Oodles

I have so much to be thankful for today. I’m just going to bullet point them in no particular order.

~ I slept in my own bed last night! I probably shouldn’t have driven home after flight delays since I was headed back to Indianapolis today for meetings, but home sounded good.

~ I had a safe trip last night and again today.

~ I am chair in 2014 for our Executive Roundtable and today was our first meeting. It was long and had some contentious spirited discussions. But I survived and kept everything on track.

~ I had pizza from my favorite pizza parlor tonight. Yum!

~ I got to see my dad. That is always a treat!

~ Yesterday on the plane home I read half of a book, a short story, wrote three and a half poems…all with pretty heavy turbulence…without puking!

~ Began a collaborative poetry collection with Kirsten. I’m excited about this book. Look for it to be published in late March/early April.

~ It didn’t get quite as cold as predicted! And the snow won’t be here until late Saturday. Sounds like Sunday will be a stuck inside day though.

~ I received my shipment of Sarah Cradit’s books back…signed.

~ I got another five star review for my book.

~ Totally unpacked and laundry done. Mostly back to normal. Although I will be gone a week from today for a weekend at a friend’s in southwest Tennessee.

~ My house was clean when I got home. Thanks to my cleaning lady. How did I ever survive without her?

~ Indiana has Diet Pepsi. I don’t want to hear how bad it is for me. I really do like it. Besides, I am 56 years old and will die of something so it might as well be something I love. I could be addicted to worse things. I only had nasty Diet Coke while I was gone so it made my Diet Pepsi taste even better.

~ The book I had on hold at the library came through at the perfect time (remember I just finished Muse). Now I can start reading Killer by Jonathan Kellerman. Time to read a mass market book.

~ The sun was shining today and it was a pretty (cold) day.

Muse by Erin McFadden Review

http://www.amazon.com/Muse-Descended-From-Myth-McFadden-ebook/dp/B00E3E8SCQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393643494&sr=8-1&keywords=Muse+by+Erin+McFadden

I stumbled across this author quite by accident. It turns out she went to high school with my daughter so I thought I would give her book a try. I don’t typically read YA fantasy. But it was well written, the characters were developed and believable and I was definitely entertained.

While I enjoyed the book (and I would read more from the author), it read like a short story to me. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing though. But I would have liked to have had more background on the Watchers. Daniel told us some of it but I felt like there was more to learn.

I would definitely recommend this book for someone who reads fantasy or YA or is just looking for a quick entertaining book without graphic violence or sex. I look forward to reading more of her creations.

Reviews

Last day of conference. In fact, it is now over. It was a great learning time. And it didn’t hurt that the weather was definitely better than home. I’m not looking forward to going home. Well, I am looking forward to going home…just not to the miserable weather they are having and expecting.

Today I’m most thankful for the reviews I have received for my poetry collection.

They each made me tear up a bit. I’m still waiting for that one negative review (human nature to look for something bad I think). But for now I’m grateful for the positive reviews I’ve had.

http://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Love-A-Poetry-Collection-ebook/dp/B00I9H9K3Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393422819&sr=8-1&keywords=dreams+of+love+a+poetry+collection

Florida

Oh Florida, I love you! I love your weather, even in August when it is 100 degrees with 100% humidity. I’ve been here in all kinds of weather and yes, I was made for it.

Weather at home right now is 12 degrees with a windchill of -4 degrees.  Forecast is -12 on Friday – oh yay. And 6-10″ of new snow Saturday/Sunday. I can hardly contain my excitement. (Can you just feel the sarcasm?)

But I’m thankful for the very short time I had here – yes, it rained this afternoon (poured in fact). Yes, I walked in the rain back from the lounge where I was hosting a group of colleagues. Yes, it is still sprinkling and it is supposed to rain tomorrow.  But I still have the door open to my balcony – I love the hope that this gives me that summer will finally get to Indiana.

I’m also thankful that the event tonight went fine. As I mentioned, I had been asked to co-host one of the happy hour events. Since I don’t typically like talking to strangers, I was nervous. But I got there early, had a drink and was fine. I’m kinda like Raj from Big Bang Theory – alcohol loosens my tongue. Hahahaha

Tomorrow I have to fly home. I don’t want to leave. I seriously need to get to a warmer climate full time. Seriously.

 

Out on a limb – Metaphorically speaking: My battle with Lyme’s Disease

Let’s help build awareness for Lyme’s Disease

Heaven

I know I said I wasn’t going to be here for a few days – but this is too magnificent not to share.

The weather forecast had started out in the 60’s this week – then it changed to 70’s and “considerable cloudiness and rain”. Today was partly cloudy and 75 degrees. It was absolutely magnificent. I was hoping to have decent weather.

I’m staying at the Disney Yacht Club Resort and the conference is at the convention center which is just a few yards away (and under a covered walkway in case it rains). My room overlooks the “quiet” pool area so I don’t have to listen to a bunch of loud people. I sat out on my balcony this afternoon and I was in heaven. Plus I snapped a couple of quick pictures – of green stuff!!!!! I think that is one of the hardest parts of winter for me – all the deadness.

Really, I may not go home until summer. I am made for this climate.

I’m thankful that I can be here, even if I will be spending a lot of time indoors. I’m thankful that I had a great flight down today. I’m thankful that Southwest is one of the airlines that allows eReaders to remain on during take off and landing so I could read gate to gate. I’m thankful that I got to have dinner with another director and her daughter from southern Indiana. I’m thankful to be in a hotel room alone – I do love my quiet alone time. I’m thankful there is no snow anywhere to be seen!!!!!!!

 

 

Finally!

They finally got a weather forecast wrong! They had said 3+” of snow last night. But we barely got a dusting. I still feel like I’m on house arrest though. Cold weather and I do not get along.

But I’m thankful we didn’t get any snow. I’m also thankful for google drive. I’m thankful for friends who are sane and stable. I’m thankful for this picture of Soren since I didn’t get very many of him that weren’t a blur.

And this one from his swim lessons yesterday.

I have so much to be grateful for.

I most likely will be taking a bit of a break from blogging this week. I will be at a conference and really busy. Rather than feel pressured to blog, I will just hold off until the weekend (unless I really feel like I have time). Have a grand week…and don’t forget to be thankful for the little things.

Odds and Ends

Today is the first day I’ve had to myself for awhile.

I got up early (unfortunately) and got laundry started. The cleaning lady will be here while I’m gone next week so I need to make sure the house is straightened up when I leave Monday morning. Showered, laundry and breakfast out of the way so I could head into town to pick up a few things at the store before my pedicure appointment – must have my toes ready to be exposed next week.

So, laundry done, pedicure done, house straightened up – only thing left was getting packed and some work that needed to be done.  Now, I’m packed and ready to walk out the door – work done. Plus was able to go have my favorite pizza and a glass of wine. Too late now for a nap though. But now I want to take time to read the rest of the night and relax. And, by the way, that is all I plan on doing tomorrow too.

Today I’m thankful that I got my house back in shape. I’m glad I’m packed and ready to go (didn’t even overpack either!). I’m thankful for my pizza/wine. I’m not thankful for the snow we are expecting tonight. I really think we have had enough of that for this year. I’m thankful that the weather forecast has improved for Orlando next week (temps in the 70’s but cloudy and rainy). I guess I can have warm or I can have sun – it would be too much for me to have warm AND sun. I’m thankful for some time finally to read. I started a wonderful book and am really getting into it so it will be nice to have time to read it.

Are you reading this weekend? What are you reading? Is your “must read” list as long as mine (impossible to get caught up)?

Designs in Desertion

Great previews of the photo shoot Andrea was home to do this week.

Tidal Cool Creations

Who says you can’t mix business and pleasure?

I love what I do, and am passionate about creating beauty and art. So doing photo shoots and runway shows isn’t really work…. although I do work hard to get it done! But occasionally I get to do something really special. On Thursday, I shot with an old friend from high school, in my home state of Indiana. I traveled home to spend time with my family, but took the opportunity to shoot with Willyum Baulkey, of Willyum Photography, while I was there.

Last March Willyum and I collaborated for an amazing shoot, “Circus Freaks“, which was published on Vogue Italia, in Pretty Living Magazine, and Pattern. He is such a talented and artistic photographer, I couldn’t wait to shoot with him again! Click here for photos from the last exciting shoot.

This time we pulled…

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1st Birthday Sale for Beginning of a Hero! Free for 3 Days!

Legends of Windemere

Cover Art by Jason Pedersen

On February 24th, Legends of Windemere: Beginning of a Hero will be 1 year old.  To celebrate, I’ve done the following:

BEGINNING OF A HERO IS FREE FOR THE NEXT 3 DAYS!

ENJOY THE SALE AND SPREAD THE WORD!

And don’t forget the rest of the series!!  Click on the cover art to go to the Amazon site!!

Cover Art by Jason Pedersen

Cover by Jason Pedersen

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