knee heals.

Writing Prompt Wednesday

It's Wednesday and you know what that means...Writing Prompt!!

Every now and again we all need a little creativity boost. It doesn't matter that you aren't a writer. We all need that extra incentive now and again and a writing prompt is a good way to get your mind to open up and have some fun.

How does this work?

I post the beginning of a sentence and you finish it. You can write one sentence, a paragraph, or even a page if you like. Just let your mind go and write whatever comes into it. You'd be amazed at the results. My 5th novel, Phish NET Stalkings came from a writing prompt.

Today's writing prompt - She wisheed she were invisible. . .

Now all you have to do is write. Finish the sentence and if you feel like sharing we would love to see what you come up with. It's amazing to see how we all go in different directions.

Most of all Have fun!

A letter to Florida Governor

My father wrote a letter to the Governor of Florida on behalf of all the people in his community that are being taken advantage of and being screwed out of affordable water by a water company. Since I'm not certain the Governor will actually ever read the letter, I thought I would help my father out and post the letter to the Goveronor of Florida on my blog.

Let's see if the Governor actually does something to help these people out.



Office of Governor Rick Scott
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

Governor Rick Scott,

I attended the PSC Commission meeting in Tallahassee on May 24th where there were presentations and then a decision made regarding a rate increase request for Aqua Utilities of Florida. I must say that I was extremely disappointed with the meeting and in particular the outcome of the decision made by the PSC Commission.

In the first place, none of the 5 Commissioners had ever attended any of the previous nine customer meetings held in various parts of the state. I believe the presentations provided by the individuals attending the meeting were the first time they heard any of the input regarding the issues involving this utility and the presentations were limited to only three minutes by each presenter. This obviously was not enough time to present a complete picture of the issues.

More important, it appeared that the Commission paid very little attention to one of the main objectives of their mission statement. The Mission Statement prior to the start of this rate case stated in part; “making sure that Florida’s consumers receive some of their most essential services – electric, natural gas, telephone, water and wastewater --- in a safe, affordable and reliable manner.” Unfortunately, the Mission Statement has changed three times since the rate case began. Now, the Mission Statement as published on the PSC website simply states; “To facilitate the efficient provision of safe and reliable utility services at fair prices.” Since most of the customers of this utility live on fixed incomes, the Affordable portion of the mission needs to be emphasized and not removed by the PSC on an arbitrary basis. Nowhere during the decision making process did the Commissioners mention the word affordable.

The PSC Staff did not adequately address quality of service. In particular, they used the utilities’ quality metrics as a standard. As an example, they used an answer criterion for calls to Aqua’s Customer Service of 80% of calls answered within 90 seconds. This criterion, stated more simply, says any call answered after the customer listened to 15 audible rings would be a satisfactory response time. After spending 42 years in the telephony business, I have yet to meet anyone who would listen to 15 audible rings and not hang-up. Further, the Staff heard 738 customer calls and interactions with Aqua Customer Service Representatives and that “the majority of the calls were handled in a courteous and professional manner”. A majority of 100 calls would be 51, leaving 49 being unsatisfactory. In other words the Staff did not provide any kind of a quantitative analysis to determine satisfactory performance. The Staff should have the knowledge and skill to establish benchmarks that would reflect satisfactory performance by a service provider and use those benchmarks to quantify and judge performance while not relying on the service provider’s criteria.

Lastly, the tariffs established using the “Inclining Block” method does not reflect actual costs for the provision of the product provided. Instead, it appears to reflect another change in the philosophy from the original Mission Statement for the Commission that has now been stated as a goal. The stated goal being; “Encourage and facilitate responsible use of resources and technology in the provision and consumption of utility services.” If this were really an objective, the out of state water company using millions of gallons of Florida water for sale out of state should not be allowed.

I would encourage you, as Governor, to review these last proceedings in Docket Number 100330-WS to determine if the PSC Commissioners are performing their responsibilities as originally designed, and if any changes in their process have been arbitrarily internally changed.

I thank you for your time and effort in reviewing this situation.

Sincerely,



Keith F. Goodman

President – The Fairways at Mt. Plymouth HOA

What are you reading?

It's been a while since we talked about what we're reading so I thought I would toss the subject out there and take a poll.

What are you reading?

Me, I'm reading two books right now. Actually, I'm reading one and listening to the other. Thank goodness for audiobooks because they make the work commute so much more bearable.


I am reading Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson.

A friend of mine recommended this book and it sounded good, plus the setting of the story is Afghanistan-Pakistan, which is very much a today topic and where a friend of mine is stationed today. I had to run right out and get this book.

I picked it up yesterday and I can say that I started crying at page 7 and that’s just from some of the back story. I read to about page 30 yesterday and I have to say that I did not want to put it down. So far I highly recommend this book.

Here’s what the story is about:

Four US Navy SEALS departed one clear night in early July, 2005 for the mountainous Afghanistan-Pakistan border for a reconnaissance mission. Their task was to document the activity of an al Qaeda leader rumored to have a small army in a Taliban stronghold. Five days later, only one of those Navy SEALS made it out alive.

This is the story of the only survivor of Operation Redwing, fire team leader Marcus Luttrell, and the extraordinary firefight that led to the largest loss of life in American Navy SEAL history. His teammates fought valiantly beside him until he was the only one left alive, blasted by an RPG into a place where his pursuers could not find him. Over the next four days, terribly injured and presumed dead, Luttrell crawled for miles through the mountains and was taken in by sympathetic villagers who risked their lives to keep him safe from surrounding Taliban warriors.


On my commute to work, I am listening to David Baldacci’s book, The Sixth Man. This story revolves around two of my favorite characters, Sean King and Michelle Maxwell who are both ex Secret Service now turned private investigators.

Here’s what the story is about:

Edgar Roy-an alleged serial killer held in a secure, fortress-like Federal Supermax facility-is awaiting trial. He faces almost certain conviction. Sean King and Michelle Maxwell are called in by Roy's attorney, Sean's old friend and mentor Ted Bergin, to help work the case. But their investigation is derailed before it begins-en route to their first meeting with Bergin, Sean and Michelle find him murdered.

It is now up to them to ask the questions no one seems to want answered: Is Roy a killer? Who murdered Bergin? With help from some surprising allies, they continue to pursue the case. But the more they dig into Roy's past, the more they encounter obstacles, half-truths, dead-ends, false friends, and escalating threats from every direction. Their persistence puts them on a collision course with the highest levels of the government and the darkest corners of power. In a terrifying confrontation that will push Sean and Michelle to their limits, the duo may be permanently parted.

This morning I just hit the point in the story Sean and Michelle find attorney Bergin dead, murdered. So far, so good!

What are you reading?

She stepped into the elevator. . .

Wednesday's writing prompt: She stepped into the elevator. . .

She stepped into the elevator and when she turned around to push the button for the sixth floor her heart stopped as her eyes widened.

A masked man carrying a very large gun stood in front of her, blocking her escape. She took a step in retreat when her backside bumped the hand railing, startled her and caused her to drop her books.

Heart beating out of control, she glanced up from the spilled books to the masked gunman. With his wide stance, broad shoulders, and bulging biceps, he reminded her of a bull ready to attack. He towered over her.

She trembled and swallowed the lump of fear as the man pushed the elevator button for the penthouse and that was when she saw it. She tore her gaze away from the man’s ringed finger, away from the sapphire eyes of a lion. Blue. His eyes were blue, mist blue. The kind of blue that made her want to jump into the fog and go for a late night swim.

The corner of her lip twitched and she eased her hand around the gunman’s weapon, pushed the stop button on the elevator. She stumbled and fell against the man as the elevator screeched to a halt.

“I’ll do anything you want. Please don’t hurt me,” she whispered as she started to unbutton her blouse.

You can't change the rules in the middle of the game

You cannot change the rules midstream. Imagine playing a professional baseball game and midway through a game someone decides to change the rules.

What would happen?

Only one person may know of the change so how do the rest of the players and umpires know that the game has changed. How would they know that there are now 4 strikes?

He would be calling players out at strike 3 when in fact that is no longer the rule.

Perhaps a player now has to touch his toes when he reaches home base in order for the run to count. What would happen if this new rule takes effect while the runner is standing on second base?

I can see it now. The runner would go when the hitter hits the ball. The second base runner goes home and forgets to touch his head. The next thing you know the catcher tags the runner with the ball and the umpire calls the player out. No run batted in for this guy.

Where am I going with this analogy?

It’s simple. You cannot change the rules midstream without communicating those changes to all the parties involved.

If you can’t change the rules in the middle of a baseball game then why should you do it at work?

This happens to me every day at work. Someone (another organization) decides they have a new process that is to be followed in order to hand something off and have them do some work. While this may seem reasonable and positive for the organization, making this change affects more than just them.

Same thing applies when you change a rule in baseball. You change the rule and the players are affected, the umpires, and even the fan are affected. This change can be time consuming and costly, not to mention, could cost the game for a team, or the loss of fans.

What seems like a small process change can truly cost an organization a fortune. So while you think something affects only you, try to think outside of yourself and look at who will truly be affected. And if the rule truly does need to change then be sure to communicate it to ALL the parties that have a stake in the game.

Writing Prompt Wednesday

It's Wednesday and you know what that means...Writing Prompt!!

Every now and again we all need a little creativity boost. It doesn't matter that you aren't a writer. We all need that extra incentive now and again and a writing prompt is a good way to get your mind to open up and have some fun.

How does this work?

I post the beginning of a sentence and you finish it. You can write one sentence, a paragraph, or even a page if you like. Just let your mind go and write whatever comes into it. You'd be amazed at the results. My 5th novel, Phish NET Stalkings came from a writing prompt.

Today's writing prompt - She stepped into the elevator. . .

Now all you have to do is write. Finish the sentence and if you feel like sharing we would love to see what you come up with. It's amazing to see how we all go in different directions.

Most of all Have fun!

Survived weekend running challenge

This picture demonstrates how happy I was to FINISH the Memorial Weekend Race challenge. It does not, however, show the excrutiating work and sweat that went into those runs. (That's me on the left and my new friend, Kate on the right.) We both survived the weekend challenge!

On Saturday, I joined a bunch of folks to run for The Sons of Italy 5K to benefit Veterans Northeast Outreach Center, Inc. Haverhill, MA. I ran in my friend Duane's name who is serving overseas today.

I did survive the 5K, but barely since it turned into 5 and a half miles. Yes, you read that correctly. What was supposed to be 3.1 miles turned out to be almost double that.

Why? Because the race road was not marked AT ALL. At the beginning, the marshall even started us off going the wrong direction. Luckily, someone noticed his mistake and he turned us around. Then when we started off down the street no one knew what direction. I asked the police officer and he said to go up Ferry Street. So I did.

Unfortunately, I got ahead of the pack and when we hit the water station there no one knew where we were to go. Yes, you read that correctly. Yours truly went all the way up and then down Ferry Street until it dead ended. By that time, I was off the track and did not know where to go.

The sad part is that other people followed me. Big mistake!! We wended up in Methuen and not Lawrence, MA. And we ended up going an additional 2.4 miles. Oh, what fun!

Day 2 of this very eventful adventure, I am happy to say, turned out much better. The race was flat and the directions were easy. In additiona, the people at the water stations actually knew where we were to go. Imagine that.

Day 2 of the weekend challenge was a 5-mile run hosted by the Garibaldi Club in Haverhill, MA and benefitted the Eric Steinman Scholarship Fund.

Not only was the event well managed and fun, but afterwards there was music, adult beverages, and a BBQ with burgers and dogs. Can you say...HUNGRY?

And my prize for participating in this no holds bar, sweat my butt off fun was...

A mug!!

One tip for all these folks hosting these events. One of the purposes of giving participants a number to wear is and/or should be to track the fact that someona has not returned in a "normal" amount of time. It would be good practice to verify that all people who start the race actually finish and if they don't please feel free to send out the cavalry.

Wouldn't this make your day?

I return home from having breakfast with a friend yesterday morning and I find a fun message that put a smile on my face and made my day. Check it out.


You Are AWESOME!!! I got my books yesterday. We went out of town for a couple of days so they were probably there Tuesday. Thank you so much! I'm very excited about reading them! I love books! They smell so good! OMG! That's sounds totally nerdy doesn't it?

Thank you so much, again!


Tell me that would not put a huge grin on your face.

Simple pleasures in life

It's the simple things in life that bring pleasure to us.

For me, this past weekend it was a couple of small things that made me smile. As a matter of fact, Saturday was filled with little pleasures.

Saturday started out by having breakfast with a couple of friends. Always nice to share a meal and a chat with friends.

When I left Big Easy Bagel I went to my favorite post office to see Jane and give her some books to ship off to the folks who donated to my "give a book, get a book" giveaway for the troops. Looking forward to shipping more books this Memorial Day weekend.

After the post office, I did a quick run into Staples to pick up some photo printer paper so I can print pictures from my trip to Ireland. Cannot wait to get some framed!

As I walked out to my car I noticed an older couple doing a walk around my SUV and talking. When I approached to put my bag in the car I asked if they wanted to see inside the vehicle. That little question sparked a very nice 15 minute conversation about SUVs, BMW, and I learned about the BMW Car Club of America. I left the parking lot with a smile on my face.

Then I went to an event that occurs only once a year. I went to St. Philips Greek Food Festival. Oh, yeah! I look forward to this event one weekend a year.

Why? Because it's the only time I can get a good Gyro with the best tsaziki sauce. This year was especially sweet. A woman was standing in line be hind me who and she had never had a gyro or even heard of it before.

Okay, yes, my chin dropped to my chest because I was flabbergasted by her statement. I proceeded to tell her what it was and how much she would love it. I even offered to buy her something different if she didn't like it. I mean, we were at a Greek food fest so there was plenty of options to choose from.

Later in the event, the woman found me stuffing my face with dessert and told me how she really enjoyed the gyro and thanked me for recommending it to her. She loved it so much she got another one to take home with her for dinner. I told her not to forget dessert.

What was for dessert? Loukoumades!! Loukoumades are little honey puff pastries topped with cinnamon, sugar, and walnuts. OH-MY-GOSH! They are fantastic!

I left the festival fat and very happy.

On my way home, I saw a sign for a flower sale. Well, if you know anything about me you know I love flowers. I whipped down the street (shh! don't tell the local police), saw the tables lined with flowers and immediately parked. And yes, I bought some flowers. I bought some Irises.

Who wouldn't be smiling after purchasing a couple of gorgeous flowers from a local garden club?

Oh, I could go on and on about how my neighbor who moved in last year across the street came over to see the new vehicle as soon as I pulled into the drive. It's a guy thing! Or how the magician who is here performing the spring shows at Canobie Lake Park dropped by to share a couple of beers and catch up since he left last summer. He loved my garden and deck. He saw it before I stained and finished it so now he's seen it and says my paradise is looking like a small oasis. So true!

What's the moral of me sharing all of this with you?

It's the little things in life that bring us pleasure. Remember to stop and smell the flowers, enjoy the small moments, and smile when they happen. You'd be surprised how good you feel when you do.

Go out and smile today!

Writing Prompt Wednesday

It's Wednesday and you know what that means...Writing Prompt!!

Every now and again we all need a little creativity boost. It doesn't matter that you aren't a writer. We all need that extra incentive now and again and a writing prompt is a good way to get your mind to open up and have some fun.

How does this work?

I post the beginning of a sentence and you finish it. You can write one sentence, a paragraph, or even a page if you like. Just let your mind go and write whatever comes into it. You'd be amazed at the results. My 5th novel, Phish NET Stalkings came from a writing prompt.

Today's writing prompt - The plane. . .

Now all you have to do is write. Finish the sentence and if you feel like sharing we would love to see what you come up with. It's amazing to see how we all go in different directions.

Most of all Have fun!

Send books overseas

In honor of our military men and women overseas, I am doing a book giveaway.

This giveaway is a "Give a book, get a book." You have to give me a book, any NEW book you have sitting around and I in turn will give you a NEW copy of CONNECT THE DOTS. If you've already read CONNECT THE DOTS let me know and I will happily exchange one of my other books for a book you send.

"What am I going to do with the books you give me?"

I have friends in the military and I know they could use a good book to read so I am going to send all the books I collect to the military.

This is a "Give a book, get a book" giveaway and should be a lot of fun.

Come on fellow authors, readers, and bloggers. . .you know you have a book you can give away!

All you have to do is give away a book to get one and help our military folks overseas.

Here's what you need to do. Either leave me your email here as a comment so I can contact you or email me by going here Contact Denise and sending me a note saying you want to give a book away.

We'll exchange information and I will send you a copy of CONNECT THE DOTS.

Or, if you are local to New England and like to get up early on a Sunday then I invite you to join me for breakfast on Sunday morning between now and May 29th. Join me at Panera in Bedford, NH between 7 AM and 9 AM and exchange a book with me right then and there.

I will be doing this giveaway until May 30 or until I run out of books. On Memorial weekend I will ship the books to our military men and women.

BTW - You are not limited to donating just one book. Thanks to some terrific friends and bloggers, I have received a box of books from several people. As thanks, I sent them one of each of my books.

I really hope you pass this "Give a book, get a book" giveaway on and help me send some books to our military friends and family.

Thanks,
Denise

Rainy day ideas

What do you do on a rainy day?

Perhaps you sing the song you learned as a kid "Rain, rain, go away. . ." Maybe you curl back under the covers and hide, tuning the pounding of the rain on the roof out.

How about some ideas that might be a tad more interesting? Here are some rainy day ideas.

Go bowling. Yeah, I said that. When was the last time you called a couple of friends up and said, "Let's go bowling." You can't beat throwing a ball down some wooden alley and watching it crash against ten pins. And you'd probably lean this way and that trying to help the pins tumble. Not to mention that a bowling alley usually has pub food and beer. This is a great way to blow off rainy day steam.

See a movie. Take your best friend or that special someone and check out the latest chick flick or romantic comedy. A good laugh and a bucket of popcorn will chase those rainy day blues away.

Go to the mall. No, I did not say go shopping. I said go to the mall. Get out of the rain by going into the mall and walk. There is nothing so entertaining as people watching in a mall. Seeing a man with a flat top cut wearing black horn-rimmed glasses dressed in red dockers, green polo, beige sadal shoes will put a smile on your face. Or perhaps you see the woman with five pigtails in her hair all dressed up with colorful bows and ribbons wearing a rainbow sweater, sweat pants, and a tutu. Actually, I see this everyday and it always makes me grin.

If you're a writer, why not write. Take that laptop, a cup of flavored coffee (maybe spiked) then curl up in your favorite chair and write. Don't just write anything. Write a scene that takes place in teh rain. I picture a scene with a killer stalking his prey through the woods while she runs, heart pounding in her chest, wet bangs blurring her vision while she tries to stay upright and not slip and fall on the wet leaves. Or maybe it's a rainy day love scene. The hero shows up and sees the heroine standing out on her deck in a white T-shirt, the rain dropping down in heavy rivulets, the shirt sticking to her body. Now words are needed. Just a look. . .

Whew! I might have to go write that love scene.

Have a wonderful rainy day!!

Writing Prompt Wednesday

It's Wednesday and you know what that means...Writing Prompt!!

Every now and again we all need a little creativity boost. It doesn't matter that you aren't a writer. We all need that extra incentive now and again and a writing prompt is a good way to get your mind to open up and have some fun.

How does this work?

I post the beginning of a sentence and you finish it. You can write one sentence, a paragraph, or even a page if you like. Just let your mind go and write whatever comes into it. You'd be amazed at the results. My 5th novel, Phish NET Stalkings came from a writing prompt.

Today's writing prompt - She watched as. . .

Now all you have to do is write. Finish the sentence and if you feel like sharing we would love to see what you come up with. It's amazing to see how we all go in different directions.

Most of all Have fun!

Authors, book bloggers, and readers - help our troops out

In honor or me finding a box of books and our military men and women overseas, I am doing a book giveaway.

This giveaway is a "Give a book, get a book." You have to give me a book, any NEW book you have sitting around and I in turn will give you a NEW copy of CONNECT THE DOTS. If you've already read CONNECT THE DOTS then let me know and I will happily exchange one of my other books for a book you send.

"What am I going to do with the books you give me?"

Such a good question. I am not going to read them. I am going to give them away.

I have friends in the military and I know they could use a good book to read so I am going to send all the books I collect to the military.

This is a "Give a book, get a book" giveaway and should be a lot of fun.

Come on fellow authors, readers, and bloggers. . .you know you have a book you can give away!

Now that you know about the giveaway, all you have to do is give away a book to get one and help our military folks overseas.

Here's what you need to do. Either leave me your email here as a comment so I can contact you or email me by going here Contact Denise and sending me a note saying you want to give a book away.

We'll exchange information and I will send you a copy of CONNECT THE DOTS.

Or, if you are local to New England and like to get up early on a Sunday then I invite you to join me for breakfast on Sunday morning between now and May 25th. Join me at Panera in Bedford, NH between 7 AM and 9 AM and exchange a book with me right then and there.

I will be doing this giveaway until May 25 or until I run out of books. Then on Memorial weekend I will ship the books to our military men and women.

I really hope you pass this "Give a book, get a book" giveaway on and help me send some books to our military friends and family.

Thanks,
Denise

Buying a new car is like picking out a new lover

First, you have to identify one that looks good and you are attracted to.

Do you want something with some power or are you more interested in comfort?

Do you like a muscle car, a vintage car, a sporty car, or a simple domestic?

Are you looking for something steady and reliable or something more sleek, fast, and with a hint of danger?

Once you’ve identified a possible winner, you have to examine it more closely. You know, check out the features.

Do you want an automatic so you can sit back and enjoy the ride or do you prefer a stick-shift where you get to be in control and wield a little power?

Can you picture yourself driving it? If you can then perhaps you’re ready to take it for a test drive.

When you first get in you have to make a few adjustments because it’s not a one-size fits all. Once you are prepped and ready to take it for a spin, I suggest you start out slow and easy, kinda like going out for a lazy drive on a sunny afternoon. Let it warm up a little bit.

Once the engine is revved, let it go, and see what this baby can do.

When you put your foot on the gas is it smooth and fast, rough and hard, or does it do the herky-jerky?

Does it hold a steady course, slip and slide, or just miss altogether?

Does it hum along, whisper quietly in your ear, or roar and rumble as if never driven before? Then again, maybe you want one that has no mileage instead of some.

At the end of the test drive you have to shut it down. Does it sputter, go quietly into that good night, or is it revved and raring to go for the next ride?

Before you can make a decision to keep this ride, you have to consider the maintenance costs. Is it high-maintenance and after a short period of time you will want to trade it in or low-maintenance where you can cruise for a while before you have to worry about bumps in the road?

What’s the warranty?

Writing Prompt Thursday

Since I'm on the verge of a breakthru with my next scene and I need a little boost, I thought today would be a good day for a writing prompt. Maybe this will make the next scene just start flowing out.

Today's writing prompt: On her door. . .


Hm. Now this could be interesting. See what pops into your head or flows from your fingertips.

Share what you come up with and most important - Have fun!!

Give a book, Get a book

I found a box of books. . .It's your lucky day!

The other day I was cleaning the house or maybe I should say shuffling stuff around from one room to the next and I came across a box. I got a little excited because I thought it was a box of bookmarks. When I opened it, I was shocked that it was a box of books.

What does this have to do with you?

Well, you've heard that old cleaning saying, "Haven't used it for six months then you should get rid of it." Something like that anyway.

I am certainly not going to throw a box of perfectly good, perfectly readable books away. I am, however, going to give them away.

Yes, you heard right. It's your lucky day. I am going to give them away.

Shouts of excitement roar across the room, state, country. "Woohoo!" "Yippee!" "Squee!"

There's a catch.

"Ohhh," whines a reader nearby.

This is not a bad catch. This is a good catch.

"Is there any such thing?"

Of course there is!!

This giveaway is a "Give a book, get a book." You have to give me a book, any NEW book you have sitting around and I in turn will give you a NEW copy of CONNECT THE DOTS.

"What are you going to do with the books we give you?" someone yelled out in the crowd.

Such a good question. I am not going to read them. I am going to give them away.

"Wow!" "What?" "Is she kidding?"

Nope. I have friends in the military and I know they could use a good book to read so I am going to send all the books I collect to the military.

This is a "Give a book, get a book" giveaway and should be a lot of fun.

Now that you know about the giveaway, all you have to do is give away a book to get one and help our military folks overseas.

Here's what you need to do. Either leave me your email here as a comment so I can contact you or email me by going here Contact Denise and sending me a note saying you want to give a book away.

We'll exchange information and I will send you a copy of CONNECT THE DOTS.

Or, if you are local to New England and like to get up early on a Sunday then I invite you to join me for breakfast on Sunday morning between now and May 25th. Join me at Panera in Bedford, NH between 7 AM and 9 AM and exchange a book with me right then and there.

I will be doing this giveaway until May 25 or until I run out of books. Then on Memorial weekend I will ship the books to our military men and women.

I really hope you pass this "Give a book, get a book" giveaway on and help me send some books to our military friends and family.

Thanks,
Denise

To my mother on Mother’s Day…

To my mother on Mother’s Day…

To the woman who gave me life
And made me a girl
~ my mommy

To the woman who taught me how to make my bed
And bake cookies
~ my mom

To the creative side of the family
The woman who can out sew anyone
And made my dolly clothes
~ my ma

To the woman who taught me finance
And gave me my first allowance
~ my mom

To the woman who showed me life is more than living
It’s meant to be lived
~ my mommy

To the woman who said I could be and could do anything
And helped me grow into a writer
~ my mother


To my mother,

You gave me the world and your love
and all I can offer is my love

Happy Mother's Day
I love you

~ your daughter and best friend

How many pairs of jeans do you own?

Thought provoking Tuesday question wants to know "How many pair of jeans do you own?"

Most folks have at least one pair. I mean, a wardrobe isn’t complete without at least one pair, right? Well, my mom may not agree…but she is my mom.

I’ll go first and I’ll lie because OH-MY-GOSH I own too many. I admit it I am a jeans fanatic.

I own over 30 pair. Yup, you read that correctly. Three-zero pair.

I own about ten pair of Polo Saturday jeans, which they no longer make. I bought a bunch of them when I heard they were discontinuing them. I even have some that I have not ever worn still on the hangers. Not to worry though, these are the jeans that I will wear until they wear out and then I use them for painting or staining or I cut them off in the summer and use them for yard shorts. That way it doesn’t matter if they get dirty or ruined. And let me tell you, I have destroyed my share of jeans with the way I play in my garden or decide to stain a deck or paint a wall.

I have petite jeans because I am short and so I don’t always have to wear heels in order for my jeans not to drag on the ground. I have plenty more that our regular length so I wear boots or some type of heel with them. Makes me look taller too.

I also own about twenty pairs of J. Jill jeans. Hm. Talk about obsessive. With these, I have about three different colors. I own dark-wash, medium-wash, and a pair or two of faded-wash. Mostly I wear the medium blue color because they go with everything.

This sounds like a lot, but I live in New England so except for summer, I can easily wear jeans ten months out of twelve. As a matter of fact, I own a few pairs of calf-length jeans for summer evenings outdoors. Bonus - I can wear jeans to work. . .thank goodness.

The thing about jeans is that you can dress them up or down. I can wear them with a T-shirt or Boston Sox baseball shirt, toss on a pair of cute white sneakers and I look casual and ready to go to a baseball game. Or I can wear a silk blouse and a pair of leather boots or leather, high-heeled sandals and look fabulous enough to go out on a date or to work or anywhere.

How many pairs of jeans do I actually wear? I probably rotate about ten pair at a time.

Now that I have admitted my jeans vice, tell me about yours. How many pair do you own?

Do clothes make a man?

Hmm…well, let’s examine this.

If you see a man wearing a heavy rock band T-shirt what’s the first thing you think? “Great pecs.” Because chances are the T-shirt is more than likely too tight.
Or how about, “I wonder how many drugs he did when he was in his twenties?” Then again, maybe he still does them. Check the band name. Is it a band around today or one that started back in the seventies? If it's from twenty plus years ago, the guy needs to get over it and grow up.

What about a guy in a plaid, flannel shirt? Now this one might make you think a little more. Are you in the great Northwest when you see this phenomenon? Then maybe he is a lumberjack. That may not be all bad. Just think of the warm nights he could give you.

Are you in the south when you see the plaid, flannel shirt wearing man? That may be a tad bit scarier. I’m thinking, “Redneck” is the first word that comes to mind. Check his truck. Do you see a gun rack hooked inside the cab or a rebel flag hanging from the mirror or the antenna?

What is it with guys in suits? I mean, is it written somewhere that if a man puts on a suit that the stick is automatically inserted someplace that I won’t mention? If the suit fits well, as in it’s been tailored to fit the man then I bet he looks hot in all those crisp, sharp lines. Rather like a man in uniform. Can’t wait to peel him out of all those clothes.

If the suit isn’t tailored then it’s as if the guy just put a sleek cover on a slob. Check his socks. Do they match his suit? If not, I bet he’s a slob and drives beat up old jalopy. It’s all a façade ladies. Watch out.

Oh, wait! What about a leisure suit? You remember those polyester suits that fit a little too snug in places it shouldn’t and look just awful no matter who wears them. Seriously, who the heck thought those were a good idea? Had to be a woman with a great sense of humor. And men buy them. Ladies, watch out for this guy because if he buys a polyester suit he is just as likely to buy the magic beans from a wandering salesman.

Let’s talk about a guy in a uniform. Now, not any uniform will do. Who wants to do a young Navy squid in his sailor whites? Please, bell-bottoms and white and so not a good combination. Then again, Army fatigues don’t do anything for any guy any where. Army green is just plain ugly. Not to mention the way they hang on a guy. And what do they carry in all those pockets? [SHIVER]

Now if we’re talking dress uniforms of Marines. . . “Oorah!” Again, all those nice crisp lines that mold to a terrific set of pecs and biceps. Yummy! This outfit shows you the man can commit and cares about his country. Of course, if the hair was not so short you could picture yourself running your fingers through it or grabbing hold while the Marine takes you for a ride. Yeehaw!

How about plaid knee-length shorts with dark socks and sandals? HA! Yes, we’ve all seen it. And most of us have denied knowing that person. Why wear shorts and sandals if you’re going to ear socks at all? Isn’t the whole point to show off your legs or get a little sun? Please, if you’re going to dress like an old man then stay inside so we don’t have to see.

Here’s another summertime visual for you. Picture yourself walking down the beach with the sand curling in your toes as you walk. The sun is shining and the waves are crashing and all the sudden you see this very tan, very buff dude. As you draw closer to him you stop in your tracks and you chin drops to your chest. Why?

Because the dude is wearing a Speedo. Can you say slingshot? Or banana case? I don’t know what it is with men and their Speedos but they should get over it. If you’re not a competitive swimmer and in a pool then this guy is someone who thinks too highly of himself, whether he has much of a banana or not in those trunks.

Ladies – do you let your man walk out of the house wearing sweatpants and a wife-beater T-shirt? Most the women I know would say, “Hell, no!”

Why? Because are you kidding me? No guy looks sexy in a wife-beater. Like the Speedo wearing man, this guy thinks he looks better than he really does. In fact, he probably has very little muscle at all except in his head. The head sitting on his shoulder that is. All you have conveyed to a woman wearing this outfit is that you are too sexy for yourself. Gym or no gym this is a no-no.

Mmm. A man in a pair of jeans can do it for me anytime. Well, okay, only if they fit and aren’t hanging off his butt so I get a clear shot of his tighty-whities or his boxers or worse. If they aren’t wrinkled like they just came out of the dirty clothes hamper, a man who wears a pair of nice jeans that hug his derriere is hot. Toss in a pair of cowboy boots so it makes his butt that much more firm and you have a winner! Cowboy boots are to men’s butts what 3-inch heels are to a woman’s behind.

Someone send Ahmed Hassan crashing my yard

I watch very little television in my house, but when I do, it’s usually something on HGTV. One of the shows I catch now and again is Yard Crashers. First of all - cool name! I love the idea of a complete stranger offering his services to do yard work.
I would be the first to yell, “Me, me! Pick me!”

I love my yard and have spent the last. . .going on four years destroying it and rebuilding it. It went from being swamped by Forsythias (also known as skinny yellow weeds) with a practically dead apple tree in the middle that gave me one apple the first summer to no Forsythias at all anywhere and an old apple tree that drops tons of apples (none of which are edible. . .yet).

When I bought my house, I wanted a yard in a big way. While it’s only a quarter acre, it’s all mine. But oh-my-gosh it is not done yet! Every year I have to remove dead plants and add new ones. I’ve planted about eight fruit trees and only one pear tree gave me fruit, Unfortunately, that pear tree was decapitated this year when all that snow snapped it in half. Very sad.

I created this great walkway in my back yard that meanders through the garden so I can walk through it and enjoy the color and scents. Now I have a firepit that I put together myself, but no seating around it because, uh, well, that area of the yard is very wet and unlevel. It’s more like a swimming hole. And, well, let's just say I am so NOT a person who believes in using a level.

I have this great deck on the back that I adore and tend to sit on and write in the summer, but I want to extend the retaining wall underneath it so I can have more flowers. And there’s no place to put my grill so it sits on the corner of the driveway. I’m thinking of adding a lower floating deck and make that the grilling area.

My front yard has this terrific front porch, but honestly, I have completely neglected the front yard. There is a Flowering Quince that I have hacked and trimmed, and pampered, but it doesn’t exactly give me much color so I’m thinking this summer it has got to take a nosedive. Time to get another fruit tree in the ground. Hmm. I’m thinking peach or nectarine trees.

Oh! I have this gorgeous rock wall down the side of the property. This is actually one of the reasons I bought the house. In the last two years I have tried to plant bulbs and flowers over there, but there is just not enough color there yet either. Part of that is because there is a ton of rocks in my so-called dirt. “Welcome to the Granite State.” HA!

What do I do with the hammock? I have yet to find the perfect spot for it. I’ve moved it three times and none of those places make me want to go hang out on it.

I have a vision so someone please send Ahmed Hassan crashing my yard!

It's baseball season and time for a wine/book mystery event

It’s baseball season!

Join us on Friday evening, April 29th at Zorvino Vineyards as we welcome members of the 1991 Pennant Winning Boston Monuments (you remember our local National League team, right?) as they rally two of their teammates in support of their nominations to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Despite the rumors of the hard partying days, rampant drug abuse, steroid use, infidelities on the road and the fact that these guys just don’t get along anymore...don’t believe the hype. It’s going to be a great celebration of the American pastime and maybe the last time to see the team all together in one place! Don't miss this one!!!!

This will be a special one night only event as Zorvino Vineyards presents THREE STRIKES & YOU’RE DEAD – a Hall of Fame Baseball Murder Mystery Event. Four mystery authors will unite with a talented cast of actors to craft a murder mystery right before your eyes.

Our whole facility will be open for you to wander about searching for clues, questioning suspects & discussing opinions with your friends as to who done it, where they done it & why they done it.

The cost for this special event will be $ 30 / pp which INCLUDES one book of your choice from one of our famous authors, which they will be glad to sign & personalize for you. Also included are light finger foods for all, the winery will be open all evening for complimentary tasting & wine purchases, the upstairs cash bar will be open with baseball specialty drinks plus there will be other baseball surprises!

This is a general admission event. . .Doors will open at 6:30 pm on April 29th and we ask our guests to be present in the great room at 7 pm for the evening’s kick-off. The murder will be solved at 9:30 pm sharp as we share the details of the mystery with everyone. The one person who comes closest to figuring out what happened will receive a prize. The authors will be on hand at the end of the evening to personalize books and chat with their fans.

Reservations are mandatory for this evening and we fully expect to sell out our 200 tickets so please make your reservation early so you are not disappointed. Tickets can be purchased online at www.zorvino.com or by calling (603) 887-8463.

Our authors for this special event will be Lloyd Corricelli, Mike Girard, CJ West & Denise Robbins. Authors will be available for sales & book signing from 9:30 pm until 10:00 pm after the mystery is solved.

Hope to see you there in your favorite baseball attire!!

Writing Prompt Wednesday

Time for some new writing prompts for Wednesday.

Prompt: She was bent over with her head. . .


For those of you who have never participated in Writing Prompt Wednesday, it's easy. And fun!

All you have to do is write.

I post the beginning of a sentence and you finish it. You can just write the rest of the sentence or if your creativity is so inspired by the few words, write a paragraph or a page or more.

Then share it! Yes, this is the most difficult part for many people, but hey, we're all friends here, so why not let us see what your active imagination and your keyboard came up with.

Happy writing!

What do you like to do in your spare time/on weekends?

Yesterday we talked about how much we work and the long commute, so today let's discuss spare time.

What do you like to do in your spare time/on weekends?


It goes without saying that I love to write. But beyond that there are lots of things I like to do in my spare time.

I get up on the weekends and go have breakfast. On most Saturdays, I usually go meet a small group of friends, the'breakfast club' at our favorite bagel shop. On Sundays, I tend to keep to myself and hang out where I can write for a good couple of hours.

Now that spring has finally arrived, I enjoy being outside as much as possible. So after I have breakfast with friends or do a little writing, I go home and change into outdoor attire. That means clothes I can get dirty. REALLY dirty.

I ALWAYS wear a baseball cap. Most of the time it's a Boston Sox cap, but since I returned from Ireland I am wearing my green Ireland hat. Yup, that's me beneath that green cap.







Once I'm dressed for dirt, I head outside with my CD player and several CDs and then I dig in. Literally. I will plant flowers or snip the dead heads, but more than likely I am finding something I can do that will add color to the yard. Like my little crocuses that have come up. Soon the tulips will be blooming and I will have a ton of color. I cannot wait!







A year ago, I saw this idea for a firepit at Lowe's, but never got around to building one. Last weekend, I finally took the bull by the horn and went for it. I borrowed my neighbors' green machine truck, now known as the shaggin' wagon and found someone at the store who knew how to build the firepit. I got the stones loaded, picked up the metal firepit thingy then drove home and voila! About an hour later, with the help of some friends, I had a firepit.

If I'm not getting dirty by digging something up then I am enjoying my deck and a good beer or bottle of champagne. Yeah, I'm weird like that. I don't need a reason to drink champagne.

I like just soaking in the sun, especially after 6 months of cold, icky white fluffy stuff, and gray skies. On a really good day you will catch me writing on my deck, listening to a good music CD, and the lyrical sound of the old wooden roller coaster with screaming kids in the background.

Toss in a few friends and a cookout and you have a perfect day. Well, maybe a baseball game would kick the day over the top, but that's pretty dang sweet for my free time.

What about you?

Working from home could save jobs

. . .and people's personalities

Three hours a day in traffic makes for a cranky woman! I should know, I'm that woman.

Funny thing happened as I started to write this post this morning. A friend of mine sent me a message and wanted to know why we had to go back to work. I feel his pain.


If businesses wanted to save money then why not allow for folks to work from home. Isn’t that why technology folks built the routers, cable modems, wireless access points, VPNa, and even the Internet? So folks could do their jobs remotely and have access to more information than what is in a book or a document or in an internal application.

Think of the overhead cost that would be saved if each person worked from home just one day a week. Or, to put it in black and white figures or draw you a picture, try this on for size.

Let’s say the average overhead cost for an employee is $27 per day (not including salary and benefits). In some case this will be high, but in many cases this number will be low. If an employee worked from home just one day a week for 50 weeks (two weeks off for vacation) then the net overhead savings is $1350 per employee/per year.

For the sake of argument, let’s say the average number of employees in a company is 25. Multiply 25 times $1350 and we have a savings of $33,700. Just for letting each employee work from home one day a week. Imagine what a larger company of say 500 employees could save. That’s a whopping total of $675,000.

Holy cow! That’s like almost a million dollars. Well, close enough.

Take the average salary of an employee being $50,000 and divide that into $675,000. That’s a total of 13.5 employees that a company would not have to let go in tough times. Like now. All for simply letting a person leverage the technological tools that some very smart people created and made available to us. And most of us have these tools readily available at our fingertips because we have them at home for our own enjoyment.

Let’s take this a step further.

How many of you cannot stand your commute? Me, I get a little irritated at wasting 3 hours of my day in a car instead of doing something I enjoy…like writing. In 3 hours I could write a good 1000 to 2000 words.

With the cost of gas averaging $3.75, why not save a little extra money and the environment?

Let’s say the average person drives 30 miles each way to work, which wouldn’t be bad if you didn’t have to contend with traffic. That commute will average about 4 gallons of gasoline, which right now would equate to $15 per day. Take that $15 and multiply it by the 50 days we now get to work from home and that’s a savings for us of $750 per year. Not to mention the savings on the wear and tear of your car as well as your frazzled nerves. Can you imagine what you can do with an extra $750 in your pocket each year?

Since the government and politicians haven’t figured this one out maybe we can help them. Aren’t they talking about Green this and that? Aren’t they always paying some overpaid politician to do another study on energy and employment and who knows what else?

I have an idea for them. Why not have a government incentive program that would give a bonus to a company that advocates a 4-day work week or a 1-day a week work-from-home program? Better yet, incent them if they don’t let anyone go due to economic downturn because they were smart enough to sign up for this program? That way the company doesn’t benefit and still let employees go.

On top of all this, employers get the benefit of employees who are happier because they are driving to work in traffic one less day and they are saving money that they can use toward a vacation or a new car with better gas efficiency.

Plus, we can all work in our PJs one day a week!

What's makes a good writing day?

As a writer you sit down with pen and paper or your computer and you start to write. How do you measure whether it was a good writing day?

Is it the amount of words you write or the number of pages that come from the words? Do you sit down and target a number or do you let the story and the words flow and stop when the creativity halts?

Me, I just write. I don't force it. I let the characters takeover and write whatever they tell me to.

You think I am kidding?

Any author will tell you that you can plot as much as you like, but when push comes to shove it is the character who will drive the story and inevitably, he or she will shift it on you.

Maybe the number of words or pages is not your measuring stick. Perhaps you measure by the story itself and where you've gotten to in your storyline or how well you feel the characters and story have developed at that point in time?

I rather like this idea. I love feeling the story geling and the characters coming to life. As a writer you absolutely know if what you've written works or if it's just trash. And if you don't, your critique group will. [grin]

I mean how many times have you written something and then afterwards determined that although that was some really great writing it does not fit in the story?

No big deal, right? You save it for another story on another day, right? I do. Never, ever throw any writing away. For every story I have written I have a "cut" document.

The "cut" document consists of all the words, sentences, paragraphs, and yes chapters that I have chopped from a story then saved in case I want to use it in the future. It's like having your own slush pile.

Perhaps a good writing day is a day in which you just simply write. Maybe it's a blog post like this, or maybe it's a poem, or maybe it's writing a letter to a friend.

How do you measure whether it was a good writing day?