You Ever Had One of Those Days?

You ever had one of those days? I did this last weekend. Hubby and I had just gotten back from the beach, rested and stress-free until… I found a beautiful coffee table and end table that would be perfect for the beach condo (which I am currently renovating – yek). It was on Craigslist, a website I had not been on previously. Listening to the barn boys talk about all their great deals (monster trucks and such), I had to go on the site and see what the big hubbub was all about. I soon found myself lost in the world of people selling their stuff. Then, I found the coffee table and end table. They perfectly matched the bronzed wrought-iron dining room suite at the condo! Such Luck! They were located in Madison, a short drive and I would save hundreds of dollars. I was excited about those tables!

We got up Sunday morning and headed to Huntsville to purchase the tables. I had the address and the directions but we also used GPS (remember I am GPS challenged – it hates me). After wandering around Madison for what seemed like hours, we finally arrived by using the longest route possible to get to the location (GPS thinks it’s funny to send me by way of China). The tables were in the attic of a three-story house. After dragging the furniture, which had heavy glass tops, down the steps and listening politely to the lady of the house chatter about how she had the tables made, I was getting irritable. I hadn’t eaten and I was thirsty. We paid the lady and made our escape with the booty.

I wanted lunch! We stopped at a chain restaurant, thinking we could get in and get out quickly. No such luck! Our waiter, complete with those earrings that enlarge the holes (I couldn’t keep from staring - I mean why put those things in if you don’t want people to stare and wonder if it hurts?), was not very happy to be at work that day. After ten minutes of waiting for him to take our order, I had enough and went looking for him. Now is the time to feel sorry for my husband, I seem to embarrass him a lot. Too bad. I was thirsty and my head was ringing from listening to the nice lady (and she was nice, I was just hot and wanted to leave). I found him back by the bar, chatting with a waitress. Gee, sorry to bother you… He took our order and finally got me some tea. No sweetener. So I had to go scavenge some from other tables. I had my tea, nicely sweetened and was about to relax when lunch was served. Now, my husband will tell you, I will not eat any meat that isn’t cooked completely. No raw, no rare, no pink. I order my food well done because I am phobic about it. My hamburger arrived, still bleeding. Another round with Mr. Ear Extenders and I had my properly cooked burger. Yes, you can feel sorry for my husband.

We headed home but needed to stop and get some Ichthamol paste for the horses. It is an over-the-counter remedy used for drawing abscesses. It works on splinters and other things too. You slap it on and the miracle cream draws out the infection or whatever. It is safe for humans so I usually keep some around. The little girl behind the counter at the drug store argued with me that there was no such thing, even though I patiently spelled it for her three times. Finally, the pharmacist came over. Yes, they did have it and yes, he told the little girl, it did exist. Fine, I told him I needed some. Well, there was a problem, they didn’t have any in stock; he would have to order it. Nothing was going right for me. I ordered it and left, cursing stupid little girls for making me mad. Of course I had nothing to do with getting mad, it was all her fault. Now you can really feel sorry for my husband as he listened to me rant about incompetence and wasting my time.

Coming up the mountain toward home, my cell phone rang. I cringed. It was one of the barn boys. I never get a phone call from them in the middle of the day unless it is an emergency. Without answering it, I handed the phone to my husband. I just couldn’t deal with another thing that would upset me. Sure enough, one of the pasture horses had cut her leg and was bleeding profusely. I listened as hubby explained putting pressure on the leg and that calling the vet would be a good idea. We arrived home and sat waiting on the vet for what the vet called a few minutes (nearly an hour). The mare was not a happy camper and proceeded to kick anyone who came near her leg. After fighting with her, in my good clothes, we finally got the leg stitched up. She is in the big barn now, still not a happy camper.

Exhausted and only wanting a shower, I headed inside. Mason, my Dobie, had decided that the new Dean Koontz book I had just bought was not on his reading list (He must know that Koontz favors Goldens). He had chewed the book into a million pieces of paper all over the house. I had wanted to read that book that evening! Now I was reduced to picking it up in wet lumps. I gave up plopped down in my chair. My perfect day of getting that lovely furniture and having a nice lunch with my husband hadn’t turned out like I wanted. My husband patted my on the shoulder and then told me that Daisey, the mule, had jumped the fence, heading to the big barn and her friend. Back outside again to chase the silly mule. On days like this I would prefer a condo, no animals and my books intact.

Have you ever had a day that started off well but ended badly? Share some of your experiences with

Well Enough Alone

This morning I did it again. I screwed the top off the Molly McButter and dumped half the container in my oatmeal. It wasn't the first time and it isn't always Molly McButter on the oatmeal. Cinnamon on the toast, nutmeg on top of the eggnog, chili powder in the taco meat. I cannot learn. No, really. I can't. And you can see how long this has been going on by the eggnog reference.

Why did the spice companies have to make things better for me by replacing a screw top and shaker combination, with flip top and shaker combination?

In theory, this ought to be great. Only one hand is required to do what used to take two, leaving the other hand free to stir, answer the phone, or knock the cat off the counter. Except, after all these years, I operate a spice bottle using motor memory skill—meaning my mind doesn't think about it. My body just does what it always has.

I am not against all change. Flip top cans, tuna in a pouch, and a ketchup bottle that stores upside down are all good things. I could write four pages about my love of Swiffer products—especially the mop. But I can't ruin my oatmeal without my brain coming into play with these things.

Now is the part where I am supposed to go all lofty and use this little inconvenience of life as some metaphor or some other hooey. I'm not gonna. I'm just going to be mad about spice bottles for a while. Sorry. That's all I've got in me today. You go ahead and think about somebody in a third world country who'd just be glad to have a bottle of nutmeg any way they could get it. That's fair. You're not wrong. But I'm not giving out fair today.

I was with some people recently who were livid over those new twisty light bulbs. I am mostly ambivalent about them. In fact, I kind of like them because they last a long time.

But I have had a gut load of those spice bottles.

Any change in the manufacturing world that's got you up in arms?

Recipe Friday--Hot Mushroom Dip

It's official. I have completely lost it. I didn't know today was going to be Friday. I knew yesterday was Thursday. I guess I thought some elusive day, meant to help me catch up, had been invented and was going to be inserted between Thursday and Recipe Friday. So I'm late.

This is a great party dish. It's so easy and there is never any left. Apparently, that's the kind I need these days.

Hot Mushroom Dip

• 1 pound fresh mushrooms, chopped fine (I use baby bellas)
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Saute mushrooms in butter until tender and the liquid evaporates. Add cheese and mayonnaise. Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes.

If you mix it up ahead and bake right from the refrigerator, it will take 5-10 longer.

I've been known to add a little sherry.

The Unexpected

In the last couple of weeks, many folks have blogged  about the RWA national conference in New York,  but it's my turn.  There were several things that happened during the week that were unexpected,  yet turned out to be good surprises.  Pretty much anyone who has known me for ten minutes knows how I hate a surprise so I realize what a big shock it must that I have coupled  good and surprise in the same sentence

Pantster and I roomed with the always fun Katherine Bone.  The first surprise was that she got us some really cool "roomie" presents.  She often gets us a little something to celebrate conference, but this year she out did herself, with  matching flashlights!  You might not think that is a great gift but if you had ever roomed with me, you'd know just how precious that can be.  Before I can rest easy in a hotel, I need for everyone in the room  to have a pair of closed-toed, hard-soled shoes beside the bed with a flash light in one of them.  Why? It's obvious.  In the event of an emergency, like a fire, I need to know that the people in my room can make a quick and orderly evacuation, using the route I have preselected for us during my recon of the facility. I scope out the recommended evacuation route and alternate ones in case there is a crowd or an obstacle that must be avoided.  The closed-toe, hard-sole shoes are for protection against broken things, sparks or other bad things on the floor. We cannot be slowed down by burning or cut feet.  Of course, the flash light is so that we can see to find each other if it is dark or smoky.  Getting a good gift from Kathy wasn't a surprise, but that she played to my special quirk was an unexpected joy!  (On a different note, if you don't make a plan to get out of a hotel in the case of an emergency, I strongly encourage you to do so the next time you have a trip.  As a friend of mine often points out, the people who are most likely to survive any crisis are the people who have a planned ahead of time.)

A room like ours!

A second great surprise was how fantastic the Marriott Marquis staff was.  Everyone was so helpful and did everything that they could to make our stay the best possible--from Terrell at the security desk, who made my stay in New York City less stressful, to the lovely people who provided coffee and water for the conference attendees in the mornings.  You always hear how rude people are in other parts of the country, especially New York, but it was a very nice unexpected treat to find that to be totally untrue.

The absolute best unexpected event happened when Pantster and I pitched to Deborah Smith of Belle Books. If you have never been to the pitch room at the RWA national conference, you have truly missed a spectacle of epic proportions.  I pray every year that God will bless the volunteers who work there because it has got to be the one of the craziest volunteer slots at the conference.  These poor volunteers have to get a new group of about twenty-five people lined up and into the pitch room every ten minutes for hour after hour.  Then in the pitch room,  the noise and nervous energy are just over the top!  So there Pantster and I were pitching to another Southern writer who is also an editor. We made a little small talk as we handed her our cards.  Then she asked us to tell her about our book so we launched into our pitch.  She nodded and laughed out loud.  We took that as good signs.  Then she asked some questions and said our story sounded great. Here is where I expected to get the fairly standard request for a partial submission, but, instead, the wonderfully unexpected happened . . . . She asked us if this was our first book  and right out of my mouth popped, "We have some elves living under our beds." Now to give credit where credit is due, this is how our friend, the fabulous Lynn Raye Harris, refers to her early medieval romances that will never see the light of day but it made Ms. Smith laugh. Then she asked us to tell her about them.  Of course, by this point our ten short minutes were almost up but she gave us her card and said the most wonderful thing someone pitching can here.  "That all sounds great. Send me everything you've got."   Needless to say, Pantster and I were over the moon with excitement!

Has there ever been a time in your life twhen you thought you knew what would happen, but it turned out much better than you anticipated?

Change = A Good Thing

Life takes on new meaning when the life you've known changes. Who likes change? Most of us don't. But then there are times when change brings adventure and adventure breeds amazement.

Growing up in the Army I was bred for change. Though I did not like it when change came my way, I stepped up to the plate and swung my bat, eagerly getting my foot in the door, meeting new people from different lands, and building a life for myself somewhere I'd never been before.

As an Officer's wife, I had to initiate change, become the facilitator of change. My job was to make sure that change did not overwhelm those around me, especially my family when LTC was away on tour of duty. Change helped me adapt, and as I adapted, I blossomed and grew stronger.

Parents struggle with change on a day to day basis. Children grow up too fast and learn things a mother would never want them to know. But that is the world we live in today and each generation must change with the times. (Not wanting to conform, I can often be heard rebelling from the mizzenmast. Pirate!)

Recently my cell phone died. This not only perplexed but angered me. I lost all the pictures of my family and friends, as well as pictures of places I'd been. I lost most of my contacts too. I might as well have been marooned on a island with one shot. Though it seemed like the end of the world (Cheryl blogged about that yesterday) I quickly came to realize how much I needed modern technology and a roof over my head. Let's face it, an old timey cell phone just doesn't appease my newly developed twitter and facebook habit. Instead of being able to peruse e-mail at my fingertips, I was forced to sit in front of my computer.


Life appeared lost for half a day. Then as change gave way to acceptance and acceptance to tolerance, I realized that I was not defined by modern technology, that I could exist without instant gratification. When asked if I wanted to expedite my replacement phone, I spoke bravely, "No, I can live without it until the new one arrives."

How quickly words come back to haunt us! Jean says I developed 'buyer's regret' and I agree. Before I'd hung up the phone, I doubted I'd made the right decision to forego paying extra money to get my phone in the mail earlier. I lamented throughout the weekend that I'd made the wrong decision. Why did it matter so much? What was a day or two or three?

Well... after I'd resigned myself to accept the delivery on July 18th, I was surprised to see the phone arrived in the mail much sooner than expected. And, oh! what a fine replacement it is!

Though the same model, the software is updated. You see, change can be good. Change can open your world to even greater possibilities.

Change = A good thing! No more worries about being stranded in a calm sea without a rudder.

What changes are you making in your life? What changes have found you when you least expected them?

Time is Running Out, According to the Mayans

Checking my emails, I realized I had gotten one from Google Earth about locating the hotspots for the End of the World. I did a double take and clicked on the link in the email, wondering how in the heck they would know where the asteroid, nuclear explosion or tsunami was going to hit. The link was for me to upgrade my Google Earth – a shameless ploy. But, it did start me to thinking about this Mayan Calendar stuff – I am sure every one of you knows about their calendar ending on December 21, 2012. There was even a movie, “2012,” done about it (I didn’t see the movie – sounded stupid to me). Any way, if the world does end because the Mayans foresaw this as the date, I got to thinking about how I would spend my last day.





I sat down and made a list of the things I would do on December 20th. I’ve never really thought about it, kind of a bucket list, but this end of the world stuff made me stop and think. Here’s my list of what I would/will be doing on that date in 2012:

1. I would call my family and all the people I love. I want to tell them how much they mean to me and how special they have made my life. To me it would be important to let them know, just before everything ended, that they were what made life worth living. I would want to spend as much time as I could with my husband and my son.

2. The really fun stuff would then begin – I would take my list of people who have annoyed me or really ticked me off, starting with the third grade and Jeanie who made fun of my dress, then move on through the really important stuff. Since my manners have never allowed me to really tell them off (Jean – manners have no relevance when the world is ending), I would proceed to tell them every little conniving thing they had ever done to me and that they were worthless individuals. Harsh, I know. I can hear you all now – why waste that time doing something so mean? Well, I don’t know, it just appeals to me. I need closure since the world is ending.

3. Next, I would go to the grocery store and buy every favorite food of mine. First I would begin with making the world’s largest and last banana split as an appetizer. From there I would go on to frying chicken, making cornbread and cooking dried lima beans (I know, that’s about as Southern as you can get but they are my favorites!) For dessert, crème brulee and cheesecake. The rest of the day would be spent eating Jordan Almonds. Who cares about calories? I would probably also make my son and my husband’s favorite – spaghetti. Not mine but they can’t help it, they have Italian genes.

4. After dinner, I would get in my car and drive as fast as I want. No police worries. Who cares if I don’t show up for court in a month? There won’t be a court if the world is ending. I love driving fast and since the only thing which ever stops me from speeding is getting into trouble with the law it won’t really matter, so why not? I mean, I’ve always wanted to go down I-65 at 160mph!

5. Driving that fast, I could make it to the beach before everything ends. This is my favorite place in the world. The ocean and its raw power rejuvenate me and make me feel more alive than anywhere else in the world. I feel closer to our Creator there. I would want to spend my last moments surrounded by this with my husband and son close by.

I know this sounds depressing and truly I don’t believe in this end of the world nonsense. BUT I do believe in doing things you really want to do before your time runs out. Sitting here trying to think of the things that I would do made me realize that I should spend more time doing what’s important. (Okay, so telling people off is not really important but, if you know me, you know I just can’t let go – a character flaw…). We spend too much of our time scurrying around, worrying about inconsequential things and not living our lives. Tell people you love them. Tell people who are annoying you, well, just tell them that they are annoying you. Eat drink and be merry. And, for me, speed when you don't think anyone is looking. Spend more time at your favorite places with your favorite people. These things are important.

So think about it: what would YOU do if you knew the world was ending tomorrow? Try making that list and see how hard it is. I think it is important so you know what things you as depriving yourself of. (Believe me, crème brulee is something no one should do without!) Tell me what one thing you would want to do on that last day. And if your phone starts ringing early on December 20th, you might start to wonder if you are part of Number one or number two on my list…

Upcoming Guests

I am sure  many of you are checking your calendars thinking, "Did I miss some days? I thought today was Monday, Pantster's day on the blog."  I am equally sure that everyone expected to find a witty, sassy blog that probably included a list of rules for behavior for situation that adults should already know but seem to have forgotten--or worse--choose to ignore.

Instead, you find a blog by me. Believe me, it can only go up for you from here.  In an effort to make sure you aren't too disappointed, I decided to share some exciting news with you.  Since the guest blog by The Guy went so well while we were at the RWA national conference, we have decided to have more guest blogs.  We have contacted many of our author friends, including some very excited first book authors, and we have over ten guest bloggers scheduled for the upcoming months.  Most of them are also going to share a recipe that relates to her book so that will make Recipe Fridays more fun too.

These guest spots will coincide with new book releases so that we can all get the inside scoop on the hottest books before they hit the shelves. (Well, unless your store is Books-A-Million, but that is Pantster's story to tell.)  In the next few months we are going to have visits from Kimberly Lang, Katharine Ashe, Debby Giusti, Rhonda Nelson, Debbie Kaufman, Melanie Dickerson. After Christmas, we'll hear from Kira Sinclair, Missy Tippens, and  Andrea Laurence.  Exciting times indeed!

We look forward to visiting with these authors and think you will enjoy getting to know them and chatting about their upcoming releases.

Is there an author you most anxiously await new releases from?  Has it changed over the years?