Friday, December 30, 2005

Hello Mary Lou, Goodbye Heart

I've been shopping to selectively spend some of my Christmas money. Just before Christmas I bought myself an Alphasmart. It's a lightweight little keyboard with a Word processor that I can carry anywhere. It holds eight files and plenty of text, so I can work on various projects. Once you've written your text, you simply download it via a USB connection, and it flows right into your open text document on your PC. I love it! You can check them out at alphasmart.com. They still have the 3000 on sale this month. It's a steal, actually!

What I needed was the perfect bag to store and carry my Alphie in, and I found one yesterday. A stylish leather bag that looks like a purse, and it has pockets for notebooks or research, the cord, a phone, etc..

Also bought myself a bracelet. Okay, one teeny weeny piece of jewelry for all of Christmas wasn't bad at all. And...please hold your laughter...the new Ricky Nelson Greatest Hits CD. I listened all afternoon today and was swept back to my youth by that seductive voice. "Everlovin' your my one desire, Everlovin' you set my heart afire. Everlovin' I'll be ever lovin' you."

I'll be watching for the coat sales next. And maybe one more teeny weeny piece of jewelry....

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award Nominees

Logged on today to find a dozen congratulations for an RT nomination!

AMERICAN-SET HISTORICAL ROMANCE
HER BODYGUARD Geralyn Dawson HQN (Jun)
TO TEMPT A TEXAN Georgina Gentry Zebra (Feb)
MCKETTRICK'S CHOICE Linda Lael Miller HQN (Jun)
PRAIRIE WIFE Cheryl St. John Harlequin (Feb)

I always felt this book was special -- I'm glad they thought so, too!

http://romantictimes.com/

You can click on Reviewer's Choice Awards in the Book News box if you want to see all the nominees in all the categories. I like to read as many of the books in the categories as I can.

Think I'll celebrate by taking down the Christmas tree and vacuuming. Ah, the exotic life of a romance writer.

Monday, December 26, 2005

So what did you get for Christmas?

On Christmas Eve Day as I was preparing for the family to descend the next day, I kept finding cash envelopes around the house: on the coffee maker, taped to the back of a child, in my make-up drawer, beside my computer! My husband gave me cash for Christmas! LOL I'm loving it, and planning what I'll buy myself. (My wish list is pretty intimidating.) Good job, Honey! Your gift definitely doesn't have an electrical cord!

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Announcing W.I.C.O.E. Seminar For Men

Women In Charge Of Everything is proud to announce the opening of its EVENING CLASSES FOR MEN!

OPEN TO MEN ONLY Note: due to the complexity and level of difficulty, each course will accept a maximum of eight participants

The course covers two days, and topics covered in this course include:

DAY ONE

HOW TO FILL ICE CUBE TRAYS Step by step guide with slide presentation

TOILET ROLLS -- DO THEY GROW ON THE HOLDERS? Roundtable discussion

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LAUNDRY BASKET &FLOOR Practicing with hamper (Pictures and graphics)

DISHES &SILVERWARE; DO THEY LEVITATE/FLY TO KITCHEN SINK OR DISHWASHER BY THEMSELVES? Debate among a panel of experts.

REMOTE CONTROL Losing the remote control - Help line and support groups

LEARNING HOW TO FIND THINGS Starting with looking in the right place instead of turning the house upside down while screaming - Open forum

DAY TWO

EMPTY MILK CARTONS; DO THEY BELONG IN THE FRIDGE OR THE BIN? Group discussion and role play

HEALTH WATCH; BRINGING HER FLOWERS IS NOT HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH PowerPoint presentation

REAL MEN ASK FOR DIRECTIONS WHEN LOST Real life testimonial from the one man who did

IS IT GENETICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SIT QUIETLY AS SHE PARALLEL PARKS? Driving simulation

LIVING WITH ADULTS; BASIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN YOUR MOTHER AND YOUR PARTNER Online class and role playing

HOW TO BE THE IDEAL SHOPPING COMPANION Relaxation exercises, meditation and breathing techniques

REMEMBERING IMPORTANT DATES &CALLING WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE Bring your calendar or PDA to class

GETTING OVER IT; LEARNING HOW TO LIVE WITH BEING WRONG ALL THE TIME Individual counselors available

Saturday, December 17, 2005

Sue's Scones

I made these for my ladies Christmas Tea, which was today, and they were the hit of the tea party!

2 c all purpose flour, sifted
1 large egg
1/3 c granulate sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp baking powder
6 oz white chocolate chips
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c craisins
1/4 c unsalted butter, chilled
1/2 c finely chopped dried apricots
3/4 c heavy whipping cream
1 c coarsely broken walnuts, optional

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut the butter into 1/2 inch cubes and distribute them over the flour mixture. With a pastry blender cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, stir together the cream, egg, and vanila. Add the cream mixture to the flour mixture and knead until combined. Knead in the white chocolate, walnuts, and fruit.

With lightly floured hands, pat the dough out into a 9 inch diameter circle in the center of an ungreased baking sheet. With a serrated knife, cut circle into wedges. If you double the recipe, spread the dough out in the pan and cut into squares.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned.

Remove the baking sheet to a wire rack and cool for 5 minutes. Using a spatula, transfer the scones to the wire rack to cool. Recut into wedges if necessary.

Serve warm or cool completely and store in an airtight container.
They make ahead and freeze beautifully!

Friday, December 16, 2005

Things To Ponder

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting weak?

Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they know there is not enough?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why doesn't glue stick to the bottle?

Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Whose idea was it to put an "S" in the word "lisp"?

If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?

Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?

Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized? <>

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?

Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?

How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?

When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, "It's all right?" Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say, "That hurt, you stupid idiot?"

Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?

In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?

How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?

The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you.

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Bob's Chili

Got this recipe from my cousin. It's chili weather!

1 lb. ground beef
1 pkg. (1.25 oz) McCormick chili seasoning
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes
1 15 oz can mexican flavored diced tomatoes
1 15 oz can chili beans
1 15 oz can dark red kidney beans, drained & rinsed
1 4.5 oz can chopped green chilies, drained
1 16 oz jar banana pepper rings, drained & chopped
1 16 oz jar Pace Mild Pacante Sauce

Brown meat; season with salt & pepper to taste. Drain meat, add chili seasoning and simmer a few minutes. Add pacante sauce (set jar aside) and simmer a few minutes.

Add tomatoes, beans, green chilies and pepper rings. Add water to empty pacante sauce jar (about 1/2 cup); add to chili until pan is full or chili has enough moisture.

Cover and simmer about 30 minutes.

May also use hot chili seasoning and/or Medium pacante sauce if you dare.