Five kids and a Blog

House Health Care Reform Bill Pelosi-edition

2009-10-29T14:40:00.001-05:00

The U.S. House of Representatives has just posted a copy of the 1,990 page health care bill.

Here is the link -- http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_ahcaa.pdf

Download and read it. We don't have much time to provide feedback to Washington on this.

2009-10-27T22:22:00.015-05:00

My Shirt, My Life, My Spider(bite)

　
Maybe the red stiletto boots hooked me. Maybe the twinkling stars and commanding strips did. Or maybe, just maybe, the gold wrist cuffs were what won my heart.

Forget Indiana Jones. The first person to popularize rope wearing was the ultimate heroine: Wonder Woman. And her rope didn’t whip the baddies; it seduced them into speaking the truth.

Gotta love Wonder Woman!

Yes, I have to admit I have a Wonder Woman tee-shirt. One Person Who Won’t Be Named thought I was loony to wear it to the opening night of the RWA STAR conference. Oh, but that feline lover was so wrong. I’m not a bit loony. I proudly wore the red shirt with Wonder Woman emblazoned across my chest. In fact, I even wore it to church upon more than one occasion.

Although I love Wonder Woman, she’s really not my favorite superhero. Neither are Superman, Supergirl, Aquaman, or the Wonder Twins. (Yes, I am anxiously awaiting the Wonder Twins arrival in Smallville.) Probably my fav is Spiderman. Why? Because he wasn’t born Spiderman. His powers weren’t innate.

One day he was happily walking along in geekdom when a spider bit him. In that nanosecond, his life changed.

Every person who has ever lived has had at least one spider-biting moment.

Huh? you may be thinking.

Well, that’s okay.

Think away.

Every person who has ever lived has a story. They were born, they lived, and they died. Some stories are exciting.

William Wallace. Ghandi. Genghis Khan. Joan of Arc.

Anne Boleyn.

Martin Luther. Thomas Jefferson.

Rosa Parks.

Jesse Owens. Mozart. Liberace.

But some stories aren’t as exciting and no one will find them in any book.

Of course, most of us will never James Frey our lives for recognition, but that doesn’t mean our stories aren’t as valuable or significant.

What is your spider-biting moment? What is that moment in time when your life hit a huge turning point?

For me, it was June 8, 1992.

I’d just graduated with a degree in Communications with an emphasis in Radio/Television and was working at a news radio station. My fiancé was a DJ at a local top-forty radio station. Life was good. Yet, I was miserable. My life had had a small turning point during my senior year of high school. My church youth pastor did something stupid (nothing immoral or anything, just stupid), which ticked me off so I slowly got less and less involved in church.

So by 1992, I had pretty much walked away from practicing my faith, from believing in the significance of being a part of a body of belivers. The guy I was marrying claimed to be a Christian so I justified that as him being a good guy to marry, yet I couldn’t understand why I was so miserable...until I realized that a relationship with a guy wasn’t going to fill the ache in my heart. No man, woman, or child could offer me lasting significance. I need God on a daily basis. I needed to be following His will, His word.

I'd never stopped believing in God. I'd merely sat down in the middle of the race.

After my realization, I ended the engagement and returned to the One True God who could heal my hurts and give me value. The joy that I had been missing consumed me. My life hasn’t been the same since because no matter what struggles, frustrations, or hell that arises, I have a peace and hope in my soul that defies human understanding.

That’s what I call a life-defining moment.

I remember when I was thirteen

I saw a picture on my T.V. screen

The Reverend Billy Graham and the people singing Just As I Am

And it felt like You were talking to me

And the whole world seemed to fade away

Until I heard my mother say "Son, are you okay? Do you wanna pray?"

And that became the hour I first believed

Next thing you know I'm high and flyin'

Next thing you know My heart is in your hands

Next thing you know There's no denyin'

Next thing you know I'm a brand new man

Well, I wish I could say I always stayed right there

And I did until my freshman year

But the world was pulling me a long way from thirteen

And you were calling but I didn't hear

Still I knew there was something more

So, one day my knees hit the dorm room floor

I said, "If you're there, and if you really care,

Come and talk to me like I was thirteen."

Got a picture in my head today of how heaven might look someday

I see the people there, so I pull up a chair

And their stories, they blow me away

'Cause I can see it on every face The evidence of grace

And as I listen it occurs to me

Everybody's got their own thirteen

So, what's your story about His glory?

You gotta find your place in the history of grace

Yeah, what's your story about His glory?

Come on and find your place

~Matthew West, What's Your Story

Every person who has lived as had a life-defining moment, although not all of those moments are personal encounters with God.

When a couple marries, their lives take a new course. Even if they divorce, their lives are forever changed. Having children is a turning point. Losing a parent or loved one and realizing that life is about more than chasing wealth and 15 minutes of fame is a defining moment.

As writers, as women, we all need to examine our lives for spider-bites. What happened that changed you from a self-absorbed person to a giving person? What changed you from loving the man you vowed to love-until-death-do-you-part into wondering what a relationship with that other guy would be like? What changed you from working in a 6-digit job to becoming a stay-at-home mommy? What made you leave Podunkville, USA for a life in the big city? What changed you from being a joyful person to a cynic or a cynic into a joyful person?

Remember those experiences and use them when you write.

Now think about your characters. Do they have life-defining moments? Or are they the same people at the end of the novel as they were at the beginning?

In his book Writing the Breakout Novel, Donald Maass writes, "[A] novel, uniquely among art forms, presents powerful points of view, strong conflicts and a helping of human life that affirms a higher truth. Characters in breakout fiction may seem realistic, even average, but they are bigger than their circumstances. They do not just suffer, but strive. The do not practice patience, but act. They do not merely strive, but endure."

Later in the chapter, he uses the word "rebirth."

I love that word choice. If you’ve ever read The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler, you saw a comedic and earnest rebirth of a character. If you haven’t read it, then read it.

Take a really really good look at your manuscript. Is there a rebirth? If there isn’t, then maybe you need to take your manuscript on a tour of a laboratory that specializes in genetically enhanced spiders.

Make your characters stop being victims of life and start being students of their experiences.

And while they’re at it, why don’t we join them?

Swine Flu Paranoia is Everywhere!

2009-10-27T22:12:00.001-05:00

Free Speech: the newest endangered species

2009-10-20T13:54:00.004-05:00

I'm deeply concerned about the attack the White House is engaging in against Glenn Beck. The fascinating part is they aren't countering his message, only attacking the messanger. That alone should send a red flag. If what Glenn is reporting ISN'T TRUE, then the content of his reporting is what they need to be talking about. And denying. Only they aren't.

Why not?

Could it be because what Glenn is reporting is TRUE?

In related news, the Federal Trade Commission is doing a side-ways attack on the First Amendment by putting limits on bloggers. Of course we can say "well, it makes sense for bloggers to have to disclose that the product(s) they're promoting are ones they're getting paid to promote."

When we open the door to any restriction on free speech, then that makes the next restriction easier to accomplish.

What's next?

How about forcing bloggers to admit "I'm friends with this writer so I'm giving her new release a good review because 1) she gave me a free book to read, 2) writers support other writers, and/or 3) I'm hoping one day she'll return the favor by giving my book a good review."

I've long past the point of naively trusting the government. What I want to know is why the skeptics of the Bush Administration are so readily willing to leave their skepticism at the door when evaluating the Obama Administration. What makes Obama supporters think they can trust him? How many campaign promises has he broken? How high do your taxes have to increase before you realize more than just those who make over $250,000 (or is it $200,000 or is it $150,000) are gonna have to pay their fair share?

What about the White House's attempts to ressurect the Fairness Doctrine? One of the reasons convervative talk radio is so dominant over liberal talk radio is because the listeners for the latter just aren't there. A business will advertise where the listeners are. Just one reason why Rush Limbaugh can charge such outrageous fees for advertising on his program. He doesn't have to seek advertisers. They're on a waiting list. I doubt the salesteam for Rachel Maddow's show ever turn advertisers away.

Click on this link to read why Conservative talk radio and liberal doesn't.

Anyhoo, back to the Fairness Doctrine. The Heritage Foundation wrote a great article on why the Fairness Doctrine isn't fair.http://www.heritage.org/Research/Regulation/EM368.cfm

We are living in "such a time as this" that we need to educate ourselves in the truth of what the White House and Congress is trying to change about our country. Sadly, like how the foundation of the church has been destroyed by Evolution (http://www.answersingenesis.org/) so to is "I didn't want to do it, but ____ was just too big to fail" is wittling away at our country's foundation--the Constition.

What's even worse is that this attack isn't new.

It's been happening for the last 100 years by members of both political parties. Only difference is this administration interjected steroids into the attack.

Despite everything that's happening, I stand on one truth: In God I Trust.

Whether you agree or disagree with anything I've blogged, I urge you to EDUCATE yourself and INVESTIGATE the truth.

Writing, Chocolate, and Hobbies

2009-10-16T10:25:00.014-05:00

Today's recycling day, so in honor of Henrico Waste Management emptying my bins of recyclables, here's a recycled blog post. The toddler mentioned is now 6 1/2.

~*~*~

HANDS DIRTY, HANDS DIRTY

My two-year-old loves to get into everything. And she does get into everything. A carton of eggs. The litter box. The trashcan. My china hutch. Her brother’s backpack. The new box of, umm, let's call "girl stuff" that I accidentally left sitting on the kitchen table.

Today it was the bag of melting chocolates I had purchased to make Scooby Doo suckers.

Like normal, Rhyinn came running to me, holding her hands up and saying "hands dirty." If she doesn’t want to get her hands dirty, then why does she smear her pudding all over the kitchen table or take off her diaper and mess in her poop? I just don’t understand her toddler thinking process.

Uggh. Children.

Must be the paternal DNA taking over.

(Please ignore any pictures my mother sends of me making mud pies. The faded photo has been digitally altered.)

Rhyinn’s action makes me wonder something. Give me a second to get to it.

I've often heard unpubbie writers say they would write even if they knew they would never get published. They would write for the fun of it. Quite admirable, don’t you think?

When I hear that, I think, "So writing is their hobby." A hobby. Isn’t that a reasonable assessment?

Scrapbooking for me is something I do for the fun of it. Creating something out of funky triangular-cut paper, adorable stickers, and silly photos of my kids with snakes wrapped around their shoulders provides me a momentary amusement. A sedative. A time for me to relish the memory of that particular minute when all the stresses of life were an eternity away. I enjoy scrapbooking enough to do it even if I knew I'd never reap monetary benefits.

And so you don’t think I’m an amazingly organized person, I have at least two years’ worth of pictures I haven’t scrapbooked. I won’t even mention I don’t have a single picture of my younger sister’s New Year’s Day wedding.

Scrapbooking is my hobby. I really wish cleaning house were too.

Writing is NOT a hobby for me. Yes, it is a sedative at times, but I don't write for my own personal amusement or to distract myself from life's chaos. It’s not an escape. I don't write to live out my fantasies in a book because I'm too afraid to take a real-life risk.

I write because I have a story to tell. I can’t NOT tell it.

And because I want to tell that story well, I work at writing. I refuse to settle for "good enough to make me feel like I’m a real writer."

The other day one of my writer friends was struggling with her level of writing and another writer’s condemnation of her quality standard. She wrote this in response:
"To me, no matter how talented you are, you still have to work hard. Does Tiger Woods, the God of golf, just screw around ALL year long, show up at some golf tournaments and win? Do the Olympian swimmers sleep all year long and then win their gold medals? No. I grant that these people are talented. But without their sweat and blood, they wouldn't have been able to achieve the pinnacle of their careers."

Writing for your own personal pleasure is fine. It’s honorable. In fact, I think writing is a wonderful way to deal with personal frustrations, struggles, temptations, and failures. Journaling is the cheapest form of counseling. I should journal—umm, blog—more.

Not everyone who wants to be a writer will succeed as a writer. (I’ll leave the discussion of success for another time.) Of all those who consider themselves writers, only a portion will achieve published success. I don’t say that to be a downer but as a realist.

For some writers, writing will merely be a hobby—something to play with for a time. They will never let their hands stay dirty because they have other things to do. And there is nothing wrong with that decision. I have lots of things I like to dabble in for pleasure—things that are fun to do—but I will never get serious about them because I don’t have a passion for them. Sewing. Crafting. Floral design. Keeping my house clean.

Another group of writers will see their writing as something more than a hobby, but because they aren’t willing to dedicate themselves to learning the craft of writing, they will live frustrated with constant rejections.

If I knew I would never be published in fiction or non-fiction, then I wouldn’t strive to be the best writer I could be. I would re-examine my heart to see if my passion for writing is misplaced passion. Is there something I’m better at, something that I have a greater chance of succeeding in? Fortunately, though, my future is unknown. So I will strive. I will educate my mind. I will relish the editing stage as much as the drafting stage. I will push myself to learn.

What about you?

No matter which path to publication you take (print or e-pub), don’t be afraid to sink your hands into the muddy soil of creativity and learn to be the best writer you can. Don’t just assume you know how to write because you’ve been reading since you were two. Master the art of punctuation. Become a virtuoso in the sonata of concrete word choices, literary imagery, and paragraphing. Deepen your knowledge of what makes compelling writing.

By golly, get your hands dirty. It’s a whole lotta fun.

Just ask my daughter. And my son. And my other daughter. And my other son.

Okay, and me, too.

September 12 March on Washington

2009-10-06T11:03:00.012-05:00

How big was the crowd in Washington?

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/more-912-crowd-data-yeah-it-was-big/

Tens of Thousands or a Million Plus?

http://moderateinthemiddle.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/update-contract-from-america-attn-obots-i-own-the-world-has-the-pic-we-need-to-get-a-real-countupdate-how-big-was-the-crowd-media-credibility-plunges-to-new-low-aerial-views-added-d-c-police-close-r/

So I can't help thinking "What does it matter how many people were there?"

Good question, Gina.

See, here's the thing: If it doesn't matter, then why did the media downplay the numbers? Were there 75,000 people or a 100,000,000+? The answer is simple.

Because the government needs to know that Patriotic anti-big-government taxpayers have had ENOUGH of the cancer consuming Washington.

Or as one journalist wrote:

"This is the first great conservative anti-statist manifestation in American history. Theconservative movement, which developed in the post-WWII, Cold War environment has now fully matured into the most significant political movement of the 21st century. I believe that this day could be referred to in the not too distant future as the day that changed America. This was the day the great silent conservative majority finally found its voice.

Many of the attendees were quite meek and timid and were unsure of exactly what to expect, this being the first time in their lives they'd been involved in a protest movement. Their fears evaporated early in the day and I saw people reveling in the camaraderie , the joy and sheer civility that was exhibited at the entire event. Chants of "Freedom, freedom, freedom", "No more czars! No more czars!" carried through the air without the slightest hint of rancor or incivility which is the norm at the leftist rallies I have photographed over the years."

Mike Pence (R-Indiana) was one of the speakers who addressed thecrowd: "After years of fighting runaway government on this hill, you people look like the cavalry to me. I believe we are on the verge of a great American awakening."

San Diego radio host Mason Weaver said from the podium: "I came here because I thought you might want to hear a black man speak withouta teleprompter...This government is trying to make a nation of dependent people. Americans have always been independent people...This is not a Republican thing, it's not a Democrat thing. It's not a black thing or a white thing. It's an American thing...We the people are telling them 'No more! We've had enough!"

Lloyd Marcus performs - Proud Black Conservative

~ PICTURES ARE WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS~

Washington Mall after Obama Inauguration, JANUARY 20, 2009:

Washington Mall after 9/12 protest, SEPTEMBER 12, 2009

Stupid Soul Mate Cliche

2009-09-22T10:34:00.005-05:00

If we define a cliche as somethings that been done so many times that it's past familiar, then isn't giving Christmas gifts and birthday gifts a cliche? Okay, I doubt that's going to get me off the hook for going Christmas shopping this year.

On a side note, last year Planned Parenthood of Indiana offered Free Abortion Certificates as the newest thing in gift-giving. According to Ms. magazine, an official of the Hoosier Planned Parenthood group explained: "People are making really tough decisions about putting gas in their car and food on their table, so we know that many women especially put healthcare at their bottom of their list to do."

Talk about a gift that keeps on giving. Where's that sarcasm font when I need it?

Back to topic....

I like cliches as long as they fit and have a twist to them. Just between the two of us, I have this secret idea to write a character who only speaks in cliches. Remember that Star Trek Next Generations episode when Captain Picard met that alien who only spoke in metaphors and allegories? Loved it! Loved Picard! Classic episode.

I am a trekkie at heart.

Anyhoo, one of my all time despised cliches is the concept of soul mates. Let me say that again and with emphasis.

One of my all time despised cliches is the concept of soul mates.

Ladies, what if your soul mate died in a car crash when he was 16? Does that doom you to a life all alone...or with some guy who won't be anything more to you than a second-string quarterback?

What if your soul mate was stupid and married the town's #1 exotic dancer before he met you? Does his poor choice doom you to a life alone...or with some guy who won't be anything more to you than a second-string quarterback?

Out of ten randomly chosen romance novels (sub-genre doesn't matter, although in paranormals the odds skyrocket), at least three will mentions the leads being "soul mates." How convenient for the pair that they're both attractive 'cause if not....well, imagine Roseanne Barr telling Brad Pitt, "Hey, dump Angie, I'm your soul mate!"

At some point, ladies, if you advocate the reality of soul mates and you still aren't married, you might want to stop assuming your guy is gonna be one one of those hunky hearthrobs with Bill Gates-like brains and fortune. Duh.

Realistically we all can't have great soul mates because look at how many hunky hearthrob Bill Gates-smart guys are out there. The gene pool isn't that fertile. Oh my satellites, I had a thought. What happens if you marry the guy who you were 100% certain was your soul mate but then learned he had an affinity for leaving the toothpaste cap off so you KNOW your true soul mate wouldn't be so stupid? Do you divorce the guy and go looking for your true soul mate? Not only that, but since feelings change as quick as Madonna reinvents herself, how can you really be sure your soul mate is your true soul mate? And what if you thought husband #1 was your soul mate, only to learn he wasn't, so you divorce and marry husband #2, and you guessed it, after a few years you learned he wasn't either, so you divorce and marry husband #3, and...well, do you see the picture?

My brain is stressing.

How can you guarantee the person you've fallen in love with is your soul mate? I know. Sex.

See, in the average romance novel, or sex-focused tv show, that the characters don't realize they're soul mates until they've had hot wild never-like-it-before sex. What if your soul mate just didn't have "game"? Time to start watching The Bachelorette.

I am full of "what if" questions today.

What if your soul mate dies, leaving you a widow? You're kinda obligated to tell the next guy who proposes, "Sure, I'll marry you, but just know that you only have a percentage of my heart and not a bit of my soul because it is forever linked with my dead husband." He deserves to know that you're a Corpse Soul Bride. It's the most loving thing you can tell him. After all, now he can know that he might want to keep looking because he obviously hasn't found his soul mate in you.

See, this is why I think the concept of soul mates is so totally stupid and cliched and takes away personal choice.

Is there only one "right" person for us? If you believe that, then I can't see how you (or your characters, if you're a writer) don't struggle with second-guessing your (their) decision to be with the person you're (they're) with. What if he's not "the one"? What if so-and-so was but he had bad breath so you refused to go out with him again?

What if your soul mate was a total jerk? Clearly the world has it's share of jerks, and I can't imagine each one of them is slotted to be a eunach. Some will marry. Some will marry for love...and yet will still be jerks.

Good thing love is a choice.

Golden Pen Contest

2009-09-21T10:19:00.002-05:00

I've been ignoring my blog because I have Golden Pen historical coordinator duties to attend to.

Tomorrow, though, I'll be posting over at Inkwell Inspirations. Our theme this week is Too Stupid to Live, aka TSTL.

Ever had a contest judge tell you that your heroine was TSTL? Hmm. I haven't, but I certainly know I've wanted to say that about many a contest entry heroines I judged.

Obsessive Counseling for the Christian Writer, Version 2.0

2009-09-17T12:30:00.001-05:00

The other day I was changing channels, when I noticed How the Grinch Stole Christmas was playing.

Only Ron Howard could take a great story and turn it into a drecky movie. *sigh* I guess I should be happy my kids missed the sexual innuendos and overall stupidity when we watched it last Christmas.

A funny thing was when my oldest son said, "Mom, voice of the Grinch sounds like the guy who was in The Mask."

"Well, that's because it's the same guy. Jim Carrey."

"Does he act the same in all his movies?"

Oh my. That's pretty impressive insight for a teenage boy. I shrugged and answered, "Yes, he pretty much does. Adam Sandler and Will Ferrell are a couple other actors who realize becoming a cliche doesn't hurt their paycheck.

I sure don't want to become a writing cliche. Hmm. You know, I can actually see how easy writing the same characters and plots over and over again can cause readers to see writers as cliche. I certainly know I'll scream if I read another romance trilogy that has a redheaded heroine, blond heroine, and brunette heroine. Is it not possible to have three books with sisters/friends/strangers having brown hair?

Makes me kinda wonder if writers, especially multi-published authors, become obsessed with easy distinctions verses relying on deeper, more distinct characterization.

Reminds me of when my now almost 12-year-old daugher was eight. She'd decided she was obsessed with Barbies. No joke. Just out of the blue, she said, "Mommy, I think I'm obsessed with Barbies."

How could she have known what an obsession was? I know adults can't distinguish that. Shoot, I've been out shopping, searched a sale rack looking for undershirts for my oldest son, only to realize I'd already bought him ten new ones (six of which were Puma to match his new shoes) in the last month, while three months earlier, I'd bought him a 6-pack of Hanes. Instead of denying my obsession with undershirts, I merely denied my obsession with shopping.

I wisely told her that she wasn't obessed with Barbies.

She looked at me suspiciously. "How do you know?"

"Sweethearts, because you don't spend every breathing moment talking about them or playing with them, and you certainly don't spend a fortune on them."

She smiled and said, "I guess I'm not obsessed."

I'll admit have obsessive moments.

*When I find things on sale, I just yearn to find another great sale.
*When I make a new memory book page and it turns out real cute, then I must make a new one to top it.
*When I finally feel like cleaning, then I don't want to stop until my entire house (including attic) is clean.

Yes, I have OMs (obsessive moments). Sometimes with writing, I have OMs. If a scene is working, then I don't want to stop writing. Seasonally, on any one of my writer's lists, a thread starts about about balancing writing and life.

One lady, whose name I've chosen to not remember, basically said she's sacrificed having a life because she wants to become published.

Interesting. I wonder why she said "to become published" instead of "to write a great story" or "to become a respected writer." Does she seek validation in becoming published? Who knows? That's her own path to walk. And we all walk paths. What's important is that we don't get to the end of one and wonder, "How'd I get here?" Be sure of the steps you take, just as you are sure to where those steps lead.

I sure don't want to be on my deathbed wishing I'd spent more time with my family and less time trying to become a published author.

Free Harlequin Book Downloads

2009-09-16T14:16:00.001-05:00

To celebrate 60 years, Harlequin is inviting you to download 16 full ebooks, absolutely free. Total value $60 US. Choose from tender romances, heartwarming stories, suspenseful adventures, tales of passion and more.
http://www.harlequincelebrates.com/index.php

Christian Fear Counseling 101

2009-09-15T13:51:00.010-05:00

FLASHDANCING ON WATER

"Tell us your phobias, and we will tell you what you are afraid of." ~Robert Benchley

Mr. Benchley (whoever he is) was on to something. Since I don’t see any volunteers to list their phobias, I guess I’ll start.

Bridges over water scare me.

It doesn’t matter if I’m driving the car or not, I still can’t abide traveling across water. And the bridge doesn’t have to be high above the water like Annapolis Bridge, which crosses the Chesapeake Bay. (I hate that bridge.) I can’t abide the underwater tunnel leading to the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area either. Every time we drive through it, I have mental images of leaking cracks. I swear one day I’ll see a crack. I will.

And another horrid bridge is the one leading from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. The swampy water is practically level with the road. That’s just wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. I swear I will never travel that road again. An alligator can just crawl up…. OMG, I don’t even what to think about it.

Bridges not over water scare me, too.

Why?
I don’t like bridges, okay?! You drive off and you’re dead. I’m just not into traumatic deaths.

Swimming in the ocean, the gulf, or a sea.

I’ll just leave it at sharks, eels, jellyfish, and octopus, and let your imagination talk hold.

Swimming in a lake or a river.

I have two words for you: Human-eating bass.

Doesn’t matter that you’ve never heard of human-eating bass. Sure as the sun rises in the morning, the day I go swimming in a lake, some mutant bass will decide my toes are an all-you-can-eat buffet. I’m so not into that. If I’m going to swim, I want to see what’s at the bottom of the pool.

Parachuting, para-sailing, or anything anywhere near related to that.

Splat! Did you ever see the episode of SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN when Steve’s girlfriend, Jamie Summers, did the pavement tango? I did. Real life isn’t television. One splat and the show’s cancelled. No one can bring you back to life as the Bionic Woman. Not that that wouldn’t be nice.

Hmm, more fears…. Gee, I think those are all my fears. So, Mr. Benchley, what am I afraid of?

Death? Wrong! I’m not afraid of death. I know where my eternal destiny lies. I just don’t like pain. My fear of bridges and water stem from my desire to…you know, this article really isn’t working for me.

"Those who lack the courage will always find a philosophy to justify it." ~Camus

Oh, shut up, Mr. Camus.

Human-eating bass isn’t a philosophy to justify my fear of lake water. Let’s be realistic. Who want to swim in a fish’s toilet?

Don’t laugh at me, Mr. Camus.Okay, I’m a coward. My fears are merely outlets of my cowardice, of my unwillingness to take risks. Fine. Does my admission make you happy?

My fear of bridges comes from my fear of not being in control. When someone else is driving me over the bridge, I’m quite nervous, but when I’m driving over the bridge, I’m far less nervous. Parachuting and para-sailing force me to put my life in the hands of someone or something else, too. I could never parachute because I’d spend all my time second-guessing that my parachute was packed correctly. Deep down inside I don’t trust my own judgments. I fear being wrong.

I fear being wrong because if I’m wrong, then I’ll be embarrassed, and I fear embarrassment. If I’m ever embarrassed, I won’t admit it. It’s too embarrassing.

Since my husband bought us a pair of Sea Doos, he’s been begging me to get over my fear of lake water. Excuse me, it’s not the water I fear, it’s the things in the water that could eat me. (For those of you who don’t know, a Sea Doo is a brand name for a personal watercraft. Other familiar names are Jet Ski and Waverunner.) I hated riding behind him. I’d never make it on a tandem bike either.

Nevertheless, when hubby let me drive my own Sea Doo, I loved it. I became a crazy Sea Dooing momma. I even drove the thing at top speed. I’m a maniac, maniac on the water, and I’m driving like I’ve never driven before.

I was zooming and zagging and zipping across the lake.

The wakes were my playground. I had form. I had game. I had skills, and, trust me, guys like girls with skills as much as girls like guys with skills.

My eleven-year-old daughter loved the moves I was making. I was Michelle Kwan on a Sea Doo.

Zip.
Zap.
Zoom.

Splat!

Yep. Dorky me somehow managed to throw my daughter AND myself off the Doo. And this Scooby Doo when Scooby Down. My hair got wet. My face got wet. But I didn’t lose my sunglasses. Didn’t I tell ya I’ve got skills?

Interesting thing is no human-eating bass ate me. My lifejacket worked. My daughter was laughing not crying.

We got back on the Sea Doo and met up with the rest of our group. As I gassed up the Doo to top speed, I realized that my flying off the Sea Doo was kinda like death. Too many people fear death, but when it happens, it’s so quick you don’t have time to think. There’s nothing to fear on the other side.

"There’s nothing I’m afraid of like scared people." ~Robert Frost

I have fears, but I’m not a scared person. Yet to many times I miss out on wonderful opportunities and experiences because I fear what could happen. I unwisely let my fear of failure and embarrassment hold me back.

Ride a rollercoaster. Talk to a total stranger. Wear something new and different, something so "not you." Take a Foreign Language class. Be the first person to talk instead of the last.

Whatever your fear, step outside it.

Better to try and fail then to never try and regret it the rest of your life.

Just make sure you are wearing a lifejacket if you’re going anywhere near water. And don’t run with scissors.

It is time to Stand Up!

2009-09-12T12:26:00.004-05:00

"It's not the flag. It's the principles behind the flag." Glenn Beck, 9/12/09

I have to say the more I learn about our government, the more I'm becoming liberterian. I don't want the government to solve my problems because their answers aren't for my benefit. Both parties are taking us--taking our country--to a place where the people no longer rule...the government does. Continuing along in our normal day-to-day activities and denying what's happening only hurts us. Only hurts you. What I want to know is "Why?"

What are we afraid of?

Why do we want to deny what is happening--what has happened--in Washington DC?

What of the things I like about Sarah Palin is that she went after her own political party and before she went after the other one.

Where are the people who will clear out the rat's nest in the Democrat AND Republican party?

Understanding Me

2009-09-11T10:45:00.003-05:00

You know your true friends when they buy you gifts or send you quotes that are just perfect for you.

I must credit my gal-pal, Laurie Alice Eakes, for sending me this:

"I like a thin book because it will steady a table, a leather volume because it will strop a razor, and a heavy book because it can be thrown at a cat." ~Mark Twain (1835-1910)

Nice.

:-)

SCREEN IT! ENTERTAINMENT REVIEWS FOR PARENTS

2009-09-09T22:42:00.001-05:00

SCREEN IT! ENTERTAINMENT REVIEWS FOR PARENTS

Shared via AddThis

Oh the things my sister tells me...

2009-09-08T11:46:00.002-05:00

So last night I was talking with my oldest sister about...well, we talked about lots of things.

*Stinky girl gymnasts
*Christmas on a budget
*Why our mother is never home when we call
*Obama's "My ego needs me to remind you I'm the President" speech to school children
*Public schools get $35 for every child attending so it'll cost them if we keep our kids home on the day Obama's speech is shown
*Why forwarding jokes at work isn't a wise idea

Anyhoo, she reminded me of a forward she sent me a week or few ago. One on random thoughts. Here's some of my favorites...

o More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can’t wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that’s not only better, but also more directly involves me.

o Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

o Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk.

o I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

o There is a great need for sarcasm font. (YES!!!!)

o I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

o Was learning cursive really necessary?

o Lol has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".

o I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

o Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.

o Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart".

o While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart.

o MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

o Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

o I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

o Bad decisions make good stories

o If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring would probably just be completely invisible.

o Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from; this shouldn't be a problem....

o You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren’t doing anything productive for the rest of the day.

o Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection.

o There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

o I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

o "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this ever.

o I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people watching TV. There's so much pressure. 'I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren’t watching this. It's only a matter of time before they all get up and leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?'

o While watching the Olympics, I find myself cheering equally for China and USA . No, I am not of Chinese descent, but I am fairly certain that when Chinese athletes don’t win, they are executed.

o Why is a school zone 20 mph? That seems like the optimal cruising speed for pedophiles...

o Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

o It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.

o Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn't know what do to with it.

Protector's Honor

2009-09-06T19:16:00.003-05:00

This week new Steeple Hill RS author, Kit Wilkinson will be a guest on both Novel Journey and on Romance Writers on the Journey, where she'll have drawings on both blogs for copies of Protector's Honor.

Tuesday, September 8
Novel Journey

Thursday, September 10
Romance Writers on the Journey

From the back cover:
AGENT TO THE RESCUE!
It’s instinct. When NCIS agent Rory Farrell hears a woman scream, he reacts. But even after he saves her from abduction, Rory can’t get the beautiful and fragile Tabitha Beaumont out of his mind. Especially when he finds a connection between Tabitha and his latest murder investigation. She needs protection—Rory’s protection—while Rory needs answers Tabitha doesn’t even realize she holds. Yet how can he find the truth without betraying Tabitha’s trust? Soon, Rory must decide what matters most—keeping his objective distance, or keeping Tabitha, in his arms and under his protection, forever.

Order the book here or here or here.

A word on Logic

2009-09-01T00:34:00.002-05:00

My mother, who figured out I don't read any e-mail with the word FWD in the subject line, sent me this, and I thought I'd share.

~*~*~*~*~*~

These may be the 5 most logical sentences you'll ever read. This is one paragraph that should be in every book in every school room in every city in every state in our great Union. Every elected official should be required to read and swear an oath to make their decisions with these words in mind.

"You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it." ~Pastor Adrian Rogers, back in 1931

Inkwell Inspirations

2009-08-31T11:33:00.000-05:00

A Great Read!!!

2009-08-20T09:21:00.002-05:00

My gal-pal, Kristen Painter, just found out her first release, ALL FIRED UP, is available for pre-order at Books on Board. (http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?BODY=viewbook&BOOK=478087). To quote her: "It's both wickedly cool and nausea-inducing." Now I'm going with the idea that she's referring to the fact one can already pre-order her book...and not that she's describing her book.

It's all a numbers game!

2009-08-18T07:13:00.002-05:00

10 States
9 Days
5 Kids
3200 Miles
1 Farm
2 Zoos
2 Museums
10-ish Rest stops

I like family vacations. Really I do.

Since we moved to the capital of the Confedercy, we've taken family vacations to Virginia Beach VA, Outer Banks NC, Myrtle Beach SC, Orlando/DisneyWorld, and Pigeon Forge TN. This year's trip...well, we took the scenic route to South Dakota.

Why SD?

My grandma was celebrating her 90th b-day. Plus the only one of my five chitlins she's ever seen in person was my oldest when he was two. He's now 15 1/2.

Virginia is beautiful as aways.

West Virginia is quite mountainy with lots of trees and winding roads and with next to no rest stops along I35/I64. Not a good thing when one has a toddler who has to tinkle and who won't use the side of the road.

Ohio is...well, I didn't expect it to be cornfields. But after miles and miles of driving up and down and up and down with a twist and a turn--or three--I welcomed the change of scenery.

Until we hit Indiana. More cornfields.

Illinois provided an occasional soy bean field amid more cornfields. Oh, and the state had lots of windmills. We spent the first night of our trip at the home of hubby's cousin.

13 Welborns + 3 cats + one house = lots of noisy fun

I freely admit my favorite cat is the one someone else owns. Well, the cousins had a critter named Nikki. He like to lounge in a baby doll stroller or in a basket and be strolled or toted around. I'm telling ya, that's the life.

Iowa is more cornfields. Shocking, I know. Flatlands and rolling hills.

Minnesota is more cornfields with an occasional pig farm. More flat than not.

South Dakota is pretty much the same as the last two states. Hubby gleed when we saw the first wheat field. Finally, something besides corn and soybean.

I really ought to add some pics. Alas, I have Golden Pen historical coordinator duties to attend to today.

Deadly Children, Deadly Intent

2009-08-14T06:00:00.002-05:00

Buy Camy Tang's newest book DEADLY INTENT--a Steeple Hill LIS release--because I said so!

Hmm.

Not exactly the most persuasive blog post, eh?

So let's go back a week-ish ago and pretend we're in my kitchen at home making Rice Krispy bars. Mmmm. Okay, my oldest son (for the sake of simplifying, let's call him OS) was sitting at the home computer doing some googling, facebooking, e-mailing, and whatnot. (Teenagers are so multi-taskable.) Well, he came across some rather deep thougths that I suppose I could share.

DEEP THOUGHT #1: The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind
yourself that there are children more awful than your own.

So so so so true.

DEEP THOUGHT #2: There is only one pretty child in the world... and every mother has it. - Chinese Proverb.

Actually, not so true. My kids are utterly cute and adorable. They tell me so every day, usually after the words "I not a baby baby. I cute and adorable." And they are. After all, this last week, I've had many an opportunity to compare my kids to other folks' kids, and despite my kids' few flaws (all of which they inherited from their grandparents), they have turned/are turning out exceptional.

Comparisons. Comparisons. Comparisons.

They're a fact of life, a reality, that can't be avoided because comparison is natural. Lemme give you a differnt example so you don't feel bad for not having a kid or two as cute and adorable as mine.

After I read Camy Tang's newest release, DEADLY INTENT (ISBN-13:978-0-373-44347-5 from Steeple Hill LIS), I began reading Jane Austen's EMMA. My galpal Melanie Dickerson is an Austen-aholic. Her latest goal to re-read each novel compelled me to read the book that I'd bought last winter and have yet to read. I'm a slow reader-ish. Okay, I meant to read it immediately upon purchase. Sadly...oh that's another blog post.

EMMA is considered Jane Austen's masterpiece. Yeah. I thought P&P was. Some English professor with a bunch of credentials and facts says otherwise. Anyhoo, as I was reading the first couple of chapters while I subconsciously pondered how to review Camy's newest release, DEADLY INTENT, something struck me.

Comparisons are inate.

Despite how much we don't want to admit it.

I've seen both movie versions of EMMA. Naturally while I read the book, my brain was shifting back and forth between each actor in effort to decide who on screen fit better the character Jane Austen created. Not only that, but I also got to comparing how P&P was written compared to EMMA.

One is easier to read.

Although, I ought to add that Jane Austen tended to favor long winding sentences with lots of semi-colons and em-dashes. Oh. My. Satellites. The woman was the 1800s Queen of the Em Dash--quite a feet considering Charlotte Bronte's obsession with them.

The last couple days of reading has reminded me that I need to slow down when I read. Especially when reading a Jane Austen novel.

How does this relate to Camy Tang's newest release DEADLY INTENT?

Thanks for asking.

DEEP THOUGHT #4: Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.

Yesterday I posted the first book review I've ever written. Just so happened to be a review of Camy's book two in her Sushi series, published by Zondervan. If one buys Camy's newest release DEADLY INTENT and expects it to be like her Sushi novels, then one will be surprised. I almost wrote "disappointed" but that's not a good word choice at all because DEADLY INTENT is a quite-satisfying inspirational romantic suspense. I can't see how any inspy romance reader would be disappointed after reading this book. Kudos, Camy, for keeping me in suspense as to who did it!!!

A dead body or two.

Blood.

Stolen jewelry.

Both the hero and heroine prime suspects.

And with spiritual truth natually tucked in to enhance the characters' growth while encouraging the reader whose on her own spiritual journey.

Listen, far too many times (and I include myself in this) we close our minds to books, authors, genres, publishers, etc, because we've either had a negative experience in the past with that author/genre/publisher or we haven't been willing to try something new.

I suppose now's a good time to confess Camy Tang's newest release DEADLY INTENT is only the third Steeple Hill: Love Inspired Suspense that I've ever read. EVER. And I mean EVER. And I read those three all this year. Why never read SH: LIS before now? I really don't know.

Well, maybe I do.

Maybe I didn't think I'd like them. Maybe I didn't want to try something outside my norm.

DEEP THOUGHT #5: If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side.

I certainly enjoyed reading Camy's DEADLY INTENT. And I'm anxiously awaiting to read about the eventual troubles the heroine's sisters find themselves in. Cause trouble always happens to unmarried handsome, rich, and clever girls. Every romantic suspense authors knows that. Even Jane Austen did.

Of course, she tended to leave out blood, dead bodies, and missing jewelry.

Since I'm in such a giving mood, here's one last deep thought.

DEEP THOUGHT #6: Evening news is where they begin with 'Good evening', and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

2009-08-13T20:43:00.002-05:00

Since I'm blogging tomorrow on Camy Tang's newest release, DEADLY INTENT, I figured I'd post my first book review during a Camy blog tour.

This is from March 2008.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Only Uni by Camy Tang

"There's many a bestseller that could have been prevented by a good teacher."

~Flannery O'Connor

When Camy asked me to join her blog tour, I though "kewl" 'cause I'd never been on a tour before...unless the one of our nation's Capitol building counts. And then there was that one of the Pentagon, and the one of Appomattox Courthouse, and the one of Berkley Plantation, and the one of...okay, I've done a few other tours.

Don't hassle me.

I've got five kids and short-term memory loss or maybe it's long-term.

Anyhoo, I happily agreed to play Blog Tour. Then I got scared. Me give a book review? I've never done an official book review before, nor do/did I have any idea on really how to do one, but I figured to make me sound more book-reviewer-like, I ought to intersperse quotes here and there and maybe even use a big word.

"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book - I'll waste no time reading it."

~Moses Hadas

ONLY UNI by Camy Tang is the second inspirational romance in her Sushi Series published by Zondervan. Her first book, SUSHI FOR ONE?, introduces many of the characters we see in ONLY UNI, but you don't have to read the first book to enjoy the second. Although if you are buying two, why not buy one also?

SUSHI FOR ONE? is a great read. Loved it!

ONLY UNI not only meets the quality of book one, it exceeds it. Loved it too! Actually, I'd have to say I loved it more because I could relate more to Trish than to Lex. Nothing against Lex 'cause she's a fabu heroine too."

From the moment I picked your book up until I laid it down I was convulsed with laughter. Some day I intend reading it."~Groucho Marx

This is where I say something official book-reviewer sounding...in Camy's own words, of course.

Synopsis: Trish Sakai is ready for a change from her wild, flirtatious behavior, so she creates three rules to follow from First and Second Corinthians. But with a persistent ex-boyfriend and a gorgeous coworker in pursuit, suddenly Trish’s simple rules don’t seem so simple after all.

Trish is a fabulous heroine. In the first chapter, Camy immediately establishes who Trish is and the struggles she deals with, so that when Trish comes up with her Corinthian Rules, I completely empathized with her desperation to change her life. But good intentions don't always make wise choices. As Trish balances her "rules" in relation to real life, she learns a valuable lesson, one many unmarried and dating woman should learn.

Almost ten years ago, I read REDEEMING LOVE by Francine Rivers, a book many consider to be THE premier inspirational romance. Me, I think it's predictable and cliched, but that's a whole 'nutter book review.

Trish Sakai isn't a prostitute like Angel. A girl doesn't have to sell her body for cash to be one. Far too many women sell their bodies in exchange for what they thik is love, acceptance, trust, and a new pair of shoes. But through the obstacle course of good intentions, loony family members, embarrassing moments, and equally painful ones, Trish discovers the true redeeming love found in her Savior and in the man who her Savior gracefully gives to her. Nothing predictable or cliched.

"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them."~Mark Twain

As a reader, I loved the characters, plot twists, and emotional involvement in ONLY UNI. Hey, she gets the guy. Gotta love that!

As a writer, I savored the characters, plot twists and emotional involvement in ONLY UNI. This novel is one of the most well written and crafted inspirational romances on the market. The Asian-American elements made me feel like I was on a short-term international mission trip and I got to spend a week living with one Christian girl and her family of non-Believers. IMHO, every Caucasian-American-Christian woman should experience that a world exists outside her must-stay-safe-in-my-church-and-outta-the-world mentality.

If you'd like to get to know Camy and her other work, check her out at her loft.

http://www.camytang.com/

Stop mailing me!

2009-08-06T08:49:00.003-05:00

My conspiracy meter is about to explode. Seriously.

Yesterday arrived a box of Enfamil baby formula. For a baby. A newborn baby. A baby that one pretty much ought to be pregnant to give birth to.

Since I'm not pregnant and child #5 is a year and a half too old for baby formula, I'm confident someone decided to push me closer to the edge of the Cliffs of Insanity by signing me up for baby formula.

Hmm. Kinda makes me wonder what's in the new Health Care bill. I've heard that fertility treatments and maternity care will have to be approved by a committee. No way! Then again, perhaps I ought to read the bill. The lady who read it and came across that information sounded pretty non-Manson-ish. Gee, I hope I'm not saying anything that sounds fishy.

Here's a link to read the entire bill that a representative or two has decried as being too difficult to understand without a lawyer helping translate:

http://www.capwiz.com/afanet/webreturn/?url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3200:

Or here's a simplified overview:

http://www.liberty.edu/media/9980/attachments/healthcare_overview_obama_072909.pdf

Guess I know what I'm gonna be reading next week. After all, I doubt Senators Webb and Warner are gonna read the actual bill. Reading, it seems, is beneath them.

What makes me even more sick is the fact the NY Giants is paying their quarterback a $97 million dollar salary. Where's the congressional outrage?! Why not set limitations on what athletes get paid since we're setting limits on CEOs?

Okay, I'm not in favor of the government getting involved in running businesses.

But a quarterback getting paid almost a hundred million dollars to PLAY A GAME?

*sigh*

I'm feeling the need to join an angry mob.

Busyness

2009-08-05T10:50:00.002-05:00

Ever pondered the word "busyness"?

No offense to anyone, but to me the word is kinda visually unappealing. Sadly I must say that my business of the day is busyness.

As I got all the FHL IRCC and TBL prizes and certificates to mail, I realized I'm missing a certificate. So now I have to reopen all the boxes to see if I accidentally stuck the missing certificate in the wrong box/envelope. *sigh*

I also have to get a fiction proposal off to my agent.

Find baby girl clothes to give to my younger (currently pregnant) sister.

Clean house. Again.

Take more cold medicine.

Give dog a bath.

Various misc.

So pardon me for intionally ignoring my blog. Soon I'll have something witty to say.

Cake and Frosting too

2009-07-28T17:56:00.011-05:00

Oh.

My.

Stars.

The sweetness of the most amazing pastry still lingers on my cupcake-drugged tastebuds. Had my tastebuds eyes, the latter would be rolling in pleasure. *sigh*

<--That's what it looked like before I ate it. Yum-O. The classic vanilla cupcake with buttercream frosting. As Oldest Son said, "The best $2.75 cupcake I've ever eaten."

Okay, I feel the need to rewind a bit to earlier today. Child #2 and Child #3 are away this week at Centri-kid camp in Maryland. Yay them! Well, Hubby decided to take the suburban full of middle school students and one college chicka up to Washington D.C. for the day (this day, Tuesday). First stop on their trip was the Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport.

Trust me when I say, no matter how many times one visits the Air and Space Museum, it doesn't get any more exciting. Eh. Not such a grand place to spend a few hours.

And if you are actually interested in the airplanes and airplane-ish stuff, don't ask me to join you unless you want to listen to a slew of stupid questions and creative imagination. "Gee, Hubby, how many badguys do you think this plane (actually the pilot) shot down? Give me a random guess. Wonder if the pilot ever wet his pant when flying or in combat? Can you imagine sitting in that plane for hours and hours? Talk about having a numb bum."

I freely admit I do not make good Air and Space Museum company.

So anyway, Hubby and Co. are at the ASM to tour the joint before watching Transformers 2 in the IMAX theatre. Now I ought to say that I'd endure a tour of the ASM if it meant me getting to see a movie in the IMAX. Hubby, Oldest Son, and I saw The Dark Knight there.

After watching the movie, Hubby's taking his crew to the center of DC to see the monuments and memorials. They even have tickets to go to the top of the Washington Monument. I've been up their two or three times. My faux-phobia of hights and small spaces and smelly men wearing wife-beaters keeps me from lingering long at the windows.

Hmm. What does this have to do with cupcakes? you ask.

Not overly sure.

Anyhoo, Oldest Son, Child #4, Child #5, and myself decided to forego cleaning the house in lieu of more enjoyable activities. First, we went to Topeka's Steakhouse where we shared a buffalo chicken wrap, onion rings, fries, and Topeka's mini-hamburgers. Oldest Son got to here me share how my knowledge of mixed drinks allowed my team to win a game. Considering I don't drink, Oldest Son decided I know too many unimportant things.

Quite true.

After our tasteful late lunch/early dinner, we went to CVS so Oldest Son could get a physical so he could play football and then went to Wal-Mart to buy school supplies. None of my three remaining children seemed excited about shopping. While we usually make buying school supplies a family fun trip, I was more than willing to cast aside tradition to ease my frayed nerves. Buying glue sticks, binders, and red marking pens shouldn't be a stressful moment.

And it wasn't this time. However I see now that what I should have done was tabulated all that needed to be bought so I wouldn't have had to keep scanning each list to see what I missed and then wouldn't have also wasted time going back and forth between aisles.

To reward ourselves for getting the chore done early, I and my three kids drove to a new cupcake shop in town. It's actually a "gourmet cupcake bakery."

You can Facebook them like Oldest Son did and become a follower:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=50409660469&ref=ts&__a=1

Or you can Twitter them: http://twitter.com/frostingsva

Now I'm not a Twitterer or a Facebooker, so I and my eight-track-technological mind did the age-old thing of checking out their website.

http://www.frostingsva.com/

I share this because I've developed a new life philosophy.

Forget the flowers. You must stop and take time to eat the cupcake and frosting too.