December 28, 2006

You only have four more days to enter my Immortalize Your Friend in a Book Contest! So get hopping over and enter the contest!

What are you waiting for?

December 28, 2006

Argh. Forgot it was Thursday until I saw Jaci’s post. But I have an excuse–I’ve been technologically hampered and a bit discombobulated. (See previous post about the Blue Screen.)

However, to make up for my deficit, I’m going to be giving away a prize today. Yes! A prize.

First, though, picture this: Survivor meets LOST.

Then add in some really titillating, hot sex.

And a guy to die for.

Oh, and a few demons!

And what do you get? The sizzling mass market debut of Jaci Burton…which is my prize to one person who comments today and tells me…which show do you prefer: LOST or Survivor?

Jaci’s Surviving Demon Island is a fast-paced, sexy adventure with a great cast of characters. I was trying to read it (by “trying” I mean that I wanted to be reading it, but was supposed to be doing other things like writing my own book…and I kept using it as a carrot dangling on the end of a stick for myself if I got enough done!) in early December, and it took me far longer than I’d hoped or planned.

Publishers Weekly says, “Realistic dialogue, spicy bedroom scenes and a spitfire heroine make this one to pick up and savor.”

And I couldn’t agree more! So, now that I’ve finished and enjoyed this book, I want to give away a brand new copy, signed by Jaci.

So, tell me which show you prefer (or neither as the case may be) and I’ll draw a name after midnight tonight for the winner!

P.S. In case you were wondering( and I know you were!), I’m typing this on my new iMac. I’m still getting used to it, but so far so good!

December 26, 2006

If you have a PC and you’ve ever had the dreaded Blue Screen, you know what that means.

Bad, bad stuff. Bad stuff for the computer. Very bad.

So, yes, last Friday morning, I got up and came over to my computer to log in and do my daily blog entry, and I had the Blue Screen.

It’s a pretty color blue, cobalt–don’t get me wrong–but all that unexpected white gibberish-looking error messages told me my computer was very sick.

And it was. Is. Actually, it is. There’s no cure for what ails it.

I managed to get my data off (thank goodness), for even though I have a backup system, something had gone wrong with that and it hadn’t backed up since December 18. Eeek!

But, the happy news is, I have the data.

The bad news is: I either have to reformat my hard drive (which will be the second time in two years) or…get a new computer. Which is just as much of a pain as reformatting a hard drive (reinstalling everything, setting my preferences, bookmarks [for all the blogs I like to haunt] and other stuff).

But at least with a new computer, I get to have fun with it being new. It’ll be faster and cleaner and sleeker.

And my husband, my computer geek brother, and my sister’s cool martial-arts-expert S.O. all think I should get an iMac. So. I’m really considering it.

Anyway, that’s why I haven’t been blogging or surfing blogs since last Friday. Between the broken computer and the holidays, I just haven’t had the chance.

But I’m back.

And in some places, my book is on the shelves at the bookstores!! Jaci Burton sent me a picture of my book on the new in paperbacks section at the Borders in Tulsa! Completely unexpected–after all, the release date isn’t officially until next Tuesday. (You can see my covers next to Jaci’s shoulder and her book, Surviving Demon Island, on the bottom row, second from the left–the orange ones.)

But I’m not complaining!

And sassymonkey tells me she got her copy, which she ordered from Chapters in Canada, last Saturday!

So it’s out there. Already. Wow.

But if you’re out and about at bookstores, look for Jaci’s book. I have a copy to give away this week, signed by Jaci, and I’ll be posting about it tomorrow. So stay tuned.

Now…off to check prices on iMacs.

It would be a tough transition. I’ve been a PC girl forever. I’m pretty computer savvy. But, man, that iMac is looking better and better all the time.

What do you have? iMac or PC? What would you have if you had your druthers?

December 21, 2006

Thirteen Reasons there will be
no Thursday Thirteen today….

1. I have about fifty presents to wrap (or so it seems)

2. I am having a cookie-decorating party this afternoon with my children and their friends (Akk!) Ten children. Hundreds of cookies. Icing in all colors of the rainbow. Sprinkles of all shapes and sizes. (do you hear me screaming?)

3. I still have one more (no, two) (no, make that three) gifts to buy

4. I have to make something to eat to take to a party tonight

5. I have to send out Christmas cards

6. But before I do that, I have to buy them

7. And before I do that, I have to write the obligatory family newletter (obligatory this year because I have to remind people about my book coming out January 2)

8. I have to make breakfast for the kids (who are just now waking up, yay, which meant I got to sleep in today, yay!, which is why this post is late)

9. I have to go to the grocery store to buy whatever it is I decide to make for Christmas Eve dinner

10. I have to write a few checks that need to go in the mail before the end of the year

11. Going to the bank is a good idea today too

12. I have to make sauerbraten for Christmas, which means I have to make the marinade today so the meat can “sauer”

13. I actually have to figure out what we’re going to eat on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (I will probably do this before I do #9…but not guaranteed.)

….so that is why there will be no Thursday Thirteen today!

December 20, 2006

Paris, France (Agence France-Presse)–In what is thought to be the biggest merger of all time, Men and Women have agreed to join forces into one sex, to be called Humanicorp.

The details of the arrangement are still being hammered out, but early negotiations have Men taking breasts. Women have agreed in principle to watch ESPN, but have refused to give up self-respect. Sources close to both parties say that genitalia remain a sticking point. There are also serious anti-trust issues that will need to be resolved.

A spokesman for Men, Bob, said that Men have been trying for years to merge with Women and that this was the culmination of a long-held dream for Men.

Women were unavailable for comment.

(taken from Mirth of a Nation, “More Mergers” by Jay Jennings)