NEW LOVE, FIRST LOVE

This is one from the bucket list.  

New Love, First Love is an updated version of my first book "New Beginnings".  It not only has a new title, but added content for those who wanted more from the Burke and Stanton families.

Now available in paperback at Amazon.com:
New Love, First Love.  This updated version can be found here: NEW LOVE, FIRST LOVE

WORST. BLOGGER. EVER

Halfway through the summer.  Kids still not fighting (much).  We've been spending time at the beach, but still have to trek down to the shore a few times.  We are kind of running out of time for that.  I haven't been hearing "what are we doing today?" that much.  I must be doing something right.

Okay, so I just updated my family info, and I had to add two years to each kid.  Is that proof enough that I am the Worst. Blogger. Ever?  Thank God that no-one reads this blog on a regular basis, because if you were looking to me for any kind of guidance, you would have had to wait until now to get it.

As for my other blog, that I promised to update every week?  Well, I have to admit that I am a coward about that one.  Still working on the first twenty.  St. Patrick's day sort of did me in.  I am still 10 lbs down, but I think that it was supposed to be 40 by now?  Or something like that.  I guess that it is good that I have not gained, after all.  Remember the bathing suit weigh in?  I haven't actually worn a Bathing suit since January.  I'm calling it self-preservation.  

I really do hate bathing suits, anyway.  Even when I go to the beach, I don't wear one, because I'm not going to go in the water.  I just want to sit on the beach and read a book.  Just finished a good one.  See my previous post.

SHADOW'S DOLLS

My niece,  Elizabeth Mehling, has written an exciting horror- fantasy novel called Shadow's Dolls.  If you are a horror fan, this novel is right up your alley.  Here is a description and link to Amazon.


At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the lives of six children are shattered when they are abducted and forced to become demonic creatures. Their captor, and leader, then brainwashes them by convincing the group that they must use their suffering as a motive to inflict it on others, especially the mysterious beings that shunned him years ago. Their inner and outer demons begin to form into one, an effective weapon that exists for the sole purpose of wiping out the apparent adversary. On the outer edge of Ursa Major, a culturally diverse civilization, blessed with the ability to control magic, is one of the universe's best-kept secrets. Each of these inhabitants have families, homes, and stories of their own, all of which are interrupted and torn apart by the satanic gang known only as the "Shadow Beings." The Shadow Beings themselves display an apparent sense of control and security. In reality, they must face the constant struggle to remain hidden and hold onto the blind faith they have in their leader (and tormentor), all while falling into a dangerous cycle of doubt and self-destruction that only intensifies. As the cities burn and the people are slaughtered, both the victims and the perpetrators begin to realize that this is not just a direct genocide of the innocents....but a desperate struggle for everyone to maintain their grip on identity and sanity. Recommended for ages 15 and up due to disturbing content, language, and violence.

http://www.amazon.com/Shadows-Dolls-Elizabeth-Mehling/dp/1480290696/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374847686&sr=8-1&keywords=shadow%27s+dolls+elizabeth+mehling

I CAN'T KEEP UP WITH MY @#*%&@* EMAIL!

Admit it.  You can't either.

image found at laurentbrouat.com

I have decided to switch to a new email account.  Granted, this blog is attached to the email that I want to delete, which is a problem.  All my contacts are there too...ditto.  But I'm still going to do it, because the amount of email crap that I get on a daily basis is overwhelming, and I just want to start from scratch.

I remember a time when I thought that getting an email was a wonderful thing.  Sure, it's great when you receive pictures from friends and relatives, or actual correspondence (I'm not talking about the dreaded FWD's here).  Right now, I would just love to have a nearly empty inbox.  I waste so much time deleting messages that I do not want.

Whatever possessed me to sign up for surveys?  I'll never know.  Maybe I didn't realize that I would only earn a whopping one dollar for suffering through one hundred surveys.  Talk about time wasted.  Sure, I could earn money faster by filling out "offers" to buy other products, but doesn't that defeat the purpose?  I would be spending more money than earning.  I cancelled one of my survey accounts, and after warning me that I would forfeit all my earnings (a whopping $17.00 for months of surveys--they can keep it) they asked for my reason.  Here it is:

"It is impossible to make money doing surveys without spending money first.  I think that it defeats the purpose".

I signed up for Groupon, Living Social, etc.  I get about 10 emails a day from  each of them.  Don't know why I signed up for offers in New York City (about a hour away from me).  Maybe, I probably thought that I would get great offers from Museums, and concerts--and there are some--but most of the offers are for haircuts on the Upper West side, etc.  It doesn't seem to make much sense to spend $50.00 on gas just to save $20.00 on a haircut.

I get offers from Publishers Clearing House several times a day.  All the emails say, "This could be the winner, so don't ignore it!"   It never is, but I keep searching on "Search and Win" to lose over and over again.  But I still enter the contests, just in case. However, I have noticed that when I ignore the emails, the world still turns. 

Then there are the emails from companies that you have ordered products from.  This is a "One day only sale", sucker.  I don't mind them as much as the emails from companies that I never ordered from.  How did you get my email again?  I spend much time deleting myself from the mailing list.  Of course there is the occasional SPAM that sneaks through the filter as well.  It's just too much, and I can't keep up.  Most of the email coming to this account is just unnecessary.

This is why I want to start over.  Brand spanking new email.  Three emails at most per day.  I think that I can handle that.  It's just going to be a pain in the butt to switch everything over, but it will be worth it.

NEW BEGINNINGS - KINDLE EDITION

The Kindle version of my first book, New Beginnings is out:


 http://ping.fm/uuZGT via @amazon

THINGS THAT I HATE ABOUT HALLOWEEN

Disclaimer:  I used to like Halloween when I was a kid.  That understood, let us continue.

1.    I hate to dress up (and I don't), so I don't go to any stupid Halloween parties.  I've seen pictures, and I've seen people at those parties.  They are either pretending that they don't think that they look ridiculous, or they are drunk. 

2.   I hate trick or treating (see disclaimer).  Going from door to door begging for candy creeps me out.  Now, if we were going door to door begging for money, well that's a different story.  Can we make a day for that?

3.  I hate Goosey Night (well, so does everyone else unless you're a teenager and you want to destroy something). 

4.  Don't even get me started on how much a stupid costume costs.  I wish I was blessed with the talent of making a homemade costume, but I am not.   Every year, my kids would be dressed up as hobos (just like I was). 

5.   Did I already mention that I hated trick or treating? (see disclaimer).

6.   I hate Halloween parades.  Watching the little kiddies walk around in 40 degree weather (some of them dressed like ghouls or midnight nurses).  Pu-leeze! And what's up with the miniskirts for 5 year olds. anyway?  Does your 5 year old have to look sexy?  Really?

7.   I hate when people hand out crappy candy.  If you're not into it, don't bother to hand any out.  We are not out there freezing our butts off begging for candy to get  3 candy corns each.  FYI, This is coming from a mother who carefully scans what is in her kids bag  (and eats any Baby Ruth she can find).  I vote for more Baby Ruths!

8.   I hate when teenagers trick or treat.  If you are 6 foot 7, it's time to buy your own freaking candy!  And don't knock on my door at 9:30!  (But here, have some candy so you don't egg my house or cover my trees with toilet paper next year on Goosey Night.  Have a few more Baby Ruths). 

ALL MY SOAPS ARE GONE

I'm on a roll now.  Check out my latest post from the  THE HARRIED MOM FILES:  ALL MY SOAPS ARE GONE

WOW, I HAVE TO BE THE WORST BLOGGER EVER

MORE PROOF THAT I AM A HORRIBLE BLOGGER.  

I started writing a post about how happy I was that school was about to begin.  I finally finished it three weeks into the school year.

read it here:

HARRIED MOM FILES - WOW, I HAVE TO BE THE WORST BLOGGER EVER

YADA YADA YADA--I'M TIRED TODAY

CHECK OUT THE LATEST POST AT THE HARRIED MOM FILES

KID PIC OF THE WEEK - HAPPY 9th BIRTHDAY

She looks like she got away with something, doesn't she?

See that little angel?  Well, let me tell you something, don't let the outfit fool you,  She is as tough as nails (and a little mischievous too).  She's funny, she's smart, she's adorable, and she's my little girl.  Happy 9th Birthday Giggles!

KID PIC OF THE WEEK - Happy 11th birthday!

This is Song and Dance Man on Halloween 2009 as Elvis

Happy Birthday to Song and Dance man who turned eleven today.  You make my life joyous on a daily basis!

He's Sixteen, Now I'm feeling Old

Oops!

How did this happen?  Two seconds ago, Ringleader was five years old and I was putting him on the bus for kindergarten.  Now he has a deep voice and is taller than me.  Later this year, he'll be driving.  I'm not going to think about that now, though.

It wasn't that long ago that I was sixteen, or so my mind tells me (my body tells me different).  That was twenty nine years ago.  Where did the time go?  Now, I'm sounding like my mother.  She's still wondering how I'm 45 while she's still 21 (ummm...Mom...).   I must have passed her on the way.  Did I just admit that I was 45?

I still remember what it was like to be 16 (my memory does go back that far).  Many pressures and worries are ahead for everybody.  I can't even think about the g-word (but he's not going to have a girlfriend until he's 22.  If I keep telling myself that, it might happen, right?). But, one of these days, he'll say "Mom, I would like you to meet what's her face", and I will have to smile, then lock him in his room.

Happy Birthday, big guy.  I love you.

SUMMER SEASON!

Summer season has begun and all is right with the world.


I went to the beach yesterday.  It was a local beach at the lake--nothing fancy.   It was our first trip of the season.  The van isn't packed with all the essential beach gear.  We forgot towels, and the beach blanket.  We didn't have the wonder wheeler or the umbrellas.  We just packed a few drinks in a cooler, some bagels, a bag of popcorn and brought the chairs.  

I was watching my middle son in the water.  He was the only one out of the three who actually went in all the way.  He swam to the dock and hung out with the kids out there.  Jumped off repeatedly, having the time of his life.  This is his favorite time of the year--he was in element. We call him the waterboy--always in the water, or near the water--fishing, swimming, etc.  At the shore, he rides the waves and is fearless--I watch him like a hawk when we are there.  At the shore, I cannot lounge in a chair with no worries.  I usually find myself in the water being pummeled by the waves, watching him closely.


But at the lake, I can relax.   Yesterday, I was there, lounging in a chair under a tree, toes in the sand, reading a book .  I was in heaven.

ROB LOWE IS ON THE COVER OF VANITY FAIR, AND I'M YOUNG AGAIN

Okay, I admit it.  I bought it.

I have never bought a Vanity Fair magazine in my life, but I bought this one.  Like the teenage magazines that I bought in the 1980's with Rob Lowe on the cover, I have succumbed once again.  I couldn't help myself.  He was calling to me, saying "Buy Me", so I did.


I didn't buy it for the article about the Civil War at Goldman Sachs, or the article about Bill Gates.  The Royal Wedding?  Okay--I'll check that out.  However, the main reason I bought it was because Rob Lowe is on the cover, and he looks damn good.  I'm sixteen again, and boy does that feel good.

BASEBALL SEASON IS ALMOST HERE!

Can you feel spring in the air?  

I do.  Well, I did yesterday when it was over 70 degrees in New York.  Today was a bit colder, though--barely hit 45.  


But tomorrow spring will officially be here, thank God, and I happily wave goodbye to winter! 

NEW BEGINNINGS -CHAPTER TEN - THE CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG

I have posted Chapter Ten of the updated version of my novel, 

New Beginnings at Good Reads

John can no longer keep the secret from Darlene:

CHAPTER TEN - THE CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG

Jack's Daddy

A friend of mine has illustrated a children's book that her friend has written.  It is called Jack's Daddy.  It is a beautiful and heartbreaking book that is available on Amazon.  The link is on the bottom of this post.

This is the Overview:

The purpose of this book is to reach out to children and families who have experienced loss. Jack’s Daddy takes you on a child’s journey as he connects with his father throughout life’s simplest moments. Jack sees and feels his father’s love all around him. No matter where he is or what he does his dad is always smiling along with him. This book sprung to life as result of the tragedy of September 11th. A very dear friend was eight months pregnant with her first child and lost her husband on that tragic day. How would her son, Jack, know what a wonderful man his Dad was? We hoped this gift would somehow lessen the pain and teach Jack that his dad will always be with him. Enjoy the happy journey and smiles Jack’s Daddy may bring!!






This is the Amazon link:  Jack's Daddy

THE HOLIDAYS GO TOO FAST

The tree is still up.  I didn't take down the decorations yet.  I know that it's past Jan 6th, but I'm not ready to let go of the holiday season.  I was actually going to take them down today, but the kids begged me not to.  I decided to give it one more week, because to tell you the truth,  I hate taking down the decorations.

When I was little,  we would decorate on Thanksgiving Friday, and my mom seemed to play Christmas music daily.   We watched Christmas movies.  There was always a Christmas atmosphere at home, and that lasted for more than a month.  That's what I remember, anyway.   By the time that we took down the decorations, it was Jan 6, and we were satisfied.

Now, I feel that this year the holiday season went too fast.  I don't know where it went.  One day it was Thanksgiving, and then time seemed to speed up.  I don't even remember playing Christmas CD's.  I must have, right?  We watched at least one Christmas movie, didn't we? With all the "hustle and bustle", I seemed to have lost a month...somewhere.

So, here I am, hanging on to the Christmas tree and not wanting to let it go.  Sure, it's partly because it is a pain in the butt to get back in the box (artificial), and it's also annoying to put everything else in it's particular box, then shove it back into storage, but I will also miss the season that seemed to go away too fast.

CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY - WINNER HAS BEEN PICKED

Congratulations to Claudi Kari from Milwaukee, WI. for winning the signed book!   The book is on it's way!

NEW BEGINNINGS CHAPTERS EIGHT AND NINE ARE AT GOOD READS

I've posted Chapters Eight and Nine of my novel,

 New Beginnings (updated edition) 

at Good Reads

 Chapter Eight - Some Time Alone