*hiccup*
Published November 28, 2008 | 
Well. That was…nifty. In a totally “pass me that big-ass carving knife so I can slit my own throat” kinda way. Quote Of The Day #3, (courtesy of my mother): As opposed to his “Jewish musician friend” and his “Italian musician friend” and his “gay musician friend,” all of whom celebrated Thanksgiving elsewhere this year, lucky bastards. But it’s good to know Ma has them all categorized by ethnicity and/or sexual orientation. Otherwise, we might FORGET. And then…chaos in the streets…dogs and cats living together…you get the idea. The menu: Quote of The Day #2, (also – imagine the coincidence – courtesy of my mother):
I’m not saying it wasn’t worth it. Nor am I saying I won’t ever do it again. But given that I’m weeks behind on two deadlines and haven’t provided a syllable of value to any of my crit partners in what feels like months AND we’re leaving for a Tacoma in *gulp* three weeks, I think maybe I bit off more than I could chew this year.
Quote of the Day #1, (courtesy of Youngest Spawn, eleven-and-a-half next month): And rob me of my chance to drive you to the crumbling edge of bloody, poultry-scented matricide? We’ll see, little girl. We’ll see.
“J. [otherwise known as Dr. March] left ten minutes ago to pick up his black musician friend.” [emphasis most assuredly not mine]
~cream-cheese-and-pistachio stuffed Medjool dates
~Greek olives stuffed with garlic cloves
(*sigh* “I miss pimentos.”
“Ma, you don’t even eat olives.”
“It’s the principle of the thing.”)
~turkey
(“I keep hearing about this whole brining thing, but who wants a pickled turkey?”
“Whatever you say, Ma.”)
~sage-onion dressing
~almond dressing
~gravy
~cranberry relish
(“Why can’t we just have it from the can? It’s traditional!”
“Because it’s my @#$#%$ house, Ma, that’s why.”)
~garlic and cracked black pepper mashed potatoes
~hard-shell candied sweet potatoes
~bacon-spiked creamed corn
~fresh green beans steamed with pearl onions
~creamy coleslaw
~homemade pies: apple, pumpkin, pecan
~pumpkin bars
~homemade eggnog
(“Are you spiking that eggnog?”
“I’m seriously considering it, yes. Why?”
“It’s just not necessary.”
“Are you drinking the eggnog, Ma?”
“You know I hate eggnog.”
“Right.” *up-ends bottle of rum*)
~cranberry punch
~lots and lots o’ wine
“I just can’t understand why anyone would want to vacation in India in the first place. I mean, of all places…INDIA??”
*looks down at me as I’m sprawled at the end of my bed, drunk on eggnog, glasses askew, still fully-dressed down to the gravy-smudged apron and says…*
“Just so you know? I’m NEVER doing Thanksgiving.”
FREE READ: "Dark of the Day"
Published November 16, 2008 | Back in fall of 2006, I took the PBW Ebook Challenge and wrote the short paranormal romance, Dark of the Day.
You can find it here on my site, or you can get it free at All Romance Ebooks in PDF or HTML, complete with cover art.
Color me squee-ful!
Published November 10, 2008 |
My first 5-star review from Rainbow Reviews!
“Despite the unfortunate title [yeah, my sense of humor is an acquired taste, I get that ~SM], this is a first rate paranormal adventure! The story is somewhat reminiscent of “The Haunting” a terrifying haunted house movie from the early 60s, not the less than stellar remake from the 90s! [Actually, it was inspired by Shirley Jackson's book, THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE (see here) upon which "The Haunting" was based, and maybe a little by Richard Matheson's HELL HOUSE ~SM] However, as far as inspirational material for a scary story, you can’t do much better than “The Haunting” [agreed ~SM].
As in that story, there are five people sent to a house that is reputed to be haunted – one who believes that the house desires to keep them forever. Also, similar to “The Haunting,” there is relatively no blood; the terror is almost, but not quite all psychological – whispered words inside their heads, remembrances and impressions of terrible deeds.
So, whether “The Haunting” inspired it or not, this is a well-written, scary story peopled with great characters. A favorite was Leo, a gay psychic from New Orleans who is described as six-foot-three, two hundred twenty pounds, and “built like a Calvin Klein model crossed with a starting forward for the Celtics.” With a southern accent, good looks and an occasional stutter when he speaks, Leo is irresistible. [What? No love for Tommy, the bad-boy ghostbuster from South Boston? *sigh* Better luck next time, dude. ~SM]
The plot is wonderful. The events happen fast and furious; it really kept my interest. Within moments of entering the house, things start occurring and hardly let up until the last page. Things are never what they seem and that kept me engaged and guessing [I love it when a plan comes together. ~SM].
This is a great roller-coaster ride – a scary haunted house, some hot sex, and surprises around every corner. I highly recommend this story!” ~Matthew, Rainbow Reviews
Thank you, Matthew, wherever you are!
Mmmm…feathers.
Published November 5, 2008 | In the past six months, whenever I was asked for whom I intended to vote in the presidential election, I always answered, “Barack Obama, but I don’t believe he has a chance in hell of actually winning.”
So said my black little heart, steeped in the cynicism first brewed dark and strong during the debacle they call the 2000 election.
This morning, I’m happy to trade that brew for a heaping helping of crow with a side of “I told you so” from anyone who’d like to serve it up. I’ve never in my life been so thrilled to be thoroughly, utterly and completely wrong. I’m celebrating my wrong-ness. I’m BASKING in it. Look at me! I was grievously mistaken!! YAY!!!!
* * *
Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make America a better nation.
…We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land.
~Dr. Martin Luther King, April 3, 1968
Post-Halloween, post-football-season, early-election-day kibbles and bits.
Published November 4, 2008 | I said I’d post Halloween pics. It seems a little late now, and more than a little inappropriate, given the import of the day, but I promised Eva, so…
And while I rarely/never post pics of my children out of respect for their privacy, I have permission from Chickalicious (also known as Youngest Spawn) to post this one. And even if I didn’t, it’s just too, too charming to skip.
* * *
And hey! WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT made the October bestseller list at Amber Quill Press/Amber Allure. Nifty.
1. Calendar Boys—October: Trick Of Silver – Jamie Craig (Gay / Werewolf)
2. Shattered – M. L. Rhodes (Gay / Shapeshifter)
3. A More Perfect Union – J. M. Snyder (Gay / Shapeshifter)
4. Vampires Of Noctra: Blood Bounty – Darcy Abriel (Gay / Vampire)
5. Crave – Vivien Dean (Gay / Dark Fantasy)
6. Tall, Dark, Tattooed And Twisted – Lee Avalone (Gay / Vampire)
7. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot – Selah March (Gay / Ghosts)
8. Hungry? – Helen Louise Carrol (Gay / Futuristic)
9. Wild, Wicked, And Haunted In Hollywood – Lee Avalone (Gay / Vampire/Ghosts)
10. This Time For Keeps – Christiane France (Gay / Ghosts)
* * *
I attended a Youth League cheerleading competition this weekend. It was cheer-TASTIC. One might almost say cheer-GASMIC. My ears are still ringing. And then there was the Youth League Cheerleader’s Ball, which I chaperoned, that consisted of dozens of pre-and-barely-pubescent girls dancing to “Cotton-Eyed Joe” and shrieking the lyrics to Kid Rock’s “All Summer Long.” And I quote:
And we were trying different things
We were smoking funny things
Making love out by the lake to our favorite song
Sipping whiskey out the bottle, not thinking ’bout tomorrow
Singing Sweet home Alabama all summer long
Singing Sweet home Alabama all summer long
The irony is that ninety-nine percent of these kids wouldn’t know “Sweet Home Alabama” if it jumped up and bit them on the toes of their Uggs…except for Chickalicious, who’s been basting in Southern Rock since she was in utero. Still, it was disturbing to watch her pantomine chugging Jim Beam from a bottle with her little friends. We’re both glad her father skipped the party.
* * *
On the issue of the election and its importance to the country and the rest of the world, I don’t have much to say that hasn’t been said before, so I’ll post this video…which isn’t much to look at, but the lyrics? Killer.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHIROoYpRyQ&feature=related]
Lyrics: Long Road Out of Eden, The Eagles:
moon shining down through the palms
shadows moving on the sand
somebody whispering the twenty-third psalm
dusty rifle in his trembling hands
somebody trying just to stay alive
he got promises to keep
over the ocean in america
far away and fast asleep
silent stars blinking in the blackness of an endless sky
cold silver satellites, ghostly caravans passing by
galaxies unfolding, new worlds being born
pilgrims and prodigals creeping toward the dawn
but it’s a long road out of eden
music blasting from an suv
on a bright and sunny day
rolling down the interstate
in the good ol’ usa
having lunch at the petroleum club
smokin’ fine cigars and swappin’ lies
he said: “gimme ‘nother slice o’ that barbecued brisket!”
“gimme ‘nother piece o’ that pecan pie!”
freeways flickering, cell phones
chiming a tune
we’re riding to utopia, road map says we’ll be arriving soon
captains of the old order clinging to the reins
assuring us these aches inside are only growing pains
but it’s a long road out of eden
back home i was so certain
the path was very clear
but now i have to wonder, what are we doing here?
I’m not counting on tomorrow
and i can’t tell wrong from right
but i’d give anything to be there in your arms tonight
weaving down the american highway
through the litter and the wreckage and the cultural junk
bloated with entitlement, loaded on propaganda
and now we’re driving dazed and drunk
been down the road to damascus,
the road to mandalay
met the ghost of caesar on the appian way
he said, “it’s hard to stop this bingeing, once you get a taste.”
“but the road to empire is a bloody stupid waste.”
behold the bitten apple – the power of the tools
but all the knowledge in the world is of no use to fools
and it’s a long road out of eden….
* * *
EDITED TO ADD: Read a little about the early suffragettes and what they suffered to earn our right to vote.
I love that quote: “Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity.”