Karen Foley Romance Blog

Road Trip

2010-01-19T02:40:00.000-08:00

My dad and I just completed a 1,500 mile road trip, from West Newbury, Massachusetts on the northeastern seaboard, to North Port, Florida. My folks have a beautiful home there, and normally they would drive down together in October, but my mom recently had a hip replacement and was not given the doctor's okay to drive so far. So she flew down on Friday morning while we drove the van. In the back, nestled in amongst the luggage, was their 13-year old golden retriever, Reilly. We traveled west, through the Berkshires, and then south through New York and Pennsylvania, where we hit lots of icy snow and fog in the Scranton area. No fun. But we got through that and by the time we hit Virginia, the roads were clear, although it was frigid cold and everything was covered in snow and ice. But we made it through the bad weather and the rest was more or less clear sailing. We spent the second day driving through North and South Carolina to my cousin's home in Georgia. He and his wife own a sprawling horse farm in the countryside, with two horses, two ponies, five dogs, two cats and a parrot. It was so much visiting with them, and their home was so beautiful that I didn't want to leave! Here is a picture of Jodi with the ponies:

And here I am with my cousin, Mike:

We reached Florida by dinnertime on the third day, and although I'd been looking forward to the warm weather, the temperatures were only in the 20's. Many of the trees and bushes had to be covered that night for protection from the severe frost, and my sister and her husband were protecting their beehives by wrapping them in heating pads and heavy blankets.

I spent the night at my sister's house and then flew back the next morning, so not much of a visit, but I really enjoyed spending the time with my dad. Would I do it again? Ask me in the spring.

Dreaming of Ireland

2010-01-04T16:05:00.000-08:00

I've been dreaming about a trip to Ireland for several years now, and this year it may finally become a reality...if the airfares come down just a bit! Right now, the roundtrip fare is running about $900 per person, which is a little steep considering there are five of us. I initially wanted to go at the end of August, but since my niece, Colleen, will back in school by that time (and we really want to bring her with us), we're now looking at going in June.

Just before the holidays, we watched the movie, Falling for a Dancer.

This a wonderful love story which takes place during WWII on the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland. If you haven't seen it, I recommend that you go out and rent it. The movie stars Liam Cunningham and a young Colin Farrell, and both do a terrific job. The scenery in the film was so breathtaking, I knew we had to visit there.

So my itinerary has us flying into Shannon and renting a cottage on the peninsula for a week so that we can spend some time exploring the area, like the town of Dingle, below.

For the second week, we'll rent another cottage in County Cork...

...but for now I'll continue to plan our itinerary and watch the airfares.

Let it Snow

2010-01-03T08:16:00.000-08:00

It's been snowing more or less steadily since Friday night, but we've only received about six or seven inches of total accumulation. But the winds have been tremendous and I didn't think I'd be able to sleep last night with the windows rattling and the ice on the river creaking and breaking. We drove up to Derry yesterday afternoon and delivered a cooked ham to John's dad, and the road were very slick and icy. I was glad to get home.

John found a tractor/snowblower that he bought from a gentleman in Ipswich yesterday. He spent a couple of hours clearing the driveways, the sidewalks, and then the neighbors' driveways and was happy to get up this morning and do it all again.

Here is a picture of the river from my kitchen window. It's not completely frozen over, since the rain we had last week melted most of the ice, but you can see the slush beginning to form on the surface. If the temperatures remain this low, the surface will begin to freeze once more, especially where it backs up at the bridge.

We went to breakfast yesterday at the Fish Tale diner, and the water was higher than I've ever seen it in Newburyport harbor. We saw two men paddle a canoe under the Rte 1 bridge toward the ocean, with no life preservers, maneuvering their way through the ice floes. There's stupid and then there's stupid. If that canoe overturned, they'd never make it to shore before they'd succumb to the frigid waters.

We're off to a surprise birthday party today for the husband of a friend, at the Ale House in Amesbury, so that should be fun. Maybe later we'll meet up with some friends for coffee or a drink in Newburyport, before we go home and watch the Pats game. A perfect Sunday!

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T07:02:00.001-08:00

I can't believe it's already 2010! Where did the last year go? Worse, I can't believe I haven't updated this blog since March...

My New Year's resolution is find a new webmaster for my website (sadly, my former webmaster is pursuing a new career), and to stay current with my blog, if only for family and friends.

My daughter, Caitlin, turned sixteen last week; I love this picture:

And here is a picture of our tree, which sadly comes down today since it is now bone dry:

So what's new for 2010?

I have a book coming out in July, part of a Blaze anthology entitled BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY with two of my favorite authors, Jill Shalvis and Rhonda Nelson. My story is entitled Packing Heat and tells the story of Matt Talbot, a Marine sniper who returns home a hero, but finds his new status seriously messes up his love life!

I have another release in September, tentatively entitled Hot-Blooded, about a special ops soldier who believes women have no place in combat, and is unprepared for the female civilian who is assigned to his remote outpost.

I'll also be working on a third book, for release sometime in 2011.

But for today, I'm happy to sit curled in front of the fireplace with my laptop, working on my next book.

Happy New Year!

Looking for Housemouse88

2009-03-04T14:17:00.001-08:00

Housemouse, I have a gift here that I would love to send to you, but you need to send me your address. Email me at karenefoley@comcast.net so I can get this to you.

Thanks!

Karen

Jane Porter Appreciation Day

2009-03-03T17:40:00.001-08:00

I'm declaring today to be Jane Porter Appreciation Day, partly because she sent me a gorgeous red mug with gift cards and pretty Jane Porter promo items in it as part of a blog giveaway (I love getting fun things on days when I'm feeling down), and mostly because I just admire this lady so much. I've been reading her books for years, and although I love her Harlequin Presents stories, I'm a big fan of her single title books. I swear that her book, Flirting with Forty, raised my sister out of her post-divorce depression and allowed her to find love again (she got married again this past weekend to a really great guy who swears he's been waiting his whole life for her).

If you've ever read Jane's blog, then you have a pretty good idea what kind of person she is; caring, energetic, enthusiastic, courageous, generous, loving...all those positive, upbeat, good things that I wish could I emulate a little more. Not only that, but she looks fabulous...like she's closer to 24 than her real age. She's one of the few 40-something women I know who can put on a glittering little dress and kick butt on women half her age. Yes, she is my idol. And her own personal story reads like one of her books. I think I cheered along with all her other fans when she found Surfer Ty.

I make a point of attending her workshops at writer conferences, because she's honest and real and funny, and it's like you're talking with a good friend. I'm happy for all her hard-earned achievements and well-deserved success, and I'm looking forward to her next book, Easy on the Eyes. So, Jane, here's to you! Thank you for being such a great role model and inspiration.

In Like a Lion...

2009-03-01T18:21:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning to find an email from a friend in Virginia, about how happy she was to see her daffodils coming up. Her message made me happy, too, because it meant that Spring isn't that far off and in just a few weeks, I might see crocuses and daffodils begin to appear, too.

But then I looked outside and saw snowflakes falling. At first, I wasn't too concerned since they were so light, but they didn't stop. They continued until dinnertime, and although the total accumulation was only a few inches, I've been told it's only a prelude to the real show. The news reports say we're in for a pounding tonight, beginning about...now...and ending sometime tomorrow afternoon. Which means that instead of looking like early Spring int the morning, it will look more like this:

So the silver lining in all of this is that I get one more day at home with the girls (yes, I'm a total wimp and will not drive to work). We'll light a fire and watch movies, and I'll cook grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup for lunch, and in between, I'll work on my manuscript.

That sounds like heaven to me...

Always Use Protection

2009-02-24T17:29:00.000-08:00

My 15-year old daughter caught a nasty virus because she didn't use protection. Okay, folks, I know what you're thinking, but get your minds out of the gutter...I'm talking about her laptop.

This kid spends every spare minute on her laptop, IMing her friends, and visiting MySpace and Facebook. So when she received an email from her friend, Morgan, with an attachment entitled, Look at these Great Pictures!, she didn't think twice about it; she opened the attachment and let the Trojan Horse into the city.

Almost immediately, her computer began convulsing, bringing up strange websites in rapid succession and no matter how desperately she tried to close them, more would appear. She shut her computer down but it was too late. As soon as she opened it, the strange, rolling websites reappeared. I told her to run her Norton Anti-Virus, and she confessed that she had been ignoring the update messages for more than a month. Her subscription had expired and she was no longer protected. As she so aptly said, she is now in computer hell, unable to recreate freely. I told her not to send me ANYTHING. Although I do have antivirus protection, this thing has me so scared that I don't want to risk catching it. I've backed up all of my manuscripts and research material, and tomorrow I'll bring her laptop to a computer shop for diagnosis and (fingers crossed) a cure.

So remember, folks, if you value the health of your computer...always use your antivirus protection!

I Saw Him First!

2009-02-23T13:55:00.000-08:00

When my editor sent me the cover for my first book, Flyboy, I just about fell off my chair. I don't think I've ever seen such a gorgeous guy, and despite my pleading with Harlequin to have him grace the cover of all my books, I have never seen him on any other cover. It's probably just as well, because I really don't want to share him!

I also love the cover of my February book, Able-Bodied and maybe it's wrong, but I consider this guy to be Delta Operator Ransom Bennett. My Ransom Bennett. My guy. He and I have a relationship, where I write his story and he lures my readers in with his sexy expression and killer abs. I don't mind that other women find him attractive, so long as they're admiring him on my cover.
So imagine my surprise when I picked up a copy of the March Uniformly Hot book, Always Ready by Joanne Rock, and who do I see on the cover? None other than my own hero! Realistically, I knew this might happen, but I never expected to find my guy cheating on me so soon! I mean, our relationship is technically still on-going. It's still February! How dare he show up on bookstore shelves, on the cover of another woman's book, while he should still be promoting my story! But I love Joanne Rock, so I will willingly share my guy with her.

Just remember, Joanne...I saw him first!

And the Winners Are...

2009-02-21T16:22:00.000-08:00

Katie and Housemouse88!

Housemouse88, please drop me an email at karenefoley@comcast.net, and I'll pop a copy of Able-Bodied into the mail to you!

Congrats, and thanks for stopping by!

My Mid-Life Crisis

2009-02-20T05:31:00.000-08:00

For the past nine years, I've driven an apple-green New Beetle. When I first bought it, my girls were three and six and fit perfectly into the back seats. I loved this car and said I would drive it into the ground, and then buy another one.

Well...I've definitely driven this baby into the ground, but I won't be purchasing another one. I'm actually very sad to be saying good-bye to my little green punch-buggy. I live in a tiny little town, and this car was instantly recognizable by just about everyone, especially the kids in town. But as much as I might want to buy another Beetle (a shiny red convertible would be my first choice), I have a mutiny on my hands. My girls say they absolutely refuse to be squashed into the back of another Beetle. Since my little one (now 12) is 5'9" tall, I guess I can't blame them too much.

So we spent the long weekend car shopping, and although my intention was to get a practical car, like a van or a smaller SUV, I spotted this car and had to have it:

Is it practical? Probably not. But the price was good and I told my husband that as far as mid-life crises go, I could do a lot worse. I have no interest in running off with a younger man, LOL! Or an older one, for that matter! And what better time to have a convertible than the beginning of Spring? And this car has the teenager Seal of Approval. They can both fit comfortably into the back seat, even with the top up.

So tomorrow we say good-bye to the punch-buggy and bring this car home. Have you ever had a car that you just hated to part with? Or bought a car that just made you want to drive around all day and night? Share your story, and I'll send out a B&N gift card to one randomly selected visitor.

Thanks for stopping by!

A Giveaway!

2009-02-15T15:55:00.001-08:00

I went out today and bought myself a brand new, shiny, sleek laptop and I am so happy! I'd been putting it off for months, but it was something I really needed to do. My old laptop was getting, well, old. The "e" key was missing, it was very slow, and it didn't have enough memory for me to load the software required for my new printer/scanner. It would freeze up on me, or boot me off line, and there were more times than I care to remember when I nearly tossed out the nearest window.

So now I have a new laptop, and I find I'm inspired to begin working on my next manuscript, a story that will be part of a 2010 Harlequin Blaze summer anthology called Born on the Fourth of July...I guarantee it will be hot!

And now that I have a new laptop, I've also made a promise to myself to be better about updating my blog and keeping it current. More contests, more giveaways, and more fun. And since my third book, Able-Bodied, is on bookstores shelves right now, I'd love to give away two copies, accompanied by a box of luscious chocolate. Just drop me a note to be entered into the contest, and I'll choose a winner at the end of the week!

Four and a half stars!!

2008-12-23T18:43:00.000-08:00

ABLE-BODIED gets four and a half stars from Romantic Times BookReviews!!

Here is the review:

ABLE-BODIED (4.5) by Karen Foley: In this meltingly hot story, Reiki healer and sensitive Hannah Hartwell flees Boston after a crooked police officer frames her when she won't sleep with him. She disappears in the night, accidentally taking some money with her. Setting up her new business in North Carolina, Hannah meets Ransom Bennett of Delta Force, a man wounded in both body and heart. She works to heal him even as the powerful erotic connection between them explodes. But danger lurks. Ransom is wonderful and sexy, a strong, silent hero who protects those he cares for. Hannah is appealing and sweet. This is a wonderful romance you won't be able to stop reading. —Page Traynor

This review is the best Christmas gift I could ask for, especially considering how difficult this book was to write. I distinctly recall having just a week left before my deadline, and having to travel to upstate New York for business for two weeks. I literally locked myself into my hotel room over the weekend, lit my creativity candle, set my energizing crystals on the table beside me, and wrote for two days. I barely ate, barely slept, and kept thinking, "How am I ever going to finish this book without compromising the characters I've come to love so much?" I mean that sincerely; I love the hero in this story so much. Ransom Bennett is abrasive and rude and completely intimidating, but the heroine sees past that to the tender heart he tries so hard to hide.

I'm so thrilled that this book received such a wonderful review, and I hope that my readers love the story, too!

Merry Christmas!

Robert Pattinson Photos

2008-12-05T20:42:00.000-08:00

With nothing much to do tonight (I'm in a Dallas hotel for two weeks on business), I thought I'd just post some gorgeous photos of Rob Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. Enjoy!!

Love at First Bite

2008-12-03T20:38:00.001-08:00

I can't believe this has happened to me; I've been bitten by the Twilight bug. In my own defense, I've only seen the movie twice, but mostly because I'm on business travel in Dallas for two weeks, am stuck in a hotel without a car, and not a theater in sight.

I read the first book when it came out, but confess that I found the story unforgettable. No disrespect to Ms. Meyer, but I found the writing a little on the insipid side and couldn't understand why Edward--the vampire hero--laughed, grinned, chuckled, and snickered his way through the story. I found his habit of sneaking into Bella's bedroom (our ordinary teenage heroine) to watch her sleep a little on the creepy side, and if the author had made one more reference to his "crooked smile," I was going to toss my lunch.

Ah...but then the movie came out.

I have two tweenie daughters, so we played hookey from school on the day the movie was released, had lunch at a nice restaurant and went to an early matinee. I sat, completely enthralled, for the entire two hours, wishing I could replay some of the scenes just to watch the expressions on Edward and Bella's faces. The music score was beautiful, the cinematography was breathtaking, and the emotion and chemistry between the two star-crossed lovers left my own heart beating faster and wishing I was, oh, about thirty years younger! I think Kristen Stewart did an amazing job, and she was absolutely luminous in her portrayal of Bella. I wasn't so sure I was going to like Rob Pattinson in the role of Edward, but he was perfect. I completely bought into the intensely smoldering looks he gave Bella, his barely-restrained passion, and his own tortured existence. And if I hadn't known he was British by birth, I'd have never guessed his American accent wasn't the real deal.

Here are some outtakes from a recent Vanity Fair shoot...I love these first two photos.

And here's a picture of Robert Pattinson that I really like...

A talented musician in real life, Rob Pattinson really played the piano in the movie.

Another VF outtake:

I'm thrilled that this movie is doing so well in theaters, and that a decision has been made to film the sequel, New Moon. I'm looking forward to seeing more of these two talented young actors.

Autumn in New England

2008-10-29T15:56:00.000-07:00

There's nothing better than autumn in New England, and everything that comes with it. I love baking that first apple pie, or simmering that first pot of mulled cider. I love going to the farms and picking out pumpkins, and then enjoying a cider donut or a bit of maple sugar candy. I love watching the trees explode with color and feeling the air change. There is a certain amount of sadness in bringing the boat in for the winter and hauling the docks in, but then there's the anticipation of long, cozy evenings curled up by the fireplace with a cup of something hot and a good book. Yes, I love autumn in New England. Last weekend, we went up to Loon Mountain in Lincoln, NH to celebrate my mom's birthday. Check out this amazing cake; we called it the Alice in Wonderland cake. The kids loved it!

My mom rented a five-bedroom home in the mountains that was spectacular, and my two sisters and their families joined us there. Here's a picture of part of the family room (there's a whole other seating area that's not shown):

The cathedral family room had floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over a birch forest, and the morning sun through the branches caused it to glow with brilliant orange and yellow. It was fabulous. We took walks in the woods, rode the gondola up to the top of the mountain, ate delicious food, poked through some of the local shops, and generally had a fun, relaxing weekend.

I didn't want the weekend to end. I loved seeing my sisters, and really loved how much all the kids enjoyed each other's company. They only see each other once or twice a year, so this weekend was a real treat for them, as well. Here's my daughter, Caitlin, with my niece, Sophie.

And here are all the kids (Colleen Caitlin, Brenna, Emma, Sophie, & Jack), with Papa sneaking up behind them in true monster style!

Here's a picture of Colleen and Caitlin, who are only a couple of months apart in age. Colleen moved to Florida seven years ago, but she's a New England girl at heart.

Just like me!

Desert Storme

2008-10-28T12:22:00.000-07:00

Today's blog is dedicated to my dear friend, Storme, who has bravely volunteered (repeat, volunteered!) to do a six-month deployment to Iraq. She and I first met many, many moons ago when we both worked at an office on Pease AFB. I immediately liked her; she has this energy and enthusiasm and killer sense of humor that I couldn't resist. I think we've been friends for about twelve years. A lot has changed in both our lives during that time, but her passion and enthusiasm for her job hasn't changed at all.

So here she is, over there somewhere, with a former colleague and military officer, LTC Rich Hornstein. I guess it really is a small world when you can work for somebody in Massachusetts, and then run into them again halfway around the world. Doesn't she look adorable in her BDUs? Better yet, doesn't he look adorable in his BDUs??

I admire Storme so much for what's she's doing, and trust me when I say it's important work. I admire and respect our military personnel, that goes without saying, but there's something so inspiring about a civilian woman who is willing to give up her family and support system (not to mention sex and alcohol!!) and spend six months in a hostile environment, where the workdays are long and the climate is harsh, doing what she believes in.

So, Storme, this one's for you!! Come home safely!

The Language of Love...

2008-10-17T06:59:00.001-07:00

I came home from work the other day to find a package waiting for me from Harlequin. I opened it to find the German translation of Flyboy! How totally cool is that? I took German in high school and college, and even lived in Germany for five years, but as I tried to read my own story, the words were...well, totally foreign! There's a whole vocabulary out there that they didn't teach us in German class, LOL! Here's a peek at the cover...

Roughly translated, the cover reads:

3 Sinful Romances

Sultry Nights on the Beach, by Colleen Collins (English title is Shock Waves)

When Sparks Fly by Jill Monroe (English title is Share the Darkness)

Fly with me to Paradise by Karen Foley (English title is Flyboy)

I met a woman at the RWA conference last year who is a German bookseller, and this past July we ran into each other again in San Francisco. She was excited to tell me that Flyboy was being published in Germany, but I didn't realize it would happen so soon. I just think it's way cool!

My New Cover!

2008-10-05T17:24:00.000-07:00

Coming in February...now this is what I call a Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Subject: Ransom Bennett,
Delta Force Operator
Current status: Injured but still hot-blooded!
Mission: Regain crack military reflexes. Prove
he’s ready for active duty.
Obstacle: Hannah Hartwell. Fascinating.
Tantalizing. His new neighbor.

All Ransom wants is to get healthy enough to
return to the field. But sexy Hannah is testing his
composure. The woman is under his skin…but she’s
also fleeing a shady past. Damn! Hasn’t he learned
not to play with fire?

Still, Ransom can’t help exposing her secrets…and
a lot more! Then it’s on to his post-injury mission.
The highly clandestine operation will involve
delicate negotiations, complex maneuvers and
fiery explosions.

And that’s just in Hannah’s bed!

Uniformly Hot! The Few. The Proud.
The Sexy as Hell!

How 'bout them Red Sox?

2008-10-04T11:55:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to get a ticket to last night's Red Sox game against the Anaheim Angels, and boy, was it a game. This was my first Red Sox game (that time I had box seats at Fenway doesn't count, since we only stayed for two innings and never actually watched the game). The Angels stadium is beautiful...gorgeous rock structures with tumbling waterfalls behind the outfield, comfortable seating and everything was spotlessly clean. We had great seats, in the lower section, right behind the left field foul pole. This picture looks like we're far away, but we could see the players clearly.

Here we are, walking into the stadium:

We were right next to the warm-up cage, and at one point, I was so close to Jason Varitek that I could have reached out and touched up, if it weren't for the six foot chain-link fence, the concrete retaining wall, and the four security officers standing nearby. I couldn't get my camera out of my itty-bitty pocketbook in time to snap his picture, but did get one of Dice-K warming up:

Here we are, in our seats...we were fortunate to have a number of Red Sox fans all around us, which didn't make the Angels fans in the row behind us very happy. They left in the sixth inning to find friendlier territory.

The game was amazing, with an opening inning that saw four Red Sox runs. The Angels came back over the next six innings and tied the game 5-5 until the top of the ninth, when the Red Sox banged in two more runs, and the Angels were all done. I've never heard a crowd so loud...they were absolutely deafening. Here's a look at Big Pappy on the scoreboard...

And a look at the scoreboard at the end of the game...it was completely satisfying!

Have a great weekend!!

Santa Ana Blues

2008-10-02T21:31:00.001-07:00

I'm currently in Santa Ana for the next ten days as part of a 17-member review team, associated with my day job. I've only been to California once before, and that was when I went to San Francisco in July for the RWA National Conference. So while I wasn't thrilled about the long flight out to the west coast, my boss assured me that he'd take me to see the sights, and we'd eat some fabulous, authentic Mexican food.

I love Mexican food.

You can tell me we're going to Hell, but if you tell me there'll be homemade tortilla chips, spicy salsa, and a salty Margarita waiting for me when I get there, I'll be the first one to sign up for the trip.

So tonight, we worked late and didn't head out to dinner until about 7:30. I hadn't eaten anything since 6:00 that morning. I was so hungry I would have foregone Mexican food just for something--anything!--to fill my stomach. The hotel recommended an authentic Mexican restaurant called Las Brisas. The office we were visiting also recommended this restaurant, so we figured it was probably a safe bet. I envisioned soft lighting, salsa music, maybe a man dressed in traditional Mexican dress, playing guitar and serenading us while we sipped on margaritas or sangria. Here's a picture of the Las Brisas restaurant at Laguna Beach:

This is not where we ate. After following some misguided GPS directions, the seven of us who had ventured out, ended up in a disgusting strip mall where the sidewalk was covered with old chewing gum and the public phone had been ripped out of the wall. A homeless man shuffled past the doorways which, by the way, were protected by steel bars. Neon lights flashed in the garishly lit windows and we all agreed we must have taken a wrong turn somewhere. But no, there was the sign...Las Brisas. It looked more like this:
Inside was no better...Formica covered tables under flourescent lighting, and a walk-up counter where you placed your order. There were seven of us, and after laughing hysterically for ten minutes at the thought of eating here, we decided we'd do it. The menus were all in Spanish so I ordered the only thing that I recognized...Chilis Rellenos...one of my favorites back in Massachusetts at our favorite Mexican restaurant, The Border Cafe. We sat at a table near the jukebox, and drank a beer while we waited for our food to arrive. On a table behind us sat the congealed remnants of a meal that had never been cleared. When our food arrived, it all looked the same...runny, gray beans, some dried yellow rice, and the main entree. I had taken just two bites of mine, when something got wrapped around my tongue that I couldn't swallow...a long, black hair, twisted around my chili rellenos...I was so grossed out that I couldn't eat any more, and I didn't dare send it back. To me, the food might as well have looked like this:
So while we all laughed, I noticed that none of us finished our meals, and instead concentrated on swilling our bottled beers. So this weekend, we're determined to locate a Mexican restaurant that will, hopefully, erase tonight's traumatic events and leave us with a more pleasant memory instead. Stay tuned...

NEIBA Booksigning

2008-09-20T05:54:00.000-07:00

Harlequin invited me to do a booksigining of Overnight Sensation yesterday at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, as part of the New England Independent Booksellers Association trade show. So John and I took the train in, enjoyed walking through Copley Square, and browsed the convention for an hour or so before I actually sat down to sign books. Mind you, this convention is a huge event for booksellers. Every large publisher and small, local press is represented. Their tables groan beneath the weight of the books they hope to launch over the following year. The booksellers walk from table to table, scooping up free books and placing orders for their bookstores. John and I felt a little uncomfortable, since many of the publishers assumed we must be booksellers and sort of fawned over us. But even when I confessed I was just a lowly author, they were gracious, and I did score some advance copies of several coveted YA books for the girls, who thought it was very cool to have a book that looks exactly like the ones you find at Barnes and Noble, but with the words, "Advance Uncorrected Reader - Not for Sale" imprinted on the cover.

I had a great time doing the signings and am happy to say I was able to give away most of the books that Harlequin had for me to sign. Since the books were giveaways, there was no pressure and most people were happy to accept a signed copy from the author. I also really enjoyed meeting the Harlequin reps, Laurie and Carolyn, who were so friendly and fun to hang out with.

Have a great weekend!!

Football -- Not Just for Guys!

2008-09-14T15:34:00.000-07:00

One thing you might not know about me...I am a huge Pats fan. Not hard to understand, given their amazing achievements these past six years.

But today is the first time in 128 New England Patriots games that quarterback Tom Brady did not start. The last time the Patriots played a game without Brady was early in the 2001 season. As much as I love this team, I didn't think I'd be able to watch the game without Brady, despite the fact that Matt Cassel came through with a win last week after Tom was injured facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs. And this week's game against the New York Jets was strange, for sure, with Cassel getting sacked three times in the second half, and throwing just one long pass down the field. But then our team sacked Brett Favre, dragging him back down the field and almost into his own endzone, for a loss of (I think) 24 yards. Unbelievable. In the end, Cassel came through again, with a final win of 19-10. Go Pats!

So I think I know the secret to how these quarterbacks are selected, and let me be the first to say that I approve wholeheartedly.

1. You have to be at least 6'4" tall

2. You must be in superb physical condition

3. You must be cover-model gorgeous

I mean, check out the Pats quarterback lineup. First, Tom Brady. Could he be any cuter? And at 6'4", 225 pounds, he's one gorgeous slab of beefcake:

Then there's Matt Cassel, the backup quarterback who, so far, has been able to lead the Pats to two consecutive victories. At 6'4, 230 lbs, he's an able stand-in for Brady in more ways than one!

And finally, there's rookie quarterback Kevin O'Donnell, fresh out of college and learning the ropes from the best in the league. At 6'5", 225 pounds, he's absolutely adorable.

Who says girls can't enjoy football?? I say, go Pats!

I Saw It!

2008-09-08T17:46:00.000-07:00

Brenna and I finally took a drive to Borders booksellers yesterday and snapped a couple of pics of Overnight Sensation on the bookstore shelves. And here's another picture. Isn't it lovely??

Hope everyone had a good weekend and survived Hannah.

Overnight Sensation Hits Bookstores!

2008-09-05T06:09:00.000-07:00

Well, it's official! My second book, Overnight Sensation, is now available at bookstores near you! My two daughters were at the mall last week with their grandparents, and found copies of it at Walden Books and Borders. My dad took pictures of it with his cell phone, but I haven't actually seen it for myself on the shelves.

When my first book, Flyboy, came out, my younger daughter, Brenna, and I were (again) at the mall, looking for a book for her. It was about a week before the book was due out, so imagine my surprise when I saw it on the shelves! We just sort of stood there together, admiring it, and then went and splurged on a pumpkin spice latte! So I told Brenna that she and I have a standing date this weekend to visit our local bookstores and take a picture of Overnight Sensation, and then go celebrate with something delicious.

My husband did something so incredibly sweet that I have to share...he had a charm bracelet crafted for me, with a different charm for each book I've written. The first charm is a tiny Super Hornet fighter jet, since my hero in Flyboy is a fighter pilot.

The second charm is a movie-camera, since my heroine in Overnight Sensation is an actress.

My third book, Able-Bodied, which comes out in February, features a Delta Force hero and a Reiki energy healer heroine. I don't know what kind of charm he's selected for that book, and he's told me I won't get any hints, and will have to wait until February to find out!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great weekend!

Life--and Death--on the Mighty Merrimack

2008-08-25T16:17:00.000-07:00

I've lived along the Merrimack River my entire life, and I've always had a healthy respect for its powerful currents and tempermental tides. We've been flooded twice, and evacuted once due to dangerously high flood waters, but thankfully we've never sustained any serious or permanent damage. Call us crazy, but we love it here. When I look out the back windows of my house, I see the long sweep of the river as it curves toward Haverhill, and we're fortunate enough to live along a section of river that has no buildings, so the opposite shore is just an endless stretch of nature. Every day brings something new; herons, cormorants, the occasional bald eagle, and once we even saw a harbor seal. We can step out our back door, walk out onto our dock and be on our boat in less than a minute. We've navigated those waters more times than I could possible count.

Here is a picture of the Merrimack River from a vantage point at Maudsley State Park in Newburyport. This will give you a sense of how wide the river can be in places. At times it feels more like an enormous lake than a river, but when the tides change you can feel the powerful pull of the currents.

Every year, it seems, we hear a story of how somebody drowned in the river. It's usually the result of risky behavior or a senseless accident; the man who fell off his dock after a few too many drinks, or the man who foolishly thought he could swim out to his mooring, not realizing the current was much too strong.

Eleven years ago, an intensive search of the river and its miles of shoreline was undertaken, as the police looked for the body of a young woman. Her boyfriend had apparently bound her with duct tape and tossed her into the frigid waters of the Merrimack, about ten miles upriver from where we live, in January. About six months later, our neighbors were dragging the bottom of the river with a grappling hook, trying to locate their mooring line when they encountered something heavy and pliable, tangled in their line. They managed to free whatever it was, but were unsuccessful in wresting it to the surface. The next morning, the body of the young woman was discovered washed up beneath the docks just across the river. There's no doubt in our minds that the "something" our neighbors encountered while searching for their mooring line was, in fact, this young woman's body. So while the sun sparkles on the water's surface, making the river look beautiful and serene, you never know what lies beneath. And you never expect that the next person to make such a tragic discovery could be yourself.

Today, John and I decided to take the boat out to a sandbar near the mouth. I love boating on Mondays because all of the pinheads and weekend boaters are gone. There is virtually nobody on the water and we have the entire river to ourselves. We had the boat on open-throttle as we neared the Rocks Village Bridge, when John shouted that he thought he saw somebody lying on the shore. Understand that this is not a river that is sunbather-friendly, and this particular stretch of riverbank is heavily forested and only accessible by boat, so it would be very odd to see somebody just lounging on the shore. So we turned around and trolled back the way we had come. As we drew closer to shore I could definitely make out something amongst the river grasses.

The tide was beginning to go out, and there, on the shallow beach was...a cow? I couldn't tell...I could only make out a broad strip of white, bracketed on either side by a strip of black. But as John brought the boat in closer, I saw it was the body of a man, lying on his side facing the water. The white strip was his torso, exposed by his black T-shirt where it had ridden up under his armpits, and beneath his belly, his black shorts. His head and face were covered in river mud and weeds, but it was his arm that struck me. Rigor mortis had set in, and his arm and hand were cocked at an angle that made it appear he was beckoning. To be saved. To be found. To be brought home.

We called 911 and the harbor patrol sent a boat and three officers, and we waited while they brought the coroner in by boat, too, until they finally told us we could go. By then, I had no desire to go to the boaters' beach, so we headed to Newburyport and had a couple of drinks at Michael's Harborside instead. I can't get the image of that slender, white hand out of my head. Who was he? How did he end up where we found him? Had he been missed prior to our discovery of him? We frequently see groups of exuberent young men, screaming past in their powerful cigarette boats, whooping and laughing and not giving a care for their own safety or that of other boaters. Had he fallen off of such a boat? Maybe we'll find out, if they run a story in the paper. Maybe we won't. But I'll go to bed tonight thankful that my own kids are safe in their beds, with my thoughts and prayers going out to the family of the poor guy we found today.

More Pics from San Francisco

2008-08-08T15:27:00.000-07:00

I found my camera download cable, so can finally share some more pictures from San Francisco with you. On the last day of the conference, we ventured down to Fisherman's Wharf. It was surprisingly chilly, and there was a brisk wind. It actually felt like autumn.

Here are Jessica and Cathryn and myself at the entrance to the wharf:It was incredibly crowded, with all sorts of smells from the nearby food vendors and restaurants, but I stopped to admire this gorgeous fruit stand:The proprietor was a lot nicer than the guys who man the fruit stands at Haymarket in Boston! I've seen women get their hands slapped for handling the produce there. We meandered our way to the water where we could see Alcatraz in the distance. The day was hazy, so the pictures didn't come out very clear. The water in the bay was very rough and choppy, not unlike a washing machine. Alcatraz is that blurry lump in the background.

We saw the famous San Francisco sea lions. They're so glossy and sleek when they first come out of the water, but after lounging around on the docks, their fur dries to a reddish-brown color. They reminded me of truffles rolled in cocoa powder! Okay, maybe that's just me...I frequently have chocolate on my mind. Here are Jessica, Cathryn and Nina in front of the carousel.

We took a streetcar from the hotel to the wharf, but opted for a taxi for the return trip. We didn't want to completely miss the Golden Heart and RITA awards. Here's a picture of the ceremony when they announced Samantha Hunter's book, Untouched, as a RITA finalist! Yay, Sam!

And for my husband, the boat-guy, here is a picture of San Francisco bay:

This year, the west coast. Next year, the Capitol!!

All About Gerard

2008-08-04T07:28:00.001-07:00

I'm home today, recuperating from the conference and totally energized to start working on my fourth book for Harlequin Blaze; I have a Sep 30th deadline, so working on this manuscript isn't just a good thing to do, it's like an imperative. The book will be released in Nov 09 as part of a mini-series with the following authors: Samantha Hunter, Tawny Weber, and Lisa Marie Jones. And since my story is a self-indulgent fantasy based loosely on Gerard Butler, I thought I would just dish about him today to sort of get me in the right frame of mind... This picture, above, must have been taken during his 300 days, as he's sporting the beard and the six-pack. Isn't he gorgeous?

And here he is, showing off his very big, um, sword. I can't imagine anyone more suited to a kilt than Gerry.

This picture, below, is one of my all-time favorites. He could be a cop or a bad boy in this pic, but he definitely looks commanding. Personally, I love his hair short.
Or long! Here he is when he filmed the television mini-series, Attila:
Here's a close-up. I don't think I've ever seen a picture of him where he's completely clean-shaven. He always sports a little bit of scruff. I like his laugh lines.

And what's not to love about this picture, below?
Okay, now that I've had my Gerry-fix, I can sit down and begin writing. Have a Gerry-licous day, everyone! Um, just one more picture...
Alright, now I'm good!! Have a great day!

Please Turn Off All Personal Electronic Devices...

2008-08-03T18:52:00.000-07:00

I made it safely home from San Francisco, but I am completely exhausted. I was hoping to download my last set of photos from the conference and from our brief foray yesterday afternoon to Fisherman's Wharf, but discovered I left my camera download cable back in the hotel room. This doesn't come as a huge surprise; I'm on my third (or is it my fourth?) download cable.

On my Cincinnati-Boston leg of the trip, we were a little late departing the gate, but the pilot thought we might still arrive ahead of schedule due to some strong tail winds. I had asked my husband to pick me up at 6 pm, but after a quick calculation realized I'd actually arrive closer to 5 pm. So I really wanted to call him and ask him to come earlier than we'd planned, but the airline attendant had already given her "Please turn off all personal electronic devices" speech. So as we were being pushed back from the gate, I pulled my cell phone out and turned it on. I really, really wanted to send John a text message to pick me up an hour earlier, but the man in the seat next to me shot me a disapproving look and then snapped his newspaper, and I found myself hesitating.

What would happen if I chose to use my cell phone after we'd all been told not to? Would the cell phone signal really interfere with the pilot's ability to fly the plane? Or the radio control tower's ability to monitor outgoing and incoming flights? Could my piddling little cell phone call result in an air disaster of catastrophic proportions? I shifted in my seat to hide the fact that I was going to make the call anyway. Or at least send a text message to John. But as I pulled up a blank message screen, and prepared to enter my text message, I hesitated yet again. I rememered the tag attached to my pillow when I was a kid..."Do Not Remove Under Penalty of Law" or something like that. It may have even read, "Do Not Remove Under Penalty of Death."

There was no way I was removing that tag. And as I slid the phone closed, I realized there was no way I was making that call, either. I couldn't do it. I was too afraid that if I made that call, this is what would be waiting for me once I reached Boston:

As it turns out, we ran into some nasty weather and were put into a holding pattern over Rhode Island for forty minutes until Boston cleared us to land, and I actually arrived in Boston fifteen minutes later than we'd planned.

The Harlequin Party

2008-08-02T10:58:00.000-07:00

Held at the San Francisco Four Seasons Hotel...I knew we were in for a good time when I saw the doors to the ballroom were flanked by white tuxedoed waiters handing out signature martinis called a Grape Fog...a combination of vodka, chardonnay, and something else, with a grape sitting at the bottom of the glass. Surprisingly, it wasn't bad!

The ballroom was enormous, awash with soft pink lighting. In the center of the room was a the bar (open), and overhead was an enormous pink sculpture of the Golden Gate Bridge. Each corner of the ballroom had been designated as an area of San Franciso...the corner where they set up the enormous chocolate fountain and the fondue buffet was named Ghirardelli Square. They also had food buffets in two other corners that looked amazing, but I didn't eat anything. There was a cute DeeJay and a good-sized dance floor. We were some of the first to arrive, so I was able to take some pictures of the ballroom before it became too crowed.

There were these pretty trees scattered around the ballroom, surrounded by padded benches. I heard (the next day) that the dancers actually felled some of these trees in their dancing exuberance. I walked over to the party with Holly Jacobs and Nancy Warren, each of whom received a Harlequin award for having written more than 25 books. Here is Nancy, wearing a pretty green dress (although it looks more yellow in this picture)...

Here's another picture of the bar, and you can make out the bridge structure above. This is still early...within an hour, however, the ballroom was packed so tightly that you could barely maneuver your way through the room, and the dance floor spilled out to include the area around the tables themselves. The music was mostly from the 80's...songs like It's Raining Men, and We Are Family. It was very loud, very raucous.I spent some time with my new friends from Australia, Emily Forbes and her husband, James. I met some really wonderful authors who flew all the way from Down Under to attend the conference. I found them to be incredibly warm and funny. Here is a picture of Emily and her husband. Doesn't she look beautiful?

Of course, this was still early on in the evening. It wasn't until a bit later that people really starting letting loose. There were no lampshades, but James made do with his napkin.

It was a very fun party, although I found it overwhelming. There were so many people there! There were men in kilts, men in shorts, and women wearing everything from jeans and tank tops to long, sequined evening gowns. There were many (many, many) people there who weren't Harlequin authors, and the following day I heard that next year, they may require you show your invitation at the door in order to attend. Maybe next year, I'll have a picture of myself with my good friends (and future Harlequin authors) Cathryn and Barbara! That would make the party absolutely perfect.

A Blazing Good Time!

2008-07-31T19:31:00.000-07:00

The Blaze booksigning was this morning, from 10-12. The line of people waiting to get in stretched around the hotel floor. For two hours, the line never let up -- there were five authors actually signing books (those with July releases, I think) and for two hours, all they did was smile and sign. Tawny and I stood to one side of the room and just greeted people as they came through. It was so much fun! Initially, they were letting people get one copy of every book, but even with the crates of books they had available, it was clear they were going to run out, so they began limiting books to two per person. They ran out completely about ten minutes before 12. It was awesome to see so many Blaze fans!

Here is a pic of Kira Sinclair, whose first book, Whispers in the Dark, just came out, moi, and Tawny Weber...I had so much fun with Tawny; we tried to outdo each other by being the first to hand out our bookmarks to everyone who came through.

The Blaze editors had covers of all the current and upcoming releases on display behind the booksigning table. I have to say, some of these covers are amazing! Right now, mine is on display on the dresser in my hotel room.

The luncheon keynote speaker was Victoria Alexander; she was so funny and personable, and had the entire audience laughing. I've read several of her historicals, but listening to her talk was a real treat. Here is a picture of Nina and Cathryn at lunch. We sat with some fun ladies; one was a book reviewer (I slipped her a copy of Overnight Sensation along with a couple of $100 bills--okay, I'm totally kidding. I was broke, or I might have!). I still haven't made it to a workshop, yet. Maybe tomorrow.

I also sat next to this really interesting woman who designs websites for a living...I've been thinking about redoing my own for some time now. Something more romancey and less military. I liked the military theme until my mom said she finds it a little frightening. I think she's right, and the more I think about it, the more I'd like to go with something a little flirtier.

Later, the Blaze authors and editors met up in the lobby and we went to dinner at this fabulous Italian restaurant a few blocks from the hotel. The food was amazing. The entire night was amazing! We had a small room with one long table and three or four oversized booths. I sat with: Tawny Weber, Jamie Sobrato, Jordan Summers, Leslie Kelley, and Wanda Ottewell. My face still aches from laughing so much. There was wine, bruschetta, homemade pizza, salmon filets with pesto, lasagna, the most delicious cheese manicotti I've ever tasted, lots of fresh veggies, and the most decadent chocolate cake and cheesecake I've ever seen--huge, glistening slabs of chocolate, sitting in puddles of dark chocolate syrup. Yum. I took a picture, but didn't realize I'd left the memory card in my room, so can't download the image. Just picture a huge slab of chocolate cake, and then double it...you get the picture. So now I'm back in my room, feeling fat and happy. I could write, but that takes too much energy, so I'm looking forward to curling up with my brand new copy of The Brother Returns by Jeannie Watt, instead.

Booksigning in San Francisco

2008-07-31T07:16:00.001-07:00

Having a great time at the conference....here is a picture taken at the booksigning...

I sat with a lovely lady named Emily Forbes from Australia, who writes medical romances. Her husband and two little boy stopped by and I asked them if they liked Vegemite. Her husband said he loved it, and promptly pulled out a tube of the stuff and started licking it adoringly. Here he is, displaying his manly appetite for Vegemite (eewww!).

And finally, here is a picture of me and my roomie, Cathryn. She and Nina were my groupies!

Brenda (my editor) came by to say hello and showed me a template for the new Blaze covers they'll be switching to in Jan 09. Very nice!! The new covers will feature the title and author's name at the top of the book, across a red banner, rather than being overlaid across the cover art. She also gave me a few tempting details about the cover for my Feb 09 release, Able-Bodied. She said the cover will feature the hero laying on a bed and all you'll see is part of his face, his bare chest and his military dog tags...sounds great to me.

Our conference drink this year is the Pomegranite Martini...delicious.

Going to the Ball

2008-07-27T14:39:00.000-07:00

So here it is, two days before I leave for the RWA conference in San Francisco, and I haven't even begun to think about packing. Okay, that's not entirely true. I'm thinking about it now, hence this post. My friend, Cathryn, is so organized. She has this great list of things to bring and has her outfits orchestrated for each day, each event. She has what she calls her conference clothes, and they are beautiful! For me, my conference clothes are the same clothes I wear to work, the same clothes I wear when I go out with friends, the same clothes I wear for everyday. How boring is that? I want conference clothes, too!

Last year, I decided to go with all travel knits; outfits that wouldn't crease or wrinkle no matter how I mashed them into my suitcase or balled them up in my carry-on. I buy 99.9% of my clothing from Coldwater Creek, and last year I was really into the travel knit dresses, paired with a knit cardigan. But the problem is that I'm only 5'4" tall, and the dresses all but dragged on the floor. Looking back at those photos, I looked frumpy and fat. Plus, I overpacked. I brought more clothes with me for that four-day conference than Ginger brought with her on that 3-hour cruise, and that's saying something!

So this year, I decided against the travel knit thing. I once overheard somebody say that when you get to the point in your life where you're wearing a) elastic-waist pants, or b) polyester knit clothes, it's time for a retirement home. Yikes! I'm officially an old person, according to my wardrobe! That needs to change. So this year, I've decided to go young(er). I'll bring capris and tank tops and sandals, and actually show a little skin. I bought some cute white capris, some comfie denim capris, two pairs of black cropped pants (no elastic waist) and a bunch of pretty tops. So I think I'm all set for what to wear for the booksigning, the workshops, and any sight-seeing we do.

My big dilemma is the Harlequin party. What will I wear? I have my reliable standby; a black, travel knit dress, LOL! It's sleeveless and long, and paired with the right jewelry, would be fine. But it wouldn't disguise my belly. Or my butt. I mean, look at these beautiful women who attended last year! I'll be a frump by comparison. Ugh. I hate this.

I have a chocolate velvet dress that I wore on the cruise this past winter, but...well, it's velvet. In August. In San Francisco. Besides, the trouble with both the chocolate dress and the black dress is that the neckline comes up so high. It makes the dress look damby. I want a cute little pink dress like the one this gal is wearing! Or a pretty black number that plunges in the front and scoops in the back and swirls at the knees, you know?

So for this year, I guess it's the black knit dress. But for next year, I'll be more prepared. I'll diet my butt off (literally) from January to June and in July I'll go shopping for something fabulous. Yes...next year. That'll be the year when I'll go to the ball looking like this:

The Write Life

2008-07-26T19:16:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of Cathryn's blog over at The Moody Muses (see link, at right), I thought I'd share some pictures of the places where I find the most peace, and where I do most of my writing. This picture is of my sunroom, and although you can't see, there is a long bank of floor to ceiling windows facing the couch. This room is my favorite; it overlooks both the yard and the water. In the afternoon, the entire room shimmers with the reflection of water on the walls. This is Caitlin, my 14-year old daughter, reading a letter from Duncan, who is away at camp. She's sitting in my favorite spot. I love to curl up here with my laptop, with my research material spread out around me.

If the weather is nice, I'll take my laptop outside and sit on the patio, where I can watch the boats go by and listen to the sound of the water. This picture was taken yesterday, after more than a week of torrential rain. You can see everything is overgrown and wet, but on a nice day there is no better place to be.

A Pirate's Life for Me?

2008-07-20T18:24:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, Salisbury, MA hosted the first Maritime Festival at the Salisbury State Reservation, featuring a chowder festival, a beer tent, concerts, water competitions, and three gorgeous tall ships open to the public. Our good friends, Mike and Lois, took us to the Captain's Gala Reception the first night that the ships arrived. There was a live Reggae band, a raw bar, hors d'oeuvres, and cocktails. A monsoon moved in just moments after we safely entered the festival tent, and the thunder and lightning and driving rains were truly awe-inspiring! The interior of the tent, which resembled a Barnum & Bailey circus tent and could easily accomodate 400 people, began flooding with rain water. The band had to stop playing while they moved all the electrical cords safely away. Even after the storm moved through, leaving a hazy mist in its wake, lightning continued to illuminate the skies over the ocean and around the tall ships. Very cool.

It was wonderful, but the best part was touring the three ships. There was the Roseway, from St. Croix, the Mystic from Mystic, CT, and the Spirit of South Carolina from...well, you know. My personal favorite was the Roseway, and not just because it had some of the cutest crew members! The ship itself was beautiful and graceful. The Mystic was also lovely, and wouldn't it be wonderful to book a week-long cruise through the Bahamas aboard that ship?
We took our time going through each of the ships. I loved seeing the different galleys and the sleeping compartments. The Mystic was by far the most luxurious, since they are set up for private charters, but I loved the Roseway, with its small, boxy bunks and intimate living arrangements. I'm sure by the fourth or fifth day, such tight living quarters become tedious and the smell is probably

more than a little funky, but it seemed very romantic. Here I am, at the helm of each of these lovely ships...

I always thought I'd love to be at sea; to stand on a deck and feel the ocean surging beneath the prow, with the sea wind blowing in my face. However, the reality is that I'm a complete wimp and being out on the open sea only conjures up images of me, floundering in mile-high swells until I finally sink to the ocean bottom. Last night, we went out to sea on our friends' boat to watch the fireworks over Salisbury. We didn't leave until 9 pm because of threatening weather, and the night was overcast and misty. It was eerie going out through the mouth of the Merrimack River under these conditions, but not nearly as bad as it might have been had the tall ships not been docked there; the no-wake zone imposed by the Coast Guard made it so much less treacherous! We cleared the mouth and turned north, toward New Hampshire, and once we had gone out a ways, turned the engine off and just drifted. There was a full moon last night, but it wasn't your typical full moon; it was a blood-red moon, which only made the night even more eerie. The fireworks were amazing, and then we made our way back through the mouth and inland, to Amesbury. It was an exhilarating ride, but the entire time I was certain we were going to be smashed against the jetties, or collide with another boat. We didn't, of course, but the experience just reminded me that although I think I'd like a life at sea, the reality is that I'd much rather be seaside, preferably under an umbrella with a cocktail in my hand!

The Glamorous Life of a Romance Author

2008-07-14T05:01:00.000-07:00

When I think "romance writer," I think glamour. I think of Mary Fisher from the movie, She-Devil (played to perfection by Meryl Streep), living in her pink mansion by the sea, wearing her flowing chiffon scarves and being served cocktails on her private patio by a buff young man-servant who wears nothing but black shorts and a bow-tie.

And of course, there is the romantic icon of my youth, Dame Barbara Cartland, who graced the back cover of more than 500 romance novels, dripping with diamonds and surrounded by gold gilt and velvet, cuddling her little pooch. Of course, the reality is probably more like Joan Wilder in the classic romantic comedy, Romancing the Stone, who finishes her manuscript with a combination of joy and sorrow, and then sits down to celebrate with a solitary microwavable meal and her cat.

I've completed three romance novels and am working on my fourth, and yet my family remains singularly unimpressed. Don't they understand that I'm a romance writer? That I shouldn't have to do dishes or laundry, or spend my time on anything as mundane as food shopping and cooking? I am a romance novelist! My life should be spent sitting on my patio being served dainty pastry puffs and cosmopolitans (or whatever it is that glamorous romance writers eat). As wonderful as that sounds, the reality is that romance writers are just regular people. We still have bills to pay, bathrooms to clean, and (for some of us) day jobs to go to.

But then there is this wonderful thing called the RWA National Conference, where for four glorious days we get to bask in the warmth and attention we so rightly deserve, where every minute is devoted to being a romance writer, where there are catered lunches and dinners, booksignings, and opportunities to schmooze with editors and agents.

Even before I was published, this annual conference was a much anticipated event, and only reinforced my passion for the romance genre. I remember watching, in complete awe, as all the glamorous romance novelists, sparkling in thier finery, climbed into taxis and limos that would whisk them away to a publisher's private party. Oh, to live that kind of life! And for the first time, I've also received an invitation to a publisher's party. But I've also realized that I am neither glamorous nor awe-inspiring, and that being a romance writer is just one part of who I am. It's a wonderful part, but one that needs as much work and dedication as the other parts; the day-job worker part and the wife part and the mom part. So thank you, Harlequin, for making me feel--even for just one night--like a glamorous romance author!

Cruising Plum Island

2008-07-08T09:20:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was my day off, and since the kids were at summer camp and it was about 109 degrees in the shade, my husband and I decided to take the boat out. There's nothing like being out on the water, with the wind in your face. Sheer joy. Of course, I always feel guilty when I go out on the boat, like there are a gazillion other things I should be doing (writing, or doing laundry). But the day was so beautiful, I decided that one day wasn't going to impact my deadline. So I packed a light lunch, threw some bottled water into a cooler with ice, and away we went. Here is a picture of John with the boat.

Our plan was to follow the Merrimack River to Newburyport, and then cut in behind Plum Island and follow the narrow channels that cut through the marshes, all the way to Ipswich. We caught an out-going tide, so made good time to Newburyport Harbor. On a typical weekend, this area is teeming with activity, and the whale-watching boats and deep-sea fishing boats, as well as the huge lobster trawlers, turn the mouth of the Merrimack into a surging, plunging washing machine of turbulent water. I hate going out to the ocean because doing so means having to navigate this treacherous stretch of water, and it terrifies me. I'm always afraid we're going to end up like the boat in this photo--smashed up against the jetties! We have a friend with a bigger boat than ours, and they go out all the time. However, their 8-year old daughter clings to her seat and screams the entire way, until we're safely out in the open ocean. I never make fun of her. If it weren't for the fact that I'm an adult, I'd be screaming, too!

But yesterday was a Monday and the entire harbor was quiet. The water was like glass and feeling brave, I told John we should go out through the mouth to the ocean. We followed two sailboats through the narrow passage and made it through safely. Once we were past the jetties, the temperature dropped by ten degrees -- it was wonderful. The ocean had these huge, gentle swells that just sort of buoyed you up. We went about two miles out, keeping land in sight, and headed south along the coast of Plum Island, a barrier island that runs eleven miles from Newburyport to Ipswich. Only about a third of the island is inhabited, and the remaining 4,662 acres have been preserved as an enormous wild life refuge for plover, herons, egrets, cranes, and bald eagles. The area behind the island is comprised of miles and miles of marshes and wetlands. If you know what you're doing, you can navigate a boat through these narrow channels.

We continued along the coast until we came to Ipswich, and turned inland at Crane's Beach, toward Plum Island Sound, which is the large, open bay directly beneath Great Neck and Little Neck, and extends along the back side of Plum Island until you hit the marshes. Here's a photo of the entrance to the sound, from the ocean. We dropped anchor near one of these sandbars and had lunch, and then began making our way through the sound to the marshes. It's a little tricky since all the narrow rivers look identical, and we kept a close eye on our depth meter, since some spots were just about 2 feet deep. Thankfully we have a flat-bottom boat that requires very little water in which to maneuver. But it was fabulous -- we saw so much wildlife, and even though we made a couple of wrong turns, just being out there was amazing. You feel like you're in a different world! We did finally maneuver our way back to the Merrimack River, and then it was a quick ride back up the river, with the incoming tide, to home. We came back sunburned and tired, but happy.

The Last Cowboy in Saugus

2008-07-03T04:05:00.000-07:00

The strangest thing happened to me on my way to work this morning...I generally leave the house pretty early, around 5:15 a.m. This morning I slept in a little and didn't leave until 6:00. I was driving south on Route 1, and traffic was fairly heavy considering it's a vacation week for many people. For anyone unfamiliar with Route 1 through the Danvers/Saugus stretch of Massachusetts, it's known as the restaurant capital of the world due to the huge and varied number of eateries on either side of the six-lane highway.

I was making pretty good time when I crested a hill and saw a parking lot of brake lights stretched out before me, and just a brief glimpse of flashing blue lights. I groaned, thinking there must have been an accident. But as I drew closer, I saw I was wrong. I had to blink several times, unsure if I was seeing things. No wonder every other driver on Route 1 had slowed to a crawl...you don't see cowboys riding along the highway every morning!

Yes, cowboys.

And they looked like the real deal. There were only two of them, and a state police cruiser paced just behind them, keeping motorists at a safe distance. I so wish I'd had a camera! It was like they'd ridden straight off the set of Open Range onto Route 1. These guys were in full western gear, with leather chaps, heavy "cowboy" coats, Stetsons, gloves, and boots, complete with saddlebags strapped to their mounts. They looked bone-weary. They were dusty and dirty. One of them turned his face in my direction as I drove past, and I could see his jaw was covered with a couple days worth of stubble. They rode effortlessly, one hand on the reins, one hand resting casually on their thigh. Their horses were beautiful.

But what were they doing on Route 1? Heading to the Hilltop Steak House to reclaim their missing herd of cattle? Protesting the high price of gasoline by hoofing it to work? I checked the local news channels to see if there was any mention of a traffic tie-up due to a couple of cowpokes, but there was nothing.

So I can only speculate about who they were, where they'd come from, and where they were headed. And I can't help but feel that my day has been made a little more special for having seen them.

Diary of the Dead

2008-07-02T04:45:00.000-07:00

I'll admit it; I love zombie movies. Actually, I love any movies or books that involve a virus or plague (or vampires or aliens) that could potentially wipe out humanity. I've read The Stand by Stephen King at least six times. The Omega Man is one of my all-time favorite flicks, and I watched I Am Legend with a sort of terrified glee. It's not the mass destruction of human life that fascinates me, but the tenacity and ingenuity of the survivors. It's amazing what one will do to survive, even when faced with the possibility of being the only survivor. I confess to having spent way too much time thinking about what I would do if faced with a pandemic or a swarm of flesh-eating undead. The reality is that I'd probably be one of the first to die, since I'm so out of shape I probably couldn't outrun a zombie, and I'm usually the first one in my house to succumb to a cold or virus. Besides which, I'm a total wimp and just the thought of being alone in my own house at night gives me the heebie-jeebies, never mind being alone on the planet! But having an overly active imagination, I can't help but wonder, "What if...?"

So imagine my surprise and delight when my daughter found this book in a used bookstore in Salem, MA! It's called The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection From the Living Dead. If you've ever wondered how to protect yourself against zombies, this is the book for you. Not only does it give you great tips on how to survive, but it also explores the origins of zombie-ness, and details the behaviors and characteristics of zombies so that you can anticipate how they will react in any situation, providing you with the necessary information to either kill them, or escape from them. For example, I'd always thought if the world was overrun by zombies, I would escape in a boat. Perfect, right? You're isolated and safe. But did you know that zombies can walk on the bottom of a riverbank or lake or even the ocean? So keep a spear or harpoon handy for when they try to sneak up on you from beneath the water!

Last night, the girls and I were surfing for a good movie, and they wanted to watch The Secret Life of the American Teenager. I knew it was the story of a girl who becomes pregnant, and thought it might provide a good moral lesson, so we switched it on. Hello!! In the first five minutes, there's a scene where a 16-year old boy is asking his 15-year old girlfriend how long they'll have to wait before they can have sex, and she replies when they're married. So then he asks if oral sex counts. The room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop, about a second before I leaped up and changed the channel. Who writes this stuff?? Bill Clinton?? No way were my girls watching that crap...so instead, we changed it over to Diary of the Dead. Yep, I'd much prefer they watch a movie based on someone's twisted fantasy about zombies, filled with gratuitous violence and plenty of gore!

The movie was filmed in the same style as The Blair Witch Project -- as if it was a documentary. It started out slow, and I was sort of kicking myself for having paid $4.99 for it on Pay per View. Initially, it seemed that the only redeeming feature was that it starred hot Canadian actor, Shawn Roberts, as one of the would-be survivors. However, fifteen minutes into it, the girls and I were glued to the screen, watching the horror unfold about a group of college kids trying to get home. At one point Caitlin said, "Okay, I am now officially sketched out!" It was pretty gruesome and about as realistic as a zombie movie can get. On a positive note, not all the characters died; three of them ended up locking themselves in a panic room inside a mansion, as the house itself became overrun with zombies. I can think of worse fates than being holed up with someone as adorable as Shawn Roberts! So I say, "Zombies?? Bring 'em on!" I have my survival guide...

A New Beginning

2008-06-23T16:06:00.000-07:00

So, I've finished the revisions for Able-Bodied and have turned them into my editor. I was relieved and thrilled when she said the book was fantastic! A few changes really improved the story, and I can't wait to see the cover that the Harlequin art department creates for Ransom Bennett, my Delta Force operator. The most exciting thing about finishing the revisions is that now I can begin my next book!!

I love beginnings. My daughter and I just had this conversation about writing Chapter One. She thinks it's the worst part of writing, and says she's tempted to rush through that first chapter so she can get to the "good" parts. I told her that Chapter One should be full of "good" parts! I love writing that first chapter; I love all the possibilities the new story holds, I love laying the groundwork and introducing the characters, and hinting at what is to come. If I've managed to hook the reader in that first chapter, then I've done my job.

Anyway, my next book is a totally self-indulgent book inspired by Gerard Butler. I was thinking about his life, and how he started off as a law student in Scotland with superior grades and a promising career in front of him. So what, besides his involvement with a rock band, made him lose that path and instead led him to a life of debauchery and drinking? How did he finally find his way into acting, and why (why, why??) after all these years, is he still single?

I started playing the "what if" game. What if, a long time ago, he fell in love with a girl? What if the girl came from a different country, and what if her family was very powerful? What if she lied to him about herself, and he didn't know who her family was? What if they eloped, but her family forced them apart and annulled the marriage? What if the experience was enough to make him lose his career and send his life spiraling downward? What if he eventually turned to acting, and became a Hollywood juggernaut? And what if the marriage was never actually annulled? These are the questions that eventually led to my next book, tentatively entitled Heartthrob. I can't wait to get started!!

Here is a picture of the bookmarks I had made up to promote Overnight Sensation. Didn't they come out great? I'll distribute them at the RWA National conference in San Francisco in July, and at the New England Independent Booksellers convention in Boston in September. (Well, I tried to paste a picture of the bookmark here, but it obviously has a mind of its own and I can't get it to show up--sorry!).

Writing Hell

2008-05-23T05:50:00.000-07:00

I just finished writing my third Blaze novel, entiled Able-Bodied. I sold this book to Harlequin based on a 3-paragraph summary, which was thrilling, but when it actually came time to write the story...it was the most painful experience of my life. It was like doing tax returns for four straight months.

As much as I love the hero and the heroine, this book was a toughie. Maybe it's because the hero, Ransom Bennett, is a Delta Force operator and it's just not that easy to find information about Delta Force. Or that the heroine, Hannah Hartwell, is a Reiki practitioner and energy healer...I actually enrolled in a one-day Reiki seminar but it filled up so quickly I didn't make it into the class. But I think the real issue is that this deadline came so quickly on the heels of Overnight Sensation, that I scarcely had time to draw breath, especially when you throw in a two-week vacation, a two-week business trip, and then revisions and line edits for my last book.

However, there are a lot of wonderful things about this book that I do love...the hero, in particular. He's tough. And rude. And a complete skeptic when it comes to energy-healing, at least until the heroine puts her hands on him.

Here is the visual inspiration for Ransom (tell me he isn't able-bodied!):

Isn't he gorgeous?? Pair him with Hannah, below....

The chemistry between these two is sizzling hot. I can't wait to see the cover for this one when it comes out. Watch for Able-Bodied on bookstore shelves in Feb 2009!

Overnight Sensation

2008-05-02T12:51:00.000-07:00

Okay, here's the cover for my next book, Overnight Sensation...pretty sweet! At first, I was disappointed that it didn't feature the hero, bare-chested and sweaty, dressed (or undressed) in his jungle cammies, but as my husband pointed out, that's sort of like being handed the keys to a brand new car and then complaining because it doesn't have a cup holder. And as my mom said, part of it might be that the cover features people who look real, and not like someone's fantasy. So that being said...this is a damned hot cover! I love the heroine's face...she's perfect. And the hero is so totally Garrett Stokes.

Salem is Bewitching!

2008-04-24T11:33:00.000-07:00

The weather was so gorgeous that I took the girls and one of their friends to Salem, MA, where I met up with Michelle, a writer-friend of mine, and her two daughters. What a wonderful day we had!! The trip was part pleasure, part research. The heroine of my current WIP is an energy healer with her own New Age shop. But in trying to capture the essence of the shop, I came up with a blank, so decided what better place to visit than Salem, with its multitude of New Age stores.

The girls went their separate ways, while Michelle and I began exploring. We went into the Goddess Treasure Chest, where we pored over an assortment of crystals, and sniffed different aromatherapy candles. Michelle bought me a yellow votive for "Positive Energy." I hope it works! We discovered a cool little bookstore called The Derby Square Book Store, where towering stacks of books threaten to bury the unwary browser. Caitlin bought a book here called The Zombie Survival Guide -- Complete Protection From the Living Dead. Hey, there's something for everyone! Here's a picture of her inside the shop.

Michelle had a psychic reading done at Angelica's of the Angels, and said it was very perceptive and made her happy. The woman (Rev. Fredericks) predicted Michelle will publish no less than five books, all centered around one character. Fingers crossed; I hope this happens for her! We checked out The Broom Closet, where there was one wall covered with little bags of healing herbs. I'd never even heard of some of these weeds! Mugwort -- sounds like something out of Harry Potter. So does Dragon's Blood. But very cool.

We had lunch at a little deli, and then explored Pickering Wharf. Michelle shied away from Laura Cabot's shop (she's the official witch of Salem), saying she did not sense anything good in this woman. Of course, that just made Brenna all the more determined to go inside. We took pictures near the Friendship Schooner (sloop?? what's the difference?). Then we discovered the New Age Book Store, which I fell in love with. They had it all; candles, crystals, herbs, wands, music, books...a wonderful store. I purchased a small citrine crystal for creativity and an amethyst crystal for inner peace and balance. Here's hoping they work!

Our last stop was a little chocolate shop that has been in business since 1820. I can attest to the fact they do, indeed, make fabulous chocolate. I bought a pound. I tried to hide them in the fridge after I got home, but my kids and husband found them. We also visited a graveyard on Gallow's Hill, where the infamous hanging tree once stood. There's an equally creepy tree that stands there now that I'm sure is an offshoot of the original. Caitlin, being her irreverent self, insisted on having her picture taken laying down in front of the gravestones. But I told her it was bad Karma. So then, as we were heading back to the car on the roof of the parking garage, she didn't want to take the elevator. She was convinced it was the portal to Hell. Hmmm...obviously we stayed too long in Salem!

So...off to write while burning my positive energy votive and holding my creativity crystal, listening to advice on how to survive zombies, and gorging on decadent chocolate. Yep, it was a great day!!

Writer's Weekend

2008-04-15T09:52:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was the New England Chapter's conference; two days of writer workshops, keynote speakers, book giveaways, good food, and a literarcy booksigning. It was so much fun! Some of the keynote speakers included Virginia Kantra, Susan Wiggs, and my personal favorite, Suzanne Brockmann. I also met so many other wonderful people this weekend -- Geri Krotow, who is a former Naval Intelligence Officer and now writes romantic fiction, Tina Trevaskis who is a marketing specialist for Borders bookstores, Kathryn Smith, who writes amazing vampire romance, Robin Lawson, who is an editor for Red Sage Publishing, and so many more that I can't even remember now. Here is a picture of me and the Moody Muses, my writing gal-pals. From L-R, they are: Cathryn, Michelle, Denise, Nina, Barbara, and Karen.

It was also my first public booksigning, and although I was terrified that I wouldn't sell any copies of Flyboy, at the end of the night, there were just four copies left. So not bad! I have a picture of me and my friend, Denise Eagan, at the booksigning, but am having trouble uploading it. The lighting was bad, and this was the only photo that came out, although we tried so many times! So, stay tuned...hopefully I'll have this up shortly.

St. Patrick's Day

2008-03-17T16:39:00.000-07:00

I love St. Patrick's Day...don't ask me why, but I do. I love seeing the Irish (2% of the world's population is Irish, and the other 98% wish they were) take such pride in their heritage, and I think it's a riot that they go to such extremes to celebrate their day; green beer, green eggs & ham, corned beef dinners, shamrocks, parades...I love it all! My younger sister, Alison Patricia, was born on St. Patrick's Day. My dad's family is Irish, although I didn't realize this until I was in college.

I didn't understood the true meaning of Irish pride, however, until I married into the Foley clan. They take their heritage very seriously. My husband's younger brother and sister, Sean and Meghan, loved everything Irish. Meghan had a shamrock tattoo on her ankle. She had Irish bumper stickers all over her car. Her favorite band was the Drop Kick Murphy's. Her dream was to someday travel to Ireland. So when she died unexpectedly on St. Patricks Day, 2006, at the age of 23, we were all devastated. The loss was made harder by the fact that her brother, Sean, had died just nine months earlier, at the age of 25. He was Irish to his bones, and supremely proud of it.

The day now holds new meaning and significance for us. So today, I cooked an Irish feast (vegetarian-style), with Guiness Stout mixed into the stew and a dessert laced with Bailey's, and we raised a toast to Meghan, who would have enjoyed the fact we were listening to her favorite music, and less than thrilled about some of the remembrances we shared. We raised a toast to Sean, who no doubt would have been raising hell in true Irish style, if he were still with us.

May the road rise to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face.

May the rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Meghan and Sean. You'll always be loved and remembered.

Truth is Stranger than Fiction!

2008-03-13T07:37:00.001-07:00

There's been some weird stuff in the news lately. Did you hear about the lady who sat on her boyfriend's toilet for two years?? I don't even want to know what she ate for dinner the night before the sit-in (sit-on??)! Yikes. Even weirder, her boyfriend was apparently feeding her during this time, and asking her when she was going to come out of the bathroom. "Um...not today, dear. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe next year...or the year after that." Hello! If my significant other spent two hours on the toilet, we'd be calling the paramedics! But the thing that keeps running through my mind is...did she shower? Did she brush her teeth? Apparently not. I haven't seen any pictures (shudder), but here's my mental image of the sad scenario. Admittedly, I have a vivid imagination so it was probably not as bad as this. The woman is obviously ill, so glad she finally got help, but man...two years???

Copy-Edit Hell

2008-03-10T16:01:00.000-07:00

OMG; I just received my line edits back for Overnight Sensation, and I'm trying really hard not to freak out. I guess Harlequin is pretty swamped right now, because they sent my manuscript out to a freelance copy-editor, rather than using Laura (whom I loved working with). So the manuscript arrived in the mail today, along with a note from my editor that said, "...she was a little heavier with the pencil than I would have liked. Take a look and let me know what you think." Dude...heavy isn't the word; it looks like the Exxon Valdez had an oil spill all over the pages...just about every line on every page has something that she's changed. In some cases, the change is warranted. In many instances, however, it's a word preference that adds no value, i.e. "badly potholed road" versus "deeply potholed road." Or "clad in" versus "encased in". I want to throw up looking at it. I'm not even sure how I'll document the changes I agree with versus those I don't. I can't fit any more proofreading or editorial marks on the paper; it's chock-full!! I'll scan a few pages for you and upload them tomorrow so you can see for yourself. It's pretty ghastly.

Meanwhile, I'm trying to meet a May 15 deadline for Book #3 (was I on drugs???) which is now going to be part of a series of books, each involving a Special Ops soldier from a different branch of the military. So I'm doing Delta Force. Uh...ever try to dig up info on these guys? I found a bunch of books on how they get recruited, selected, and trained, and there are even some books that talk about their involvement in Iran and Grenada, but quite frankly I'm not all that interested in what they do covertly as operators. I can make that stuff up. I want the skinny on their personal lives. I want to know how their job impacts their personal relationships. Do they bring weapons home with them? Do they maintain "ready rooms" or "war rooms" in their homes? If I opened their closets, would I find any uniforms? If so, would they have any distinguishing insignia or rank on them? What do they tell their significant other they do for work? Do they do background checks on women they're interested in? What if she has less-than-pristine past? So...not knowing where else to turn, I signed up for a military discussion forum and asked my questions there, on a site for special ops discussions. I got a big, fat, resounding silence. So I changed tactics and asked the same question regarding your standard-issue, traditional USASOC guys and got pretty much the same response. Code of silence, not going to get any info here, Delta is an airline, blah, blah, blah. One guy even suggested my name be turned over to Intel as a possible Tango! While I understand and appreciate their lack of candor, it's been frustrating to say the least. I want to write a good story, one that at least seems plausible, but I guess I'm just going to have to make stuff up. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking...I signed up for a Reiki class at NECC next month, here in town. My heroine is a Reiki master, so am hoping that portion of my story will at least be believable! Okay, enough whining.

Back to Reality

2008-03-05T16:28:00.000-08:00

Wow...it's hard to believe it's all over! I've been back for three days, and reality is beginning to set in. It's been raining. It's been cold. It's been crazy busy at work. I wish I was still on St. Thomas! The only tangible reminder is my tan, and in a few days even that will be gone! But it's wonderful to be home, to hug my girls and sleep in my own bed (without earplugs, LOL!).

I've been scrambling to put together my synopsis for Overnight Sensation, which my editor asked for two weeks ago and I still haven't finished. Tonight. I'll finish it tonight and send it to her, then begin working on Book #3! Then I'll put together a photo show and send it to Robin and my parents.

Cruising St. Maarten

2008-03-03T16:34:00.000-08:00

Okay, is it just me, or does each day seem better than the last? Today we woke up and we were already docked in Phillipsburg, St. Maarten. Since we knew we were going to be in port until 4:15 that afternoon, we had no sense of urgency about disembarking. So we put on our bathing suits, packed a lightweight beach bag, had a quick breakfast, and left the ship around 9:30. St. Maarten's Dutch province is the jewelry capital of the Caribbean, and I had a craving for some Mishima Opal (or Australian Opal) set in silver, either a bracelet or a ring, or maybe some earrings. So we took the water taxi from the pier over to the downtown shopping district. Whatever I'd been expecting...well, my imagination just didn't come close. Here's a picture of the main shopping road. It was so pretty, with cobblestone streets and shop after shop after shop, shielded by these gorgeous palm trees. Unfortunately, it was so early that many shopkeepers hadn't yet seen any customers and were like vultures when they saw us coming. They actually came out onto the sidewalks and tried to entice (or drag) us into their shops. When I told one shopkeeper that I was looking for opals, he nodded in excitement and then tried to sell me a HUGE diamond ring! This thing had five rows of diamonds, with three blue diamonds set into the center. It started out at $4,600 and by the time he finished his marketing spiel, it was down to $1,000.

My husband would have a heart attack if I came home with a $1K diamond ring that he hadn't bought for me himself. So we decided it was too early to shop, and instead caught a taxi over to the French side of the island, to Orient Beach, where we rented two lounge chairs and an umbrella, and watched the wind surfers and parasailers and topless sunbathers go by. Here's a picture of the beach from the deck of a little food cabana on the beach behind our chairs...

And here's a picture of Robin, sitting on the deck. We ordered a couple of beers, and split an order of nacho's, and a shrimp quesidilla that was fabulous. I didn't realize that the prices were in Euro's and not US dollars, so it was a little pricier than we'd thought, but so worth it -- totally delicious. We only stayed a few hours, and returned to Phillipsburg in time to do a little more shopping before we had to return to the ship. Robin bought a bottle of the local liquor, Guavaberry, which was really yummy and they didn't confiscate it on our return. We had plans to drink some of it when we got back to our room, but somehow we forgot!

Dinner that night was formal (again), but we weren't as into this time around and dressed a little more comfortably. Hmmm...I don't remember what we did after dinner, but I'm sure it was fun!

Cruising St. Thomas

2008-03-03T13:09:00.000-08:00

This morning we arrived in the port of St. Thomas. I managed to order room service successfully, and we sat on our balcony and nibbled fruit and croissants while we watched the ship pull into port. We had to get up fairly early in order to meet up with our group for a sailing excursion to St. John. We were down on the docks at 8:30, where we all climbed aboard a brightly painted and curtained safari type vehicle for our ride to Sapphire Bay, where our boat was waiting. They drive on the left side of the road on St. Thomas, which I didn’t know, so nearly had a heart attack when we pulled out. The ride across the island took about fifteen minutes and consisted of hairpin turns and steep climbs, followed by breathtaking descents. Sort of like a roller-coaster. Actually, exactly like a roller coaster! We passed a lot of areas where poverty was apparent, and a schoolyard filled with schoolgirls in uniforms. The gas is almost $4.00 per gallon here.

Sapphire Bay is just that – deep, deep sapphire blue and the marina where the sailboat is kept (Sapphire Marina Resort) is tiny, surrounded by clusters of small condos. At first, the boat looked small to me. Once I really got a look at it, however, I realized it was at least 50 feet long. Here's a picture of it here. The skipper’s name was Jeff; a good-looking man in his early 40’s with curly hair and a great tan, but not too friendly. His first mate was a younger man named Toby, who had blonde hair and a great smile. We had go barefoot on the boat, and the top of the long cabin was covered with green seat pads, so we each grabbed a spot under the sail and watched as Toby and Jeff maneuvered the boat out of the slip. It was a tight fit, so Toby actually got into a little rowboat and used it to bump up against the front of the sailboat and push it in the direction of the open ocean. Then he tied the little boat to the back of the sailboat where it bounced along on the waves. We left Sapphire Bay and crossed Pillsbury Sound to St. John. The Sound is big, and it was a very windy day, so the waters were extremely choppy. Once they released the sails, it was fascinating to watch them letting out line, and then pulling it in to control the fabric. Too much line and the sails would flap uncontrollably; too little line and they’d pull so taut that we’d nearly go on our sides! At one point, the boat was almost laying on its side, and we were all scrambling for a secure foothold.

I was looking at the rough water and thinking there was no way I’d snorkel in that, but as we approached St. John, he found a quiet little cove (that's moisture on my camera lens, not clouds)where the water color changed from the dark sapphire of the Sound, to this light, aqua green. He dropped anchor alongside several Katamarans, and I could see there were many snorkelers in the waters. The beach was pure white, and behind that, just jungle. So I made my way to the rear of the boat and put on my mask and snorkel, put on my flippers, and jumped in. The water was incredible – 78 degrees, which was just warm enough without being too warm. I felt a little claustrophobic at first, but the body wants to be face down, floating, so I just went with it. Once I realized I could breath, I relaxed. We snorkeled for an hour, admiring the sealife of these small coral reefs – the reefs themselves were sort of brown and yellowish, but the fish were brilliant – purples and yellows, and iridescent colors. We saw lots of sea urchins, but they didn’t look cute like on Sponge Bob, they looked wicked!

After an hour, we swam back to the ship. I took off my flippers and climbed up, but wasn’t expecting the deck t be so slippery and went right on my hip and knees, and wrenched my shoulder. Embarrassing and painful (not to mention the HUGE bruise I now have on the back of my butt!). They served a buffet style lunch of meatballs, pasta salad, green beans, bread and cold cuts, and little brownies. My first plate ended upside down on the deck, but the second plate was delicious. Jeff kept pouring "Nooners" for us, which were delicious frozen rum drinks. I bought a New Horizons tee shirt (the name of the sailboat) for John, which was identical to the shirts both Jeff and Toby wore. I think he’ll like it. By the time we left St. John and returned to the ship, I felt pleasantly boneless.

We had enough time to take a shower, change our clothes, and return to St. Thomas for shopping. Right outside the docks there were several blocks of shops. Again, they were mostly jewelry and souvenirs, but we had fun poking through them. I bought a little cabana-striped bag for each of the girls, a cute little Caribbean top for me, a magnet for mum, and that was it. By the time we returned to the ship, I was done. Robin wanted to go to a Crown and Anchor cocktail hour, but I went to bed. I managed to sleep for an hour before we had to be at dinner. After dinner, we went to see a magic show (kind of hokey) and then stayed for the Love & Marriage game show, with three couples selected from the audience. Totally hysterical, made all the more funny by Allan Brookes, the cruise director. I laughed until my face ached. I think this has been the best day of the cruise so far!

Cruising Through San Juan

2008-02-26T15:33:00.000-08:00

Since yesterday's breakfast was so hectic, we decided to order room service this morning. I had this great plan; we'd have fruit and croissants in the room and be up on the deck early enough to get a decent lounge chair, where we could listen to the steel drum band and sip Mojitos all day until we pulled into port. Well, we waited and waited for breakfast and it never showed up...because I forgot to put our stateroom number on the request form! So we just went right up to the deck, but the winds were almost gale force so every lounge chair was empty! But we grabbed a couple anyway, and within 30 minutes, the skies were sunny and clear and the winds had died down and it was perfect and we sipped Mojitos all day! We met this great gal named Cora from Indiana who was scoping out some guy; she had our waiter buy him an anonymous drink, but the waiter came back and told her that the guy said he was gay! But he still accepted the drink! I told her it could have been worse; he could have bought one for his boyfriend, too, and charged it to her room.

San Juan was really fun; there is a Honda Gold Wing Club on board (30+ bikes) and we watched them all disembark from the ship which was very fun, except for that one guy who couldn't get his bike to start and the rest of the group left without him. Bummer. Here's a picture of Robin, with San Juan coming into view behind her. Here's another picture of the two of us standing in front of this pretty walled park.

So we really got a feel for San Juan (cough, cough); we bought souveniers and safety pins at Walgreen's; shoes at Payless Shoes; and at the local grocery store, Robin bought Pringles chips and Dentine gum! (Oh, and we saw the Castillo de San Felipe del Morro, otherwise known as the Castle of St. Phillip of the Headsland). There were a lot of homeless people, and little alleyways that reeked of something foul and rotten, but also pretty courtyards overflowing with flowers and vegetation, and the pastel housefronts and wrought iron balconies were beautiful. The people were all really friendly. I bought some little green, glass frogs for the girls since that's the national symbol (who knew?), and some pretty Caribbean-style coverups.

The entire harbor and shopping district were swarming with police, and I'm not talking your local rent-a-cops! These guys look like Delta Force operators, with flack jackets and ear-pieces, and deadly serious expressions. I took a covert photo of this one cop (his bulging muscles had nothing to do with it). I was hiding in the doorway of a shop across the street, but enlarged and cropped the photo to what you see here. You really have to see him to--ahem--appreciate him! Then on the way back to the ship, we bought a couple of pocketbooks -- inexpensive knockoffs of Coach and Kate Spade brands (although they looked real enough to me!). Here's a picture of the cruise ship from the shopping district -- we were actually hanging over this stoned wall, and behind us the houses were vacant and boarded up, probably from damage incurred during last year's hurricanes.

Not sure what we'll do tonight. Probably go up on deck when we leave so we can see San Juan by night, and maybe get a bite to eat since we skipped supper.

Cruising!

2008-02-26T15:30:00.000-08:00

Okay, I think I’m getting the hang of this cruise thing. It’s every man for himself!

We slept late and then went up to the breakfast buffet at prime feeding time. There were absolutely no free tables to be found, so we stood around with our trays for about ten minutes until a waiter took pity on us and located a table for us. Afterwards, I wanted to lounge by the pool, but we forgot to set our clocks ahead (which I don’t understand, since we haven’t crossed any time zones yet, but maybe they’re just getting us prepared), so instead of being 9:30, it was really 10:30 and every lounge chair on every deck was being used. We finally managed to locate two chairs, but they were in the shade so we didn’t stay long. I think cruises can bring out the best and the worst in people; I watched this woman look for two empty chairs and she was being very polite, asking people if chairs were vacant. She finally located two, but as she was negotiating her way through the maze of chairs to get to them, another woman threw her towels from an overhead balcony down onto the chairs and claimed them as her own! I couldn’t believe it.

Robin and I went to a wine tasting this afternoon, but the best part of it was the accompanying cheese and cracker platter. Totally yummy. So yummy that I had no appetite for dinner, which was formal attire tonight. I wore my gorgeous chocolate gown with the beaded neckline, and Robin work a long black skirt with a beautiful beaded sweater. I ordered linguine with mushrooms in a champagne and truffle cream sauce, but it was awful. I couldn’t even tolerate the smell. I had a few bites of Robin’s salmon, and it was more than enough.

Afterwards, we had our picture taken with the ship’s Captain, and then went to the evening show which was totally fabulous; a collection of songs and dances from some of Broadway’s greatest musicals. We changed into something more comfortable and went to Bolero’s nightclub to listen to the steel band and watch the salsa dancing. Very fun, but I am completely wiped out.

Freedom of the Seas

2008-02-24T19:40:00.000-08:00

Whew...we made it!! I've tried to upload pictures, but for some reason the wireless connection here on the ship won't let me. I'll try again later. (Yay -- success!!) Anyway, Robin’s boss hired a limo bus to drive 22 of us down to Miami. It was so luxurious! I didn’t think there would be enough seating for everyone, but there was absolutely more than enough room. Somebody brought two enormous jugs of Bloody Mary’s with your choice of garnishes; celery, olives, or big dill pickle spears (never heard of that one before!), and another person brought dozens of yummy bagels from Panera Bread. The ride took about three hours, but we scarcely noticed.

Once we arrived at the port in Miami, I could not believe how gigantic the ship was – like a floating city! It took about an hour to check in and get to our stateroom, which is really roomy. Robin objected to the fact they gave us a double bed (how can they tell the lesbians from the sisters??) so we had them split the bed into two twins. We cruised along the pool level, which was already packed and the party was well underway despite the fact the ship hadn’t even left the dock yet.

We got a quick bite to eat at the buffet (small dish of pasta for me, and chicken parm for Robin), then we had to return to our state rooms to prepare for the evacuation muster. Sheer torture!! The life vests are designed to choke the life out of you (here's a really flattering picture of me, beginning to panic as the life is choked out of me) and I felt so claustrophobic in it! So we were all herded down to the fourth deck where we had to find our muster station and then stand there for twenty minutes while the sun beat down on us, trying to breath in these awful contraptions. I swear, if I ended up in the ocean, I think I’d rather make a swim for it on my own than be trapped in that thing!! It was so hot…a man two rows over collapsed, but they still wouldn’t let us take the things off. I think it’s the crew’s way of exacting revenge on the passengers. Then they go back to their own little staterooms and laugh about it.

Dinner was fabulous – three soaring levels of gold and crystal and white linen and each table has four waiters, each with his or her own specific purpose. I had shrimp ravioli in a creamy sherry lobster sauce. Robin had Atlantic Cod but didn’t like it and ordered the ravioli. The guy next to her ordered TWO plates of prime rib!! I couldn’t believe it. We went to bed early, around 9:30 and outside a storm is brewing. The skies are flashing with lightning and we can hear huge claps of thunder. I stepped out onto the balcony and it was really windy. I could have stayed out there forever, but was too scared of the lightning.

Seaworld...Not Just for Kids!

2008-02-22T19:26:00.000-08:00

Parents, cover the eyes of your little ones... there's a reason the dolphins at Seaworld are so happy! We went into the underwater viewing area of the dolphin pool, and found one female being chased around the tank by two males...and alternately being caught by both of them! So if you've ever wondered how dolphins do the naughty...wonder no more! Here they are, captured on film. I have another shot of the three of them, and I swear it looks like one of them is laughing. And just so you know...I wasn't the one taking the pictures. That would be my 14-year old daughter who no doubt can't wait to get back to school to tell all her friends about the live sex show they have going on at Seaworld.

Okay...enough of that. I've gained about ten pounds since we arrived. John and the girls fly home tomorrow and I am actually very sad not to be going with them. I know I'll love the cruise, but right now I'm tired and my feet hurt, and I've been sleeping in strange beds for ten days, and I just want to go home. I hope I catch my second wind by Sunday!

The Bates Motel

2008-02-21T04:45:00.000-08:00

We arrived in Orlando around 3:30 yesterday afternoon and had a tough time finding our hotel; it's right on International Drive and is probably the biggest hotel on the strip, but it had no visible signs and it looked like a bunch of 4-story motels, with the entrance on the balcony. Maybe that's a Florida-thing, I don't know. But when my dad and I went inside to get our room keys, I kept saying, "It didn't look like this on the website!" and "I didn't sign up for this; where are the pools and the fun things for the kids to do?" Honestly, I sounded like Goldie Hawn in the movie Private Benjamin: "This isn't the Army I signed up for!!!" The girls were horrified and were sure somebody was going to break in during the night and kill us all. Compared to where we usually stay when we come to Orlando, it's pretty sketchy, but hey...we're only sleeping here, right? It's not like we're moving in.

So we dropped my dad off at Shades of Green this morning so he could play golf, and the rest of us went to Animal Kingdom; we've been there before, but it's been years. I couldn't believe the changes they've made in that time. I really wanted to go on the Expedition Everest--a roller-coaster type train through the mountain, but I couldn't get any takers. Here's a picture of the train shooting out of the mountain. I thought it looked great, but didn't want to go on by myself, and my family didn't want to wait the 40 or so minutes it was going to take me to get through the line. Oh well...there's always the Kraken tomorrow!

We had a great day and left the park around 4:00. We'd just made it back to the hotel when it started to pour. It rained heavily for about an hour, and then cleared up in time for us to go across the street for supper (Ben & Jerry's). My parents went to TGI Fridays, but we just wanted something quick and light. So get this...four single scoop waffle cones cost $17! Is it just me, or is that crazy??

Anyway...one more picture of this good-looking guy we saw at the park today. He was pretty relaxed and seemed to enjoy the attention he was getting.

So tomorrow...Sea World.

Off to Disney

2008-02-20T09:23:00.001-08:00

So we spent most of yesterday at the beach; I guess the surf was a little wilder than normal, since there were lots of surfer-boys with wave-boards riding the surf. It was entertaining, but only if you weren't actually in the water. There was a good chance they might wipe you out! At one point, Caitlin and I thought we were about to become the first shark-casuality of Englewood Beach, but the creature swimming less than four feet away turned out to be a dolphin! Once my heart rate slowed down, I thought it was pretty amazing. Afterwards, we went to dinner at Sharky's on the Pier, a seafood restaurant directly on the water with an enormous pier that extends out about 400 feet into the ocean (okay, that might be a slight exaggeration, but it's enough that people actually catch sharks off the end. Here's a picture of the restaurant from the pier...

So today we're off to Orlando for a couple of days in the parks. Sad to be packing up our suitcases, since we won't be coming back here to my parent's house before John and the girls head home, and I meet up with my sister for the cruise. More later!!

Just Another Day in Paradise

2008-02-19T07:17:00.000-08:00

We got up early (okay, 9:00) and headed out to Venice for a little shopping. John volunteered to join us, but I think it was because he thought it might be a boat-viewing opportunity. Unfortunately, no boats...just lots of old ladies and boutiques. Here he is, being a good sport and waiting for us while we cruise the strip... The pretty teenagers are my two girls, Caitlin and Brenna, and my niece, Colleen.

After scooting back to my parent's house, we did a quick change into swimsuits and drove out to Englewood Beach, where the surf was amazing; crashing turquoise waves that were perfect for body-surfing. We stayed there for about two hours and only got out of the water when a storm rolled in and it started to rain. Here's a shot of John and the girls playing in the surf.

We drove down to my sister's house last night and dropped off Colleen and my parent's dog, since we can't bring him with us when he head over to Disney tomorrow. He seemed pretty happy to hang out there, since they also have a dog.

We went up to St. Armand's Circle in Sarasota the other day, and walked around. Gorgeous breezes coming off the Gulf. We also went to Circus Sarasota that night and although the venue is small, the acts were really great. The performers came from around the world...the Ukraine, Germany, France, Bulgaria, and Hugary. Here's a picture of Brenna and Colleen just inside the Big Top.

So today, we're off to the beach, before coming home and packing for Disney. It rained last night, which cooled things off, but it promises to be another sunny day here on the Gulf.

Down by the Seashore

2008-02-17T05:39:00.000-08:00

My folks said the weather hasn't been this gorgeous in several weeks. It's been absolutely grand. Yesterday, we went down to Punta Gorda to the Fisherman's Village, a collection of shops and boutiques directly on the Gulf. The girls enjoyed it for the shopping and the guys enjoyed it for the surrounding piers and collection of boats. Here we are at Harpoon Harry's, an open-air restaurant and pub where you can have a drink and watch the boats come in. And here is a picture of a spectacular sailboat, heading out to sea...hopefully the Captain had less to drink than we did!

The wildlife is amazing; we've seen dolphins and pelicans, alligators and little lizards, and while we were leaving my parent's house, found this turtle trying to make his way across the street. Here's a picture of John, gallantly giving the little guy a lift across the street. Yesterday afternoon, we headed over to the beach on Manatee Key, just a few miles down the road from where Stephen King has a mansion directly on the Gulf, and where he apparently got his inspiration for his latest novel. Here are the girls, raking the surf for shells and shark's teeth. A pod of dolphins was swimming just off shore, and we stayed until the sun set, which was breathtaking.

What a Difference a Day Makes!

2008-02-16T06:27:00.000-08:00

So here we are, in sunny Florida, and it's hard to believe there's any part of the country that isn't sunny and 80 degrees! Our flight down was extremely turbulent, and I'm not just talking about the air currents! SkyBus does not have assigned seating, so it's pretty much a free-for-all melee once you're on board. We didn't get to sit together, but I can't complain too much since many families were separated.

But once we arrived in Punta Gorda....ah.....so beautiful!

Yesterday, we went shopping and I just about went broke buying swimwear and sandals for the girls. The beach, however, made it all worthwhile. Gorgeous, aqua-green swells that buoyed you up, while (no kidding) dolphins broke the water less than 50 yards away! Pelicans did low fly-by's while beach-combers stood knee-deep in the surf with their wire baskets, panning for shark's teeth. Sheer heaven.

Last night, we went to the local country club for karaoke night and cheap beer. Here's a picture of me and my sister, Robin, swilling down the local ale (Bud light - ugh). Except for the kids, we were the youngest ones there by about twenty years. Sheeze. I hope I have the same energy these people do when I retire! Later, John and the girls got up and entertained the crowd, singing Garth Brook's I've Got Friends in Low Places. Very nice. Here's the picture:

So we're off today to this great place on the water called Fisherman's Village where you can sit and drink and watch the boats come in, then back to the beach. Later...

Oh, The Weather Outside is Frightful...

2008-02-13T04:33:00.000-08:00

...But Florida will be soooo delightful!!!

Here's what was going on at my house at 5 a.m. this morning, after a night of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Not pretty, although it's good to know the remote starter for my car works when I really need it (that would be the man in the hat!). I stuck my head out the front door to take this picture and although you can't see it, freezing rain was pelting down. I did manage to make it to work, and the roads weren't too, too bad. The kids have a two-hour school delay. Caitlin will need it, since we were up until 11:30 last night working on her Holocaust report.

Did you catch American Idol last night? Is it my imagination, or is Simon going soft? I can't believe some of the people they let through...

My sister-in-law is coming by this afternoon so that John can give her a walk-through of things she needs to know (like the fact that our dishwasher doesn't work, and how to open the damper in the fireplace). Caitlin has a 3:30 hair appointment with Nick, John and I are going to grab a bite to eat at Michaels (one day early to beat the V-Day rush), and I have a Silpada jewelry party to go to tonight. I love their jewelry; I just wish I wouldn't end up losing it all!

Fighting City Hall

2008-02-12T13:51:00.001-08:00

Through some miracle, my husband and I managed to have a child who actually excels in school--even math! So when she came home with straight A's in her academic courses last quarter, we were naturally thrilled. All that changed when we learned she was not eligible for the High Honor Roll because she got a B in Phys Ed. That's gym class, folks. So I got on the horn to find out what was up, and was told that Phys Ed is considered a "major" class and anything less than an A in all classes (including--ahem--gym), means you don't qualify for High Honors. So, I'm standing there, scratching my head and thinking, "What the...?" Since when do academic courses take a backseat to gym class?? Since when does Advanced Mathematics compare to gym class?? I was completely baffled. Now I'm not saying my precious darling deserved an A in Phys Ed; I'm no dummy. I know my kid; in her mind, Instant Messaging is an athletic event. Nothing short of imminent pain and suffering could induce her to exert herself, physically. Still...it's gym class. In my day, this was a pass/fail course, not something that could potentially ruin your class standing, your GPA, and your eligibility for the High Honor Roll! So I put together a letter to the Superintendent and the School Committee, asking them to consider revising this policy so that it doesn't impact a student's academic standing. At the same time, I sent an email to the Phys Ed teacher, asking him to explain his grading plan. Let me just interject that this man is one of the nicest men I've ever met, and he was quite candid in telling me that while my child is bright, engaging, and a joy to know, she's also one of the laziest kids he's ever encountered. I know from the way these words resonate through me that they are true. So now I'm having second thoughts about pursuing this through the school system, because the last thing I want to do is to suggest that this man's class is somehow less important or vital than the academic classes (although I think it is). I don't want to imply that he is somehow less. Does that make sense?? But I know I will pursue it, because I think even he would agree that a B in gym class shouldn't be enough to tarnish an otherwise perfect records.

Oh, the stress...I'm getting a flare-up in my right shoulder. Probably the way Roger Clemons feels after pitching nine innings without the benefit of HGH. Excrutiating. I really need a vacation...

My Bags are Packed...I'm Ready to Go...

2008-02-11T17:03:00.000-08:00

But it seems Brenna and I are the only ones really ready to go! I dragged the suitcases out over the weekend and lined them up on the windowseat in the kitchen, with mine being the biggest (since I'll be gone a week longer) and the girls each getting a weekend case and a carry-on. Brenna and I have been dutifully making lists of the outfits we'll be bringing, as well as organizing our cosmetic bags and lining up our shoes, while the other two-who-shall-not-be-named look on with mild amusement. I've also been making lists of the miscellaneous things we'll need; camera, batteries, passport, itineraries, frequent flyer cards, hotel confirmations, etc. The only thing I haven't packed yet is my gorgeous evening wear, because I don't want to crush it, although I still need to shop for one of those Scarlet O'Hara stye corsets that will suck my waist and stomach in; ugh.

Meanwhile, work is piling up at the office while my only partner in crime had to take emergency leave due to a bum knee. She might be gone longer than me. I actually shouldn't even be going on vacation, that's how much stuff I have going on at the office.

So in between packing my suitcase and being a good doobie at the office, I've been frantically cleaning my house in preparation of my sister-in-law coming to stay for 10 days to take care of the pets. Hmm....I wonder if there's anything I should consider hiding from her...nah. My life isn't that exciting!

Last Mango in Paradise

2008-02-09T17:15:00.001-08:00

Today was my last appointment at Pleasure Island, our own little slice of the tropics here in snowbound Groveland. The girls say I look like an Oompah Loompah -- that I have an orange tint -- but I don't think so. In fact, DH hasn't even noticed, and I have tan lines!

So....I went and got the Vera Bradley laptop bag, but I chose a discontinued pattern, which I actually like better than my first choice and I got a 25% discount! It was so pretty that I splurged and got a matching wallet to replace the one I have that's too big for my pocketbook and is splitting at the seams (hey, rationalization is everything!).

I'm sitting here tonight watching the Italian job, an thinking about the cruise, and wondering what the shopping will be like in St. Maarten, touted as one of the best shopping mecca's in the Caribbean. So I did a quick Google search, and came up with a list of shops, including this one called Last Mango in Paradise, which looks like it sells a lot of Jimmy Buffet style stuff, as well as touristy souveniers.

I'm not a gal who has a passion for expensive jewelry, and most of mine is silver with glass or mineral stones. But I have a friend who came back from the islands with a gorgeous silver bracelet with shimmering blue opals that gave the impression she was wearing the tropical waters of the Caribbean around her wrist. So, if the price was right...maybe. So now you're probably thinking I'm this person who has no other ambition in life but to shop and spend money, but -- okay...(who am I kidding)...you're right!

Oh Happy Day

2008-02-08T17:49:00.000-08:00

It's Friday...it's Pay Day...my house is clean...and my book advance arrived in the mail today! Yay! This should help defray the costs of any bar tab that sis and I manage to rack up on the cruise (heh, like that's even a question)! Can life possibly get any sweeter? I had completely given up any hope of receiving this before we left for Florida, but my editor came through for me! Big hugs to Brenda. We celebrated by ordering Chinese...mmm.

Now maybe I can afford that Vera Bradley bag...isn't it pretty? I'm really hoping to get some writing done while I'm away. Really.

The Countdown Begins

2008-02-07T16:47:00.000-08:00

We're less than a week away from Florida launch-time; I ordered a pair of Hawaiian-print board shorts for each of us (long for me, to hide my butt and thighs) to wear with our bathing suits, and they finally came today. They're gorgeous, made of lightweight, beautiful fabrics and they're really well constructed. Check out their website at http://www.boardshortworld.com/. A little pricey, but good quality and terrific customer service. I've included a sample picture of the board shorts, above, but you need to check out the selection of fabrics to really get an appreciation for them. I couldn't decide which I liked best! Anyway, I couldn't wait to try mine on, but when I modeled them for my girls, all I got was this deer in the headlights look. Probably too petrified to tell me the truth, but unable to even lie through their teeth that I looked good in them. Totally discouraged. Why didn't I join Jenny Craig like four months ago?? I could be looking like Valerie Bertonelli right now, instead of Jabba the Hut! Even four weeks at the tanning salon won't be enough to fool people into thinking I'm healthy and robust, versus just plain fat.

Okay, self-flagellation done.

Anyway, I'm putting together a list of the things I still need to pick up:

Bathing suits -- We've all outgrown our old ones. The girls have gotten taller, I've just gotten wider. I'd been putting this off until the board shorts arrived so I could match the suits to the fabrics

Sandals -- Something comfortable and waterproof, and lime green would be nice

Gifts for Robin & Colleen (my sister and her 13-year old daughter)

Laptop bag -- I've been thinking about a floral bag from Vera Bradley, but wince at the thought of spending $80. Maybe my old black one will be fine.

Hairdresser appointments -- I can wait, but Caitlin tried to cut her own bangs and now she needs someone who actually knows what they're doing to clean up the mess...I mean, the rest.

Well, if I had the courage, I'd post a picture of me in the board shorts, but maybe I'll save that for the end of the vacation, when maybe (please, God) I'll have actually lost a few pounds!