Make Mine Supers (11)

Or did someone get ahead of me while I'm writing this?????

Jodie, I'm not going to threaten to kick  your butt for not writing...it's almost Thanksgiving.  So, I'll just growl a little and look stern.  It's my mom face.  You don't want to mess with the mom face!  LOL  Seriously, I hope you find your muse soon!

Today is pie & stuffing day.

Ellen, great menu.  Thanks for compiling it.

Kim, congrats on the new title.  It's very cute.

Ronda, mega congrats on losing 16 pounds!  Way to go!

Holl, yes, it seems like we missed the brunt of the snow again.  I can't say I'm disappointed.   Although the rain is making mud, and that's a pain with the dog.  Although my dog is trained to come inside and sit on a special rug, and lift each paw for me to clean off before she runs through the house.  I have an English Mastiff, so those muddy paw prints can dirty the whole floor in just a pass or two across it. <sigh>

Today is for cleaning and cooking.  For those of you I don't "see" again before tomorrow (i'll probably stop by later, and tonight <G>) you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

i'm so irritated and it has nothing to do with t day. It has to do with the fact that I didn't dvr NCIS last night and thought I had!

It's cold here, too, though without snow. Right now 65 degrees with 30's as the low. I love it when it is cold for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's hard to get into the spirit when it is shorts weather. That's happened before and I hate it.

Like you, Susan, I will be cooking and cleaning today. I want to clean and get that done and over with. Then it's on to the pe-con pie making. I need to get the crockpot ready for the cornbread stuffing I'm making tomorrow. Wish me luck on that one. It's a new one.

I like to serve dinner at 2:00, so we can eat, clean up, eat dessert, then eat again around 6 or 7. These days I tend to bake/roast a lot in disposable aluminum pans. It helps immensely with clean up. I keep pie pans for people to take home left overs in, so that I don't have to eat Thanksgiving food forever.

Jodie. I'mm with you. I'm not a turkey person either. I prefer ham. And between Thanksgiving prep and the imminent dinner and the Nutcracker performances next week(4 of them for younger dd), my writing is hit and miss.

My laptop is down, too, and if dh doesn't do something for it soon, he may be going the way of Tom Turkey!

LindaC

Nice new digs we have here. :)

 I just wanted to wish everyone in the US and abroad HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I know I have a long list of things to be thankful for and I hope you do, too.

I just got off the phone with Wanda and will be working on revisions here soon. What has everyone else been up to? LOL on the T-day menus. As a non-cook, I go to the parents' homes for food <G> My cooking abilities stop if it comes to making something beyond ham. Turkey? Not even going to go there. LOL

Things have been quiet here which is totally my speed of late. I don't want any repeats of October. What a horrid month. Birthdays! I had on last Friday. Anyone else a Scorpio?

My tree is up and actually decorated. The amazing thing is that I didn't fall off the ladder. It was close a few times, tho.  And, don't hate me, but I'm soooo close to having my Christmas shopping done! I felt better on Sunday and the dh called to ask if I wanted to grab a hotel (Priceline rocks) and go to Cincinnati. Hmmm.... shopping? A driver? I hadn't had a lot of energy after being so sick but knowing I was going to be carted about from store to store gave me the much-needed boost. <G> My list was short, thank goodness, but doable. So, where are you with the shopping? Anyone braving Black Friday? I just *might* have to. <G>

Twilight... I've been sucked in. The movie did it. My daughter kept saying that the books were better and, well, there you go. I've now read the first two. Luckily she's asked for the next two for Christmas which means, um, I can pull a dirty trick by buying them, reading them, and then wrapping them. LOL That's cruel, I know, but I want to know what happens! :)

Gerald Butler is the male image I have in mind for my current project and all I can say is that I've fallen in love. Never paid much attention to him before Nim's Island. Can anyone recommend any more movies? <G>

Kay - finished with lunch and needing to get back to work

Hey_Kay,

I-just-saw-Gerard_Butler-in-that-British-film,"Rocknrolla".It-was-a-lot-of-action-and

manipulations.

The-weather-here-is-rainy.In-the-local-mountains-up-at-Big_Bear-its-snowy.I-went-to

the-store-early-this-morning-to-replenish-my-supply-of-"Kava"-coffee.I-also-was

able-to-purchase-the-last-container-of-chicken-livers.There-was-no-liver-or-any-kind

left-at-the-store.I-usually-make-a-traditional-Louisiana-dish-called-'DirtyRice'.It-calls-for

either-calves-or-chicken-liver.A-lot-of-people-use-liver-in-making-giblet-gravy-or

stuffing.

Yesterday-on-Oprah's-show-Dr.Oz-showed-the-4-blue-zones-on-earth-where-the-people

all-live-beyond-100-and-are-active.There-is-a-rainforest-type-environment-in

CostaRica-where-they-met-a-grandpa-who-what-out-gardening-and-eating-what-he-grows.

He-was-cutting-the-grass-with-a-machete-and-digging-the-earth.That-is-hard-manual-labor.

Also,he-was-eating-organically.They-also-showed-an-old-grandma-who-lived-with-her

extended-family.She-was-grinding-the-corn-and-cooking.They-showed-the-one-blue-zone

in-USA-which-is-in-LomaLinda,California.Its-the-7th_Day_Adventist-stronghold.A-lot-of-the

people-are-vegetarians.They-eat-a-lot-of-soy-substitutes-as-well-as-nuts.One-lady-was

103-riding-her-exercise-bicycle-and-lifting-weights.She-is-also-a-volunteer-at-the-hospital

and-a-staunch-church-member.They-say-one-of-the-main-things-is-to-have-a-reason-to

get-up-in-the-morning.Have-something-to-do.Retirement-is-a-bad-word.Stay-physically-as

well-as-mentally-active.Also,Dr.Oz-scrubbed-in-with-a-surgeon-who-is-in-his-90s.He-is-just

as-sharp-as-ever.He-also-exercises-hard.They-asked-his-wife-if-she-will-try-to-get-him-to

retire.She-said-no-way.The-main-thing-he-said-is-to-accept-a-person-as-they-are-and

don't-try-to-change-them.They-had-the-author-of-the-book,the-blue-zones.They-showed-the

longest-lives-are-in-Korea.

Aurelene

Pee-con (accent on first syllable) --- a Basque drink that will knock you on your you know what .   I'm guilty of calling the ntus pee-cans.  That way dh doesn't get all excited and think we're about to party when I'm talking about nuts.

Aureleen--How fascinating.  I'm going to have to look up Blue Zones now.  Thanks for sharing.

Ronda--I forgot to tell you (1) I'm in awe of your preparedness and (2) cngrats on the 16 lbs.!

Deb--Have fun on your hike.  We're going to run a 10K on Thanksgiving morning.  I'm looking forward to it.

Less than an hour to freedom.

Jeannie

On party vs. nuts, Jeannie. I can see the need for the different pronounciations.

Back to the baking/cleaning/cooking. In case I don't make it back, Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate it!

Ami

Hello and Happy Turkey Day!

 I just popped in to wish everyone many blessings this Thanksgiving Day. One of the things I'm grateful for this year is the "e-friendship" here on the Supers board. Have a great day - and eat plenty of pie!

Tasha

Egad!! I definitely over ate! As the cook, I did a lot of taste testing, so by the time I sat down to dinner, I was just about done, LOL. But I still managed to squeeze in a slice of punkin' pie with cool whip!

Other than nearly dumping the pot of potatoes (I'd laid the mixer on the edge so I could get some butter, and IT fell off and splatted my smashed potatoes everywhere....UGH!) and having my turkey finish before everything else (I hate that!) it went well.  We had my sister (Nini who also hangs out here at eHQN), her DH and son, my brother, his wife and their adorable twins, my DH and our DD, and my mom.  Ad no one left hungry. <grin>

Hope you all had a wonderful day!

But it's never too late to be thankful.  Hope everyone had a wonderful time with family and friends and football and food.  I ate well but so many veggies I didn't feel overly full.  Tonight my daughter is having an 11th b-day sleepover with three friends.  Rignt now they seem to be playing Guitar Hero in the family room--right beneath my bedroom.  I thought they were going to watch Narnia by now.  Signs not good for midnight lights out.  So, I ate frozen pizza and chips and chocolate birthday cake with peanut butter frosting and chocolate peanut butter ice-cream.  Can anyone say, BLEHHHHHKKKKK?!

Had my first ever "great idea for a romance novel" dream about a man, a boat, a desperate woman, blackmail, a Christian boarding house, and crime novels circa 1972.  Intrigued?  I was.  Woke up, wrote everything down, and put it in my idea file.  Now, if I could get back to working on my current project . . . . . .

I've been such a slug this weekend.  We've had leftovers our the whazzo, put up the Christmas wreaths, and mainly just relaxed.  I haven't done much in the way of writing, but plan to be back at it tomorrow.  It's rare that I take time off, which makes my absolute vegging so much more fun!

 Just wanted to drop in and say hi!  I'll talk to you all tomorrow!

 Holly 

Wow, Susan--I guess that's why I don't go to Best Buy.  That is crazy.  I'm glad they nailed those ticket scalping yahoos.  I tend to hit Macy's, etc.  We bought our only big present--a flat TV--at Costco on Friday.  Got a good deal and were happy.

Holly--You have a great veg out.

Okay--I weighed myself this morning after three days of decadence in the foor department.  I guess I'll be forwarding my mom's pralines on to my son who's trying to gain weight.

Jeannie

Jeannie 

Me and the baby spent Thanksgiving...sick as dogs. Poor baby girl was doing a fair imitation of Linda Blair in the Exorcist and of course, after she spewed all over me several times during the night, the following day I came down sick. Nasty business. So I've spent the last few days wrapped in a ratty robe, never venturing far from my potty, while trying to make sure that the baby is hydrated. Meanwhile, my youngest son had his last football game yesterday and he seemed fine...until about five minutes before the game. My DH called to say that Jaidyn was yakking up all over the place. Needless to say, he's sick too. So, steer clear from my household. We're CONTAGIOUS! in our house right now, there is only ONE person who is not sick and that's our oldest son. Even our cousin who lives with us is pretty sick. I told my dh that I felt like we were in a disaster movie like "Outbreak" where people are slowly dying in their homes and our moldy fly-ridden bodies will be found by some unfortunate soul who happened to survive the scourge. He said I was being a little dramatic. LOL...I'm not sure. I've seen flies buzzing around...

Kim 

Bless your hearts. How terrible. i hope that you all feel better soon. Being sick is hard anyway, much less when the whole household comes down with it at the same time or within days. I'll keep you all in my prayers.

WTG, Best Buy! Tickets are a great idea. Boo to the father and son!

I think all of this shopping hype has everyone worked up so much that things like the trampling of the iWalmart employee are bound to happen. I hope that the stores and law enforcement take it seriously. I hear that law enforcement is watching surveillance tape of that incident.

I don't take part in Black Friday. I shop online or I shop at the stores with precision. I go in with something already in mind, I get it, and get out. I don't wander for hours(like my mom)and come out with nothing. Shopping with Mom frustrates me.

LindaC

Kay-WTG on the shopping express on no sleep. You're more dedicated than me (and more organized). I haven't even started shopping yet.  Well, we're slowly returning to the land of the living. Showering helps. (I think it helps with the flies, too.) LOL..but we're still on the soup wagon. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.   And I'm on the downward slide of my WIP. *phew* thank goodness. That's all I can say about that. Note to self: 3 books in four months...NOT AGAIN. 'nuff said.   Hope everyone had a lovely holiday.   Kim 

Holly, I've often wondered how to spell whazzo, thanks for clearing up the mystery!

Kim, glad you're feeling better AND that you're on the downhill slide for the WIP.  You WILL get it done and it will rock.

I'm running around crazy today trying to get everything organized before I start my new job tomorrow. (At Borders! Yay books!)  I'm working full time hours, which I'm thankful for, but it's been many years since I've worked outside the home, and never since I had kids.  Organizing is painful.  And part of that organization is doing some online promo for my book, The Secret She Kept, which as of Monday will be available here at eHarlequin.  Woot!  I'm running two contests on my website...one on my blog and one on my contest page, so if you'd like to win some books, stop by!  The blog contest is a month-long word game.  I hope you'll join me!

If I'm a bit scarce this week, know that I'm probably lurking and will be back when I can breathe!

Amy

Hi all,

We had our Thanksgiving and then a mini-vacation with friends (Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos). Got home today and the boys had a "movie shoot" for a student film from 1-5. (Holy cow!) Soup for dinner. Everyone's asleep.

I bought two presents. Borders had a deal on something I bought for my folks and my mother-in-law. For my kids I'm doing something fun. We have a bunch of stuff including a computer, two bikes, and a scooter that all have been needing repair. I keep saying, "Soon." I'm hoping to have them all spruced up and under the tree--a refurbished Christmas. (We're also getting Guitar Hero or Rock Band. I'm psyched for this!)

Good news for me, bad for Deb--brother-in-law #3 also has a girlfriend. He'd not engaged yet but since this is the first I've heard of him dating anyone ever, I'm crossing my fingers.

I've decided I'm going to try to win an office from one of those remodeling shows. Don't you think romance author needs an office makes a good backstory? I thought the idea of decorating with cover photos might spark some designer's creative sense and they'd pick me. I'm not sure what shows exist, but I'm starting the hunt!

Kim--hope you and the family are feeling better soon!

Kay and Jeannie--congrats on your shopping fun!

I forget who else's stories I read--Shelley ate a lot of vegetables...do I still want to be her friend? Hmmm. The dream sounded interesting! And Rae-hugs on your day tomorrow. Hi Ellen Too! Hi Linda! Hi Susan!

My whole Nov. 30th deadline thing got stretched out to Dec. 15th. Must get back to writing.

Take care,

Writer Ellen

Hi,

Holly--I don't have time to match all those pets, however, I'm curious about what type of pet letter B is. Some kind of terrier/bunny rabbit cross-species hybrid? Adorable!!

Have a Happy Day That Shall Not Be Named!

Writer Ellen

P.S. Anyone suffering from Too Much Winter Syndrome should check out the picture Ellen Too posted in her blog. Weren't we planning a road trip to her house? I vote we leave tomorrow. 

Linda, thanks so much for picking up Doctor in Her House.  I hope you enjoy it!

If Ellen's blog photo is of her area, I vote we leave TODAY.

Rae, hope things go better than you expect today.

Amy

Aurelene, I can't believe it's already December...this year has gone by so fast!!  I'm glad you're going to get to attend the party this year at your church!!

Holly 

Got your attention, didn't I?

We had a great hike on Saturday--helped get rid of some of those extra TD calories. Oh, my, we had the food! And it was all yummy. We packed turkey sandwiches with chipotle cranberry sauce to take on our hike to Little Nellie Falls. Although we started out in Yosemite, technically, we wound up in the Stanislaus Natl Forest. And I can attest to the fact that bears do um...go potty in the woods, and on the trail. And they have really big poop. We took pictures.

Kim, so sorry about your illness. Glad you're feeling better.

Jeannie, I'd call that power-shopping. Good for you. I'm doing a lot of my shopping online this year.

Ellen, I'm heartbroken for me, but happy for bachelor #2. We took DD's beloved with us hiking and it was an eye-opening experience. I wish I could say for the good, but...well...not so much. 

I got my tree up. This is way early for me, but now I can get that off my mind and focus on my next deadline. 

Kaelee, I just got back from the PO where I picked up my large-print books of DADDY BY SURPRISE and a wonderful surprise from you. Thank you so much. The Canadian Rockies rock!!!  Glorious shots. I'm thrilled. And thanks, too, for the kind praise of my Sentinel Pass series, so far. Made my day!

Deb

Aurelene--we didn't stay in one of the Pocono honeymoon hotels, but I know exactly what you mean. I do have friends who've tried the martini glass hot tub rooms--ooh la la! Enjoy your party and your books.

Deb--bears!!! Eek. As to the beloved, maybe he'll shape up. Fifteen years ago, I was the maid of honor for my best friend and spent the entire wedding weeping, not because she looked so beautiful (although she did) but because her husband had all the earmarks of a bad decision. A few years down the road, things changed and he's one of the #1 husbands I know. I just spent the weekend with him in the non-honeymoon Pocono hotel! I'll hope for a similar good outcome with your daughter's guy!

I had a brainstorm about my current book today in the form of a song that came through my headphones while I was trying to remain calm during an MRI. Who else loves a little ELO? Video Fun!

On a related topic, what did I ever do without YouTube?

Amy--hope the job is going well!!

Cheers,

Writer Ellen

Yes, Ellen, it's snowing in Erie.  We probably got 4 inches or so last night. (I'm guessing by looking out my office window, as I haven't actually been OUT in it yet. <G> )  Time to get the shovel and get my exercise for the day.  Who needs a treadmill when you have snow and a hilly driveway? 

Deb, yes bears do **** in the bushes. <G>  Moose sometimes do that on the side of the road. <G> When I went to Maine in June to visit my parents and sister, I found "evidence" of moose on the side of a logging road.  I was surprised that for such a big creature, the "evidence" wasn't all that large.  I forgot that herbivores make pellets. <G>  Even really big herbivores.  I'm glad you had a good hike.

SNOWBALL FIGHT!  SPLAT.  (I have good aim, so consider yourself hit.)  Now let's have hot chocolate. <G>

Okay, my husband just called me.  He's on his way to meet with someone (a professional someone) and this person just texted him and said, "Are you on your way?"  And husband texted back, yes, he was just leaving and on his way.  And the person he's meeting (did I mention this is a professional someone?) texted back - Good.  I'm locked in the bathroom.  Can you let me out when you get to the office?  LOLOL!!!  Can I just say that my faith in this person hasn't been positively impacted by this?  LOL.  But...it's funny. <G>

I've been fighting with a headache that won't quit for a few days.  Ugh.  Ellen, I'm glad you were inspired during the MRI.  Hope all is well with the MRI results.  I am having an ultrasound of my throat on Friday because I found a (literal!) lump in my throat.  My doc ran blood work to check thyroid levels and such, and he didn't seem overly concerned about it, but I'd just as soon have all the tests done and over with and know what the heck is going on now.  I guess I'm just a lumpy person - had an ovarian cyst removed a few years back after one on the other ovary exploded.  Had the first one of those removed back when I was 18.  So I'm just the human equivalent to homemade mashed potatoes - lumpy. <G>

It must have been the day for inspiration.  I woke up Monday morning at 3 am because I smelled food cooking.  I knew I needed to check it out when the smell lingered and got stronger.  Sure enough, my teenager had gone to bed and left two chicken patties in the oven.  They were hockey pucks when I pulled them out and shut the oven off.  Thank goodness I have a sensitive nose (I sleep on the second floor) and the smell woke me up.  Sheesh.  Teenagers.  Anyway, I found some interesting facts about another story I'm working on.  I just love it when the answers come to me like that.  PRESTO, instant answer.  And it appears to be a GOOD answer, too.  One that actually works. <G>  Actually, this one wasn't an instant answer.  This one started with, hey, maybe the heroine's job is XYZ.  XYZ eventually led me along a short path to the right answer for her job, which impacts the whole story, her character arc, etc.

Amazing how all the little pieces have to fit together, isn't it?  I swear, coming up with a book is more complex than a 1,000-piece, all blue, jigsaw puzzle.