Monday Ramblings

I totally skipped posting last week. Hope you enjoyed my break as much as I did. :D

Outside my window: Some cooler weather is rumored to be heading our way. The clouds are looking dark and heavy. Awesome. I love interesting weather!

I've been listening to: Pandora. This one of my recents faves.

Weird video but I love the song.

I watched: This week we went to see Guardians of the Galaxy. Loved it! Hubby, who's not a fan of watching a movie more than once (unless he's forgotten it), even wanted to go see it again right away. Fun gadgets, some slick fight scenes (that didn't last too long), and a story with lots of humor and heart.

I am grateful for: A sweet husband who is very supportive of my writing. Oh, and grown kids who enjoy each other's company. And the sweetest, most huggable grandkids ever.


What I'm working on: A Dangerous Reflection. How do you like that title (the previous working titles were dreadful)? This is the first book of my YA portal fantasy. The second book is called A Desperate Deception. Both of these books are already written but need some serious editing.

The last few weeks I've been reading through the two books and taking notes. Super sized my weekend and used to time to finish that, collect the comments, and put it on my white board for reference. Then I moved both projects into Scrivener.

So I will finish this post and get to work.

What have you been up to?

Season of Celebration

Whether you celebrate this as I do.

This.

Or this.

Or even if you're just happy to be here.

During this special time of year, whatever special occasion you celebrate, I'd like to wish you all the best and thank you for stopping by. I appreciate the friends I've made in 2011 and how much you've all enriched my life. I'm off until January 1, 2012 (except for a book review post next week).

Has it really been that long since everyone was so excited about the Y2K issues?

So,

Merry Christmas,

Happy Hanukkah,

Happy Kwanzaa, and

Party on Dudes!

Happy New Year!

Thanksgiving and the Book Giveaway

Book Giveaway Reminder

It's not too late to get in on my giveaway of two copies of

Robison Wells'

Variant

Click here for details.

A Day of Thanks

It's been a tough three years. As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving this week I'd like to take a minute and express my gratitude. My list is hardly all encompassing, but these are a few things I'm thankful for.

• Being married (28 years in January) to a wonderful man. When one of my betas told me the epilogue in my adventure romance showed the love interests still too into each other, I had to smile. I hadn't realized I'd based some of my my hero's more romantic characteristics after my hubby.
• Six amazing children. Being a mother changed and enriched my life in ways I could not understand until I'd experienced it. There's truth in the trite little saying that motherhood has a way of proving that your heart really can beat outside of your body. For all the anguish these smart and talented individuals gave us while they were growing up, all I can say is: what a ride. And we did it together.
• Seven (soon to be eight in December) grandchildren. Oh. My. Heck. Why didn't someone tell me how dang much fun being a grandmother would be? I'd have skipped the parent thing and gone right to Nana right away! All the fun with only a little of the responsibility!
• When so many people don't have a job, I do. I'll never be rich working for municipal government but I work with wonderful people, and I like to think what I do makes a difference.
• Belief in something bigger than myself.

Do you have any "attitude of gratitude" traditions in your family?

Veterans Day

On a serious note:

I offer my thanks to the men and women (and their families who support them) who stand or have stood between us and those would relieve us of our freedoms. I'm an Army Veteran, and I come from a family of Veterans. Here's a link to my post from Memorial Day this year.

How about you? Have you served or do you have family members or friends who do/have? What branches did they serve in?

For fun, how far do they go back? My great great grandfather fought on the side of the South during the recent troubles or the war of northern aggression. My northern relatives might think them's fightin' words ...