Okay, first of all, let me start by saying I am NO fashion-ista. However, I do know what looks good and what doesn’t.

I work in Corporate America in a downtown metropolis. The norm for men is business attire. Sometimes casual business. You know, the collared shirts, khaki pants and dress shoes. No tie. Most of the time, though, men wear suits.

Now, because it’s summer here and because women have such a vast variety of wardrobe choices, I see all kinds of things walking around downtown. But I think the one thing that bugs me the MOST is this fashion statement: Nice skirt and top and…rubber flip-flips.

Ladies. COME ON. If you simply MUST have sandals on with your nice work attire, can they at least have some sparklies, flowers or something on them? I mean, do you really have to wear your $4.99 flip-flips you got on sale at Walgreen’s?

I swear I saw a lady just yesterday wearing a very nice black stretchy skirt, nice skirt…and black rubber flip-flips. Hello.

I just don’t get it. Maybe someone could explain it to me…

So…what are some of your fashion faux-pas you see on the street this summer?

I was watching Speed (I *heart* Sandra Bullock) and at the end of the bus scene they slide off across the tarmac and end up in a pile of dirt. Then the bus explodes and Jack (Keanu Reeves) covers Annie with his body. OMG—can you say BIG SIGH!

As a mom, I am familiar with the lay-down-your-life sentiment. As a woman, not so much . . . little sigh. Now don’t get me wrong, I suppose if I was ever hijacked and a bus exploded shortly after I escaped the DH would do the same, but suburbia Fort Worth tends not require such bravery.

But thinking of being protected that way, for a man to take action and shield me, ooh-eee, I get all goosepimply and twitterpated hell maybe even a little lightheaded and a tad bit randy.

Maybe it’s the writer in me, I don’t know. Maybe it’s the fantasizing girly-girl who could picture an action hero or prince coming to the rescue.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the kick-ass heroine, but deep down I’ve always imagined being the damsel in distress not for the problems that put me there, (I am a lot of things, masochist not one—and I can get myself out of situations, I don’t NEED a man—I know this) but what I long for is the feeling of absolute lay-down-your-life cover me from a man when the bus explodes . . . more BIG SIGH!

First off CHEERS to everyone for the birthday wishes!! I’m still a bit under the weather so it’s slow going.

Second, let’s get to today’s blog post. Cheers and Jeers. Our local newspaper does this and it’s really cool. You write them with “Cheers for the man that picked up the hurt dog on 635″ or “Jeers for woman on Montgomery St. who didn’t have her kid strapped into a car seat.” STuff like that.

So that’s what we’re going to do today. Vent away and whoever really just annoys you for their rank stupidity.

JEERS to RAVE MOVIES for showing what had to be 10 minutes of COMMERCIALS…yes COMMERCIALS before the movie on Saturday. JEERS to you also for showing the stupidest pre-movie “Info-tainment” EVAH!

JEERS to Starbucks for serving the WORST Soymilk EVAH! Puh-leeze!!!! SILK? EWWWWWWWWWWWWWW It’s disgusting. It’s so bad I was willing to drink regular milk instead because I thought all soymilk tasted like that. EWWW again I say, EWWWWW!

NOw, it’s your turn.

I’ve got a dangerous little notion in my head that’s just burrowed into my brain and is quietly trying to take over.

No, not the one for world domination.  Another one.

It’s an idea for a story.
Well, not exactly an idea.  More like a vision.  Dammit.
And not exactly like a story.  More like a freaking saga.
It’s not even genre-specific.  It has elements of a bit of everything. 
And it intimidates the bejesus out of me at the moment.

And it’s not that I don’t love what I’m writing at the moment.  I do.  I’ve got a dozen or so stories I dearly want to write.  So maybe this one just stands out because it’s..different.  Dammit.

I’m sure I’ll write it—just not sure when.  Maybe after I convince myself that my skills are up to the task.

So what about you?
Are you currently writing in the genre you see yourself eventually settling into?
And if not—whatcha waitin’ for?

So.

This past weekend I took the kid to the Star Wars exhibit at the local museum of science and history. I had no idea it would be that packed! I mean, who knew? It was a Sunday after all and I figured it was going to be … well, not that packed.

Anyway. They sell tickets in 15 minute increments. And only 85 per 15 minutes. So since i was meeting some friends there and they hadn’t shown up yet, I went ahead and bought the tickets. As I’m talking to the lady at the counter, they literally sell out of the 2 pm tickets. We got 2:15.

Getting into the exhibit was kind of a challenge. Talk about sheep.

I don’t get why people have to make a mad dash for the door in places like that. You know? As soon as the guy said he was going to start taking tickets, folks started crowding toward the door. I mean, COME ON FOLKS. There are small children involved here. It totally ticks me off that people - adults! - do this.

And then once you’re inside, they are such sheep they stand in the middle of the walkway and don’t both to move out of the way. I hate crowds anyway, so this wasn’t the most fun part of the experience.

And here’s another thing that hacked me off. I’m standing there, taking pictures of the costumes (which are behind glass) and my kid and some dumb broad has the nerve to tell me, “You know, there’s going to be a glare with the flash on.”

Thanks. If I wanted your fucking opinion, I would have asked for it. Bite me.

But I didn’t say anyting. I bit my tongue instead. I’m sure she was just trying to help, but shut the fuck up okay?

Anyway. There was tons of stuff for the kids to do and OF COURSE, there’s no time limit on some of this stuff and parents let their snot-nosed kids hog the robots when mine really wanted to do it. I wish he could have. But we ran out of time anyway.

So I herded him out of the exhibit along with the rest of the sheep.

I could have sworn I heard baa-ing in the crowd somewhere…

My new release: The Inn Crowd is up on Amazon. It’s not supposed to release until Sept 25th though it does say it’s in stock. I have a feeling if you order it now it won’t ship until then.

It is UBER-COOL to see my new book up on Amazon :-)

GOOD MORNING!!!!!!!!!!

Bet you didn’t think you’d see me today! Surprise!!!!! We’re going to play a game today. It’s called, “I can’t believe they did that?” (or why the hell are you considered a classic, in my case).

See I watched Mad Max because I’ve heard, “It’s a classic”. Unfortunately someone forgot to tell me it was also a plotless wonder. A plotless wonder where they LEAVE the baby god knows where and screw like bunnies in a field (lemme tell ya, that WAS the climax of the movie ), toss the baby in the BACK of the station wagon and drive like a fiend to escape the bad men, then leave the baby OUTSIDE ALONE while the heroine and her mother run inside to get away from the bad men. Now I realize this was the 70’s…er post apocolypic whatever but chick, you LEFT YOUR BABY OUTSIDE WITH THE BAD MEN!!!!!!! WTF were you thinking?! You deserved to die!!!!!! Good riddance to you!

And seriously, where was the plot? Did someone leave it on the barbie too long or what because I didn’t get it. I mean, I get it but I guess it just really didn’t work for me. Oh well, all in the name of research.

Now tell me some of your WTF movie moments. Maybe I’ll give away a book or something.

There are quite a few contests about on the boards at the moment.  I thought I’d point you to a few of them.

Karin Tabke’s First Line Contest is about to take off.  Even if you don’t participate, the variety of entries is always fascinating.

Brava is sponsoring a novella contest.  The theme for this one is “reunited lovers”,  750 words, and the top 20 finalists will be read by Kate Duffy.  ‘Nuff said.

The Gather.com First Chapters Romance Writing Competition may be entered from August 1-22.  First prize is a guaranteed publishing contract with Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster.  Yup, cuts right to the chase.

Although it’s too late to enter, The Smart Bitches have posted the results of their LOLurve™ contest, in which the participants crafted book covers with a furry hero/heroine, and wrote acceptance/rejection letters from ‘editors’ to match.  If you need a quick, easy grin, POP in.
(I think it’s number four, hands—er, paws down, but you be the judge, lol).

And I think the Chicas are going to resume Dennie’s great contest idea here, and carry it through the weekend.  We’re dying to give away free books, peeps, and here’s a free forum for posting an excerpt of your work.

Jump right in!

So.

The other day I decided since I nearly killed myself painting the house, I deserved a little pedicure. And an eyebrow wax. So I stopped at the salon. After getting my toes pampered and the hair ripped from my brows, I ended up $33.00 lighter. The really funny thing is, there was a young lady in the chair next to the waxing and she watched with every successful jerk of the brow. She made a face of horror every time and it cracked me up every time. I guess I’m used to it.

Then because it was Sunday and my Day To Shave My Legs, I commenced the weekly practice and…cut the living dogSHIT out of my leg. Right on the ankle bone. I swear I bled all over the frigging bathroom. It was spectacular, let me tell you.

Now, not only do I have a lovely cut on the ankle, but numerous bruises from the painting marathon I did a few weekends ago.

It’s greatness. And thereby sealing the fact I keep the skirt wearing to a minimum.

Anyway.

Since it was also Sunday, it was time to grocery shop. And since I have baby fine hair, I use a special shampoo for fine hair. The only problem with that is it causes my hair to be one tangled mess when I get out of the shower. So I was on the hunt for a detangler.

Pantene is quite proud of their detangler. They want nearly $5.00 for a small bottle. I balked at the price. And continued to look in the plethora of bottles for the detangler. There was spray gel, gel, mousse, conditioner, leave-in conditioner, hairspray, you name it. But Pantene seemed to have the only bottle around. I guess they cornered the market on detangler.

Then I had an idea. I went to the kids section and guess what? There was a bottle of detangler by Suave for $1.50. So what it smelled like apples it was less than half or the other brand so I bought it.

And you know what? I quite enjoy my hair smelling faintly of apples. And the detangler for $1.50 works like a charm.