Kimber Waits

Flashback Friday Goes Modern

2012-01-06T07:25:00.000-08:00

No flashback videos today. Instead, I have the new official video for Liquid Cocaine from my dear friend Kami (lead singer) and his band DANTE. Words cannot begin to express how proud I am of these guys. They have worked their asses off to get where they are and they deserve every ounce of success that comes their way.

And my favorite song from the guys as seen on Headbanger's Ball.

Love you to the moon and back, Kami!

Help for an Awesome Member of Our Blogging Community

2012-01-05T18:11:00.000-08:00

Matthew MacNish from The Quintessentialy Questionable Query Experiment had a blog post that absolutely broke my heart. Candace Ganger from The Misadventures in Candyland needs our help. She wrote a heartbreaking post, which you can find here. Please take the time to read it and help out if you can. Candace is always there willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need, but now she needs our help. It's time for our wonderful blogging community to pay it forward.I hope you can send at least a dollar to this amazing lady and her family. It would mean so much.

Please do what you can.

I Stand Up Against Censorship - Do You?

2011-12-13T06:04:00.000-08:00

I think this video says it all, don't you? Take a stand. Get involved.

A huge thank you to Carrie Harris for turning me on to this video.

I Miss You

2011-05-08T07:26:00.000-07:00

This is my first Mother's day without my mom. I miss her so very much.

Happy Mother's Day, Mommy. I love you.

It's Friday and I'm a Cryin'

2011-04-08T12:30:00.000-07:00

Hopefully, next week I can get back to a normal blogging schedule. The past few weeks have been crazy with work and school. But until then, it's Friday Flashback time! Woot!
This week it's the magical Bee Gees. This song always makes me cry. There's so much emotion in Barry's voice - brings me to tears. Yeah, and I don't care what you people say - Robin Gibb was gorgeous! Hehe!

Enjoy!

Oh, How I Heart This

2011-03-13T19:28:00.000-07:00

It's a Friday Flashback!

2011-03-11T06:03:00.000-08:00

This week's flashback is "Don't close Your Eyes" by Kix. This is a true power ballad.

What's On The Menu
Baked chicken
Brown rice and veggie mix
Green beans
Chocolate cupcakes
Sweet tea

Top Ten Favorite Songs

2011-03-09T10:19:00.000-08:00

Lately I've noticed quite a few of my blogger buddies posting their top ten favorite albums or top twenty favorite songs, so I decided it was time for me to jump on the bandwagon and join my buddies.
So, without further ado, I give you my top ten favorite songs.

Top Ten Favorite Songs of All Time:

1. Cinderella - ‟Don't Know What You've Got ('til it's gone)
2. Oasis - ‟Wonderwall”
3. Avenged Sevenfold - ‟Afterlife”
4. Boomtown Rats - ‟I Don't Like Mondays”
5. Elvis Costello - ‟Alison"
6. L.A. Guns - ‟Ballad of Jayne”
7. Third Day - ‟Love Song”
8. New York Dolls - ‟Looking for a Kiss”
9. My Chemical Romance - ‟I'm Not Okay”
10. Guns N' Roses - ‟November Rain”

This Make Me Laugh So Hard

2011-03-02T16:36:00.000-08:00

MCR

2011-02-28T06:44:00.000-08:00

I'd forgotten how much I love the early MCR music. Brilliant.

Something to Ponder

2011-02-28T06:22:00.000-08:00

I am absolutely obsessed With Andy Sixx. I see him as pretty much being the perfect guy.

I'm also jonesing over Dahvie Vanity. I can't seem to get enough of him. His chunkiness is too cute for words.

Why do the guys I find attractive look like chicks? What in the world does that say about me?

Mini Rant attached to a Pity Party

2011-01-08T09:14:00.000-08:00

So, I was expecting a payment from one of my freelance clients last week – it never arrived. I was counting on that money to pay my gas bill this month. Yeah. So here I sit with an eighty dollar gas bill that I expect to receive a disconnect notice for any day now. Because let me tell ya, Scana Energy does not play when it comes to their money. I've never been late on a payment. Never. This payment was due on the 5th of Jan. and when I called to explain my situation, they refused to work with me. They would rather see two young children in a freezing cold home than wait until the 15th of the month for payment. Yeah. Thanks bunches, Scana.

But honestly, what are you gonna do? These things happen, I suppose. So, rant and pity party over. After all, it is Caturday.

Friday Flashback Glam Style

2011-01-07T06:44:00.000-08:00

For today's flashback I'm doing it up glam style. I'm a huge fan of glam rock and the hair bands of the '80s. So today's choice is the glam rock band Tigertailz. I love this band's music. Sadly, bassist Pepsi Tate passed away in 2007 from cancer, but their awesome music lives on.

Goodbye Janked Up Year

2011-01-01T09:01:00.000-08:00

I hope I never see another one like you. I've learned a lot about myself this year professionally, as well as personally. Some things have been good, some, not so much.

I've learned that you can't trust everyone. I've had to push the release dates of three books back over and over again, to the point that I'm starting to look totally unprofessional. Why did this happen you ask? Because I trusted a fellow writer to edit my work on a timely basis. Didn't happen. There was always a reason why she couldn't work on the edits. I understand that people have their own projects to complete, families to care for...I get it...I really do. But when you volunteered to do the job and months have passed and I hear nothing, I start to worry. The sad part of the story is, I had to call and inquire about my manuscripts before I learned that she wouldn't be able to complete the edits until April, possibly May. A phone call would have been nice. It would have been the professional thing to do. So now I'm back to stage one. I need to get two of the books up before the end of January. I refuse to change another release date. So, joy of joys, it's back to self-editing. Meh.

I lost my mom. My mother passed away this past June. I cannot put into words what this has done to my life. She left us so unexpectedly. She was living in a rehab center at the time because she'd recently broken her arm and hip in a nasty fall. We were all expecting her to come home within the month, and then out of the blue she had a massive stoke. There was nothing the doctors could do for her. She lived for less than a week in a drug-induced coma. Losing my mother has changed me. I can't seem to get past it. I still talk to her everyday and beg God to give her back to me. I didn't realize what important roll she played in my adult life until she was gone. If it hadn't been for the support I received from my friend Kami, I wouldn't be as sane as I am now.

I severed ties with my father. I've never had a good relationship with my dad, but when my mother passed it took a nose dive. My entire family behaved like circus people while my mother was in Hospice care. And the funeral wasn't much better. My father actually stood there and watched them poor the dirt on my mother's coffin – like he was making sure she was buried and out of his way for good. We spoke a few time after her death, but it was my mother's love of family that held everyone together, and after she was gone I no longer felt the need to try.

For the new year I hope to...

Get two books out in January. I know this is going to be a challenge, but I refuse to change another release date. I also plan to get the entire Breeders series out before April.

Start writing the Daughter's of the Biomes series and The Coven Academy Trilogy.

Complete the paperwork that will make Scene Girl and Video Boy mine and mine alone. Meaning there will be no one else that has a say in how they are raised. They will finally be my responsibility. This was extremely important to my mother. She needed to know that they would always be in a safe place. There is a long story behind these actions and I would prefer not to air it here as Scene Girl does check out the blog from time to time. If you know us, you know the story. And if you are a reader and really curious, you can shoot me an email. I've always said my life is pretty much an open book, and I stand by that statement.

Stop apologizing for my love of Big Time Rush. 'Nuff said.

Stop apologizing for my love of Luke Perry and my obsession with the WWE.

Refrain from drinking so much coffee. Perhaps three pots a day is a bit much.

Decide what type of relationship I'm looking for...or if I even want one at this point in my life. There are times when I think I do, but I'm not sure. I can be out with friends and see a guy that I think is really gorgeous, but if said guy approaches me, I throw up a wall. My friends say I have this stay the hell away from me vibe that I give off to men. Commitment issues much.

Eat more chocolate. You can never have too much chocolate.

Spend more time volunteering. I didn't give nearly enough of my time this past year.

Go to church more. I feel like I have a deep relationship with God, but I haven't found a church where I feel comfortable and accepted.

Have more fun. I miss skateboarding and I plan to get back to it this year.

Get a new car. I have been without a car for the past few months and it is driving me insane!

My Mind is a Mosh Pit & a Flashback

2010-12-03T10:36:00.000-08:00

Before I forget, please feel free to add me on MSN and Yahoo. I can be quite the Chatty Cathy.

kimber_marie@hotmail.com
kimbermarie_yaauthor@yahoo.com

This is a special day! I hold in my dainty little hands three tickets to paradise. I'm going to Wrestlemania!!!! Let's get ready to rumble!!!! April cannot get here soon enough. Edge, here I come!

*Squee* I cannot put into words how much I adore wrestling. Yes, I know it's all fake, but I definitely get drawn into the story lines every week. And I've been known to scream at the TV on occasion. I make no apologies for my behavior.

I blame my desire to own this

and this

on Carrie Harris. If you love everything zombie as much as I do, you can find these items here.

So, Scene Girl and Video Boy are enrolled in the Georgia Cyber Academy and this virtual school is driving me bonkers. As of 11:30 this morning, I have been trying to login to get their lessons for two frakking hours. Are you kidding me? This is beyond redunkulous. Seriously. Their excuse? ‟Sorry for the inconvenience. We're having server problems. Yeah. They have ‟Server Problems” on a daily basis. I would pull them out and enroll them in public school, but Polk County Middle School has a bad reputation. There are problems with drug abuse on the campus, bullying that is not addressed by the administration...and the list goes on and on.

I pulled Scene Girl out of public school last year because she was being assaulted three to four times a week and no one at the school seemed to give a flip. And as for Video Boy, bless his heart. Since his illness, his health hasn't been the same. He has a lot of nerve damage from his surgery, which causes him to have severe migranes and he isn't growing the way the doctors had hoped. He's 11years old and can still wear the shirts that he wore before he became sick five years ago. The poor little guy wouldn't even be able to reach the lockers in middle school. Sigh. So virtual school seems to be my only option.

On a lighter note, it's also Friday flashback time!
I give you one of, if not the, best voice in rock; Sebastian Bach.

I had such a crush. Every time Scene Girl watches this video she says, ‟You know you have Sebastian Bach's hair, right?” Yeah. I know.

Have a fantabulous Friday!!

It's a Super Nova!

2010-11-20T10:51:00.000-08:00

It's Saturday and that means an entire day of disaster movies! And that also means a whole day of Luke Perry! Yes, I have a secret obsession with Mr. Perry. I make no apologies.

I covet this hoodie!

Have a fantabulous weekend!

The Rorschach Manifesto

2010-11-19T19:12:00.000-08:00

My beautiful friend Kami and his band Dante have made an awesome video documenting the making of their debut album The Rorschach Manifesto.
Check it out and then go show the guys some love at DanteRockband.com. These guys are super talented and their success couldn't have happened to a nicer, sweeter, bunch of guys. Plus, my friend Kami snoring on the floor is to die for.:)

Under Construction and Going Insane

2010-11-12T15:31:00.000-08:00

As you can see, my blog is under construction - again. I loved the last layout, but it really wasn't me. And the layouts that I do like seem a little too dark for a YA writer. I tend to be a tad (ha!) emo, so the darker the better. Anyway, I'm going to work on this "lighter" layout and see how it goes. Although, I love it and think it's oh so cute - it still isn't me. Hopefully I will have it fixed by tomorrow. Meh.

Friday Flashback

2010-11-05T16:29:00.000-07:00

I love, love love Pete Burns.

Another one of my favs.This is one of those songs that never fails to make me tear up.

A life forever changed

2010-11-02T09:36:00.000-07:00

It's funny how a single event can change a person's life – their entire future. A few simple words can turn your life upside down and things will never be as they were before. It happened to me this week and I'm floundering – trying to wrap my mind around the situation.

I never meant for the situation I'm in to be permanent. In the back of my mind my mother would get better, people would return to their own homes and lives, and I, could finally live again. But, my mother did not get better; I lost her. And with that one event my father changed. Everything. He chose to tell me, by phone, that he was leaving his entire estate, such as it is, to Dusty. No mention of myself whatsoever. What about Video Boy and Scene Girl? As far as he is concerned they no longer exist. They were my mother's world. Not his. And now they are mine and mine alone.

My life is forever changed by my father's decision. It is betrayals like this that have caused me to close myself off to other people. Caused me to trust no one. I'm often asked why I never date; this is why. I wish that I could open my heart and let someone, anyone, inside, but it's too hard. Too painful. What if I get hurt? Again. It isn't worth the risk. It sucks because I know that I'm a good person with a lot to offer the right guy. But how will I ever find him if I'm afraid to trust? It's a vicious cycle, really. The sad thing is, I have no one to blame but myself. I have one male friend in my life that I can trust – share my world and secrets with, and he means the world to me. I can honestly say that I love him. He has always been there for me. And to be honest, when my mother passed, he was the only one that made me feel better. I can only hope that there is another boy walking around my town with the same qualities that I haven't met yet. If there is, I'm scooping him up.:) Until then, I will have to be satisfied with a career that I love.

Cover help Needed!

2010-11-02T09:14:00.000-07:00

I've been working on the new covers for Vampire Brats and The Ridge and I cannot seem to get them right. I love the model – I think he's gorgeous and really captures the spirit of the books. Plus, he looks like every boy I dated on high school. And while the covers look really good, they do not look as well as a thumbnail, which is essential on Amazon. I cannot seem to get the title font to look right. So, if anyone has any ideas on a font that would stand out, please send it my way! I need all the help I can get.

I Think I Need to Lie Down for This One, Doc

2010-10-07T11:01:00.000-07:00

So, lately I've been having this recurring dream involving Tom Keifer. Not the present day Tommy, but the Tommy from his Cinderella days back in the '80s. The dream is always the same: I meet Tom while buying cottage cheese at Wal Mart (I don't even like cottage cheese). And I'm always wearing a “Kim from the Real Housewives of Atlanta” wig (I'm sorry, but that bitch's wig rocks) which is very odd to me, 'cause I kinda dig my hair. It's the one thing about my appearance that I do like. We talk for a while and then the dream flash forwards to me putting the groceries away in a house that isn't mine..but it's always the same house. Suddenly, there's a knock at the door and I open it to see Tom Keifer standing there with a glass bowl filled with orange ambrosia. Cue end of dream.

Why does the dream end so abruptly? I mean, what the chiz, man. Do I invite him in? Do we do the deed? Do we do the deed while smearing ourselves with orange ambrosia?

If anyone has an idea as to what the heck the dream signifies I would love to hear it. Because it's got me freaked out. Seriously. I have the dream at least twice a week and this has been going on for months. Weird.

I made it back!

2010-10-07T10:17:00.000-07:00

I'm baaack! Flare is over – for the most part. I still have some lingering chest pain, but whaddaya gonnna do? Things are what they are. It seems both of my facebook pages were hacked while I was away. Lovely. So please take the time to visit and add me on my new page. I'm sending out great big hugglies to everyone who offered to find the hacker bitch and dispense a little kick ass. You guys rock it. Hard.

A Place Called Home and Zombie Queen are still with my editor. I'm trying to be cool about the situation, but dangitall. This chick's had my manuscripts for months. I know life tends to get in the way, but give me a break...and I continually have to push my pub dates up. Frustration overload. No doubt about it.

To usher in the fantabulously spooky month of October I have a few book recommendations for you. Y'all know how much I admire Amanda Hockings work and I'm happy to say that her new zombie novel Hollowland is now available. Definitely a must read for us zombie worshipers:)And don't forget to visit Amanda's page to celebrate Zoombiepalooza.

As I was browsing through Smashwords I came across Vampires Drool! Zombies Rule! by Rusty Fischer. I totally fell in love with this book. Total kick-ass zombie fun! I cannot wait to read more from this author. And best of all, it's free to download.

And last, but certainly not least, there's Grubs by David McAfee. This book is campy, creepy and scary as heck. The book freaked me out. I totally loved it!

So there you have it; three wonderfully written books by talented indie writers. Now, get out there and show a little indie love!

Bummed. Release Date Has Come and Gone

2010-08-27T10:46:00.000-07:00

Feeling extremely bummed. The scheduled release date for A Place Called Home has come and gone. I had someone doing the edits and was guaranteed that it would be ready at least two weeks before the release date. It's still sitting on her desk. She's not even 3/4 of the way through the MS. I totally understand having your own deadlines... it being the beginning of a new school year...I get it. But really? Didn't you anticipate these distractions before you made the commitment? Now I have a big decision on my hands that I would prefer not to make. I trust my friend. She is an extremely talented writer and I know she will do a good job...but how much longer can I wait? I could look for another editor, but where? Or I could just try to edit the MS to death myself. Again. I wanted to get A Place Called Home out there on Kindle and see how it did before I add my YA books. *Sigh*. Yeah, I'm feeling a little lost.

At least there's still one thing that makes me happy. Adamme. I heart him.

I'm Baaack! Maybe!

2010-08-26T08:26:00.000-07:00

Things that are making me happy right now:

Prince Poppycock: I adore this man. Yes, he is a bit crackers, but how can you not love him? He is so talented and campy.

Flipping Out: One of the best shows on television. Jeff Lewis and his fascination with bodily functions and cleanliness is over the top. OCD heaven!

Adamme Sosa: What can I say about Adamme? His dancing is flawless. He definitely deserves to win Dance Your Ass Off. Oh, yeah, and he's also my future hubby:) Yes, my crush continues to grow.

Things have been insane around here. Let's discuss, shall we?

I have $800 in bills due by Sept. 7th. Which means I have to put my fiction writing aside and write for DS. That's $15 - $25 an article...and I'm a slow writer. Extremely slow. I wrote four articles yesterday and it wore me out. I detest content writing. Period.

Scene Girl and Video Boy talked me into walking to the store last week. Bad idea. The weather was overcast with a cool breeze blowing. Ah, but when we left the store the sun was shining and it was 94 degrees. Bad. Bad. Bad. If you know anything about Lupus, you know that the sun can be a Lupus' patients worst enemy. Yeah. By the time we had walked the mile home I was done. My joints were swollen, I had a malar rash....It's been a week and I'm still flaring.

My family drama, My family behaved like animals while my mother was in Hospice care. The doctor gave her two hours – two weeks to live and you all have the gumption to behave like circus people? Really? And now, my beautiful precious mother has been gone for two months and she doesn't have a plaque on her grave? Why? Greed, people. Pure greed.

This week has been one big mess, but I look at everything as a test. You have to go through it to get to the prize on the other side. I'm hoping for a good one. Maybe Adamme from Dance Your A** Off :)

Fantabulous Book Giveaway!

2010-08-07T09:24:00.000-07:00

The awesomely talented Amanda Hocking is having a fantastic giveaway on her blog. Rush over to win her complete My Blood Approves series!

Friday Flashback on Saturday. I Know, Right?

2010-08-07T08:53:00.000-07:00

I never got around to posting the Friday Flashback yesterday, so I'm doing it today. Now, I know I come across as this total rocker girl, and I am. But, I have a secret side of me that absolutely loves Christian rock. I do not talk about my faith on my blog, but I have crazy mad love for my God.

I know these songs do not fit into the flashback category, but I'm really missing my mom today, and right after she passed I listened to these songs over and over again. They helped me get through the loss.

Honestly, I cannot listen to this song without crying my eyes out. I think it's one of my favorite songs ever. Simply beautiful.

Third Day is another one of my favorite bands. I love this song and wanted it to be played at my mother's funeral, but it didn't happen. It's a beautiful song and another one that brings me to tears. Geez, I've cried through this entire post. I can be such a baby!

Okay, next week it's back to the rockers. Promise.

I Say Nener-Nener to Snobby Bloggers

2010-08-05T11:27:00.000-07:00

There’s a great new site for indie authors in the paranormal romance/urban fantasy genres,indieurbanfantasy.com. Zoe Winters is being interviewed there today, so check it out!

Tawna Fenske has a wonderful post on her blog today about the social aspects of blogging. Go check it out!

Thank you to NatalieWhipple for posting a link to Hot Guys Reading. Guys!Reading! Pure heaven!

A great big shout out to America! You did me proud. You voted Prince Poppycock through on AGT! And for this I am grateful. :)

I've been blogging off and on for a few years now. I started my blogging journey on MySpace before eventually moving on to blogger. Blogging is scary. Although I share a lot when it comes to my personal life, I never show the real me. Well, that's not entirely true. The posts concerning my mother's passing showed signs of the real Kimber.

It's like this, I'm not sure what aspects of my personality are okay to share with readers and what I need to keep under wraps. I read other people's blogs and the things I see make me want to pound my head against the wall. And then there are the blogs that are more like high school cliques. You know the ones I'm talking about. The blogs that contain an elite group of people that post comments every single day. Each post filled with “Oh, I wish I were you” or “You are the greatest thing to come along since sliced bread” love. They discuss each other in their blog posts...It's a total love fest and the majority of us are not invited. And heaven forbid, if we do post on the “in” blogs, are comments are totally ignored. Like we're not worthy. And the sad part is, these are some of my favorite blogs to read, if that makes any sense at all. So I keep reading and commenting with the hope that someday I'll be accepted into the clique. Just like in high school. Pathetic.

I did give up and stop following one of my favorite blogs yesterday, and it was because of a simple statement I found buried deep within this person's “Facts and Policies” section of their blog. “If you are independently published, do not ask me to read your book. I cannot and I will not. I only read traditionally published books.” What? Are you kidding me? Not only is the blogosphere filled with cliques, it's also filled with snobs! And I've seen this type of statement on more than one blog I visit daily. Is this snobbery coming from best selling authors? No, of course not. It's coming from writers who have landed an agent, but have yet to make a sale, or writers who have sold, but are not yet published.

I have to admit, this type of snobbery pisses me off like you would not believe. You have an agent? Good for you. You've made your first sale? Good on you. So does that make you better than an indie author like Amanda Hocking who, in a few short months has sold more than 10,000 copies of her My Blood Approves series? Or how about the extremely talented Zoe Winters and H.P. Mallory? Their books are selling like flippin' hotcakes (hehe flippin' hotcakes) on Amazon.

I plan to indie publish A Place Called Home because I know that it will not find a home in traditional publishing. I was thiiis close to selling to Harlequin. If I had been willing to rewrite the book I would probably be published right now. But I wasn't willing to make those changes. Sure, I could've caved and rewritten it, leaving out the scenes that didn't fit into the Harlequin formula, but why? Those scenes, no matter how hard they are to read, are what makes the main character who she is. Without the abuse or the disturbing way she loses her child, Katie would no longer be Katie. I wrote this story as a healing process for me. Katie's tragedies and triumphs are my own. By changing the story I would be saying that Katie's suffering, and therefore my own, did not deserve to be acknowledged and validated, if that makes any sense at all.

I will be shopping around The Zombie Queen of Abilene to agents because it does have a more commercial feel to it. It's a YA novel that contains zombies, vamps and gremlins (I love u Izzy!). No controversy with this novel...unless people have an issue with gay gremlins. And to those people I say *phffsst* to you!

In the end does it really matter if you are indie published or if you are being published by one of the major houses? Your job is to write a damn good book and let the snobs be damned!

My Gay Love Grows

2010-08-04T07:08:00.000-07:00

I wish I could put into words how much I adore Prince Poppycock. His latest performance brought me to tears. He is an amazing talent. Will the average Joe sitting on his sofa drinking beer appreciate his talent enough to pick up the phone and vote? I kinda doubt it. I voted. Ten times. :)

Today's Xanderism

2010-08-03T20:38:00.000-07:00

Xander: "My chest feels weird. I think I have invagina."

Me: "I think the word you're looking for is angina."

Xander: "Oh yeah, if i had invagina I'd be you."

Me: "Haha! Yeah. No, wait. Huh?"

Friday Flashback = Dolls and Rats

2010-07-30T06:58:00.000-07:00

It's Friday Flashback Time! So, this week I thought I would pick some of my out of the ordinary favs: The New York Dolls and The Boomtown Rats. Enjoy!

I'd forgotten how much I love this song.

I heart Bob Geldof.

A Quick Hello

2010-07-28T20:20:00.000-07:00

A quick hello to my beautiful friend, Kami. You've been on my mind today. I am so proud of you and I miss you dearly. I love you to the moon and back!

And To Think, It's Only Wednesday!

2010-07-28T19:42:00.000-07:00

So, as I was editing A Place Called Home yet again, I came across this scene that made me want to curl up on the floor in the fetal position. For me, writing scenes that hit too close to home is a bad, bad idea. :) This has been an emotional week for me. From little girls trying to grow up to fast, to Scene Girl and Video Boy waking up in the middle of the night crying over mom's death. It's been a whirlwind of emotions. And to think, it's only Wednesday! Ha! Meh.

I think I need a cookie. Preferably chocolate.

I feel the need to lose myself in the world of vamps, so I've off to read Fate by Amanda Hocking. If you haven't read the My Blood Approves series, I highly recommend it.

“It’s nothing but a sex thing. That was the deal.” Alonzo Ramone’s frustration was evident as he stood looking down at her.

Katie Valentine grabbed the sheet and draped it across her exposed breast before feeling comfortable enough to face him. Her mind drifted back to what they had shared only moments before. She hated to admit it, even to herself, but they no longer made love--they had sex, and finding the strength to face that truth stung like a slap in the face.

“I am well aware of our stupid agreement. Contrary to what you would like to believe, I am not a total idiot.” Damn, why did he have to be so beautiful? Especially now with his caramel-colored skin glistening with a fine sheen of sweat.

“So, what’s the problem?” he asked.

“In the beginning all I was looking for was a friend. You know, someone to have a little fun with from time to time. No strings. No commitments. Think about it, Alonzo. It should come as no surprise to you that things have changed since then.”

Raking his fingers through his course black hair, he sat down on the bed next to her, thoroughly at ease with his own nudity. “Why do you feel the need to start this again? I already know the drill...nine years...two kids. Yada. Yada. Yada.”

Katie grabbed her quilt from the foot of the bed, wrapping it around her trembling body as she stood. “This is about more than the children, and you darn well know it.”

“By all means, tell me something that I haven’t heard at least ten times today alone.”

Katie paced back and forth across the braided rug that lay in front of their sleigh bed, trying to gain control of her emotions. But with every second that passed her words became more venomous. When she finally turned to face him, tears were spilling down her cheeks.

“You tell me how I’m suppose to explain this mess to my family? Pass the mashed potatoes please...and by the way, the man I plan to spend the rest of my life with is leaving me for a woman more than twice his age. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, this woman has a husband of her own wasting away in a nursing home while she’s making love, no, I take that back, having sex with the father of my children!”

Alonzo snagged his pants from the foot of the bed and rummaged around for the rest of his clothes. “I never promised you anything, Katie. I told you from the get-go that I wasn’t marrying anybody...including you.”

“What about the kids...this house? Doesn’t any of that matter to you?”

Alonzo shrugged his shoulders. “I never said I wanted any of this,” he replied with a wave of his hand. “No one had a gun to your head; you had a choice. It was you that wanted a family, not me.”

Hands Off, Ya Little Maggot!

2010-07-27T10:17:00.000-07:00

What do you see when you look at this picture?

When I look at that picture, this is what I see.

I do not see the blossoming young woman, I see my little girl. And I guess that's why I tend to overreact at times...like last night. Scene Girl's “boyfriend” (the boy makes me gag, just so ya know) was over and the two of them were sitting on the front steps talking...or so I thought. I'm no dummy, so I made sure Video Boy was keeping a keen eye on his big sister. Well, a few minutes later Video boy runs inside giving me the “Oh! Oh! Oh!” dance, with his sister hot on his tail, tears running down her cheeks. At this point I'm freaking out. The “boyfriend” is gone. Video Boy has no idea what happened.

Finally, Scene Girl emerges from her room, still crying and holding her neck. She throws herself into my arms, babbling about how “she thought he was just going to kiss her. And she didn't know what he was doing. Blah. Blah. Blah.” She then proceeds to move her hand away from her neck to reveal a giant hickey.

I always saw myself as a cool mom. A happening mom. An understanding mom. Nope. Last night, I was MY mom. I flipped out all kinds of ways. I yelled. I screamed. I cried. I totally overreacted. I saw myself at her age. I Remembered every stupid mistake I had ever made with a boy. I remembered the pressure that comes from liking a boy so much that your body aches. And I remembered being on the threshold...no longer a little girl, and not yet a woman. It's difficult It can be heartbreaking when you want a boy to like you so much. I've lost my religion many a time over some dumb ass boy.

I never wanted her to make my mistakes. And I handled it wrong.

What happened to the endless talks about sex and self-respect? Did it all fall on deaf ears? Had she not witnessed one of her best friends be labeled because of her behavior? Did she forget about her 14-year-old friend and her new bouncing baby boy? Frustrated does not begin to describe how I felt.

I took her cell phone. I sent her to room for the night. No music. No TV. I wanted her to be alone with her thoughts. To realize what that kind of behavior can lead to. A few hours later she came out of her room and climbed up into my lap and asked me if I thought what had happened made her a slut and my heart crumbled into a million little pieces. So young and so confused. I wouldn't trade places with her for nothing in the world. I know all I can do is reassure her that my love for her is unconditional. And be here to support her and help her to understand what her mind and body is going through.

But, man, this entire thing would be so much easier if she looked like a Troll doll:)

Happy Caturday!

2010-07-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

Friday Flashback

2010-07-23T07:15:00.000-07:00

It's time for the Friday Flashback! This week it's Come on Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners. It makes my soul happy:)

You Gotta Have Friends

2010-07-21T08:39:00.000-07:00

My life is an open book and I'm nothing if not honest. If you want to know about my life, past or present, all you need to do is ask and I will give you an honest answer. I've done things I'm not proud of...naked pictures with Santa...cursing like a sailor. I was a bad ass teen...but the choices were mine, and I accept that. This trait seems to bother quite a few people. Especially my family.

So, when I started being totally honest about my feelings concerning my mom's death, it became a big problem with my family. How dare I criticize my father...brother...cousins. I found their actions to be be unforgiving. But who would to listen to me? Certainly not my best friend of more than twenty years. The girl I grew up with. She never acknowledged my mother's passing.

Enter my beautiful Kami. He did in 45 minutes what I haven't been able to do since my mom passed. Kami soothed my soul. He made me feel whole again...like I was strong enough...wise enough to get through this without my family. I have missed my friend and his phone call came at the perfect time for me. I needed to know there was someone out there that got it. That got me. He is my soul mate in many ways...we share so much...he is my rock now and always.

Thank you, Kami. I love you to pieces.

Kami and his band Dante are in San Fransisco recording their first album titled The Rorschach Manifesto. His music has been receiving a lot of high praise from some very talented people, including Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue. If you get a chance, please check them out and show a little love.

Dante's Website

Dante's Facebook Page

My friend Kami is the one wearing the headband :)

This makes Me So Happy!

2010-07-21T08:24:00.000-07:00

I love this song oh so much:) And would you look at Adam's boots! I so covet the boots, dude.

What's On The Menu:
Lasagna
Apple/pecan salad
Sweet tea

Go Check it Out!

2010-07-19T16:30:00.000-07:00

I have nothing for today, so I am sending you over to Bitchypoo to read Robyn's post on
Things on my recent List of Annoyances. Absolutely made me spit Pepsi across the room!

Friday Flashback

2010-07-16T14:21:00.000-07:00

It's time for another Friday Flashback. This week it's the 1960s and one of my favs! Kicks by Paul Revere and the Raiders.

A few random thoughts

2010-07-15T07:13:00.000-07:00

First of all Happy Birthday to my precious friend, Heather! I love you, gurl. And also a great big birthday shout out to my neighbor, Mikayla who turns thirteen today! Woohoo, monkey butt:)

I'm extremely pleased with the cover for A Place Called Home. I think it fits the story perfectly. So who-ya! The book has been edited and revised ten times over. It. Is. Ready. To. Go. To be perfectly honest, it's been ready for months. But I've been looking for little nit picky crap that needs to be fixed in the manuscript...any excuse not to put it out there. A Place Called Home is my only adult contemporary romance, and I have to wonder if making it available will hurt me in the long run. My other writing is geared toward the young adult market, which I love. This is where I want to make my niche. But I also want to get something out there now with my name on it. I'm tired of waiting. I'm tired of busting my ass working for DS and finding myself with no creative energy left to concentrate on my personal writing. So, I hold back. I sit on my thumb and do absolutely nothing. I just rest in my mess, so to speak. Why am I doing this? What am I afraid of? It's insane.

Recently, Zoe Winters posted her monthly income from Amazon and it was quite impressive. I would need to write over 150 DS articles a month to even come close to her income. Also, the too-cute-for-words Amanda Hocking posted on her blog that she gave notice at her EDJ (evil day job) and will now be able to write full-time. I do not know these lovely women, but I am so damn proud of their accomplishments I could just squee all over myself. They are living my dream.

So, the question for the day is, do I forge ahead with A Place Called Home? And if so, will it cause a problem down the road with my YA career?

What's On The Menu:
Bacon cheeseburgers
Fries
Sweet Tea

my two favorite things!

2010-07-15T06:59:00.000-07:00

Look! Two of my favorite things! Kittehs and zombies :)

The To Do List

2010-07-14T20:26:00.000-07:00

This is my To Do List for this week. I feel overwhelmed, to say the least. But these are things that need to be completed by Sunday night. I wish I could erase entries 4-9 and devote all of my attention to my books and this going-nowhere blog. Sigh. Sigh and meh,

1. Work on book rewrites.

2. Start outline for “The Breeders”

3. Continue working on non-profit “Kimber's Kids”

4. Write three articles for kindergarten blog, “Soar into Learning”.

5. Find August book selections for kindergarten blog.

6. Work on my kindergarten curriculum. Start planning twelve months of language arts.

7. Post five recipes to cooking blog.

8. Post daily on this blog.

9. Write six articles for Demand Studios.

For The Love of Gays!

2010-07-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned before my sleep pattern has been suctastical since my mom past away. Today marks the one month anniversary of her passing and my mind is still mush. I'm all good during the day. The kids and writing keep me busy. But the nights...man, the nights suck it. Hard. I roam around the house like a freakin' zombie. You would think that would be a good thing considering my love of all things zombie, but, eh, not so much, No. I actually fell asleep on the toilet in the wee hours of the morning...and then proceeded to freak out because the door was closed and I thought I was in a coffin. Geez. I really need to get a grip lol.

I said all of that to say this, I have nothing for a blog post today. Zip. Nada. Nuttin'. So, I'm going to share my new gay crush with you. It's Adamme from Dance Your Ass Off! He is so darn cute, isn't he? If I could find a straight boy as cute as Adamme...well...I might actually think about dating again. Naw. But he sure is purty, ain't he?

It's a Monday Meme

2010-07-12T07:51:00.000-07:00

1. What's the last thing you wrote? What's the first thing you wrote that you still have?
The last thing that I wrote was the opening scene for Queenly Boot Camp. The first thing I wrote that I still have is a play I wrote when I was in the third grade about a little girl and a magical money jar.

2. Write poetry?
I wrote poetry when I was in high school. I was the weird girl. I was either writing or I had my nose buried in a book. I wore combat boots with dresses...I was odd.

3. Angsty poetry?
After my last relationship ended I wrote poetry about the penis being a mighty sword used to pierce my flesh and conquer my soul lol.

4. Favorite genre of writing?
I love writing paranormal young adult books.

5. Most annoying character you ever created?
I would have to say Izzy, the gay gremlin from Zombie Queen. He is one of my favorite characters, but he is also the most annoying.

6. Best plot you ever created?
The plot for The Ridge is probably the best plot I've ever created. The Breeders are a creepy group of people.

7. Coolest plot twist you've ever created?
I can't tell you that...but it does include The Breeders and Armando Rayne.

8. How often do you get writer's block?
Not very often. I have so many ideas floating around in my head I worry about finding the time to get them all down on paper. At the moment, I have twenty-five story ideas I would love to be working on.

9. Write fan fiction?
I did, back in the day when Buffy was so popular. Buffy is still my favorite show of all time. You all did notice Video Boy's real name, didn't you?

10. Do you type or write by hand?
I do both. I love to take a notebook and pen (must be blue ink because black ink = eviiil) and write out on the front porch. There is a large field in front of my house and if you go outside early enough you can see all kinds of animals romping about.

11. Do you save everything you write?
Yeppers. When it comes to my writing, I am definitely a pack rat. I save absolutely everything.

12. Do you ever go back to an idea after you've abandoned it?
There are times when I can't seem to let go of an idea or a certain character, and I will go back and attempt to rework it.

13. What's your favorite thing you've ever written?
A Place Called Home is definitely my favorite. It hits very close to home for me and contains a lot of my own life experiences.

14. What's everyone elses favorite thing you've ever written?
Hmm, I think I've gotten the most positive feedback from Vampire Brats and The Zombie Queen of Abilene.

15. Ever written romance or angsty teen drama?
Are you kidding...I live for it!

16. What's you favorite setting for your characters?
I can't really say that I have a favorite, but most of my stories take place in the deep south.

17. How many writing projects are you working on right now?
I have around twenty-five projects that I'm working on. Some are in the planning and plotting stages, some are in the revision process and a few are finished and ready to go.

18. Have you ever won an award for your writing?
No, but perhaps someday.

19. What are your five favorite words?
Let's see...asshat, understandably, shudder, relic, remorse. Least favorite words....moist and sac.

20. What character have you created that is the most like yourself?
I would have to say Katie from A Place Called Home.

21. Where do you get ideas for your characters?
Everywhere. All I need to do is look around me.

22. Do you ever write based on your dreams?
I have, but not very often.

23. Do you favor happy endings?
As much as possible.

24. Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write?
In my personal life and my blog, not so much. In my writing, absolutely. Although, I did send a note back to Video Boy's teacher with her grammar corrected in red pencil. I felt as if “Xander don't do no work in class” warranted correcting lol. She did not find it amusing.

25. Does music help you write? At times. However, I usually start singing along or dancing and forget about my writing.

26. Quote something you've written. Whatever pops into your head.
From The Ridge... A light rain began to fall and lightening slashed through the night sky, casting a fiery glow against the jagged shards of glass that was all that remained of the windows. Veins of red brick bled through the tomb of moss encasing the main house.
And from A Place Called Home...Katie paced back and forth across the braided rug that lay in front of their sleigh bed, trying to gain control of her emotions. But with every second that passed her words became more venomous. When she finally turned to face him, tears were spilling down her cheeks.
“You tell me how I’m suppose to explain this mess to my family? Pass the mashed potatoes
please...and by the way, the man I plan to spend the rest of my life with is leaving me for a woman more than twice his age. Oh, and I almost forgot, this woman has a husband of her own wasting away in a nursing home while she’s making love, no, I take that back, having sex with the father of my children!”
Alonzo snagged his pants from the foot of the bed and rummaged around for the rest of his clothes. “I never promised you anything, Katie. I told you from the get-go that I wasn’t marrying anybody...including you.”

Friday Flashback

2010-07-09T06:38:00.000-07:00

It's time for another Friday Flashback! Woot! Are you excited? I know I am:) This week I've included one of the great hairbands...Skid Row. I still get chills listening to Sebastian Bach's vocals.

And you know I have to include one of my beloved glam bands, LA Guns. These guys are total awesomesauce.

What's On The Menu:
Pizza Hut

Enjoy your weekend!

The Dreaded Synopsis

2010-07-08T07:53:00.000-07:00

In yesterday's post I shared the query letter for A Place Called Home. Today I thought I would share the synopsis with you. It was my first, and it's definitely not my favorite. In fact, I kinda hate it. The truth is, I hate every query and synopsis that I've ever written for a straight romance novel. I'm really not sure why. Maybe it's because they all suck tail, or perhaps my taste has changed and straight romance just doesn't appeal to my anymore. If it doesn't have a zombie, gremlin, gnome...I'm not interested in writing about it.

Synopsis for A Place Called Home

"A sex thing, that was the deal." A few simple words and
thirty-year-old Katie Valentine's life is turned upside down. Now
Katie and her two children have moved into her grandmother's cabin in
the Tennessee Mountains.

Jack Talon is sick of Pearl Valley. He wants nothing more than to put
his past behind him and move on with his life. The truth about his
heritage has been revealed, and as a result the town has labeled him
an outcast.

Katie has enough going on in her life. She needs to find a job, her
kids are driving her insane with their constant demands to return home
to Georgia, and she's stuck living in a cabin that's in desperate need
of repairs just to make it remotely livable. She's had enough of men
and romance, and that's final--at least it will be after she finds out
who the man is living on her grandmother's land.

Jack is determined to sweep Katie off her feet...and then a few too
many chocolate martinis on a quiet evening under the stars, they
manage to slip away together. Jack is enamored, but it's just one
night for Katie--a slip-up of the worst kind, but it's something she
plans to put behind her. Six weeks later, that thought becomes
impossible when Katie discovers, that yes, even a
kicking-forty-in-the-behind, single mother of two can become pregnant
after spending one night with a gorgeous man,

When Jack proposes marriage, Katie digs in her heels. She cherishes
her new found freedom, but soon realizes that her unborn child deserves
to have a father. So she accepts his proposal with a few conditions.
This is to be a marriage in name only. This time it is Jack who's
reluctant, but he agrees.

Jack is ready for a real marriage, though Katie is determined to
resist his charms. In the middle of their battles, Jack and Katie find
a common ground, as the sexual tension between them makes the cabin
seem smaller and smaller. Besides, there's something irresistible
about a man who can make a mean mayonnaise and fried bologna sandwich!

Despite their early passion the marriage is off to a rocky start.
Katie is still bearing the scars of her past relationship, ones that
are open wide when Jack's ex-wife appears with his wild-child daughter
just as they are trying to make their relationship work. Katie's
ability to work past Jack's lies and face the ugliness of her past
with her children's father will either make or break their
relationship.

Katie is deeply hurt by Jack's lies and the fact that he didn't trust
her enough to confide in her about his daughter. And after Ali runs
away during a severe storm, and Jack puts his life on the line to find
her, Katie realizes that her unborn child will always be second best
in Jack's eyes. Katie plans to pack her belongings and return to
Georgia right away. She cares about him too much to stay and come
between him and his child. It shocks her to admit it, but she's really
in love with Jack.

Jack catches her before she can leave. He comes right out and tells
Katie he loves her. She's thrilled, but then thinks about her unborn
child. She confesses her love for Jack, but leaves no doubt that she
plans to have the baby. Jack tells her that he loves the baby as much
as she does, and that goes for Ciara and Kendall, too.

At the wedding, Katie and her grandmother come to an understanding
when it comes to her meddling ways and Jack thanks her for being wise
enough to play matchmaker.

Nan reminds the happy couple that the path to love may not be all
flowers and chocolate, but it's well worth the effort.

What's On The Menu:
Today it's Video Boy's choice:
Baked Ham
Shells & cheese
Green peas
Applesauce
Sweet tea

America's Got Talent & Prince Poppycock

2010-07-07T09:35:00.000-07:00

Last night on AGT the fantabulously foppish Prince Poppycock performed his version of Figaro. He was amazing, even though he was fighting a virus. I adore this man. I do believe that I have a new gay crush:)

Query Letter for A Place Called Home

2010-07-07T08:07:00.000-07:00

In yesterday's post I shared a tiny piece of the story behind A Place Called Home. So, I figured why not go ahead and share the query letter for this book as well. Keep in mind that it was my first query letter, and looking back on it now, it really isn't all that good. It kinda sucks ass, really. I actually cringe every time I read it. However, it did result in a request from Harlequin. Unfortunately, they felt that it was too intense for their Superromance line, and looking back, I can understand why. Although, the rejection did request that I submit other projects that I had available. It also resulted in requests from two E-publishing houses. One publisher asked for a full on the same day they received the query and synopsis. So, I guess there was something in the query that grabbed their attention.

Since writing this book I've totally switched genres. After writing The Zombie Queen of Abilene, I realize that my heart belongs in the young adult world. After all, I love to skateboard and scope out the Scene boys at the mall. I prefer my dates (if I ever had one. Pleez, geezus, just find me one nice boy!)...anyway, as I was saying, I prefer my dates to have long hair and wear eyeliner. I blast my music every chance I get, (even if it is 80s hairband music:) Yep, I'm still just a kid at heart and feel right at home writing YA.

Wow! Ramble much? So, anywho, here is the query for A Place Called Home.

A man stripped of his dreams and a woman with nothing left except her dreams....

"A sex thing, that was the deal." A few simple words and
thirty-year-old Katie Valentine's life is turned upside down. Katie
lost everything when her nine-year relationship with Alonzo ended. Now
she and her children have returned to Pearl Valley Tennessee to live
in her Grandmother Nan's cabin, and she has the uncanny feeling that
someone is watching her. The mysterious man with the long flowing
braids comes to her by night, invading her dreams, driving her to
depths of passion she's never felt before. Who is this man? And where
did he come from? Now Katie must find the truth, betting her life and
her love on a dream.

Jack Talon is sick of Pearl Valley. All he wants to do is put the past
behind him and move on with his life. But secrets from his past refuse
to let that happen. The truth about his heritage has been revealed,
and as a result the town has labeled him an outcast. Everyone except
Nan Valentine. Nan stood by his side when his marriage failed and his
ex-wife disappeared with their daughter. But now the woman from his
dreams is here.

Can anything keep Katie's heart safe? Jack wants nothing more than to play her hero, to
rescue her from herself, but when his honor clashes with her desperate
need for independence, a firestorm erupts between them. Can he teach
her that tenderness and caring still matter, that when a man and woman
come together, not only bodies meet, but also their hearts and souls?
As they struggle to survive together, can Katie and Jack transcend the
scars of past relationships and their own private demons to find
dreams really can come true?

I have been writing for almost fifteen years. Romance is my first
love, though for now it's freelance writing that pays the bills. Over
the years I've completed five romances, including a sequel to this
novel. I belong to an online writing group, and a wonderful critique
group.

If you are interested, I will gladly send you first three chapters of
this story, or the complete manuscript. Thank you very much for your
time and consideration.

Tomorrow I will post the synopsis for A Place Called Home.

What's On The Menu:
Cubed Steak
Rice
Cream Gravy
Broccoli
Brownies
Sweet Tea

Coming Home Comes Together

2010-07-06T17:37:00.000-07:00

I spent the majority of the day yesterday searching the photo sites for the perfect image to use on the cover of A Place Called Home...and I finally found it! Go me.

A Place Called Home holds a very special place in my heart. I've rewritten and edited this book at least ten times, and I know that it's as good as I can make it. I started writing this book during a very difficult time in my life. I had been in an abusive relationship, both physically and mentally for many years. I had stopped writing...let's be honest here...I was forbidden to follow my dreams. It was a horrible existence and I would never wish it on my worst enemy.

The day I found the courage to leave was the day I started writing A Place Called Home. Every horrible thing that happens to Katie in this story happened to me in my relationship. I still cry for Katie when I read her story because I lived it. Writing A Place Called Home saved me and I can't wait to share it with all of you.

Here is the rough draft for the prologue for A Place Called Home. And even though it's only the first rough draft, and not the one that appeared in the book, it still brings me to tears...it was my life.

Prologue for A Place Called Home

Hey Y’all, my name is Stella. Now, I’m not one to gossip or anything such as that. And I ain’t one for going around sharin’ other folk’s misery...most of the time. But I need to share a letter I just received from my childhood friend, Katie. It’s got me worried something fierce.
Now I reckon it’s gonna take every ounce of mojo I can conjure up to get my girl out of this mess...without her knowing about it, that is.
I want Y’all to go ahead and read the letter. Don’t worry. I’ll wait.
Hey Girl,
I hope this letter finds you well. I really need to tell you what’s been happening here in Georgia. Wow, I’m not even sure where to begin. So, I guess I’ll jump right in and begin with what happened the other day and let it flow from that point.
Ciara made an innocent comment about the size of my backside.. Her words stung and I could feel the hot tears pooling in my eyes. But the child was right. I did have a fat butt...huge in fact. And I had no one to blame but myself. I felt totally disgusted by what I saw in the mirror, Stella. The ugly red marks that remained on my skin for hours after I removed my pantyhose each day repulsed me to no-end.
There was a time when I blamed my obesity on their father. You know that we were never married...his choice...not mine. He cheated on me to the point of being an obsession with him. I was always competing with younger women, thinner women, older women...you name it...if they had the female parts they were fair game when it came it Alonzo.
I was lonely and petrified of being left alone to raise two small children. I ate for comfort, I ate for companionship and I ate to fill the huge, angry voice that was my life. And then one day I found myself weighing 230 pounds and three months pregnant. I waited to tell him until I thought I was far enough along in the pregnancy that he couldn’t force me to...to do something that I would regret. He never mentioned terminating the pregnancy, instead he threw me to the ground. He was determined that I never carried another child he fathered to term.
His plan worked. A week later I lost that child while I was home alone with my children. I watched the tiny life disappear down the toilet as I cried, helpless to stop it from happening. I cried for the child I’d lost, the child I would never see grow up and have a family of her own, and I cried for the two innocent lives, sobbing at my knee, both of them kneeling on the blood-spattered bathroom floor. What was I doing to my children? What kind of mother puts her child through something like that?
By the time I was scheduled to return for my six-week check-up, I had made several trips to the emergency room, positive I was having a heart attack. I would wake-up n the middle of the night unable to breathe, my heart pounding wildly. I numerous tests only to find out that my heart was fine.
It was my OB that finally gave me the wake-up call I so desperately needed. He informed me that I was dying and it wasn’t my weight that was killing me. It was my very spirit. He told me if I didn’t leave my relationship that it was going to kill me.
Stella, I left his office that day more terrified than I’d ever been in my life. I knew he was right, but I was overweight and scared to be alone. I went home that afternoon and took a good hard look at my life and I realized that I deserved better.
That Saturday morning I packed up out possessions and moved to a small town ten miles away. The funny part is, Alonzo never knew we were gone until the next Monday...he never bothered to come home that weekend.
Within four months I was wearing a size 10. I was on cloud nine. My heart palpitations were gone. I was healthy; emotionally as well as physically. Ciara and Kendall flourished in their new stress-free environment. They played outside the entire summer, their arms and legs growing strong and tan under the warm summer sun...something they were never allowed to do when their father was in the home. God-forbid someone might see then and realize they were his children.
For the first time in years we were actually happy...until he found us and our serene world began tumbling down around our feet.
Alonzo had money and knew people in high places. He threatened to take the children from me. What else could I do? I had to allow him to come home.
You would think that would have been the biggest mistake of my life, wouldn’t you? That I should’ve learned my lesson. But I had a good reason for taking him back; my children. And for a while things were good. Really good. He started attending church with us twice a week, coming home for dinner every night, and to top it all off he even started attending Ciara’s cheer leading sessions.
The she came along. or should I say her bank account.
So here I am two years later right back in the same place I started from. At least the abuse hasn’t grown physical yet. But there are times when I wish that he would just go ahead and slap me or something. At least it would only hurt for a little while. Words, on the other hand, continue to sting forever.
I plan to confront him tonight. I’ve send the kids to my mother’s house just in case things get too ugly. He either gets over it and lets this woman...and I use the term loosely, go, or I’m out of here. I’ve gained thirty pounds in the past four months. I can feel it starting all over again. And this time I’m afraid I might not make it out alive.
But I’m okay. Really.
Love,
Katie

Okay folks, now do you see why I’m so all-fired worried about my Katie Bug? I have to get that girl away from that low-down dog she calls a...what the heck does she call him anyway? He sure as heck ain’t offered to marry the girl. But don’t Y’all worry none. I have ways of making things happen. Heck, I’m a legend in these parts. So, as Y’all are reading Katie’s story, remember that everything I do, I do outta love.

Tomorrow I'll post the query letter for A Place Called Home.

Pulling Double Duty

2010-07-06T06:54:00.000-07:00

Video Boy had another migraine last night and as I was looking at the calendar to see when I could squeeze in a doctor's appointment, I realized that it was actually July. July, people! In less than two months the kids will be heading back to school and I have bought nothing.

Scene Girl and Video Boy need eye exams and new glasses, they need to visit the dentist, The Boy needs to get some kind of shot before he can start the 6th grade. Plus there are clothes to buy and shoes and school supplies...gah. With Xan I have no problems when it comes to what he will or will not wear...but Scene Girl...unbelievable. Her clothes have to come from Hot Topic or The Fashion Train. Heaven forbid she didn't look Emo or Scene enough to fit in with friends.

So what does all of this mean for me? It means I'm going to be extremely busy for the next two months. It also means that unfortunately I am going to have to start writing for Demand and AC again. At least for a few months. The thought makes my skin crawl. Really. I am totally burnt out on content writing. I want to focus on my fiction writing. Nothing else. Unfortunately, I'm a single parent now, so to speak, so I have no other choice but to suck it up and do it. Hopefully I can do double-duty and get both things accomplished without driving myself into the nuthouse.

What's On The Menu:
Tacos
Black bean salad
Rainbow sherbet

Weekend Update & New Cover Design

2010-07-05T08:31:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday! I hope each and every one of you had a safe and fun holiday weekend. As for me, I spent the weekend editing The Zombie Queen of Abilene. More than ever I am determined to have this book edited, formatted and ready to go by the end of August. I also spent a huge portion of my Saturday working on a novella that I started last year. This is my first attempt at writing shorter fiction and although I think it's a good story thus far, I'm having a difficult time keeping the writing tight, fast-paced and to the point. I think its safe to say that I enjoy writing the longer books more.

Also, I finally have the final cover design (maybe) for The Zombie Queen of Abilene. It's simple, but absolutely perfect. The girl on the cover looks so much like my main character, Halen, that I could just squee all over myself. Oh, and the girl's fingernails...awesome. There is a scene in the book where Halen and Izzy are forced to deal with Halen's physical changes while visiting a nail salon and this image pulls elements of that scene into the cover art. {again with the squeeing}

Sunday afternoon was spent watching my neighbors make complete fools of themselves by fighting in their front yard. Honestly, we have no reason to watch the MMA fights on TV...we can open our front door and be fully entertained. All they need is a little Hank Williams Jr. and a six-pack...and it's on Babycakes! After all that excitement the kids were happy to spend the evening sitting on the front porch watching fireworks and eating ice cream cones. Yeppers, life is filled with awesomesauce.

What's On The Menu:
Fried chicken
Green beans
Fried squash
Cornbread
Lemon pie
Sweet tea

Happy 4th of July!

2010-07-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

glitter-graphics.com

Friday Flashback

2010-07-02T08:41:00.000-07:00

Wow! I cannot believe how long it's been since I've actually written anything on my blog...videos and lol cats excluded. I've been a total blog whore, flitting to and fro reading some truly excellent blog posts, but when it comes to my own...ppfft. Since my mom's passing two weeks ago my mind has been nothing but total mush. I lie (lay?) awake at night wondering why she hasn't kept her promise to visit me once she passed over. I think about how totally suckass I thought her funeral was and how I feel that my father didn't do enough. I know it sounds totally morbid, but I wanted her to be draped in satin and frills...I wanted her to have a soft and beautiful place to rest...she didn't get it. Thanks family. Really. If I'd had my way there would have been fireworks and choirs...and...anyway, my mom was an awesome lady and she deserved the best...even at the end. Unfortunately, she had grown to be nothing more than a burden to my father...he seemed pleased to watch her be lowered into the ground. Yeah, I'm a tad bitter. But this too shall pass.

I have final edits and formatting to do on Zombie Queen of Abilene. I hope to have everything finished and ready to go by the end of August, with Vampire Brats and A Place called Home to follow in September or October.

So, anywho it is time for another Friday Flashback. This go 'round I'm including my favorite band of all-time, Cinderella. Don't Know What You've Got (til its gone) is my favorite song evah. I never fail to listen to it at least once a day...'cause it rawks:)(and Tom Keifer's fingers on the piano keys...too sexy for words) I am also including one of the best songs ever written, at least in my opinion: Wonderwall by Oasis.

Gone Too Soon

2010-06-26T07:50:00.000-07:00

This marks the one year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death. I know that many people saw him as a freakish, drug-addicted pedophile, but I loved Michael. I grew up listening to his music. To me he was a kind, loving, and very misunderstood soul. So today I give you my favorite Michael Jackson song.

Rest in peace, sweet Michael.

Yeppers, It's About the Zombies

2010-06-22T16:48:00.001-07:00

My Visual Inspiration

2010-06-22T11:44:00.001-07:00

It seems the loverly and talented Steph Bowe has started quite the trend with her beautiful visual inspirations. So, I decided to try one of my own. I give you my visual inspirations for "The Zombie Queen of Abilene".

My Mother Passed

2010-06-20T08:55:00.000-07:00

I lost my mom last Tuesday. She was the sweetest, most precious mom a girl could ever have. She was my best friend. I could tell her anything and she would never judge me...no matter what I said or did, she was always there for me. And the trait that I loved the most about my mom was her potty mouth. She cursed like a sailor, and gawd, how I loved her for it. So, I suppose I get it honest. :)

My mom is gone and I have no one. I told the pastor that all I wanted to do was crawl into the casket and go with her...but I know it is not my time to go.

Mom was in Hospice care before she passed and I have never met such a wonderful, caring group of people. Their kindness and support got me through a very difficult time. Moments after my mom passed I told the pastor that all I wanted to do was to crawl in the bed with her and just hold her to keep her warm. Pat, my mom's Hospice nurse, heard my request. She made my entire family and our friends leave the room. She then situated my mother so that I could lay next to her and just hold her. She gave me ten minutes to hold my mom...I will never, ever forget that beautiful gesture.

I'm not sure how I will make it without her. My beautiful, precious mother.

Friday Flashback

2010-06-11T18:25:00.000-07:00

Time for a Friday Flashback! I love 80s and 90s rock, and this song is one of my all time favorites.

"The Humpty Dance is your chance to do the hump."

Conversation with a Teen Girl

2010-06-11T12:18:00.000-07:00

Me: “Back in a sec.”

Girl: “Where ya going?”

Me: “Just to the restroom.”

Girl: “Well, how long are you gonna be in there?”

Me: “I dunno...what? Why do you care? I didn't know you'd been crowned Queen of the Toilet.”

Girl: “Funny. I need to straighten my hair again. So, is this going to be a quick pee, or like, something else?”

Me: “OMG, Cameron! I just ate popcorn so I need to brush my teeth. Then I shall sanitize my hands, use the potty, (yes, I said potty. I taught kindergarten. It sticks in your brain) sanitize my hands again and finally emerge from said restroom. And besides, I do not need to answer to you. You. Are. Not. The. Mama. Not the mama, not the mama.”

Girl: “Geez, I will be so glad when I'm grown and can be all snarky and controlling.”

Me: “Yeah, I'll be so glad when you're grown...and can move out."

At this point I'm sitting on the couch and she has her massive head in my lap.

Girl: “I wonder what it would be like to have a normal mom?”

Me: Well, I could be a normal mom, but what fun would that be?”

Girl: “You're insane. You know that, right?”

Me: "I know, right?"

Girl: "No. seriously insane."

Me: “So I've been told, Missy. So I've been told.”

Girl: “You're still giving me money to go skating tonight, right?”

Me: “ Yes, Cameron.”

Girl: “Wicked. You rock.”

Sigh, you gotta love summertime with the kids. Not.

More Kitties in Need of Help

2010-06-10T18:29:00.000-07:00

Please go over to Robin's kitty blog and read about some scared kittehs that are in desperate need of a home.

There is a colony of feral bobcats that need to be trapped, spayed and neutered. you can learn about them here.

And finally a sweet little kitteh in NC still needs a home. You can read her story here.

Please help out if you can.
Thankies!

Who's Critiquing Your Work?

2010-06-09T07:19:00.000-07:00

Procrastination was queen in my house yesterday. I was waiting on the plumber to fix my “new” hot water heater...again and I didn't want to get involved in writing only to be forced to stop when he arrived. So I did a little blog hopping. Because I can be the ultimate blog whore when I wanna be.

On my blogger journey I cam across a blog where the author was offering free critiques to people who commented on his blog post. At first I thought, wow, that's really awesome. Here is someone willing to take the time to help out his fellow writer. And as we all know a good critique is golden, baby. A good critique can help turn your manuscript into something fantastical.

But as I started reading, my mind changed. You see, I've always thought that a good critique was objective. It would point out formatting errors, grammar and syntax errors, where you needed to tighten up the MS, things of that nature. But, in my opinion, this guy was a bit brutal. There were phrases used such as “Okay, this part really irked me” and “You should never start a book with dialog. It makes you look like an amateur and takes the reader out of the story” (just so you know, Ann Peach, in her critique, gave me kudos for starting my MS with dialog and immediately pulling her into the story), and my absolute fave comment “Man, I really hate when a writer does this.” Are you kidding me? Really? Talk about not being objective. I certainly hope the people who received the critiques took them with a grain of salt. I dunno, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this is how people critique other writer's work. If it is, I am not pleased at all. I found it to be rude and uncaring. If you want to see an example of the right way to give a critique, go check out Natalie Whipple's blog. Very impressive. I so want to be her when I grow up...even though I'm like way older that Natalie I'm sure.:)

The thing is, I was still willing to give the dude the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps it was the blog of a famous writer...maybe even someone I looked up to and idolized. Uh huh, this person hasn't even published a book yet...has an agent, but not a contract. I'm probably making a mistake by voicing my opinion...I usually do, but whatevah.

Random Thoughts:
I bet I look like a damn fool screaming at the TV while watching wrestling...alone. Geez.

What's On The Menu:
Taco Bell

Should I? Could I?

2010-06-08T10:12:00.000-07:00

My brain is overflowing with thoughts and ideas, so this post is going to be one big mosh pit of chaos and lunacy...so here goes.

I started writing paranormal romances when I was fifteen. I've always been fascinated with the idea of vampires and my beloved zombies. Buffy is my all-time favorite TV show. I have three kittehs named after characters on the show: Spike, Giles, and Drucilla. Hell, have y'all noticed the Boy Child's name...Xander. I was adamant that he be named Xander. Yeah, I'm geeky like that. Rambling, Sorry.

Many years ago I received a very honest critique from the late, great Ann Peach. God bless her, she ripped me a new one, but she also told me that I excelled at writing dialog. She said my dialog was gritty and it made her feel like she was in the room with my characters. She also said that she had no doubt that I would be published one day. I was over-the-moon happy by her words of encouragement...and then I let the momentum and opportunity slip through my fingers. I gave up. I'm still not sure if it was fear or if life just got in the way. I wanted to write, but my family insisted I finish school. Fine and dandy. I received my degree in Early Childhood Education. I still wanted nothing more than to make writing my career. Again, my family convinced me that it would be a waste of time. I needed to be responsible. So, I got a job teaching kindergarten. Suddenly, I wanted to write a series about a clique of vampires that would follow them from middle school through high school and “Vampire Brats” was born.

A few year later I became burnt out on teaching and I eventually did quit to pursue my writing. Luckily, the former president of the Georgia Virtual Academy was beginning a new venture and I was blessed enough to land an ongoing assignment writing pre-k-5th grade curriculum. That, along with the work I picked up from Demand Studios allowed me to work at home and concentrate on my fiction writing.

I wrote my ass off. I struggled with the dreaded synopsis, fought with the query letter and found a little hint of interest. I received some interest in “A Place Called Home” and “Magnolia Ridge” with agents and editors asking to see the first three chapters of each manuscript, but that was as far as I got with the traditional New York publishing houses. I had a little more interest for “A Place Called Home” from an e-publisher, but I eventually decided not to go that route. I was reading more and more about how many authors were not even making enough from their work each month to buy dinner at Burger King. WTF? How can that be?

Then I stumbled across the blog of Zoe Winters. Here is a lady (keep wanting to call her a gurl...not sure why. She's just cool like that) who is doing it on her own and doing it right. She's writing and publishing her own work...she even created her own book covers...and she's making money doing it. And best of all, no New York bigwig is telling how or what she could or should write. Yeah! This might work for me, too! I've read every post on her blog at least four times (I'm not a stalker, Zoe. Honest) trying to soak it all in. I devoured articles on indie publishing, talked with other authors who are making it work for them, and studied how to format e-books. And now I think I'm almost ready to take the leap into self-publishing.

I have three manuscripts that have been edited to death and ready to go...almost. I want to give each book one last edit. But there comes a point when you have to stop editing, buck up and submit your work. I played around today with covers...I know they will not be the final covers, but they will definitely keep me motivated and on the right track. I've set a date that I want to have each manuscript formatted and ready to upload. I have to admit, the whole formatting for e-publishing is very confusing to me. I am quickly learning the speed of stupid on this one.

I know I will never get rich going the indie route, but that was never my intention in the first place. I just want to have enough income coming in each month to allow me to back off from Demand Studios and concentrate solely on my fiction writing. If I could bring in $200-$300 a month I would be an extremely happy camper. Because, let me tell ya, that DS is a real time sucker for me. It literally takes me hours to write one stinking article and I know it's for no other reason than I hate it sooo much.

So, I think that's enough of the brain drain for one day. Wish me luck.

Random Thoughts:
If I don't let editors, agents and twitter followers see my crazy...what the hell is left?

Listening To:
Lady Gaga

What's On The Menu:
Fried chicken
Rice
English peas
Cream gravy
Biscuits
Iced tea

Help These Kitties Find a Home

2010-05-20T06:39:00.000-07:00

If you or someone you know lives in or near Southeast Missouri – specifically, Lilbourn – SEMO Animal Rescue Alliance is desperately looking for a home for these three cats. Please pass the word!!!

A lady here husband’s died last week. The son is taking her back to Houston to live with him. I placed her 12 yr old dog but now I am very scared her three cats will be taken to the vet and killed. He isn’t letting her take her pets with her………..I am trying hard to place them but not having any success….can you please cross post to all cat rescues you know of…I have to get these cats placed before they leave Friday……..please help if you can. Contact me at LHolloway1948@aol.com

Callie lives with Bam Bam and is losing her home too.
Indoor cat, very sweet…can be altered and transported. Callie is 10 yrs old.

Fluffy is 1 yr old and lives with Bambam and Callie, she is losing her home too.

Muffy is living with Bambam , Callie and Fluffy. She is losing her home too. Muffy is 6 months old.

Laura Holloway LHolloway1948@aol.com
SEMO Animal Rescue Alliance, Inc. 501 (C) (3) non-profit / no kill rescue.
Lilbourn, MO. 63862

SEMO Animal Rescue Alliance on Petfinder

What's That Stench?

2010-05-11T06:48:00.000-07:00

I have a big mouth. I still have not learned the concept of censoring my thoughts. This is an epic fail for me.
Take last night for instance. I am usually in my house, showered, and in my jammies by 8:00pm every night. But last night we needed donuts...not wanted...NEEDED donuts, so off we went to Wally World. Now, our new house is EXTREMELY close to my neighbors and the smell of la la weed permeating the night air was intense to say the least.

So, when Xander said “Gah, what's that smell?”

I answered back without thinking, “That, Xan, is the smell of mediocrity and failure.” Hah, I didn't notice that their front door was wide open to the world. Geez.

I know that I shouldn't feel like such a rotter for what I said, but I do. Even though these are not nice people. The teenagers in the family have all but taken over the park across the street as their personal dealing site, they smoke weed in the yard, on their porch, in the middle of the street. It is difficult to sleep at night for the cars going in and out. And the mother? Well, she smokes right along with them. So odd and bizarre to me.

Now, I've always believed to each his own. Live your life your way. Whatever makes you happy...as long as you are not harming other people in the process. But when your actions cause me to have to explain why you are smoking pot in front of my house, or why you are smoking pot while your little girl...Xander's friend from school, is at home, I have a problem. Because I am now forced to forbid Xander from having anything to do with your child, and that is not fair to these little kids.

Honestly, some people just burn my biscuits.

What I'm Listening To:
Cinderella: "Heartbreak Station"

What's On The Menu:
Country fried steak
Rice
Cream gravy
Spinach
Biscuits
Brownies
Sweet tea

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T10:16:00.000-07:00

Go Out and Rock Your Caturday!

2010-05-08T08:50:00.000-07:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Random Thoughts:
I want a bucket of KFC for breakfast.

Listening To:
Tesla: "Love Song"

What's On The Menu:
I haz no idea

Is It Wrong...

2010-05-07T10:08:00.000-07:00

Is it so wrong to have days when I wished she looked like a little troll doll?

Go Hug Your Mom

2010-05-07T10:04:00.000-07:00

It appears that my mother will not be coming home from the nursing home/rehabilitation facility. They determined that she had a stroke during her fall and her mental abilities are leaving her by the day. She no longer knows who Xander and Sierra are, she thinks I am her dead sister...that my dad is trying to kill her...the nurses are putting glass in her food and beating her during the night, so she refuses to eat or let them bathe her. It is all too sad. What must it be like to truly believe these horrible things are happening to you? She must feel so scared. :(

A great big thank you to my facebook and online friends who have been so open and loving during this time. It really does take a tragedy to learn who your true friends really are. I have to admit, there have been some people that I thought I was close to that have yet to acknowledge my mother's condition, and that's okay. I love you all just the same. This is definitely going to be one messed up Mother's Day.

I hope you all will do one thing for me today: if you can see your mom hold her close and let her know how much you love her, and if not, give her a call and let her know you are thinking about her. You just never know how much time you have together.

The Masses Be Damned!

2010-05-02T18:32:00.000-07:00

My mother is a hot mess. She does what she wants to do, when she wants to do it, the masses be damned.

And it drives me insane.

Last week she had an appointment with her cardiologist, and on the way home my father decided to stop at Wally World before taking my mother home. Bad idea. You see, my mother has an inoperable bleed in her heart and the doctor does not want her to be walking around unless it is absolutely necessary. But, being the hard-ass that she is, she insisted on going inside with my dad and Dusty.

After being instructed to “Just sit on the bench and wait for us” my mother, God bless her, did the exact opposite.

My mother is a smoker, always has been, but this is something that my dad does not know...or chooses to ignore. So, for some insane reason she thought that she could sneak outside and smoke a cigarette before my dad ever knew what happened.

Epic fail.

Now, please do not get all pissy and send me nasty comments, but when I heard what happened next, I laughed so hard I nearly tinkled in my pants. Somehow my mother teetered her way outside to the darkest corner behind the store, lit a cigarette and politely toppled over backwards breaking her arm and her hip.
Honestly, I wasn't laughing because she was hurt, I love my mother very much. It was the image of my mom skulking around the darkest corners of Wally World just to smoke a cigarette.

As the paramedics were lifting her into the ambulance,she looked at Dusty and whispered, “Dusty I hid your cigarettes inside my bra.” Lol. Like I said, she's a hot mess.

Both of her surgeries went well, thank you Jesus, and they have now moved her to a rehabilitation facility. She will be there for six weeks. I pity those poor nurses.
We did get to have a little fun with her while she was still in the hospital whacked out on a morphine drip. She tried to seduce an intern one day by showing him her lovely Va-j-j. She also told us that three men with guns came into the room and stole her arms...but there was no need to worry because she grew three more while we were gone.

I think I need a cookie.

What's On The Menu:
Baked pork chops
Pinto beans
Rice
Broccoli
Strawberries w/whipped cream
Sweet tea

Oh How I Love Thee

2010-05-02T18:25:00.000-07:00

My beautiful, delicious black cherry lime Vitamin Water. You make my taste buds extremely happy.

Have a Great Caturday!

2010-04-24T10:44:00.000-07:00

Goodbye, Sweet Friend

2010-04-22T08:45:00.000-07:00

Sadly, the sweet and wonderful Vinnie Chas has passed away. I met Vinnie a few years ago on MySpace and we quickly struck up an online friendship. He was a wonderful, spiritual man, and he will be dearly missed by everyone who knew him.

The following message has been posted on Facebook by guitarist Aeriel Stiles, who played with Vinnie in Pretty Boy Floyd and Rattlin’ Bones:

‘Dear friends, I am extremely sad to confirm here that original Pretty Boy Floyd bassist Vinnie Chas has passed away. There have been posts and rumours on the net, so I called the company Vinnie worked for to confirm it for myself.

‘I do not have the all specific details and the family wished to keep it private, so all I know at this time is that it was a sudden onset of illness and he passed away over Easter weekend. He called into work ill on Friday and when no one could reach him on Monday, they sensed something was wrong and went to his home, where he was found dead.

‘Vinnie was going to be working with me on some new recordings for Kery Doll, but unfortunately we ran out of time. I rarely get the time to log on to Facebook, so forgive me if I cannot respond to messages for some time. Plus, as you can imagine, this is devastating news and I need some time to grieve.’

Am I Ready For the YA World?

2010-04-17T16:32:00.000-07:00

I spent the day rereading “The Zombie Queen of Abilene” and I still really like this book. I love my heroine, Halen, and of course I adore Izzy the gremlin. But as much as I love the story, I'm still not sure that it is right for the YA market. I'm starting to have my doubts. I've read quite a few YA books and they all seem to have a sense of sweetness about them. Even the paranormal YA books seem very sweet and innocent to me.

Halen's voice is gritty and at times crude – she sounds like I did when I was a teenager. I had a smart, sassy, and at times, gutter mouth. I tried to make her...err...less of a smart ass, but the girl would have no part of it. She is who she is; she's basically me as a teen.

In high school I was considered a freak...an outcast. I was what the kids today call Emo. I wore combat boots with frilly dresses and too much eyeliner, always had my nose buried in a book and hated people...I'm still not all that fond of the general population and would prefer to be left alone most of the time. I loved skateboarding and 80s glam rock...I was just an oddball. And so is Halen. She's a wonderful, nerdy, mouthy oddball.

Is there a place in the YA world for a chick like Halen? I'm not sure.

And then there's Izzy, the gay gremlin. Oh, how I adore him! He has a deep love of shoes and all things shiny, tawdry and trashy. Down south he would be called skanky :) Izzy might be a bit on the gaudy side, but he's loyal to a fault and would do anything to protect Halen from the lazy, wannabe rocker vamp, LaRome. So, is there a place for a gay gremlin in the YA world? Who knows. One can only hope.

Happy Easter

2010-04-03T16:42:00.000-07:00

To all my peeps!

Hooray!

2010-03-28T12:06:00.001-07:00

I haz a happy. "The Zombie Queen of Abilene" is finished!

Dealing With a Flare is Never Easy...

2010-03-28T11:40:00.000-07:00

But it's something that I have learned to live with. The problem with this stupid illness is that we tend to bring our flares on through our own actions...or at least I do. I will have a good day or week or even month and think “This is the sheez! I'm going to walk to the store, or ride skateboards with Sierra, or work in the yard...and then...Smack! Slam! You get knocked on your ass. That is what happened to me this past week and now I am paying for my actions.

I went outside and played kickball with Sierra and spent far too much time in the sun, worked on the computer for 7-8 hours...and woke up the next morning unable to walk. I literally had to crawl to the restroom. It took several hours before I had the ability to actually walk. To top it off I had a slight malar rash, and a yucky issue with my nose and my blood count had hit rock bottom.

Lupies, we just never seem to learn that we have limitations.

Flares scare the hell out of me. I was told about my lupus during a flare. I had been feeling sick for about a month and I assumed that I was just having a hard time shaking a virus or something. But one morning I woke up with a crazy rash across my cheeks and nose and my entire body hurt so badly that I had to crawl around my house. My eyes were swollen so badly that even the whites of my eyes were swollen. I had a throbbing headache and my blood pressure had spiked at 200/135 and my body temp had dropped to 93.7. At that point I actually had a seizure. Very scary stuff. It took 5 trips to the ER, 10 different meds and a long stay at my parents house before I was able to return to a somewhat normal existence.

Lupus is a strange disease. Unless a person has a very severe case where there are physical deformities, you would never know that we are ill. We tend to get the “But You Don't Look Sick” syndrome from our friends and family. and, to be perfectly honest, we do not look sick. Oh, but if people could only see what is really going on inside of our bodies.

Lupus attacks the joints and soft tissue in the body, so we live in nearly constant pain. It can cause hair loss, anemia, it will attack the kidneys, heart and lungs...basically is sucks out loud.

I rarely talk about my illness. Except for my immediate family no one knows that I am even sick. I see no reason to burden my friends with such silliness. I consider myself to be extremely lucky - I have the ability to work from home, so I can rest when I feel the need to...although, I rarely do, thus my recent flare. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Today I am feeling pretty darn lucky because the rash is gone! And as much as I hate to admit it, I'm nothing if not a little on the vain side. :)

What's On The Menu:

Roasted pork chops
Steamed green beans
Potato salad
Rolls
Sweet tea

Happy Freakin' Caturday

2009-05-09T11:23:00.000-07:00

Please allow me to start this blog post off my saying Jumping Jesus! Could it possibly rain anymore! I mean, gah. It’s rained every day for the past week. Hell. We even had a tornado pass right over us last Sunday. I am more than ready for a little sunshine.

So my credit application was expected back on Monday…and nothing. Yesterday…nothing. I finally broke down and called the mortgage company this afternoon - yea! I was approved! Woot! So, if all goes as planned I will be out of this hell hole in a few months.

I love my little house and I know that I will have mixed emotions when I leave. I will truly miss this place, but I will definitely not miss the neighborhood. When I purchased this house, this was a quiet, family-oriented neighborhood. Now, the place is over-run with gang bangers and sorry-ass sex offenders. I have a man convicted of incest with a minor living three doors down from me. Freakin’ freak. The day I discovered him sitting in my driveway talking to Xander was the day I began house hunting. Everyday I watch my neighbors allow this man into their homes…allow him to interact with their children *shudder* it makes my skin crawl. Illiterate redneck dumb fucks.

Asshats. All of them.

I did inform this man that if I ever saw him near my kids again I would cut his &*%$ off and shove it down his throat - sideways *g*

My good friend Kristy - he’s the one with the dark hair on guitar (ain’t he purty?) and his band Pretty Boy Floyd are on tour right now. Get on out there and enjoy some true 80s glam rock!

Enjoy your Weekend!

Say it Ain't So, Jeff!

2009-04-24T11:34:00.003-07:00

Superstars of Wrestling ran a tribute to Jeff Hardy last night. So it appears the rumors are true - Jeff is leaving wrestling when his contract expires this summer.

Sad. I haz it.

My Friday nights will not be the same. I am one heartbroken redneck gurl. *snort*
What can I say, he is pretty much my dream man.

On a lighter note, Sierra (aka Verooonda) and Xander presented me with straight A report cards yesterday! WOOOT!!

And since I live for the Glam Rock - LA Guns is on tour, so get out there and enjoy some REAL music! Hotness. Phil Lewis haz it.

What's on the Menu
Freakin' Papa Johns

Yes, this must be a joke

2009-04-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share my to do list for the week.

Units to complete for work
Stelleluna
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad day
The Gingerbread Man
Careers and Jobs
3 articles for Demand

Personal Blog
Write 5 blog posts

Kindergarten Blog
Write 3 posts

Novel Writing
Write synopsis for Magnolia Ridge
Revise chapter 1-3 of Magnolia Ridge
Work on revisions for Vampire Brats

Yes, I laughed, too.

Don't Be Skeered...Ha!

2009-04-20T07:23:00.000-07:00

I am freaking out, people. FREAKING OUT! There are tornado warnings all around us. *Shudder*

What makes the situation so damn scary is, I had no idea the weather was so bad. The kids and I went to Wally World and as we were leaving the store it was sprinkling rain and we could flashes of lightening off in the distance. So, dumb ass me, comes home and gets the chitlins ready for bed before settling down on the sofa to watch a movie on the Sci-Fi channel.

A few minutes later, Sierra rushes out of her room screaming "A freakin' lawn chair just blew past my window!" Reluctantly, I pulled myself out of my thankgodspringbreakisover stupor, and turned the tv to the weather channel - WTF! Tornado warnings in nearly every county that surrounds us. Damnity damn damn.

I hate this crap.

And to top it off, I have a lousy sinus infection - one side of my nose is swollen. Gah. I look like the freakin' elephant man.

On a more positive note - Matt Hardy is still hotz.

What's On The Menu
Baked ham steaks
Mac & Cheese
Green Beans
Brownies
Sweet tea

Have a fantabulous day!!

I'm Baack!

2009-04-14T09:30:00.000-07:00

I’m baaack! I hope. I’ve missed having a place and the time to vent my frustrations. Between the curriculum writing and the revisions on “A Place Called Home” I’ve been burning the candle at both ends. And when did revisions start to mean rewriting the entire book! I don’t even recognize my story or my characters at this point. These are not the people that I fell in love with - I’m just sayin’.

On the home front, I’ve been banned from the family reunion - again! Seems I’m an embarrassment to my parents - bad career choices, lousy taste in men - blah, freakin’ blah. Gee, I’m going to miss three hour of watching a room full of 80-year-olds suck their teeth and spit snuff across the room. Damn. Hate that.

I did get to spend a few hours letting my redneck side shine through at the WWE Draft last night! The Phillips Arena was sold out and it was AWESOME! Just being that close to Matt and Jeff Hardy was enough to send my poor little heart into overdrive. I had a fantabulous time.

I swear, I wanted to jump out of my seat and attack those Hardy boys! Yum-O!

I’m still trying to get my kindergarten blog up and running. I’ve managed to make a few posts, but I’m way behind schedule. I would love to know how you people find the time to work a full-time job, write, and keep your websites and blogs full of witty banter. Perhaps I’m too much of a slacker. If given the choice between working on my blog and flopping my big ass on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and wrestling on TV, wrestling is going to win hands down. Priorities, people. Priorities.

On a final note, Tesla is on tour right now! So get out there and enjoy!

What's On the Menu
Country fried steak
Mashed potatoes
Fried yellow Squash
Gravy
Biscuits
Coconut cake
Sweet tea

Have a fantabulous day!

25 Things About Me

2009-02-22T10:29:00.000-08:00

25 Things About Me

1. I was born in Los Angeles.

2. I spent a good portion of my childhood living in Compton - what up, Homie.

3. I cannot eat a sausage biscuit unless it is smothered in ketchup, mustard and grape jelly.

4. I drink at least 3 pots of coffee everyday.

5. I love eating green beans straight from the garden - no cooking required.

6. There are days when I wish that I had my old life back.

7. I brush my teeth at least 4 times a day - obsessed much?

8. I considered myself to be a girlie girl, but I despise dresses.

9. I will not leave my house unless I am wearing make-up.

10. I have the memory of gnat.

11. I love to trout fish.

12. I also enjoy camping.

13. I once had sex on the back of a motorcycle with a complete stranger.

14. I think Anderson Cooper is a complete hottie.

15. I have to eat chocolate everyday.

16. I’m addicted to Doctor Who.

17. I so miss someone that I met on MySpace. I think about this person everyday. He was responsible for teaching me how to care about people again.

18. I find nerds sexy.

19. I’m a recluse with a capitol “R”.

20. I collect ceramic frogs.

21. I adore Starbucks gingerbread lattes.

22. I have a flip-flop addiction.

23. I’ve done everything sorted and disgusting that I swore I would never do in my life.

24. I was a Girl Scout.

25. I consider myself to be a complete geek.

Cheater, Cheater, Tim Tam Eater

2009-02-21T13:10:00.000-08:00

It has been a crazy and hectic beginning to the new year. My affiliation with the former president of GVA and his new project is bringing new assignments and challenges daily, including the chance to create a language arts curriculum for kindergarten and first grade. I have also been lucky enough to do some writing for TLC and Family Fun magazine. I am also working on my second set of revisions for “A Place Called Home”.

My professional life is definitely on track. My personal life, on the other hand, not so much. My mother’s condition remains the same. As for my dad, his memory loss appears to be worsening. He now gets lost just driving to the store. It’s all so sad. We tend to think of our parents as being immortal, especially our fathers. No matter our age, women always see their daddy as their strong, protective, hero. For me, it seems very strange to be the one caring for him.

On the relationship front, well just let me say…HA! I’m throwing my hands in the air on this one. Seriously. Are there any honest, decent, long-haired rocker boys left out there? I thought not. Is a little faithfulness too much to ask? Obviously. Would it really kill you “men” to allow ME to be the pretty one for a change? Evidently.

Let’s see what else is happening with me? Ah yes! My four new favorite addictions!

1. Tim Tams. Oh, the chocolatey deliciousness of it all! *sigh* I blame this on Robyn.

2. The Sims Stories. Such glorious, brain-numbing fun. From the moment Vincent proposed to Naomi, only to have a satellite fall from the sky, obliterating his future bride, I was hooked. I mean, honestly, who can resist a Grim Reaper packing a cell phone? Not me, folks.

3. The WWE and ECW! Yes, that’s right. I am officially addicted to wrestling. Wee! Oh the fun and hotness of it all! I blame this addiction on none other than Sierra and Xander. Sierra is a total Jeff Hardy fanatic. Me, I’m rather partial to Brian Kendrick - I love his flamboyancy. And then there’s Matt Hardy - what can I say. *la sigh*

4. Barack Obama. My gravy, how I adore this man. I cannot seem to get enough of everything Obama. His wife is stunning and his little girls are too precious for words. I feel a change coming. Can you feel it, people? Can you feel the change? I thought so!

Hmm, I guess that’s it. I hope everyone is having a wonderful and happy 2009

Hugglies
Kimber

Nutty as a fruitcake, that's me!

2008-12-19T09:17:00.001-08:00

This cracks me the hell up!

You Are Rudolph

Sweet and shy, you tend to be happiest when you're making someone else happy.

Why You're Naughty: You sometimes stick that nose where it doesn't belong

Why You're Nice: Christmas would be a sad affair without you!

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

Wee Hee! I'm a fruitcake!

You Are a Fruitcake!

You taste like nothing else in this world.

And get ready, you're about to get tossed!

What Crappy Christmas Gift Are You?

You Are the Furthest Thing From A Grinch

You love and live for the holidays. You even love the Grinch!

You're in the holiday spirit year round... because you're all about celebrating and giving.

Are You a Grinch?

2008-12-18T18:41:00.000-08:00

So Things have been incredibly busy around these parts. I’ve been working my ass off writing K-2nd grade science and history scope and sequence units for a new client in an attempt to provide a decent Christmas for the spawns.

In Robyn's blog today she link to Fuck You, Penguin. This blog is hilarious. I'm not sure why, but this post made me spit Cheerwine all over my computer screen. Damn anteater!

I’ve been thinking a lot about Christmas lately. The past five years have been rough, money wise. So I promised myself that this year I was going to buy myself one special thing, namely the new David Cook CD. Oh, and a new pair of jeans. So what happens? I head off to the mall, debit card in hand, prepared to shop for myself and what happens? Sierra comes home with a new pair of skinny jeans and I return home empty handed. Meh!

Fail.

Lately I’ve had the sneaky feeling that I might have a mouse in my house. I was correct. I caught him red-handed or red-pawed…inside the trash can eating soda crackers! The little rat bastard. (rat bastard! Hee!) You would thing with fifty zillion freaking cats running around that a mouse wouldn’t dare show his whiskers in this house. Ha! My cats would never lower themselves to actually hunt for their food. The bastards.

I’m not much of a pop rock kinda gal. My taste tends to lean more towards 80s glam rock, but I am really loving the new song by the killers. Totally awesome.

I wanna be your lover....not!

2008-11-11T08:45:00.000-08:00

I am freezing my pretty pink parts off! The weather channel says it is 56 degrees here. If that's true, I will kiss my ex's ass...and that's saying something.

*I now return you to your regularly scheduled blog post already in progress*

The talented and extremely sweet Shelli Stevens posted over at Naughty and Spice asking people about their dreams, goals and where they want to be in a year. I have to admit, I was surprised to see how many wonderfully smart and gifted women hoped to find their “Mr. Right”. Funny, I thought I was the only one having a difficult time locating my dream man. Perhaps I’m a tad bit on the picky side, but I’ve never been the type of gal to just settle for “Mr. Right Now”. My best friend got married a few months ago, and I can’t help but think that she did it for the simple reason that she was tired of being alone. Can you really love someone so much that you are willing to change your entire life for them? I don’t think so. Maybe that’s just me. But I honestly do not recognize my friend anymore…but that’s an entirely different story.

I’ve had three dates in the past two years, but none of them led to a second date. I never wanted them to. One guy, who I honestly thought I might, possibly, have a connection with, wore more eyeliner that I do…and that’s saying a lot. Another guy was a total perv. And despite that fact that we barely knew each other, he felt it was okay to constantly put his hands on me. Call me old-fashioned, but *shudder*. And the last guy got totally plastered and had to be carried out of the restaurant by mutual friends lol. Yeppers, I’ve got quite the track record with the men folk.

Now, if you ask my best friend, Tracy, she will tell you that I’m just a nitpicky bitch. Not true. Well, the nitpicky part is false. She will also tell you that I am forever comparing every man I meet to a special someone…this is probably true. Damnit. He was brilliant, spiritual, probably the most physically beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on, and so very gifted…and everything we shared was online. In other words, he was safe.

So as much as I bitch and complain about wanting a man in my life, perhaps I’ll never be ready for more than an online relationship. Gawd, that sounds pathetic, doesn’t it?

What's On The Menu?
It's two-for night at Dominos! Score!

Have a fantabulous day!

I've been alone way too long!

2008-11-07T17:53:00.000-08:00

I thinks me needs a date!

I'm watching wrestling with Xander, drooling over The Brian Kendrick.

And is it so wrong...I know he's only 19...but gawd, just look at that...erm, tattoo!

Sigh, I think I need to take a long shower and go to bed *grin*

Happy Halloween!!

2008-10-31T08:19:00.000-07:00

I feel his pain

2008-10-30T13:03:00.000-07:00

more animals

They Call Me Banana Pants

2008-10-30T12:47:00.000-07:00

Porn star name (first pet, first street where you lived): Lady Jones

Rock star name (favourite pet, current car): Gertie Saturn

Gangsta name (favorite ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe): Chunky Monkey Sneakers (I’ll cut yo ass!)

Native American name (hair color, favourite animal, favourite hobby): Blonde Cat Writing

Soap opera name (middle name, city where you were born): Maria Los Angeles

Star Wars name (first 3 letters of last name & first 2 of first name, last 3 letters of middle name): Waikim Ria

Stripper name (favourite perfume, favorite candy): Gardenia Chocolate

TV Newsreader name (grandparents first name, any town that starts with the same letter): Flora Forsyth

Spy name (favourite season, favourite flower): Summer Pansy

Cartoon name (favourite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing now): Banana Pants *snort*

Hippie name (what you ate for breakfast, favourite tree): Raisin Bread Willow

Have a fantabulous day!

I want. I need. Can I get? Can I have?...Grrrr!

2008-10-28T11:33:00.001-07:00

Sierra is begging me for these skinny jeans and this shirt from Hot Topic which means that I get to research and write a 500 word article on "yellow cake" to pay for the hideous creations. *shudder*.
But I'm not mad.

So I thought since I was here I would share my favorite song with you. It kinda fits my mood right about now. Gotta love the screamer rock.

Huggs

It's Heeere!

2008-10-28T07:26:00.000-07:00

*Snort* I love Halloween!

more animals

You Are 60% Witch

You've got some pretty witchy stuff going on.

Even if you're not a witch, you've got to admit that you're a little freaky.

You have a strong independent streak - social norms be damned. More power to you.

Luckily, the time when you would have been burned at the stake has passed!

Are You a Witch?

You Are an Alien

You're so strange, people occasionally wonder if you're from another world.

You don't try to be different, but you see most things from a very unique, very offbeat perspective.

Brilliant to the point of genius, you definitely have some advanced intelligence going on.

No matter what circles you travel in, you always feel like a stranger. And it's a feeling you've learned to like.

Your greatest power: Your superhuman brain

Your greatest weakness: Your lack of empathy - you just don't get humans

You play well with: Zombies

What Kind of Monster Are You?

Have a fantabuous day!
Kimber

Ignorance Thy Name is Kimber!

2008-10-11T08:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I made the decision to take a hiatus from my nonfiction work and concentrate on my fiction writing. Between my freelance and blogging jobs, my parents health, and my confusing feelings about a certain someone, I've let my fiction writing suffer. I do not have the time or emotional energy to do it all. Something has to give. I made the decision to make some severe cuts in my budget and take the time I need to finish "A Place Called Home" and Magnolia Dreams". Sierra is upset with me. I know that she thinks I am being selfish, but there are times when you have to jump in the pool with both feet, so to speak, and I feel like this is my time. In all honesty, I loath nonfiction writing, but I did what I had to do. According to Demand Studios I am one of their best writers, which is a good thing I suppose. However, it's a struggle for me. I wake up every morning dreading the day. Nonfiction writing bores me to tears. It would take me an entire day to write a 400 word article only to make 15 dollars.

I feel like my creativity is shot all to hell. I lie..lay..(?) awake at night trying to sort out my feelings about work and a certain guy...geez, I can't shake my feelings for him no matter how hard I try.

I suck. Hard.
Hopefully, I've made the right decision.

Have a fantabulous weekend!
Kimber

Just Another Day

2008-10-08T07:26:00.000-07:00

About a week ago Sierra came home and said she had heard one of the ladies that lives on our street call her son an M-effer. At the time I was really concerned, but I let it go because, hey, as moms we sometimes say and do things that we later regret. I chalked it up to her having a bad day. A few days later the woman walked out to the bus stop and started cussing at the poor child, even going so far as to put her hands around his throat. Well, I found out yesterday that DFACS had came and taken both of her children. Praise Jesus. Seems she is doing crack. The strange thing is, I saw her walking around the neighborhood like nothing had happened. I don’t get it. If I’d just lost my children I’d be a damn basket case. As much as I love my little house, I’m really beginning to question remaining in this neighborhood.

On the home front, Sierra brought home yet another kitten. This one is solid black, so we named her Salem. That brings the kitteh total to 6. I’m well on my way to being the local crazy cat lady!

I was watching MTV2 with Sierra this morning and they played the new video by Oasis, which made me think of one of my favorite songs evah! Wonderwall by Oasis. I just love Liam’s voice! Plus he is so darn cute!

What’s On The Menu?
Chicken ‘n’ Dumplings
English peas
Blueberry Cobbler
Sweet Tea

Have a fantabulous Day!
Kimber

Happy Caturday!

2008-10-04T08:19:00.000-07:00

What's On The Menu?
Beef stew
Rolls
Sweet tea

Have a fantabulous Caturday!
Kimber

Twilight, Bad Boys & Messed Up Parts

2008-10-03T05:49:00.000-07:00

A discussion over at bitchypoo about the appeal of the Twilight series, or lack there of, got me thinking about my previous relationships. As someone mentioned “They were staying single until they could figure out what messed up part of them thought that a man sneaking into your house and watching you sleep was sweet, when it was, in fact, totally creepy.” Not an exact quote, but you get the idea.

I confess that I’ve had my fair share of weird, creepy relationships. There was a time when I thought James needing to know my every move was just his way of showing how much he cared. I never saw it for what it really was: his utter need to control my every move. When he hit me, I convinced myself that his love for me caused him to lose control of his emotions. Stupid, stupid me.

Now, you would think that I would’ve learned my lesson with James, right. Not so much. It took me 6 years to open my heart to another man. We were friends online and over the phone for over a year. I cared for this man. Pitiful, really. Nevertheless, I opened my heart and was totally crushed, when I had to accept the fact that he was no different than James. Emotional abuse can be much worse than physical abuse. The pain from being hit will eventually fade, but unfortunately, the emotional pain lingers.

However, I know that it’s time for me to look into myself and discover my own “messed up” parts.

This could take some time. *snort*

The outcome of the Twilight conversation? The majority of us dislike the series, but we love us some Queen Betsy and Sookie Stackhouse!

What’s On the Menu?
Bagel bites
Green beans
Fudge
Sweet tea

Have a fantabulous day!
Kimber

I Is Workin'

2008-10-01T08:04:00.000-07:00

There’s a discussion going on over at WAHM about how, as work-at-home moms, we do it all. So I thought that I would give y’all an idea of how my days are spent. No wonder I’m so damn tired.

4:30-5:00am Wake up, shower, make coffee
5:30-6:00am Wake up Sierra over and over and…
6:00-6:45am Check email and Demand Studios for article approvals, wake up Xander
6:45-7:00am Wait for bus with Sierra
7:00-7:30am Get Xander dressed, make breakfast
7:30-7:45am Wait for bus with Xander
7:45-8:00am Throw laundry in washer, grab coffee, start work
8:00-1200:pm Writing time
12:00-1:00pm Lunch, put laundry in dryer, vacuum floors
1:00-2:00pm More writing, answering emails at my desk
2:00-4:00pm Work on couch with laptop so I can watch A Haunting
4:00-6:00pm Kids get home, snack time, homework
6:00-7:00pm Prepare and eat dinner
7:00-9:00pm Bath time, movie time, bed for kids
9:00-12:00am More writing, prepare for following day, straighten up the house
12:00-12:30am Read and wind down a little before sleeping…hopefully. Insomnia has been my friend of late.

What's On The Menu
Chili dogs
French fries
Black walnut cake
Sweet tea

Have a fantabulous day!
Kimber

Iz Ready to Nom!

2008-09-29T10:23:00.000-07:00

I went to the grocery story yesterday...hungry.

Did I fill my cart with nutritious fruits and veggies so Sierra and Xander could grow up to become healthy, vibrant adults? Well, of course Not. Shopping + Hunger= disaster!

Here's a little snippet of what we came home with!

And some of this!And a little of this!
And of course this: Yum-mo!
And last but not least, more candy!!

And now I'm going to grab me some candy corn, pour me a big cold glass of Cheerwine and park my redneck bootie on the sofa and watch Mobile Home Disaster while I pretend to research an article on spotted salamanders! *snort*

What's On The Menu
Spaghetti
Salad
Garlic bread
sweet tea

Have a fantabulous day!
Kimber

Love Thy Neighbor. Not!

2008-09-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

I’m going to start this post off by saying that romance writers rawk out loud. I’ve never met such a generous group of ladies…and men! I great big thank you to Shelli Stevens. Thanks to her words of encouragement I actually glued my big behind to the chair and wrote 2,481 words on “A Place Called Home” which is absolutely fantabulous!

***

On the home front a new family moved in next door to me and these people are driving my bananas! The first day they moved in the woman came over and asked if she could use the phone. No problem. Right? Wrong. She began coming over everyday, interrupting my work day and basically being a pain in the ass.

I calmly explained to her that I worked from home, and I am extremely busy between the hours of 8 A.M. and 8 P.M. every day. So what does she do? She knocks on the door five or six times a day. And if I ignore her, she comes around to my office and bangs on the outside of the house with her cane, screaming at the top of her lungs, “Kimber! Kimber! I need the phone.” She did this ten times yesterday. She even had the nerve to turn my doorknob…for what? To see of my door was locked? Did the heifer plan to just walk right on in? OMG!

This woman actually started harassing Sierra the minute she arrived home from school. “Go get your mama.” “Tell your mama to come out here.” “Tell your mama to come explain what a profile is. I need her to make me one the computer.”

Arrg!

Honestly, I have no desire to be nasty to anyone. It’s not in my nature to be rude or unkind, but enough is enough. I work. All damn day. So, as much as I want to be nice to this lady, she is working my last nerve and something has to give.

What’s On The Menu
Grilled steak
Twice baked potatoes
Green beans
Double chocolate pie
Sweet tea

Have a fantabulous weekend!
Kimber