Croup at age 12...who knew?

Michael had a friend sleep over last Friday night.  They ate, they played video games, they went to bed some time after midnight but slept until almost 11 the next morning. Saturday night, he slept at the friend's house; same scenario.

When we got him home late Sunday afternoon, something was up.  Frank and I sat down to watch "Barefoot in the Park", a GREAT movie from 1967 starring Jane Fonda and Robert Redford.  It was something that no 12 year old would willingly watch.

He did.

Midway through the movie I noticed he was sniffling and looked a little glassy eyed.  We figured it was just the weekend, the sleepovers and allergies.  No big deal.  I had him showered and to bed early.  Monday morning he woke up looking a little worse and sneezing a whole lot more.  So I kept him home.  He had a slight fever on top of it all and by Monday night the sneezing and runny nose were better but now he had a cough.

Kept him home Tuesday, fever persisted and so I called the doctor.  Took him in and found out he has croup!  What in the world???  I mean, it didn't SOUND like croup!  Parents, if you've ever had a baby with croup, you know that horrible sound.  This wasn't it.  The doctor explained to me that because his airways are larger than that of a baby, the cough isn't so heinous sounding but essentially, he has croup.

Delsym, Mucinex, steam...it's a virus.  There isn't a whole heck of a lot you can do for it.  He's coughing still, I kept him home Wednesday but I sent him back to school Thursday because really, the fever was gone Wednesday morning but it was too late to send him to school and he hadn't been fever free for 24 hours.

So really, early childhood illnesses don't only come around in early childhood.  In a million years I never would have guessed that he had croup.  

Now I know better...

Amtrak

So I'm taking Michael on this trip to Disney in September.  A super FAST trip to Disney.  I had won a free night at a Disney resort hotel and it was going to expire and so I had to use it or lose it.  Um...hello?  USING IT!

I start making plans and things got a little complicated and I had to completely change the way I do my Disney vacations to make this happen and make it happen within a budget.  

One of the biggest obstacles I was facing was the cost of airfare.  For the two of us to fly it was going to be a little over $500.  That was HUGE.  I mean, the cost of the hotel of the one night I have to pay for, food for three days and our park passes was going to be $700 so really, the cost of the airfare was killing me.  

People suggested driving but it was just going to be the two of us and that is 10 hours of driving each way with me being the only driver and it would take 2 full days and potentially additional nights at a hotel to be safe.  

And then there was Amtrak.

Did you know that kids travel at half price??  We have an Amtrak station less than 30 minutes from our house and it goes right to Orlando!  I went on line and looked at schedules and pricing and round trip for the two of us is only $180!  Who knew??

We will leave on a Saturday night around 9:15 pm and arrive in Orlando at 10:30 Sunday morning.  I opted to not get the sleeping car because that was an additional $250 and really, I think it's going to be an adventure!  I did a lot of research, asked tons of questions on my Disney boards from people who've traveled Amtrak to Disney before and basically all the reviews were positive. 

Coming home we leave Orlando at 7:30 at night and arrive home at 8:30 the next morning.  We're sleeping most of the trip away and we've saved a bundle!  I'm excited for the adventure and although I am definitely like the princess and the pea when it comes to my sleeping arrangements, for the opportunity to have this trip with Michael I think I can make the sacrifice.

Stay tuned!

Carolina Music Awards

So we had our big moment of walking the red carpet at the Carolina Music Awards back on the 15th.  

It was a little disappointing.  

Okay, so first, it was like 98 degrees out.  I looked fabulous in my black dress and my big, rock-star hair and after walking from the car to the pavilion, well, let's just say there was a BIG difference.  

The red carpet was more like 2 red mats.  The staging/photographing/interview area was chaotic and disorganized.  We took it all in stride and were determined to just go and have fun.  As a rock band, okay, so as the wife of said rock band's drummer, I was happy to just sit back and watch my husband shine.

An hour in the heat, and hour in a very cramped auditorium for an event that really should have been billed as a "hip hop" event, our category for best new rock band came up.  Eight nominees for the North Carolina/South Carolina territory and the winner was...

NOT Motrendus.

I'm not going to lie to you, we were that rude group of people that got up and left after that.  We went out for sushi, had a lot of laughs and now can officially say that we experienced and awards show.  

But didn't we look good?

Shhh...It's a Secret!

I am like the world's WORST person at keeping a secret.  I have been ever since I was a little girl.  Ask my dad; he's got TONS of stories to back that statement up.  

Anyway, I had originally been planning a trip to Disney with my sister but things kept getting put off and there were a couple of disagreements scheduling conflicts so I have decided to take the money that I was going to spend on a completely (worthwhile) selfish getaway and spend it on a mother/son getaway.

As the younger child, Michael had to spend most of his formative years in the shadow of his older brother.  Nick is like a force of nature; he is vibrant and personable and pretty much commands attention when he's in the room.  For years I would watch as Michael simply faded in to the background while Nick held the floor.  So as a way of doing something that is just for him, I am taking Michael away for 3 days in September, just the two of us. Where to?

Disney.

Seriously, was there any doubt?

I earned a free night through some freelance writing that I did for a Disney travel blog and I needed to use it before it expired.  So we are going to take the Amtrak train down to Orlando (it's an overnight trip) and then spend three days/two nights at one of Disney's moderate resorts and then take the overnight trip back on the train.

Do you know how much more cost effective it is to take the train??  When I was pricing flights, no matter how hard I tried, it was going to cost a little over $500 for the both of us round trip.  And that wasn't including the "extras" that the airlines are charging for these days.  For $180 we are both traveling round trip on Amtrak.  And really, what boy doesn't love a train??

Now my plan is to NOT tell him that we are doing this but to go on planning the trip as if I were going with my sister.  This way if he hears me talking about it, he won't think anything of it.  Then, the night before we leave, while I'm packing, I hand him a suitcase and surprise him with the fact that he's the one going!  I may find a more creative way of doing it, like a treasure hunt or giving him a puzzle of some sort to figure out where the final piece is the fact that he's going on this trip.

How cool am I???  This is a great time for us to spend together, one on one, where he is the sole focus of the trip.  I am really hoping that it's going to be a wonderful experience for us both.

That's Mr. 12-Year Old To You...

I seem to remember when Nick was growing up that I was ANXIOUS for him to do so.  I wanted him to grow up, I wanted him to get bigger and more mature.  I rejoiced when he passed me in height (sort of) and we all got a kick out of him getting facial hair and what not.  He was my first born, the oldest and these were the things that we wanted for him.

So not the case with the baby.

Michael is 12 going on 30.  All of a sudden I have a hard time telling the difference between him and Frank on the phone, he's almost as tall as me but his hands and feet are huge.  His new sneakers for school are a size 11!  We went shopping the other day and there were were in the Super Target happily walking toward the boys department when he stopped and reminded me of how "big" he is getting and how he could probably now shop in the men's department.

Um...I don't think so.  

After much "discussion" we did compromise and got the majority of his stuff in the boys department, I did cave and buy a few "men's" items.  How did this happen?  WHY is this happening?  He's got hair under his arms!  He's getting acne, I mean...this is not right.  I'm not ready for this!  He has to stop.  I want my little snuggly bean back.  

I am not handling this well...  I mean, I know this is what is supposed to happen but I want my baby to stay my baby for a little bit longer.  He still holds my hand (when we're home and no one's looking) and he still says "I love you" (when there's no one around and in a hushed tone) but it's hard to look in to those big blue eyes and accept that he really and truly is becoming a man.

What I wouldn't give to have one more day with him as a four year old who I could just take in my arms and cuddle...

Seriously, Dude, it's over...

So I took the advice of a friend and decided to do my car shopping on-line.  I literally had a dozen dealerships vying for my business and each of them willing to work some sort of deal.  Only one came close to getting me exactly what I wanted.  Unfortunately, because we do not use credit (which seems like a good idea, but clearly is not), our credit score is not desirable to the financial department.

I talked to this guy yesterday both by phone and via email and when he gave me the final number (after getting my credit info back), I told him I needed to think about it.  He called me today and left me a message and then immediately emailed me to see if I've made my decision.  Well, I had.  We're not going to do it.  The monthly payment he offered is only $30 more than what I wanted but the more we talked about it, the more we decided that we needed to wait.  I emailed the salesman back and thanked him and explained the situation and told him when we were ready, we'd be in touch.

I have been getting emails damn near every 30 minutes from this guy.

First it was: 

I wanted to shoot you over a email seeing how you are doing. I'm sure you are extremely busy at work if your day is going like mine. Let me know how to move forward. The Elantra is fueled up and ready for delivery.

Thanks again

To which I replied:   

Thanks for getting back w/me.  I couldn't grab the phone when you called earlier.  I want to thank you for all that you did for us to try and get the car but we are going to wait.  I know it's only $30 more a month but we decided to try and do what we can on our credit before committing to anything.

 

Thank you again for all of your hard work and honesty.

 

have a great day!

 

Nice, right?

 

He comes back with: 

Let me ask you this. I'm not even sure that I can do it but if I can get you close to $180 a month will you consider it? It's a stretch but I'll go see what I can do. 

 

Seriously...couldn't he just let me bow out graciously?

 

So I responded (because I can't seem to leave a question out there dangling):

 

Really, I thank you for all that you did but one of the reasons we've lived w/o credit is so that we stay within our means.  At the 163 we were going to be ok, I don't want to go anywhere above or beyond that b/c there's still insurance and whatnot to deal with.

 

It just wasn't meant to be for right now.

 

Thanks, again!

 

And we're done...

 

Not...

I have one last chance here. You think you could put an extra $500 with the $2,000 that you are already putting down now? I've spoke with Hyundai Credit and the Hyundai sales manager and I think with an extra $500 we can put this together. If you can't do the $500 let me know what you can do and I'll see about the amount too. I'm here for another 45 mins so just let me know when you can.

Thanks

 

Now I'm mad...

Thank you, but it's not going to happen right now.

You can feel my wrath, right?  He didn't...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't you looking to lease an Elantra for $169 a month? With the extra $500 I can get you there. If you gave me the $2,000 now and needed to wait an extra week before giving me the other $500 that would be fine. I'm trying to assist you here not worry you. I have the car here, the color is what you wanted and we can get this done for you today. What has happened? Where did I go wrong?

 

At this point, I wouldn't lease from this guy if someone gave me all of the money to do it because he's whiny, needy and clingy!  My FINAL message to him: 

 

You did not go wrong.  We do not have another $500 to put down - not just right now, not next week or this month or next.  If I could do it, I would.  You have been very helpful but now I am feeling slightly harassed.  You've seen our credit score, I've explained to you our situation and I know, for me and my family, this is not the right choice to make at the present time.

Thank you.

 

Let's hope that I am done here because this is just too much for my afternoon... 

Disappointment...

So at the end of this week I will be at my job for a full year!  I cannot even believe it!  In that year I went from being a part-time employee to a full-time one and I have learned so much.  I love just about every one that I work with (there are a couple of exceptions) and for the most part I am just beyond thankful to have found such a place to work.

Until today.

I am bumming so hard right now that I have spent a large part of the night crying.  When I was hired, part of my employment required me to work at least one Saturday a month.  This was not a big deal because originally there were four of us in the rotation and really, once a month isn't a big deal and when I was working part-time, those extra hours came in handy.  

Then, when things were really bad for us and we were struggling so much financially, I took two sometimes three Saturday's a month and no one seemed to mind that at all.  Those extra hours really helped out a lot during those scary months.

Well now, fast forward to the present and when I got my promotion, one of the first things I said to one of my bosses was that I wanted off of the Saturday rotation because that would have me in the office six days a week.  NO ONE in the office does six days a week.  

NO...ONE.

Well, it couldn't happen right away because there wasn't enough coverage and so to compensate me (or rather, to shut me up a bit) it was decided that on the weeks that I work a Saturday, I could leave early on the Wednesday.  It all sounds good but really, it's not.  Frank isn't home, Michael isn't home and so I'm still missing family time and then, on the flip side, there's not enough time to truly enjoy no one being home because 90 minutes after I get home, Michael is getting off the bus.  It's a sucky situation.  

So I sat down with the other two people on the Saturday rotation (because the fourth person was lucky enough to be able to opt out of them) and I still got stuck with more Saturdays than I wanted because the other two are slackers.  I was livid.  These two are young and while one is married, neither have children.  I was working THREE jobs and still got stuck doing the damn Saturdays but I was assured that this would be temporary.

At the end of June, it will be three months.  So today I sat down with my office manager and told her that after June, I'm off the Saturdays.  She understood, I thanked her and I felt really, really good.

That lasted all of three hours.

I was then told that what I wanted was not an option and we will all sit down with the calendar again and work out the next couple of months.  I was devastated.  I mean, these other two slackers sit on their lazy asses and say "Oh, I can't" and when I say it, I'm told I have to??  That is beyond crazy and unfair and you know what?  I HATE saying something is unfair because I sound like an 8 year old!

In the year I've been there I've worked any and all extra hours they've asked for, I've covered on people's vacations I help anyone that needs help and now that I am asking for the help, I'm told no?

The warm fuzzies are now officially gone...

The Week the Music Died...

Although I am a huge 80's music fan (see the previous post), I still loved a lot of the music of the 70's in its disco hayday.  I danced like everyone else to the Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack and to pretty much all-things Donna Summer.  Within the last week, the world has seen the loss of Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees and the great Donna Summer.

While a lot of today's music is so different from what these great artists performed, it makes me sad because their music was that of my childhood.  Neither was, in my opinion, old, and both succumbed to cancer.  It just goes to show that it doesn't matter how famous you are or how much money you make, none of us are immortal - only their music will live on forever.

So to these two great artists I say thank you.  Thank you for the wonderful music and memories you have given me and thank you for being the kind of artists that we were proud to listen to and can still put on our iPod's today to enjoy - even with the kids in the car (most of the time!).

Rest in Peace in Rock N Roll Heaven... 

Duran Duran...

So in my constant need to keep a good part of me in the 80's, I was THRILLED when I learned that Duran Duran was coming to North Carolina this summer.  I put out a blanket email to a bunch of my friends asking "Who wants to go???" and got several yes responses.  By the time tickets went on sale?  Not so much.

So I purchased two tickets and now NO ONE wants to go with me!!!  Everyone has plans, can't afford it, blah, blah, blah but now I don't know what to do!  Frank was like "Don't look at me" and honestly, in all fairness, he SHOULD go with me!  Remember when I had to go and see "Zappa Plays Zappa"?  I mean, seriously?  Did I enjoy that?  Um, no.  As a musician, he should WANT to go with me just to hear music!  But will he?  No.

Nick won't go.

Michael won't go - and really going with a 12 year old would not be a fun time.  I could traumatize him with my big hair and dance moves while singing "Hungry Like the Wolf"!

My buddy Cathleen said she WOULD go, but then finished that statement with "While wearing ear plugs".  See, I listen when you speak, Cathleen!  And I won't torture you with this concert!

I have three months to find someone to come and be ridiculous with me.  Who knew having a girls night listening to 5 hot british guys sing would be so damn difficult???

Looking for a car...

Can you believe that six months ago I was fearing we were going to be homeless and now I am car shopping???  Crazy, right?  Actually, we are looking to lease a car.  Frank's job requires him to commute quite a distance every day and he no longer needs the big cargo style van because he no longer has to cart all of his tools and equipment.  That thing is a HUGE gas guzzler.  

We're not prepared to buy a car but we figure we can lease one.  With the lease we have to put less money down than if we were buying and we can find a brand new car that will fit in our budget.  The main problem?  Me.  I don't want a compact car.  I like my SUV.  I like sitting up higher (probably because I'm so short) and I just like the looks of it.  For the monthly amount that we want to spend, we have a wide variety of compact cars to choose from.  Whoopee!  

Frank will take my SUV because we aren't limited on miles that way; with the lease you can only use a certain amount of miles before you get charged for them.  Bummer.  The reality is that it would be better for HIM to drive the compact because of the fuel economy but with the amount of mileage he'll need to use, it's not practical for us.  Plus, with him being on assorted construction sites, I fear something happening to the car.

So I am searching lease deals.  I am going to hit the Kia dealership this weekend and see what kind of magic they can come up with for me.  After that it's the Ford dealer and then the Hyundai.  If I can keep payments at $169 a month or under, I will feel like I won the lottery.  Plus, our days of sharing cars will be over!  Since right now Frank still has the work van, he tends to take my car whenever he has something other than work to do - like play with the band - and then I am left stranded because I can't drive the van.

My fingers are crossed that I can find something good, fast...

Whirwind wedding weekend

So this last weekend Frank and I took a trip up to New Jersey (with no kids!) for his nephew's wedding.  We left Thursday night, drove to the Maryland/Delaware border, stayed the night at a hotel and then took the ferry to Cape May, New Jersey and drove the remainder of the way where we stayed the weekend and came home on Sunday.

It was fast and wonderful.  We spent time with Frank's sister and her family who we have not seen in almost 17 years!  The nephew that was getting married?  We hadn't seen him since he was 10!  I feel truly honored that we were even included in the guest list and it was an amazing visit.

First off, the ferry.  Why had I not heard of this before?  It's so ridiculous but we had so much fun!  We drove the car right on and it was an hour and 20 minute ride but for two people who haven't been on the water in almost 20 years, it was damn near paradise!  I took a TON of pictures like an idiot.

Then there was my black dress.  If I do say so myself, I looked fabulous.  I would have preferred to have been about 10 pounds thinner but that's my own fault for not making more of an effort to make it happen.  I tried really hard that last week to be extra good and work out a lot and all I managed to do was gain 2 damn pounds!  I hate the scale.

My husband looked so handsome all dressed up and I realized that we just never go anywhere that lets us dress up.  I'm going to have to do something about that because we look good dressed up!  At the wedding we were voted the cutest "older" couple by his nephews and their wives/girlfriends.  Sort of a backhanded compliment but I'll take it!

We had a big breakfast out with the family before getting on the road on Sunday and while I know that our moving to NC was the right thing for us, seeing the nephews and Frank's sister again made me realize how much we missed.  Our boys weren't with us and so I realize that they (meaning Frank's family) missed out on a lot of stuff in our lives, as well.  I was a little sad getting in the car.  We all promised not to let so much time go by before seeing each other again.

we'll see...

Good parents, bad advice

I am the first to admit that sometimes I may not have the best advice to give my children.  Why?  The reasons are endless.  First off, they are boys and therefor, think like boys.  I am a girl.  We think very differently.  So there have been times that they have come to me for advice and Frank has heard what I had to say and then said "What are you out of your mind???"

Sad but true.

As someone who has lived more than 40 years and experienced the life as a child of divorce and of a teenager and gone on to be the parent of a teenager, I felt, at many times, that I had a right to comment or advise when things were getting floopy.  When bad behavior was being committed (and not only by my child), I spoke up.  What surprised me more than anything is what other parents consider bad behavior and what they do not.

If your child is in an unhealthy relationship - whether it be a romantic relationship with the opposite sex or a friendship - why would you encourage them to stay in it? I get the whole "We're all human" and "We need to extend grace and forgiveness" but when these relationships are causing your child to lose friends and to act out in ways that are a danger to themselves or others around them, why would you encourage them to stay in it???  I don't get it.

If someone treats your child poorly, causes them physical and emotional pain, again, why would you encourage your child to endure that?  If your child's heart is broken, why would you tell them to stay with that person?  I'm no psychologist or anything but I certainly know what it feels like to have my heart broken and I've witnessed many relationships that left someone devastated - it's a natural part of life - but why would you tell your child to continue to endure that pain???

From a Christian standpoint, I get where you might POSSIBLY feel like you are doing the Christian thing and extending grace and forgiveness but to what end?  If the person who is hurting your child does not have your child's best interest at heart, shouldn't YOU the PARENT have that???

I'm baffled;  I truly am.  I've watched my son begin and end relationships.  Friendships come and go.  Again, it's a natural part of life.  For years he just seemed to attract people who were not good for him.  It took some time but he eventually walked away from the toxic ones.  He extended grace and forgiveness, but he CHOSE to not continue the relationship and Frank and I encouraged that.  

Shame on you parents who tell your children to stay in situations that are bad for them, where their hearts will be broken and where you are forcing them to endure heartache needlessly.  Get off of your pulpit because our jobs as parents are to love and guide our children in a way that will make their lives better, not sit back and make them suffer needlessly.

Again, I am baffled.  

When did comedy stop being funny?

I love a good comedy.  I love to laugh.  I have a few shows that I watch each week because they make me laugh. This TV season has been a little disappointing for me because, well, TV just isn't as funny as it used to be.

I have been a huge fan of "How I Met Your Mother" and this season has been a BIG disappointment.  I wish they'd just name the mother and end the show.  Now I'm invested and no matter how much the episode's disappoint or depress me, I have to stick with it to the end and find out who the mother of Ted's children is going to be.  

If you're a fan of the show, maybe you know what I'm talking about.  A lot of the story lines this season have been out and out depressing.  It's gotten this way maybe the last season or two with parent's dying to infertility and friendship's ending...I want to be ENTERTAINED.  It's a comedy, not a drama!  

Please, comedy writers, make me laugh.  I desperately need to laugh!!  Life is so dang serious most of the time and I really look forward to having 30 minutes of mindless entertainment to just feel silly.  Save the drama for...the dramas.  Bring back the laughter!!!

The Little Black Dress

About eight months ago, I went shopping with a friend who needed a dress for a wedding.  She asked me to go with her and really, I was just excited about a girls night out; shopping for clothes was never exciting to me.  

So we went to Nordstrom's and I have to tell you, that store scares me.  It's big, it's expensive and really, it's just not me.  I'm a Target/Kohl's type of gal so I felt a little out of my comfort zone.  Anyway, she picked out like a half a dozen dresses and none of them thrilled me.  In my mind I was like "Great, now I'll have to fake liking one of these".  I was browsing through the racks and found a great little black dress.  I held it up and she was like "Um...no".

Ten dresses later, she allowed it in to the dressing room.

Oh...
My...
Goodness...

This was THE dress.  It was beyond perfect.  It transformed her.  One look and I was like "SOLD!"  There was not going to be another dress in any store, any where that was going to top this dress.  She bought it, we ate dinner, we cruised the mall and it was a great night.  

For MONTHS I teased that I wanted that dress.  I had absolutely no where to wear that dress but it was so spectacular that any scenario I could think of I would end with "While wearing the black dress".  It became a long running joke that never got old.

Well, lo and behold, we get invited to a wedding and I need a dress!  You see where this is going, right?  So naturally, my first instinct was to ask for the dress and of course, my girl said yes.  It took weeks for her to remember to bring it out and for me to get it and when I got it home, I took it out of the bag, slipped it on, zipped it up and...

it did NOT fit!

I'm not talking it was too big; that would have been too easy.  No, no, it was a tad bit small - but only in the bust.  I was BEYOND devastated.  I had to think and wrack my brain on what I was going to do.  I couldn't alter her dress, I couldn't FIND another dress, I wanted THAT dress.  

I figured that after almost a year, it would be hard to find and if it was available that the price would be better.  It was not.  Finding it was damn near impossible but alas, I DID find it.  By the time I did, I had bought a back up dress from Kohl's that after seeing me in the Nordstrom dress Frank deemed the back up dress "heinous".  I had to agree.  The problem was the cost.  I took back the Kohl's dress and so there was some money but I still needed to come up with $100.

I won't say where it came from (story for another time) but let's just say that I asked God to send me that money and He did.  I immediately ordered the dress and when it came in, I took it out of the box, slipped it on and...

IT FIT!
BEAUTIFULLY!!

I was transformed.  I had a Marilyn Monroe-esque figure.  I slipped on a pair of mile-high heels and all I can say is that I did NOT want to look away from my own reflection and if I could, I would wear that dress every day.

For YEARS I wanted to scream every time I read an article about the little black dress because I never found one.  I would search and search and search but never find what I wanted.  Now I have one.  And I love it.  And when this wedding is over, I promise to post pictures because it will be amazing!!!

And She's Back...Again!

Yes, yes, I know...I forgot, briefly, that I have a blog.  Actually, I haven't forgotten, it's just that there isn't enough time in the day for me to do all that I want to do.  So let's see, what's been going on since I last posted?

My new job/position at work is going really well.  It's challenging and frustrating at times but all in all it's been a good experience. I really prefer being a little challenged each day rather than sitting like a mindless drone.  It makes the day go faster.

It looks like Frank is finally going to get the foreman's position.  I mean, it's always been their plan but it looks like it will go in to effect starting Monday.  Praise the LORD!  He's a mix of excitement and apprehension right now but all in all I think he's looking forward to the challenge.  

We're going to a wedding next weekend and seeing family members that we haven't seen in close to 17 years!  One of Frank's nephews is getting married and the last time we saw him, he was a young boy!  It's a little surreal and we are very excited to have been invited.  It's going to fly by super fast but I think that it's going to be a great weekend.

I submitted my second book to a publisher.  In case I didn't mention it, I decided to NOT go with the publisher who wanted me to change my whole book in to the first person POV and instead decided to submit someplace else.  I hate the whole waiting process.  I guess because, for me, it never ends well.  So I am praying for a positive result this time.

We are still house-hunting although not as seriously.  We saw a couple of houses that we liked but nothing that we loved and really, I think I want to wait until the middle-end of summer just so that we have some time to get our ducks in a row.  Tonight Frank was up in the attic and we got rid of some things that had been up there for who knows how long and were actually ruined.  If we do a little bit each week, maybe by the end of summer, the process of moving won't be quite so mentally exhausting.

Other than that, it's just life as usual.  Let's see if I can stick around here for a while this time!

Virtual Assistant Needed!

Okay, so I have to admit, I've been kind of a slacker in my book promotion role.  With my new job and working 45 hours a week, there just aren't enough hours in the day to do it all so I am looking for a virtual assistant.

What is that, you ask?

Well, I'll tell you.  For me, this person would be an intern.  Someone young and fresh to the field that wants to start on the ground floor in the marketing/promotion field.  They must have a firm grasp on the social medias and have an excitement level about working with an unknown author to get their name out there.

Hours are flexible but I am looking for results.  Someone creative who thinks outside the box and willing to find the best way to get the word out on my book and any upcoming ones.  Which, FYI, I just submitted book number two to a publisher and they requested a full manuscript so WOO-HOO!

The whole "intern" title is mainly because I have no money to put in to this right now but I'm willing to be someone's guinea pig right now so that they can learn the ropes.

We'll see if I get any takers!

Manipulation...

Something must seriously be in the air lately because this is a topic that is coming up WAY too much and not just in my life!

I have a very dear friend who is in a relationship with a guy that can be a little, shall we say, smothering.  At a quick glance he is a great guy who would do anything for her and at times I've felt bad for him because he just does so much.  But then you stop and look and you realize that it's not as sweet as it seems.  

When she asked for a little space because she was struggling with some very serious issues within her family and in her personal life, he would show up with food, flowers, drinks, etc.  Okay, not a crime.  Then he would continually ask if he could come over or if he could be involved with things that she had clearly told him no to but he kept asking.  When she finally got fed up and said "Enough!" and that she needed to not talk to him for a little while, he would text her constantly begging her to just call him.  Then he would change his Facebook profile picture to one of them together and make his status' things that he, I guess, hoped would prompt her to call.

Manipulative.

Then, in my own life, I am dealing with someone who CLEARLY wants a huge say in my spiritual life and quite honestly, I'm a little fed up.  You know that I left my church and have been church hunting.  Not as diligently as I should, but we're looking.  It's rather draining.  I do not talk to anyone really about this search because I don't want anyone's opinion on where I'm going so that I am not swayed.  I need to make my own decisions and base them on MY spiritual life - not theirs.

So this person is sort of a contributing factor to my leaving my church in the first place because of their constant "You should be doing this..." or "you need to be doing that..." and their refusal to understand that my FAMILY comes first.  So now, several months out, I'm starting to get text messages and emails that are geared to guilt me in to something.  I know, I know, no one can make you feel guilty but it's the only way to describe it. 

I am not a retreat person.  I've gone, I've tried, I HATE THEM.  I have stated this for YEARS and yet people are continually badgering me that I need to go.  "Why don't you go?"  "We really want you to go!"  "It'll be fun!"  Um, you know what?  NO, no it won't!   I don't enjoy them.  They annoy me.  While a room full of women will be in tears over someone's long winded testimony, you know what I'm doing?  Plotting ways to throw my chair through a window so I can escape and shooting mental daggers at the speaker in hopes that they will shut up.  Not a spiritual experience ever.

So why do I have to walk my spiritual walk by someone else's standards?  Why are my desires and wants and needs being ignored?  What someone may see as concern, I'm seeing as manipulation.  Since leaving that church, I feel closer to the Lord than I have in YEARS.  YEARS!  I spend more time in prayer and listening to different pastors and seeing how different church's operate has been a pretty cool learning experience.

Don't text me about how I should be at the retreat.  Don't send me emails telling me that I should continue to come to...whatever!  I have made my break and I wish people would respect that.  I don't respond to these things mainly because I know that I will be hateful (like this ranting blog!) and I don't want to lose this person as a friend but at the same time, what kind of friend continues to badger someone about things that have been clearly stated?  Where is the line?

I don't like it and I'll tell you what, if I were not a firm believer/Christian, this person's behavior would make me run in the opposite direction.  Your "encouragement" is manipulative.  I'm not going to live like you, pray like you, walk with the Lord like you.  I am my own person and since I HAVE read the Bible in it's entirety, I am confident that God loves ME for who I am - after all, HE created me.  

Not you.

Done...

Let the Reading Season Begin!

You all know how much I love to write...but I am also an avid reader.  After getting over my initial dislike of the Kindle, I find that am enjoying it more than I thought possible and I am discovering some new authors while I'm at it.  But as much as I like to support the new and lesser known authors, I just get positively giddy when my favorite ladies have some new releases.

My honorary BFF buddy and head cheerleader, Susan Mallery is getting ready to release her newest novel "Barefoot Season" and if you come back tomorrow, you'll read all about it!  But beside "Barefoot Season" she also just had a wonderful re-release of one of her earlier books, "One in a Million".   Then, coming up this summer are Susan's newest additions to her Fool's Gold series, "Almost Summer", "Summer Days", Summer Nights", "All Summer Long" and "A Fool's Gold Christmas".  I do so enjoy spending a season with Susan! 

Then, of course, there is the FABULOUS Nora Roberts.  Here next release "The Last Boyfriend:  Book Two in the BoonsBoro Trilogy" is due out on May 1st.  Don't ask me why, but I have to have this one in paperback.  I have book one in paperback and I want this one that way, too.  

Robyn Carr is someone who I only recently discovered in the last year and her Virgin River series has been quite enjoyable.  Each book can easily stand alone but it's fun once you read more than one and start to recognize the secondary characters.  Her latest, "Sunrise Point" comes out April 24th. 

And the final book on my must-read list for this reading season is Laura Moore's "Trouble Me".  This is book three in the Rosewood trilogy and the first two were so wonderful that I read them both twice!  

I am sure that there are TONS of titles that I am missing but these books are my must-haves for now.  It would be totally cool if someday someone was blogging about one of my books being their must-read! 

Someday...