Brenda Novak at Prairie Chicks

I think most of you read Janet C's blog, Prairie Chicks Write Romance. But, just in case, I wanted to pass along the information about her special guest blogger today - Brenda Novak!

Below is Janet's e-mail to me. I told her I'd post this information on Wed. and Thursday. I apologize, Janet, for getting so caught up in the hunks yesterday that I forgot! So today, it's all about you and Brenda (and this fantastic cause)!

You all know (or most of you do) that I have a group blog called Prairie Chicks Write Romance. This is a request for all of you to join the Prairie Chicks this Thursday, April 30th, when NY Times Bestselling author Brenda Novak will be guest blogging. Her month-long auction to raise funds for diabetes begins May 1st, and we're lucky enough to have her on the eve of that event.

She will be offering a prize package to one of our lucky commentors - a tote full of autographed books from various authors AND a $25 gift certificate to use on any auction item! And you don't have to be a writer to bid on items. There are some great items for readers and those that may want a little pampering. Check out the link and see all the great stuff they've got to bid on. I know I'm excited.

So come on over to the Prairies on April 30th to meet Brenda Novak and leave a comment to have the opportunity to win a fabulous prize.

Hey, it's Alannah again. This is a great auction to benefit a wonderful cause. There are so many great auction items that sometimes my head swims, not knowing what to bid on first. Be sure to check it out throughout the month of May, as new items are constantly being added.

Have a fantastic day!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

Hump Day Humor...

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy *rubs hands together excitedly*

We have a birthday to celebrate today!!!!

Happy birthday to my Mom!!!! Since she married an Air Force man, I thought she might like a few hunky military yum-yums...er...I mean, guys!




Happy Birthday, Mom!!! I love you and hope you have a wonderful day!!!























Now, on to the Humor...I'm sure most of you have seen these before, but they're funny and so (just in case you haven't seen them) I'm posting them here.


Is proof reading a dying art?

Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and Daughter

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Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says

No, really? Ya think?

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Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers

Now that's taking things a bit far!

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Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over

What a guy!

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Miners Refuse to Work after Death

No-good-for- nothing' lazy ............ .

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Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant

See if that works any better than a fair trial!

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War Dims Hope for Peace

I can see where it might have that effect!

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If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile

Ya think?!

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Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures

Who would have thought!

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Enfield (London) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide

They may be on to something!

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Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges

You mean there's something stronger than duct tape? Oklahoma's new construction program! (I didn't write these, Silver!) LOL

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Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge

He probably IS the battery charge!

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Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft

That's what he gets for eating those beans!

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Kids Make Nutritious Snacks

Do they taste like chicken?

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Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half

Chainsaw Massacre all over again!

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Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors

Boy, are they tall!

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And the winner is....

Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead

Did I read that right?


Hope at least one of these made you smile, and maybe even laugh, today.

Have a great day!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

"Life is too short to waste. Dreams are fulfilled only through action, not through endless planning to take action."

David J. Schwartz
Trainer and Author

I really liked this. I've gotten a new work schedule going to try to get out of the rut that I seem to get in. You know, the one where I "Think" about what I'm going to do with a story for...well...a really, really long time. (LOL) Two hours, from 9-11 AM, every day, I now sit down and actually "work" on the story. No checking e-mail. No jumping up to check the laundry. Actually working. It's amazing how much I can get done in those 2 hours when I'm really focused.

How about you guys? Do you have any set hours or plans that work well for getting your butt in the chair (and keeping it in the chair) and your fingers on the keyboard? Inquiring minds really, really want to know!

Have a fantastic day!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

Crock Pot Ribs

I don't think I've posted this before. My apologies if I have. It's so easy and so good that it bears repeating. LOL

Cut ribs (pork or beef, whatever your preference) into 4" or 5" pieces (whatever will fit into your crockpot.

Lay the ribs in the crock pot. Pour a bottle of your favorite BBQ type sauce over them - we use Bone Suckin' Sauce. Cook on low for the day and when you get home that night the ribs will be ready.

It's probably best to use tongs and a spoon to get them out because they'll literally be falling off the bone.

I fix potatoes and slaw with them. Yum...my mouth is watering now just thinking about it. Think I might fix this myself tomorrow!

Have a great day everyone!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

Hump Day Humor...

Happy Hour In Texas

A cowboy is driving down a back road in Texas.
A sign in front of a restaurant reads:

HAPPY HOUR SPECIAL
Lobster Tail and Beer

'Lord almighty' he says to himself,
'my three favorite things!!'


Have a great day!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

"The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is to not try. Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it."

Debbi Fields
Founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies

Have a great day!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

Party Time!!!

I love a good party. Especially when its in honor of a great friend and fabulous writing buddy!!!

RWA's online chapter Passionate Ink announced the finalists in the Stroke Of Midnight contest and I'm thrilled to announce that Luanna Nau's "Come On Baby, Light My Fire" is one of the finalists in the contemporary category!!!!











Lu, there's champagne, wine, mimosas, whatever drink you want - we've got it (I've been taking lessons from the Soapbox Queens on how to throw a good party!). We've got chocolate galore, shirtless waiters and cabana boys. All at your disposal.

This is your day!! You worked so hard on that story and I'm so proud of you!! Enjoy your celebration!

Everyone feel free to grab a glass, a bite of chocolate and cabana boy. There are plenty to go around!

Here's to a great start to a great weekend!!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

French Toast Casserole

This is one of my absolute favorite things to make when we're at the river, and especially when we have company. It's so easy to mix up the night before. And sometimes, I'll make two of them up and have one for Saturday morning and one for Sunday morning. It's so good, no one complains about eating it twice!!


1 Loaf French Bread, cut in 3/4" pieces
1 Cup light brown sugar
1/2 Cup butter
2 teaspoons light corn syrup
6 eggs
2 Cups Milk
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla flavor


Mix together in a small saucepan on the stove the light brown sugar, butter and corn syrup. Cook until syrupy.

Mix together the eggs, milk and vanilla flavor.

Grease a 9X13 baking dish. Pour in the syrup mixture. Lay the French bread on top of the syrup. Pour egg mixture over the bread. Sprinkle with Cinnamon and nutmeg.

Cover the pan and refrigerate overnight. Bake at 350 or 375 for 45 minutes.

Enjoy!

Have a great day!!
Peace and Love (and happy eating)! LOL...I'm feeling better and am finally getting an appetite back (can you tell)

Alannah

Hump Day Humor...

THINK YOU'RE THE FATHER OF ONE OF MY KIDS...

A guy goes to the supermarket and notices an attractive woman waving at > him. She says hello. He's rather taken aback because he can't place where he knows her from.

So he says, "Do you know me?"

To which she replies, "I think you're the father of one of my kids."

Now his mind travels back to the only time he has ever been unfaithful to his wife and says, "Are you the stripper from the bachelor party that I made love to on the pool table with all my buddies watching while your partner whipped my butt with wet celery???"

She looks into his eyes and says calmly, "No, I'm your son's teacher."

Sorry for any spewed drinks onto the keyboard or onto the monitors!

Have a wonderful Hump Day!!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

"If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning 'good morning' at total strangers."
Maya Angelou
Poet, Writer and Performer

I need to print this out and put it up on the fridge where we can see it often. When my oldest son comes home from college he always comments on how stressful it is in our house. He said we all walk around mad at each other all the time. Hmmm....maybe we should be a little less snarly and try grinning more!

Have a great day!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

PS - Thanks for the Vinegar/water tip, Silver. I've been trying salt water, and drinking tea with honey, and cough drops and a whole cocktail of other things but I'd never heard of the vinegar and water (my dad used to drink a glass of vinegar water every day because he heard it improved health - ick!!!! But he's still going strong at 81 so maybe there's something to it).

What I'm Reading...

Thanks to Silver James, I'm now reading the second book in the JD Robb "In Death" Series, "Glory in Death."

I'm amazed at how difference the JD Robb voice is from the Nora Roberts voice. As I mentioned last week, I've tried to read Nora's stuff and haven't ever been able to get into the stories.

Not the case with these!

I love the characters. I enjoy the voice. I like the pace.

Thanks, Silver, for sending it to me. My allergies have been giving me a fit and I've been sick the last couple of days so I haven't gotten to read as much as I'd hoped. Hopefully, I'll have it back in the mail to you by the middle of next week.

And thanks again for sending it to me.

Hope it's a great Easter weekend for everyone. I'll be travelling to Ohio this weekend to visit with family, but I'll still be posting. I'm looking for something very special for Easter Monday so be sure to check in then.

Have a great weekend!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

Hump Day Humor...

A Woman's Poem

He didn't like the casserole
And he didn't like my cake.
He said my biscuits were too hard...
Not like his mother used to make.

I didn't perk the coffee right
He didn't like the stew,
I didn't mend his socks
The way his mother used to do.

I pondered for an answer, I was looking for a clue.
Then I turned around and smacked the shit out of him...
Like his mother used to do.


Fortunately for my husband, he never complains about my cooking or my ironing or my driving!! LOL

Have a great day!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

"The only place where your dream becomes impossible is in your own thinking."

Robert H. Schuller
Minister and Author

Have a fantastic day!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

What I'm Reading...

I'm always behind the times. When I was younger, I never caught up with fashion trends until they were about turn tide again. I didn't find Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series until she was on the 11th one. And I've just finished reading my first "In Death" book by J.D. Robb! :O

I read the first one this past week and started the 2nd one last night (although it's the third in the series - I can't find the 2nd one locally). I have to confess, I've tried reading Nora's books and have never been able to get into them. But I enjoyed the first one in the "In Death" series and look forward to reading more.

And I finally understand why Roarke is constantly listed as a favorite hero!!!! He's pretty yummy!!

So what are y'all reading?

I'm so excited - hubby is off this weekend. The first weekend he's been off since we went to Daytona!

Oh, also, he had a follow-up appointment at Duke yesterday and it was more great news!! The tumor is continuing to shrink!!! Thank God!!

Hope it's a wonderful weekend for everyone!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

Pineapple Casserole

I don't know how much you enjoy this recipe exchange program, but I'm loving it!! LOL

Monday night I made Silver's Clary Chicken and the cheesecake desert. YUM!!!

This is a simple recipe for pineapple casserole that is one of hubby's favorite dishes. We use it as a side dish but I've noticed we all tend to leave some of it on our place for last because it is kind of sweet.

1 Cup sugar
6 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 Cups grated sharp cheddar (the bagged, already shredded doesn't melt as well as real cheddar that you shred yourself)
2 (20 oz) Cans pineapple chunks, drained - Reserve 6 Tablespoons of the juice
1 Cup cracker crumbs (recommended Ritz)
8 Tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted, plus extra for greasing the pan (I use spray Pam - the one for high heat)

Preheat oven to 350
Grease medium-sized casserole dish

In a large bowl, stir together the sugar and flour. Gradually stir in the cheese. Add the drained pineapple chunks and stir until ingredients are well combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish.

In another medium bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, melted butter and reserved pineapple juice, stirring with a rubber spatula until evenly blended. Spread crumb mixture on top of pineapple mixture. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.

Hump Day Humor...

My wife and I were watching ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ while we were in bed.
I turned to her and said, "Do you want to have sex?"
"No," she answered.
I then said, “Is that your final answer?”
She didn't even look at me this time, but simply said “Yes.”
So, I said, '”hen I'd like to phone a friend.”


And then the fight started…

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After retiring, I went to the Social Security office to apply for Social Security.
The woman behind the counter asked for my driver's license to verify my age.
I looked in my pockets and realized I had left my wallet at home.
I told the woman I was very sorry, but I would have to go home and come back later.
The woman said, “Unbutton your shirt.”
I opened my shirt, revealing my curly, silver hair.
She said, “The silver hair on your chest is proof enough for me.”
And she processed my Social Security application.

When I got home, I excitedly told my wife about my experience at the Social Security office.

She said, “You should have dropped your pants. You might have gotten Disability, too.”

And then the fight started…

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I got up early Saturday morning, quietly dressed, made my lunch, grabbed the dog, and slipped quietly into the garage. I hooked up the boat to the truck and proceeded to back out into a torrential downpour. The wind was blowing 50 mph, so I pulled back into the garage, turned on the radio and discovered that the weather would be bad all day. I went back into the house, quietly undressed and slipped back into bed.

I cuddled up to my wife's back, now with a different anticipation, and whispered, “The weather out there is terrible.”

My loving wife of 10 years replied, “Can you believe my stupid husband is out fishing in that?”

And that's how the fight started...

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My wife and I were sitting at a table at my high school reunion, and I kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she sat alone at a nearby table. My wife asked, “Do you know her?”

“Yes,” I sighed, “she's my old girlfriend. I understand she took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear she hasn't been sober since.”

“My God!” said my wife, “Who’d think a person could go on celebrating that long?”

And then the fight started…

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I rear-ended a car this morning. There we were alongside the road, and the other driver slowly got out of his car. You know how sometimes you just get soooo stressed and little things just seem funny? Yeah, well, I couldn't believe it.... He was a DWARF!!! He stormed over to my car, looked up at me, and shouted, “I AM NOT HAPPY!!!”

So, I looked down at him and said, “Well then, which one are you?”

And then the fight started…

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I took my wife to a restaurant. The waiter, for some reason, took my order first.
“I'll have the strip steak, medium rare, please.”
He asked, “Aren't you worried about the mad cow?”
“Nah, she can order for herself.”

And then the fight started…

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A woman is standing nude, looking in the bedroom mirror.

She is not happy with what she sees and says to her husband, “I feel horrible; I look old, fat and ugly.

I really need you to pay me a compliment.”

The husband replies, “Your eyesight's darn near perfect.”

And then the fight started…


Hope it's a wonderful day!!
Peace and Love,
Alannah