The Fat Lady Hasn't Sung Yet

I can't begin to tell you what a thrill it was to wake up this morning to hear Harper Lee was going to publish a new book this summer. And the star of the new book is Scout. Please clear my schedule. I don't have time for that now. I'm reading. Read all about it!

A New Year's Resolution

I am always a little reluctant to make a new year's resolution. Especially about things like exercise and diet. It seems those only ever last a week or two. And what's the point? Changing your exercise and diet plans are a committment to a new lifestyle, not a resolution. A resolution is like a declaration. An annoucement of an intention. I like to make my resolutions simple. I usually choose one word and attempt to live by it for as long as I can. And when I stray from it -- I remind myself, this was the year of "insert inspirational word here."

The year I began dating my husband, my word was "bliss". I'm not sure what that means about our relationship, but I do remember many things about the beginning of our relationship that were filled with great joy.

2014 was a year filled with ups and downs. I triumphed in many writing contests. I failed in many more. I was rejected by many agents and editors. I was asked to submit to a couple of others. I made baby steps in my career, but I am far from satisfied with my progress.

December was a big downer. If 2014 started out with fireworks, it ended with a flicker in the dark. I have struggled. I have complained. I have been unable to find my way.

And after much searching, I have found my word. It is not the word I was expecting. It is not the word of an optimist. Or maybe it is.

In 2015, my word is "fearless." Let's see what that might bring. 

Winter Romance

I love songs about winter romance. I grew up in Michigan, and I now live in southern California so I know only too well how different life is when there's snow on the ground. It can be very romantic to wake up to new fallen snow on the ground. The long rays of a winter sun makes the snow glisten and sparkle like diamonds. At night, falling snow makes the world seem quiet and still, enveloping you in a world of white. It's magical. And just the memory of snow on green pine boughs is enough to make me squeal.

It's no wonder there's just one song about walking in a 'Winter Wonderland.' There are other songs that make me feel even more romantic about winter.

Gordon Lightfoot's "Song for a Winter's Night" is at the top of my list.




Dean Martin is next I love a crooner. Especially when he's singing about winter romance.




Colbie Callait perfectly captures the spirt of a winter romance in Mistletoe.




John Denver captures my feelings about winter in "Alpenglow."




Are you in the mood for winter romance now? It's time to snuggle up in front of the fire, pour a glass of wine and relax with a good book.

Christmas is the time to say 'I love you'....

When career-focused Shelby Martin returns to her small hometown in northern Michigan, she's counting the days until she returns to the city, but when she finds steamy comfort in the arms of former NHL bad boy Ethan Bardenhagen, will Shelby have to choose between her career and true love? 

20 Things I Am Grateful For This Thanksgiving

1. My precious husband.

2. Being able to pursue my passion for writing

3. My mother's health.

4. Joey is alive and well and enjoying his low-carb, high-protein diet of unending Friskies.

5. It is the beginning of Academy Award movie season.

6. Friends I can count on to pick me up when I'm down and out.

7. Pansies in the garden. Their little "faces" always bring a smile to mine.

8. Sleepytime tea and Milano peppermint stick cookies.

9. A new outdoor ice skating rink with lights strung above it.  

10. An extended family far and wide to think about and worry about. 

11. NHL hockey is back and better than ever.

12. Christmas music on my iPod.

13. Colder weather.

14. Sharing the joy of seeing the world through children's eyes.

15. The "new house" smell of cleaning chemicals the housekeepers leave behind.

16. A fire in the fireplace and a candle on the hearth.

17. Time with the kids and the grand doggies.

18. Downloading new recipes for Thanksgiving sides.

19. Organizing the new closet for better use.

20. Hope for a better future.

Write A Novel In A Month

There's this thing. It's ca-razy. It's called National Novel Writing Month. NANOWRMO.org for short. And it happens every year during the month of November. Here's the one-line pitch: you write 1,667 words a day for 30 days and in the end you have 50,000 words of what could be a first draft of a novel.

NANOWRIMO started on the west coast. And even though it's called "National", it has gone international. You can see writers in the UK, India, and Australia, all cranking out words on the chart on the NANOWRIMO home page.

Whoever picked November to be the month to write an entire novel had to be a young dude. No middle-aged chick would pick the month in which you are going to have as many people as possible over to your house to eat a turkey dinner with multiple sides. It's not realistic.

Also, If I had been given the choice, I would've picked a month with 31 days. That way we could've spread the word count around a little. And let's face it, January is a slow month.

This is the third time I've attempted to play the NANOWRIMO game. Last year, I quit after 30,000 words. That is the closest I've ever come.

This year I've joined a group of writers at Savvy Authors to work together toward our goal. We spend a part of every day cheering each other on.

And then there's my manuscript. I'm not sure the 50,000 words I'm putting down on the page will make any sense. They certainly aren't in the right order.

I also wonder if I will have to rewrite an extra time because I wrote the original so fast.

None of this really matters. I'm just stalling before I start working on today's words.

Most Precious Cat Ever

When I first started dating my husband, he told me he had the best cat ever. I was a bit offended because at the time I was completely besotted by my own calico cat. Shortly after that I fell in love with Joey. It's hard not to love Joey. He's a big love bug. He talks all the time. He's a good snuggler. He stares at you adoringly. He chirps at birds and squirrels. He is the perfect cat. The best cat ever as far as I'm concerned.

And so it was very upsetting when I realized this summer that he was not himself. He had just turned 14 and he was drinking a lot of water. At first I tried to tell myself it was because it was so hot, but I knew we had to take him to the vet and I also had a good idea what his diagnosis was going to be.

Joey is diabetic. It happens in elderly cats. I was surprised to learn that unlike humans and dogs, with treatment, cats can go into remission. I threw myself into Joey's treatment plan. I went down the grocery store with the multipage list of "low carb, high protein" foods he was allowed to eat. (He's basically on the Atkins Plan. He can't have carbs. So he's completely off kibble. It makes it hard for him to gain weight.) I learned how to prick his ear to draw blood and check his blood glucose. I learned how to give him injections. I cried when I had to draw blood every hour for 12 hours. Through it all -- all of the things that I've done to him -- Joey has not wavered in his devotion to me. 

By now, one of our girl cats would be plotting my death.

The vet gave us her personal cell phone number and asked us to text us updates. She told us that she had one cat that went into remission after two weeks! I was hopeful that if I was an enthusiastic as possible this would happen for Joe -- but it has not. He's had good days and bad days. 

When we first started texting BG updates to the vet, she would respond right away -- "That's great news!" "Wow!" But after a bit, she stopped responding immediately. Or a few hours later, we'd get a "Thanks for the update." My hubby gets upset by these delayed responses. When he doesn't get what he thinks is a proper or immediate response -- he wants to text "Are you on a date?" and "Hey! I'm waiting here." 

So far, I've kept him from doing this, but I don't know how much longer he will be able to resist. 

All that matters to me is Joey. He is, after all, the best cat ever. Everyone knows that.