Hi Honey, I'm Home

Disregard the date. I dropped the battery pack and didn't bother to reset it. These were taken on the 4/25/09. The scenery from our campsite was awesome. It was really nice to relax and get away. I actually spent some time READING instead of writing, and I read something besides Romantic Fiction. I tried out a couple of true crime stories and I was surprised at the difference in style. I may have to give it a whirl. :)




Hubby tried his hand at fishing, and as you can see, he had a "little" luck. Of course, he threw it back as soon as we snapped evidence that he hadn't sacrificed a worm for naught.

My sis and her son came up to enjoy dinner by the lake. They decided to snap a picture of themselves. Yep...that's the infamous Dimes McDropperson. He just dropped in from Iraq on his way to Afghanistan, and his Mom was sure glad to see him. He makes us laugh. In fact, we've all laughed so much we're sore.

I absolutely hate having my picture taken, so this was Gwenn and I wrestling to see who had to be in front. She was determined to hide behind me and I was determined she wasn't going to. I think we both lost.



All good things have to end, so here we are...well you can't actually see us, but we're loading up to go home. All in all the weekend was relaxing and uneventful. I actually walked around the park with Kelly and we got invited to be in a "Cornhole" tournament. In California, if someone asked me, I would have run in the other direction, but a bunch of people were having fun tossing 'cornbags' onto a ramp with a hole in it. I was amazed there is actually a Cornhole Association dot com that tells you the rules of the game, how to build the equipment, and even set up tournaments. For first-timers, we did really well...I came home and ordered a set from Ebay so we can practice. Hey, Kelly's going to be on unemployment for a while, so until he finds a job, we have to find something to do so we don't kill each other.

Tuesday Trivia

Today we're gonna check out your Fairy Tale memories. Get ready:

1. Goldilocks ate up the mother bear's porridge. True or False?

2. In what year was "Sleeping Beauty" first published?

3. In the original fairy tale, the prince renames Thumbelina to what name?

4. What did Hansel and Gretel leave as a trail, in order to find their way home the second time?

5. What is the literal meaning of the name, Rumplestiltskin?
a. Wrinkled little man
b. Crazy little man
c. Little rattle stilt
d. Little name stealer

6. What color was the apple that the evil stepmother gave Snow White to eat?
a. white and red
b. red and yellow
c. green
d. red

7. Who published the original "Rapunzel" fairy tale?
a. The Grimm Brothers
b. Aarne Thompson
c. Aesop
d. Andrew Lang

8. In the tale of "Three Billy Goats Gruff," what lives under the bridge the goats must cross?
a. A goblin
b. A troll
c. A witch
d. A dragon

9. What were the names of the Three Little Pigs?
a. Oscar, Hamlet, Ribsy
b. Larry, Peter, Paul
c. Not mentioned
d. Twinkle, Winkle, Wrinkle

10. Who published "The Little Mermaid"?
a. Charles Perrault
b. Hans Christian Anderson
c. Charles Dickens
d. Jeanette Hassenpflug

11. "Beauty and the Beast" hails from what country?
a. Germany
b. England
c. Sweden
d. France

12. "Jack and the Beanstalk" is a well-known tale of a young man who deals with a giant at the end of a beanstalk. The giant usually said the following when a human was nearby: "Fee Fie Fo Fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman..." Complete the saying:
a. Be he live or be he dead, I grind his bones for my bread.
b. He might be alive, or he might be dead, The less we speak of him, the better said.
c. If he's alive of if he's dead, he better not steal my gold or bread.
d. Is he alive? Is he dead? The answer is something I do dread.

13. How did the frog turn into a prince in the original telling of the Grimm Brothers' "Frog Prince"?
a. A wish of the princess changed him
b. She kisses him
c. The princess throws him against the wall in disgust
d. Her father the king commanded the change

14. In the Norwegian fairy tale, "The Princess on the Glass Hill" (Or Glass Mountain), what three objects does she hold?
a. Golden applies
b. A ruby, a diamond, an emerald
c. A sword, a crown, a staff
d. Silver pears

15. Pinocchio, from the Italian fairy tale by Carlo Collodi, does not appreciate the advice given by the talking cricket. What does he do to get the cricket to stop?
a. Traps him in a jar
b. buries him in the garden
c. throws a hammer at him
d. feeds him to a crow

Okay...no peeking, and EMAIL your answers to Miz Ging Thanks to Fun Trivia dot com for their creative genius and fun site. Next Tuesday, we're doing an actual authors Trivia search to find out about some of my friends. I'll give you clues and you have to come up with the answers. :)

The winner of today's challenge will receive a free download of my new release, Sparta Rose straight from Fictionwise.

Inspired or Conspired?

So, a few days ago, I talked a little about rejection. Since one editor found Sarah's Journey lacking enough sexual tension and frowned on the hero not appearing until the third chapter, I decided to research my options. Maybe I'm going about this all wrong and I should consider marketing this as a western/Americana to focus on the real issues in the story. There is romance, but it's secondary to the lessons learned.

I went to HQ's website and found they have a new Inspirational Historical line. Wow, what a break for me... or so I thought. I downloaded the requirements and my story seemed a perfect fit... until I printed off all the words and scenes forbidden in any manuscript submitted for consideration. My shoulders sagged with disappointment. This meant that Sarah needed a complete overhaul, stripping my story of all the components that made her who she is. Evidently, my story, although not graphic, and certainly tastefully done, would offend some. As I read the list, I felt really sorry for any man married to a woman who won't allow him to say breast, pee or poop. I've written a fun little scene, purposely using words and situations from HQ's no-no list.

His arousal bulged against his jeans. She looked up at him from her crouched position on the floor. "You bastard," she muttered.
He'd bet his last bishop in a chess match that she had on a sexy bra and panties. His attraction with breasts always got him into trouble. Her backside wasn't bad either.
"Crap, I can't do this," he admitted and helped her to her feet.
"Darn." It's only a play, for Heaven sakes. It's not like you're actually going to assault me." She combed her finger through long, sexy hair.
"Hell, I can't help if I'm sexually attracted to you. For Pete's sake, you're such a hottie. Why couldn't they have found some ugly whore to share the part with me?"
"For the love of Mike, you don't need a harlot to recite lines with. Just relax and let the hunger show in your words not in your underwear.
"But what about the part where I have to kiss you below the neck? Or...we have to share a bed and we aren't married?
"Oh my God," If it bothers you that much, then go see Father O'Malley, the priest at St. Michael's. I'm sure he can remove any devil's curse from your soul."
"Oh, Holy cow, all right. Let me step outside for smoke, then'll we'll try it again."
"It's a miracle,! She giggled. I promise not to take my clothes off while you're gone. I'll use the time to go pee."
Christ, Ginny, just when I get my mind cleared, there you go tempting me again."