LIFE OF A WRITER

So much to blog about … I know I should be pacing myself, because in a few days, I will have nothing to blog about … or will I have more to blog about? Hmmmmm. Oh, the choices in life … anyway, two things I want to talk about today.

1. Amanda Ashby. Fantastic writer who lives in New Zealand. Her debut novel, YOU HAD ME AT HALO, was released earlier this year … I think. I can’t remember. Anyway, I bought it and I read it, and I enjoyed it.  :)  She sent me a personalized bookplate for my copy.

Also, with my kickass bookplate, Amanda sent me a lovely pink furry halo … and no, I won’t post a photo of me wearing it until I get a decent photo of me wearing it. I’m will add her blog to my list of other stuff that I read … I just thought I would mention her name to everyone.

Her book is about this young woman named Holly, who dies, but returns to Earth in one of her co-worker’s body. The co-worker is kind of geeky and male. She returns to Earth for two days to figure out how she died. It’s a nice summe read … I recommend it. 

2. Julie Garwood. I haven’t done much research on Julie because I picked up one of her books at a local used bookstore (the book was on the 3 for $1 rack). The book is called KILLJOY, and let me to tell you … I’m hooked just from the prologue.

From the summary on the back cover, Avery is a detective who is tracking down her aunt, Carrie, who disappears. After reading the prologue, I seriously cannot wait to read more … I just haven’t had time to sit down and read a chapter or two.

I just hope that the book doesn’t disappoint me, because I am very excited about reading it. I just love reading books that hook you from the very beginning. I will rave more about it when I’m finished. While I’m on the subject of disappointment, let me tell you about this one other book …

I’m not going to name names (or should I?) … a couple months ago, I start reading this book about a kidnapping. The story is set in Minnesota … I think the small-town was not too far from the Twin Cities. That’s the reason why I picked up the book.

Anyway, the book is about this female detective who transfers to this small town and the kidnapping occurs on her first day, I think. At the beginning of each chapter, a date and time is listed … the book started off well, but somehow it just didn’t grab my attention.

Unfortunately, I have this bad habit of skipping to the end of the book to find out what’s going on. I’m glad I skipped to the end with this book because the female detective and the police chief are ready to spend the rest of their lives together after working on this case!

Oh, the timeline from the first chapter to the last chapter? 13 DAYS! 13 freakin’ days! I rolled my eyes when I read the dialogue between the female detective and the police chief. Maybe, I’m too serious for my own good, but who knows they’re ready to marry each other within 13 days? Come on!

Oh, the boy returns home and the kidnappers remain free. Even though I didn’t read some of the chapters, I didn’t read any elaborate rescue efforts … no car chases … the boy just shows up on the steps of his house and the mother cries for joy over his return. The end.

I’ve been meaning to post this little tidbit, but other life-changing moments have been occurring … when I was visiting Becky when Cole broke his left leg, I was scared to hold him for fear that I would hurt him or something. Not to mention, I picked him up once and I forgot that he would weight about 10 to 15 pounds more … I wasn’t ready for that. Since then, I kind of panicked about picking up Cole, but one afternoon, Becky made me pick him up …

You know, it’s kind of hard to run the other direction when you have this very sweet 2-year-old boy with soulful eyes looking straight at you and his arms reaching out toward you, waiting for you to pick him up. Awwwww … talk about breaking my heart. I picked him up, ignoring Becky and Enrique snickering at me. And I picked up him a couple of times since the initial lift-off … I actually balanced him on me knee and read a book to him. I’m very proud of myself. 

I’m very glad that Cole is taking the new baby (Tate) in stride … so far, Becky says he looks at Tate and says “baby” a lot. Cute, huh? I can’t wait to head back out to the farm and see Tate, but I’m not sure when that will be at the moment. I know Mom and Dad plan to head there to help Becky with the new baby and Cole, and I think Krissy might head out there, too. Anyway, I just wanted to report that I did pick up Cole several times … and I did not break him. 

The release of VODKA FOUR was pretty much another day. I had hoped to have a physical copy of the book in my hands, but I didn’t. Then I found out the online stores (amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders, etc.) take their sweet, sweet time posting independent books to their Web sites. And I have no idea when the online stores will post the book, so I’m basically checking the Web sites whenever I have the chance.  :(  Boo, I know.

But on the plus side, I’m writing again after procrastinating for sooooooo long. The second book,  A THOUSAND YELLOW DAISIES, is about halfway complete … I pretty much know all of the scenes and stuff, I just have to sit down and write everything. The third and fourth books, I know the premises and have much of it mapped out in my mind, but once again, it’s just a matter of me sitting down and writing.

So, that’s my update. I wish had better news for everyone. Just keep faith that the book will be available … I predict by the end of the month. And thank you to everyone who has been keeping an eye out for the book on the online sites … I appreciate your enthusiasm and support!  :)  And thanks again for everyting … your support has been awesome and greatly appreciated! Thank you.

I have a new nephew … Tate David Remiger. Tate was supposed to be born sometime in August, but like his older brother, Cole, he wanted to grace the world with his presence a little sooner. I didn’t talk to Becky for very long because she making the rounds of calling everyone in the family of the important news … I don’t even know how much Tate weighs and all of that other information. But so far, Becky is doing well and baby Tate is breathing on his own. 

I’m beginning to think Krissy is right … Weinlaeder women are unable to give birth to little girls. Krissy gave birth to Ethan and Gavin and she adopted Tova in order to get her little girl. Other than me, cousin Katie is the only other Weinlaeder girl … and I don’t know about her procreation plans. I know that I don’t plan on having any babies in the near future. Maybe Mom was the last Weinlaeder to give birth to pretty little girls … interesting thought. Welcome to the world, Tate David. Love you already.

Enrique and I are visiting Becky, Pat, and Cole on their farm, and so far, I haven’t been any help. Well, Enrique and I have been keeping Becky company and chatting with her while she goes about her day, but I really haven’t helped out with Cole. I’m too afraid to pick up the kid.

As soon as Enrique and I arrived at Becky’s, we saw Cole laying on the “Hannah Montana” beanbag, and my heart JUST broke. His left leg is in a cast, with part of the cast covering his belly and part of the right leg. I tried picking him up once, and I almost dropped him because he’s so heavy.

Not to mention, I wasn’t sure how to hold Cole with the cast and all … although I have been observing how Becky, Pat, and others have been holding him, but I still a little chicken to do it myself. This gives Becky and Enrique the perfect opportunity to laugh at me.

Enrique, bless his heart, brought out his Wii and hooked it up to Becky’s TV … last night, we went bowling and I tried golf. I like bowling a lot … just a few moments ago, I just broke my record! My top score is 211! Wahoo. I’m pretty impressed with myself.

Teaching me and Becky to bowl with the Wii was amusing at first … but once, she and I got the hang of it, we did pretty well. Everyone else can pretty much bowl from sitting on the couch, but I bowl best when I stand up and swing my arm (like actual bowling).

On Thursday, Enrique and I leave for the Twin Cities, where we plan on shopping at IKEA and then going to a nice restaurant somewhere. Then on Friday, he and I head to Winona to see “The Merchant of Venice” at the Great River Shakespeare Festival.

I’m pretty excited about the play because Winona has been hosting this festival for years now, and I’ve always wanted to go, but never really had the chance until now. I’m pretty grateful that Enrique enjoys going to plays and stuff. 

I believe Mom is coming out to the farm next week to keep Becky company again. Right now, she and Dad are in Macomb, Ill., watching Krissy’s three kids while she heads to a conference in Indianapolis and while Jason works. They probably have been more help than me. At least I’m trying. 

And the Oscar for best acting goes to … Enrique! Let me tell you why I’m a little miffed about this. Enrique bought me the black onyx “Scrabble” edition a couple of weeks ago … it was a “sorry, I gave you mono” gift. Awwwww. Yeah, yeah, yeah … whatever. While I am grateful for the awesome gift, but Enrique used the gift for evil … and let me explain why.

I win the chance to go first, and I pick my seven tiles. Right away, I see potential for an awesome word. After shuffling my tiles around, the word TOURING appears … that’s right, I get to use all SEVEN of my tiles on my FIRST turn. I get 50 bonus points! Wahoo! Enrique cries foul and begins to pout. I believe he said, “I quit. I give up.” What a quitter, and he continues to complain about not being able to win.

But the game doesn’t end … Enrique heroically forges on, complaining about his pick of tiles (pulling a lot of vowels). But somehow, he can play the word THIEVE … hmmmmmmm. Interesting. During the game, I can play the word TENANTS, which once again uses all SEVEN of my tiles, but here’s the kicker, I can’t find a place on the stupid board to play the awesome word.

I end up playing the TENANT, using some of my tiles. For most of the game, the lead changed a couple of times … Enrique was in the lead for awhile then I was leading for awhile. It was a very close game up until the very end. Enrique is sighing a lot and complaining about all of his “vowels.” We have a rule … we can use the dictionary when it’s not our turn.

Toward the very very end of the game, Enrique was wondering whether MA, AR and UR were words … it was his turn, and because I’m a kind and compassionate person, I look up the words for him. All three words were in the Scrabble dictionary. He sadly puts down the word MA. I throw down some word that I can’t remember, just thinking I had just the won game.

Yeah, no, I didn’t win. Because stupid Enrique threw down the word WHIM on the triple word score! What? Seriously? He soooooo played me. He acted all sad and mopey because he didn’t have a chance to look at the dictionary. So he played on my kindness and compassion to look up the words for him! He used “Scrabble” for evil, and I’m a little miffed at him.

And here’s the worst part … my sister, Krissy, sides with Enrique! What? You’re my sister, you’re supposed to take MY side. No one is supposed to use “Scrabble” for evil. Krissy says I should learn my lesson for boasting about all of my great “Scrabble” skills and knowledge and blah blah blah. All I know is that Enrique and I won’t be playing “Scrabble” for awhile …

Enrique is miffed at me because I threw down a seven-letter word during my first turn, and I’m mad at him for acting like a big crybaby in order to win. I mean, come on, the game is about using awesome words not about acting! From now on, I will be wary of his “acting” skills … no more compassion … no more kindness. According to Krissy, “All’s fair in love and Scrabble.”

I went to Toys R Us the other day, looking for a nice backgammon set. About a week ago, I taught Enrique how to play the game, using one of my board games that boasted about having “seven games” all in one set or something like that. Tired of playing backgammon, now you can play checkers or even chess!

Anyway, I want a nice backgammon set … oh, for the record, after teaching Enrique the game, he won two out of the three games. I went searching at Toys R Us for a backgammon set because the local mall doesn’t have a game store and I can’t think of another place that would have a NICE backgammon game.

While I’m scouting the game aisle, I notice the “classic” games, such as Monopoly, Life, Scrabble, etc. I also see the various versions of the “classic” games, such as the “The Simpsons” characters playing “Clue,” and the a very pink version of “Monopoly.” I saw a “Spider-Man” version of some game that I can’t remember.

Then I see all of the “new” games on the shelves … and one caught my eyes. “Dancing with the Stars” card game. What? Really? Seriously? Come on! I tried watching the TV show, but I got bored. Watching two people — even if one of them is a celebrity — didn’t really entertain me.

Not to mention, I got tired of complaining of seeing all the half naked women parading around on the dance floor. Isn’t the competition about dance and performance not who can wear the least amount of clothing? So, how in the world can the powers that be make a card game of the TV show, I wonder?

I read the directions on the game, and I am just confused. I don’t understand how to play the card game, and then I wonder whether this game is any fun. I know I won’t be playing the game anytime soon (or at all), but I can’t imagine this game being a fan favorite at parties or game night.

GUEST #1: “Oh, let’s play ‘Dancing with the Stars!’ That’s such a fun game!”
GUEST #2: “I get to be Joey Lawrence!”
GUEST #3: “I want to be Kelly Monaco!” (A soap opera actress was the first winner of the show)
GUEST #2: “Does that mean you have to show your boob sometime during the game?” (Monaco had a wardrobe malfunction during Season 1)
GUEST #1: “Everyone take a seat and let’s play this awesome card game about dancing!”

I shake my head at the silly game, but you know the powers that be are ALWAYS looking for ways to capitalize on a good thing. “Friends,” “CSI,” “Sex and the City” are good TV shows (to me), and all of those shows have board games of some kind on the shelves. Whether the games are any good is another story.

For me, I like to have the “classic” games. I have “Monopoly,” which will always be a classic, and for now, I will refuse to buy the “new” game, where you have an electronic device that keeps track of your money. Part of the fun is collecting a large amount of money and seeing your opponents have none.

However, I do have a recent “non-classic” game called “Cranium.” I played the game at a family reunion and promptly bought my own soon after because I had such a good time. Two “Scrabble” games and “Risk” also sit on my closet shelf … hopefully, a nice backgammon set will join them soon.

Poor Cole. He broke his leg a couple of days ago (click here for Becky’s story). For the next six week (SIX WEEKS!), the kid cannot run or jump or walk … my heart goes out to the little guy every time I see this heartbreaking photo. Becky is thinking of ways to entertain a 2-year-old who can’t go anywhere … ideas would be very helpful. She hates the idea of sitting Cole in front of the TV for very long.

Starting Sunday, Enrique and I are on vacation. Because we’re both still recovering from mono, which by the way, we’re doing A LOT better, but we decided to take it easy this week instead of doing anything exhausting. We planned a trip to the Twin Cities toward the end of the week (Thursday). And we plan on seeing “The Merchant of Venice” at the Shakespeare Festival in Winona on Friday.

One of Enrique’s friends is planning to open a diner (or dive), and we plan on seeing the place and helping him out on Monday. Enrique and I were supposed to celebrate my book release by having dinner at a very nice restaurant called, Traditions (very spendy but very good), and then go drinking with some other friends after dinner, but those plans were easily scratched when I heard Cole broke his leg.

Enrique and I will head to Becky’s farm Tuesday and leaving for the Twin Cities from there on Thursday. Enrique has a nephew a few months younger than Cole, so he can imagine that his nephew, whom I will dub Diego, would be miserable too if he broke his leg. I believe the above photo of Cole also broke Enrique’s heart a bit because he has been thinking of ways to entertain an immobile 2-year-old.

I’m sure as Krissy reads this blog, she will wonder why Becky gets to meet all of my boyfriends and not her. As far as I know, I don’t think Krissy has ever met any of my boyfriends (maybe you shouldn’t live in Illinois!). And for some reason, Becky always has the opportunity to meet one of my boyfriends. But I’m sure Krissy will meet Enrique soon enough even though she likes to call him other male Spanish names that start with E.

Before I begin the latest saga with Riley, let me tell you about one of Riley’s weird habits. He has the tendency to lick mirrors and the outside of the dishwasher. He has been doing this as long as I can remember, and I have no idea why he does it … so if you guys have any ideas or theories, please share them with me.

Sadly, I don’t clean my full-length mirrors often and it shows because people can see cloudly stuff on the bottom part of the mirrors. The water bowl is refreshed on an almost-daily basis, and I’ve seen Riley drink from it after I catch him trying to tip it over, which is another weird little quirk.

So, anyway, Enrique was playing around with Riley the other day when he noticed a cut on Riley’s mouth (near the right side). A few days later, Enrique checked it again and the cut didn’t seem to get better or worsen. I then called the vet clinic, where one of the nurses told me to dab it with water and soap and some peroxide.

Somehow, getting peroxide near Riley’s mouth is going to be challenge, I think. While I was getting ready for work, Riley was lounging on the top of my nightstand … one of his new favorite places to sleep these days (I don’t know why). Without knowing what’s happening to him, I quickly dab the cut with a wet paper towel.

I figured since that task was easy enough, maybe two people aren’t needed for the peroxide job. With a cotton swab with peroxide in one hand and a wet paper towel in the other, Riley was highly suspicious of me. He was no longer laying down, but he was sitting on the nightstand instead.

Riley eyed the cotton swab and wouldn’t let me go near his mouth with it … so I gave up the quest to clean the cut. Hopefully, the cut gets better within a couple of days, because if not, Riley is heading back to the vet clinic. And I just hope that I’m not hit with another $400 vet bill.

Friend #1: Heather

Friend #2: Shonte

Friend #3: Kariann

Friend #4: Emily

Friend #5: Betsy

You drop a piece of gum on the floor. Who is more likely to pick it up and chew it? Friend #3 or Friend #4?
Hmmmmm … I don’t know. It’s a toss up … I know that Emily likes to throw food on the floor.

How long have you known Friend #4?
For more than a year now … Emily and I work together at the Tribune.

Out of all five friends, who have you known the longest?
I want to say Betsy, but I think it’s between Heather and Betsy … no, I go back to my original answer, I’ve known Betsy the longest.

Friend #2 and Friend #3 are in a fist fight. What would you do?
I would try to break it up, but I can’t imagine Shonte and Kariann getting into a fist fight with each other because they don’t know each other, and Shonte is a pretty peaceful person … but that’s not to say that Kariann is a very violent person because she’s not, but then again, I think she can hold her own in a fight. I’m just saying … 
 
Out of all five friends, who has seen you cry?
Hmmmmmm, I don’t think any of them have seen me cry, because I don’t like to cry in front of other people.

Who would you choose to go on a road trip and why?
I would probably choose Emily because we have similar taste in music and other stuff. I think she and I would get along the easier on a road trip … plus, she doesn’t weigh that much so I could easily boot her out of the car if I get tired of her or if she makes me mad.

If you could go anywhere for one week, where would you and Friend #5 go?
I don’t know … a place where there’s plenty to do and see but yet relax. I don’t know how Betsy feels about laying around in the sun, but I would love to go someplace tropical because I need to work on my tan.

Who is the most likely to be a millionnaire?
Betsy, because she’s very intelligent. She would be a contestant on “Jeopardy!” and win millions of dollars.

How often do you talk to Friend #3?
Usually Monday through Friday at work … sometimes Saturday and Sunday, if I have the day off from work.

Do Friend #2 and Friend #4 know each other? If so, how did they meet?
No, Shonte and Emily don’t know each other. I worked with Shonte at another job before returning to the Tribune full time.

Which friend lives the furthest from you? And why?
At the moment, Shonte lives the furthers because she and her husband live in the Milwaukee area, but Heather and her husband will live in Virginia sometime in July.

How often do you go shopping with Friend #1?
Too often. She’s the worst shopping buddy ever, because we both end up spending too much money. At first, Heather and I try to convince each other that we don’t need new clothes or more yarn, but then we rationalize and reason why we need another white tank top or more blue yarn. Seriously, I love shopping with Heather because she gives her honest opinion when I don’t look good in something.

If you needed $50, which friend would be most likely to loan it to you?
Hmmmmm … I would have to say Betsy. But she just bought a new car, so I’m assuming her funds a little limited at the moment. My second choice would be either Emily or Heather.

Which friend would bail you out of jail?
Betsy. For some reason, I can imagine myself calling Betsy and asking her to bail me out, which I think she would do after I explained why my butt is in jail in the first place.

Which friend would be sitting in jail with you?
Kariann or Emily. Let me explain … I don’t think Kariann or Emily are the radical types, but if something was going on (like evil people taking over the world), I know Kariann would stand up and say something and I think if Emily had enough alcohol in her system, she would take stand against any wrongdoing.