The True Story of Rudolph

The True Story of Rudolph


A man named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night.

His 4-year-old daughter Barbara sat on his lap quietly sobbing. Bob's wife, Evelyn, was dying of cancer Little Barbara couldn't understand why her mommy could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dad's eyes and asked, "Why isn't Mommy just like everybody else's Mommy?" Bob's jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears. Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger. It had been the story of Bob's life. Life always had to be different for Bob.

Small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in sports. He was often called names he'd rather not remember. From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in. Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at Montgomery Ward during the Great Depression. Then he was blessed with his little girl. But it was all short-lived. Evelyn's bout with cancer stripped them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums. Evelyn died just days before Christmas in 1938.

Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn't even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn't buy a gift, he was determined to make one - a storybook! Bob had created an animal character in his own mind and told the animal's story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling. Who was the character? What was the story all about? The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form. The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose. Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day. But the story doesn't end there.

The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book. Wards went on to print,_ Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer_ and distribute it to children visiting Santa Claus in their stores. By 1946 Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph. That same year, a major publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an updated version of the book.

In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights back to Bob May. The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter. But the story doesn't end there either.

Bob's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore , it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry. "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than any other Christmas song, with the exception of "White Christmas."

The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on returning back to bless him again and again. And Bob May learned the lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn't so bad. In fact, being different can be a blessing.



I didn't fact check this story because I just chose to believe it's true. :)

I hope everyone is having a relatively stress-free holiday so far!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

Hump Day Humor....

IT CAN BE HARD KEEPING A STRAIGHT FACE AS A COURT REPORTER

These are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts, and are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published by court reporters that had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.

ATTORNEY: What was the first thing your husband said to you that morning?
WITNESS: He said , 'Where am I, Cathy?'
ATTORNEY: And why did that upset you?
WITNESS: My name is Susan!
____________________________________________

ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
WITNESS: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.
____________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Are you sexually active?
WITNESS: No , I just lie there.
____________________________________________

ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
WITNESS: I forget...
ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot?
___________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in voodoo?
WITNESS: We both do.
ATTORNEY: Voodoo?
WITNESS: We do..
ATTORNEY: You do?
WITNESS: Yes, voodoo.
____________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep , he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
____________________________________

ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the 20-year-old , how old is he?
WITNESS: He's 20, much like your IQ.
___________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?
WITNESS: Are you shitting me?
_________________________________________

ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
WITNESS: Getting laid
____________________________________________

ATTORNEY: She had three children , right?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
WITNESS: None.
ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?
WITNESS: Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney?
____________________________________________

ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
WITNESS: By death..
ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?
WITNESS: Take a guess.
____________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard
ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
WITNESS: Unless the Circus was in town I'm going with male.
_____________________________________

ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
______________________________________

ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people?
WITNESS: All of them...The live ones put up too much of a fight.
_________________________________________

ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral , OK? What school did you go to?
WITNESS: Oral...
_________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 PM
ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
WITNESS: If not , he was by the time I finished.
____________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
WITNESS: Are you qualified to ask that question?
______________________________________

And last:

ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No..
ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.


Silver, I thought of Lawyer guy as I read these. I bet he has a few good stories he could add to this book. :)

Have a great Hump Day everyone!!
Peace and love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

"Deliberately seek the company of people who influence you to think and act on building the life you desire."

Napoleon Hill
1883-1970, Author

Have a fantastic Tuesday!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

Welcome Back...Meredith Simmons

Back in October, I invited fellow Writing With the Stars finalist Meredith Simmons to guest blog and talk about her travels across the country. You may remember that Merry was getting ready to leave on a month long cruise of the South Pacific, and today's she's back to tell us about her trip. Please give her a warm welcome!!!

Thanks, Alannah, for inviting me back to talk about our latest travel adventure. We got home about three weeks ago from a month-long cruise of the South Pacific. What an incredible journey!

My husband and I flew to Sydney, Australia and boarded the Sapphire Princess – a beautiful ship. Now I previously talked about “frugal” travel, but I have to admit that this once-in-a-lifetime trip doesn’t quite fall into the inexpensive category. I still managed to stretch our travel dollar, however, and I’ll get to some hints after I give an over-view of the cruise.

We left Australia and crossed the Tasman Sea to the west coast of New Zealand where we cruised Fjordland National Park. The most famous of these fjords is Milford Sound, an area of truly spectacular scenery where steep mountains crash into the sea. We then sailed around the southern tip of New Zealand’s South Island to ports on the east coast. We visited Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington. A special treat in Wellington was meeting my Writing with the Stars mentor, Brava author Bronwen Evans. She was the one who told me I’d made it to the second round of the WWTS contest and the two of us ended up happy-dancing all around the entrance to the TePapa Museum while my husband pretended he didn’t know us. Bronwen gave us a wonderful personal tour of New Zealand’s capitol, which I can describe in one word – windy!

Our last port in NZ was Auckland, on the north of the North Island. This is the country’s largest city, but we didn’t stay there long, choosing instead to go to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. This tour allowed us to see a lot of the countryside, something we try to do whenever possible. New Zealand has a vast amount of beautiful and impressive scenery. It’s no wonder Lord of the Rings was filmed there.

We then sailed to islands scattered across the Pacific – Fiji, American Samoa, Moorea, Tahiti, and Bora Bora. Each had its own special charm, but all were postcard pretty with oddly shaped mountains piercing incredibly blue skies, wide beaches of either white or black sand bordered by tall palms, and everything surrounded by sparkling, aqua seas. My favorite was Moorea, which is the sister island to Tahiti, but isn’t quite as “touristy.”

After a number of days at sea, we arrived at the Hawaiian Islands, stopping at both Honolulu and Lahaina. What can I say about Hawaii? Lovely! From there we sailed to Los Angeles and flew back to North Carolina – the end of a terrific odyssey.

I’d thought with so many sea days on this cruise I’d get a lot of writing done. Well, that didn’t happen. There was always so much to do on the ship. We particularly enjoyed two really interesting lecture series, but my favorite activity was talking to new friends around the pool. And then there was all the food…

As I mentioned earlier, this trip fell into the “Big Splurge” category, but we still did all we could to stretch our travel dollar. We used air-miles to fly from North Carolina to Australia, a savings of about $2,500. And then, we stayed in an interior cabin instead of one with a balcony since adding the balcony would have been an additional $3000 for a trip of this length. Now I’m not one of those travelers who say balcony rooms aren’t all that important. I love a balcony. But the compromise here was having an interior room on the Lido deck. In just a few steps we could be outside at one of the pool areas and we used this as our really big balcony – except this one came with a swimming pool, a couple of hot tubs and often, live music. Very nice! So my frugal hint is to look for an interior room with such easy access to an outside area. You can save your money but still enjoy all the perks of a balcony.

As I write this, we’re having a mixture of snow and sleet – but all those beautiful islands make for warm memories. Hey, Alannah, are you ready to pack your bags?


You know I am!!! I don't handle the cold well, and this snow/sleet mess isn't making me happy. In case I didn't mention it before, Merry and I are neighbors! We live about 45 minutes from each other, which is crazy considering this contest was open to contestants from all over the world!

Thanks for sharing the details of your trip with us.

Now....

I have an annoucement to make and I'm so sorry I've failed to share this information with ya'll before now. I wasn't allowed to tell anyone the news until this past Monday, and by then, I'd forgotten that it was actually "news."

The bad new is, I was eliminated in the last round of the WWTS competition. The good news is, I've been contacted by an agent who learned of me because of the contest. While I was in the contest I couldn't share LAST CALL with an agent or another publisher. Now I can! :)

Since I'm no longer in the contest, I'm going to ask you to vote for Merry. I'd love to see a fellow Eastern NC writer win this contest!!!! Here's the link to go to RT's website and cast your vote.

Have a great weekend!!!
Peace and love,
Alannah

Pineapple Cookies

I think I might have posted this recipe last year, but decided to do it again. Pineapple cookies are my absolute favorite, and one of the few traditions I've kept from my childhood. I've been trying to hold off on making these, because as soon as I do, I'll sit down and eat the entire batch!!
Pineapple Cookies

2 Cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon Baking powder
Few grains salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ cup margarine
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup crushed pineapple
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Drain pineapple well, reserving liquid for icing. Sift flour, baking powder and salt. Dissolve baking soda in pineapple. Smoosh butter, add sugar – blend well. Add egg and vanilla, mix well. Gradually add sifted ingredients – mixing after each addition. Blend in pineapple

Bake 6-8 minutes at 375


Icing:

2 Cups powdered sugar
3 Tablespoons pineapple juice

Mixed up and smeared on top of cookies. :)

Happy Thursday!!
Peace and love,
Alannah

Hump Day Humor....

I got this in an e-mail from a friend of mine. I read it while sitting in the lobby at Duke, when we were there a few weeks and have to admit I did laugh until I cried! I'm sure everyone sitting around me wondered what the hell was so funny, and I wish I could've shared this with all of them because it is hilarious!! Enjoy!!!


ONLY A MAN WOULD ATTEMPT THIS

Just try reading this without laughing till you cry!!! I can actually see my boys trying this...

Pocket Tazer Stun Gun, a great gift for the wife.

A guy who purchased his lovely wife a pocket Tazer for their anniversary submitted this:

Last weekend I saw something at Larry's Pistol & Pawn Shop that sparked my interest. The occasion was our 15th anniversary and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife, Julie. What I came across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/purse-sized Tazer.

The effects of the Tazer were supposed to be short lived, with no long term adverse affect on your assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety...??

WAY TOO COOL! Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home... I loaded two AAA batteries in the darn thing and pushed the button. Nothing! I was disappointed. I learned, however, that if I pushed the button and pressed it against a metal surface at the same time, I'd get the blue arc of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs.

AWESOME!!! Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to Julie what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave.

Okay, so I was home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn't be all that bad with only two AAA batteries, right?

There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target.

I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and then thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat. But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised.

Am I wrong?

So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, and Tazer in another.

The directions said that:

a one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant;

a two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; and

a three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water.

Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries.

All the while I'm looking at this little device measuring about 5" long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference (loaded with two itsy, bitsy AAA batteries); pretty cute really, and thinking to myself, "no possible way!"

What happened next is almost beyond description, but I'll do my best.

I'm sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side so as to say, "Don't do it stupid," reasoning that a one second burst from such a tiny lil ole thing couldn't hurt all that bad. I decided to give myself a one second burst just for heck of it.

I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and...

HOLY MOTHER OF GOD. WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. WHAT THE... !!!

I'm pretty sure Hulk Hogan ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again. I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nipples on fire, testicles nowhere to be found, with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs! The cat was making meowing sounds I had never heard before, clinging to a picture frame hanging above the fireplace, obviously in an attempt to avoid getting slammed by my body flopping all over the living room.

Note:
If you ever feel compelled to 'mug' yourself with a Tazer, one note of caution:

There is NO such thing as a one second burst when you zap yourself! You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor!
A three second burst would be considered conservative!

A minute or so later (I can't be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), I collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape.

. My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace.
. The recliner was upside down and about 8 feet or so from where it originally was.
. My triceps, right thigh and both nipples were still twitching.
. My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs.
. I had no control over the drooling.
. Apparently I had crapped in my shorts, but was too numb to know for sure, and my sense of smell was gone.
. I saw a faint smoke cloud above my head, which I believe came from my hair.

I'm still looking for my testicles and I'm offering a significant reward for their safe return!

PS: My wife can't stop laughing about my experience, loved the gift and now regularly threatens me with it!

If you think education is difficult, try being stupid!!!!


Have a fantastic Hump Day!!!
Peace and love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

"Before you begin a thing remind yourself that difficulties and delays quite impossible to foresee are ahead. You can only see one thing clearly, and that is your goal. Form a mental vision of that and cling to it through thick and thin."

Kathleen Norris
1880-1966, Novelist

Have a fantastic Tuesday!
Peace and love,
Alannah

Hump Day Humor - Hollywood Squares

I remember my grandmother watching Hollywood Squares every afternoon when I was a kid. Most of the time I didn't get the jokes, but I laughed like I did anyway. Now I get the jokes!! Some of these are hysterical and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!


These great questions and answers are from the days when "Hollywood Squares" game show responses were spontaneous, not scripted, as they are now. Peter Marshall was the host asking the questions, of course...


Q. Paul, what is a good reason for pounding meat?
A. Paul Lynde: Loneliness!
(The audience laughed so long and so hard it took up almost 15 minutes of the show!)


Q. Do female frogs croak?
A. Paul Lynde: If you hold their little heads under water long enough.


Q. If you're going to make a parachute jump, at least how high should you be
A. Charley Weaver: Three days of steady drinking should do it.


Q. True or False, a pea can last as long as 5,000 years...
A. George Gobel: Boy, it sure seems that way sometimes.


Q. You've been having trouble going to sleep. Are you probably a man or a woman?
A.. Don Knotts: That's what's been keeping me awake.


Q. According to Cosmopolitan, if you meet a stranger at a party and you think that he is attractive, is it okay to come out and ask him if he's married?
A. Rose Marie: No wait until morning.


Q. Which of your five senses tends to diminish as you get older?
A. Charley Weaver: My sense of decency.


Q. In Hawaiian, does it take more than three words to say "I Love You?"
A. Vincent Price: No, you can say it with a pineapple and a twenty.


Q. What are "Do It," "I Can Help," and "I Can't Get Enough?"
A. George Gobel: I don't know, but it's coming from the next apartment.


Q. As you grow older, do you tend to gesture more or less with your hands while talking?
A. Rose Marie: You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I'll give you a gesture you'll never forget.


Q. Paul, why do Hell's Angels wear leather?
A. Paul Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles too easily.


Q.. Charley, you've just decided to grow strawberries. Are you going to get any during the first year?
A.. Charley Weaver: Of course not, I'm too busy growing strawberries.


Q. In bowling, what's a perfect score?
A. Rose Marie: Ralph, the pin boy.


Q. It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps.. One is politics, what is the other?
A. Paul Lynde: Tape measures.


Q. During a tornado, are you safer in the bedroom or in the closet?
A. Rose Marie: Unfortunately Peter, I'm always safe in the bedroom.


Q. Can boys join the Camp Fire Girls?
A. Marty Allen: Only after lights out.


Q. When you pat a dog on its head he will wag his tail. What will a goose do?
A. Paul Lynde: Make him bark?


Q. If you were pregnant for two years, what would you give birth to?
A. Paul Lynde: Whatever it is, it would never be afraid of the dark.


Q. According to Ann Landers, is there anything wrong with getting into the habit of kissing a lot of people?
A. Charley Weaver: It got me out of the army.


Q. It is the most abused and neglected part of your body, what is it?
A. Paul Lynde: Mine may be abused, but it certainly isn't neglected.


Q. Back in the old days, when Great Grandpa put horseradish on his head, what was he trying to do?
A. George Gobel: Get it in his mouth.


Q. Who stays pregnant for a longer period of time, your wife or your elephant?
A. Paul Lynde: Who told you about my elephant?


Q. When a couple have a baby, who is responsible for its sex?
A. Charley Weaver: I'll lend him the car, the rest is up to him


Q. Jackie Gleason recently revealed that he firmly believes in them and has actually seen them on at least two occasions. What are they?
A. Charley Weaver: His feet.


Q. According to Ann Landers, what are two things you should never do in bed?
A. Paul Lynde: Point and laugh


Have a fabulous Hump Day!!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

"Devotion is commitment at a deep cellular level. When you are devoted, the universe will align itself to give you what you desire."

Rich German
Author of Monetize Your Passion


Have a wonderful day!
Peace and love,
Alannah

Thursday Funny....

I've been dealing with a migraine for days. Because of that, I've been in a fog and let everything slip! Somewhere, around the middle of the day yesterday, I realized it was Wednesday and I hadn't posted the hump day humor. So, I'm posting some funnies today.

Off to Duke again. Last time was to meet with the neurologist - and so far, so good on the new meds. The appointment today is to check the MRI they did yesterday and make sure everyrhing is looking good. No reason to think it won't be great, but a few good vibes and prayers would be appreciated, if you don't mind. :)

Hope these give you a smile!!


One day, a man came home and was greeted by his wife dressed in a very Sexy nightie. "Tie me up," she purred, "and you can do anything you want."

So he tied her up and went golfing.

*****************************************

A woman came home, screeching her car into the driveway, and ran into the house. She slammed the door and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Honey, pack your bags. I won the lottery!"

The husband said, "Oh my God! What should I pack, beach stuff or mountain stuff?"

"Doesn't matter," she said. "Just get out."


********************************************


Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right, and the other is a husband.


Have a fantastic Thursday!!!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

"If I had to select one quality, one personal characteristic that I regard as being most highly correlated with success, whatever the field, I would pick the trait of persistence."

Richard DeVos
Co-Founder of Amway


Have a fantastic day!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Have a wonderful, safe and happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

"The most wonderful gift one human being can give to another, is in some way, to make that person's life a little bit better to live."

John Assaraf
Author and Speaker

I loved this!! And I hope, in some small way, I make each of your lives a little better. You certainly make mine better!!!!

Thank you!
Peace and love,
Alannah

What I'm Reading...

I'm not reading anything right now, I'm too busy writing!! LOL I'm saving up, and plan to do a ton of reading over Thanksgiving.

What about you? What are you reading?

I hope it's a fantastic weekend for everyone!!!
Peace and love,
Alannah

Shrimp and Grits

Thursdays seem to be "whatever" for me here, today I'm going to go back to something I used to do and post a recipe. I had a craving for shrimp and grits last night, and I happen to have a simple recipe. Since I don't especially enjoy cooking, I enlisted "G"'s help and realized something - it's a whole lot more fun to cook when you have someone to do it with you. :)

This recipe is so easy, but it tastes sooooo good!!!

3 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon Frank's Red Hot or Texas Pete
1 1/2 pounds peeled and deveined large shrimp
Spicy hot sausage (I used 3 large pieces)
3 strips of bacon
1/2 cup bell pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 Cup chicken broth
1 bunch green onions
1 Tablespoon jalapeno slices

1 1/2 Cup quick cooking grits
butter and salt to season

Shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1. Combine lemon juice, hot sauce and shrimp - set aside.

2. Cook sausage and bacon in skillet. Once cooked, add bell pepper and garlic to skillet, cook until tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in shrimp mixture, broth, and half the green onions and jalapenos. Cook until shrimp is thoroughly cooked.

3. Cook grits according to directions.

Pour shrimp mixture over grits, sprinkle with grits and remaining green onions and EAT UP!!!

Hope you enjoy and have a fantastic Thursday!!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

Hump Day Giggle...

"WHERE is my SUNDAY paper?!" The irate customer calling the newspaper office, loudly demanded to know where her Sunday edition was.

"Madam", said the newspaper employee, "today is Saturday. The Sunday paper is not delivered until tomorrow, on SUNDAY".

There was quite a long pause on the other end of the phone, followed by a ray of recognition as she was heard to mutter,

"Well, shit, that explains why no one was at church today."


Have a happy hump day!!!
Peace and love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

"I must have decided wrongly because I am not at peace, but I can choose again." ~ A Course in Miracles

This showed up in my e-mail in box last night and it was so appropriate to where I am right now, I had to share it with everyone.

Hope it's a great Tuesday for everyone!!

Sending you much peace and love!
Alannah

What I'm About to Read

Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter Series

I've been avoiding this, because the last thing I need is to get hooked on another series. But, Tricia "Pickyme" Schmitt has gotten me hooked with her character portraits (and I haven't even read the first book!). I'm finally caving in and going to start with this series.

Have you read it? Which is the first book? The website was a little confusing when I went to the reading order (there were boxed sets and related books, and I just want to make sure I start with the first one).

Have a fantastic weekend!!!
Peace and love,
Alannah

Round 2 of Writing With the Stars Competition

In case you haven't heard, I have some really great news!! I've made it on to the 2nd round of the Writing With the Stars Competition!!!!

Our second challenge was to write a character description for our hero and heroine, no more than 150 words! :0 Do you know how hard that is? LOL

Here's my description, as well as my mentor's comments, and the comments of the 2nd round judge:

HERO: Gavin McLeod has spent the past 12 years climbing the corporate ladder of Holden Enterprises, positioning himself to become the next CEO. While the climb has netted him financial wealth, allowing him to provide for the grandfather who raised him, Gavin realizes it's also left him on the brink of ethical bankruptcy. He's torn between family obligations, a boss he views as a father-figure, salvaging his self-respect and the woman who's starting to mean everything.

HEROINE: Sunny Black is a hard-working woman whose inner light and capacity to love touches everyone. She was forced to adopt a never-give-up attitude at 10 when her mother took off and Sunny took on the care-taking of her 1-year-old brother. Once again, she's forced to dig deep and find that inner strength as she fights to save her business and falls in love with a man she's not sure she can trust.

Mentor HelenKay Dimon: She worked really hard revising these descriptions to emphasize the characters' internal and external struggles and focus on who they are rather than just the plot points. She wanted them to be multifaceted and did a good job of portraying that. Fitting the important information in such few words was a challenge, but she kept editing until she got it!

Miriam's comments: These descriptions are very clear and I like the way they are put into a natural state of conflict. The only thing we could get a little bit more of is what actually attracts them to each other, but it's a minor quibble, this is a very solid description.


The judge's comments were kind and encouraging and I wish I could take all the credit. But that would be ridiculous!!! HelenKay Dimon is an incredible mentor and I am soooo blessed to have been paired up with her.

If you haven't already, please drop by RTBookReviews.com and exercise your right to vote. :)

I also want to send a special salute to all the veterans. This includes Silver and Paula!! Special hugs to both of you!

Have a great day!!
Peace and love,
Alannah

Your Duck is Dead

A woman brought a very limp duck into a veterinary surgeon. As she laid her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird's chest.

After a moment or two, the vet shook his head and sadly said, "I'm sorry, your duck, Cuddles, has passed away."

The distressed woman wailed, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am sure. Your duck is dead," replied the vet..

"How can you be so sure?" she protested. "I mean you haven't done any testing on him or anything. He might just be in a coma or something."

The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the room. He returned a few minutes later with a black Labrador Retriever. As the duck's owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked up at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head. The vet patted the dog on the head and took it out of the room.

A few minutes later he returned with a cat. The cat jumped on the table and also delicately sniffed the bird from head to foot. The cat sat back on its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and strolled out of the room.

The vet looked at the woman and said, "I'm sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck."

The vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman. The duck's owner, still in shock, took the bill. "$150!" she cried, "$150 just to tell me my duck is dead!"

The vet shrugged, "I'm sorry. If you had just taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it's now $150."

*snort*

Have a great hump day!!!
Peace and love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

"Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome."

Samuel Johnson
1709-1784, Essayist, Biographer and Poet

Peace and love,
Alannah

What I'm Reading...

Seeing as how I'm a HUGE Evanovich fan, I'm very proud of myself for holding off for almost 2 months before I got this book. LOL I've just started it, but so far, so good!

Here's the cover and deets from her website:


Seven Stones of Power. No one knows when they were created or by whom, each said to represent one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

For centuries, treasure hunters have been eager to possess the stones, undeterred by their corrupting nature. The list is long -- Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, Napoleon, to name a few. Now the Stones have found their way to Salem, Massachusetts, and so has Gerwulf Grimoire, adding himself to this rogues' gallery of power seekers. He's an uncommonly dangerous man, with a hunger for the forbidden, and a set of abilities that are way beyond ordinary. Abilities that he feels entitle him to possess anything he might desire.

That would include Elizabeth Tucker, the woman he needs to find the Stones. She's freshly transplanted from New York City to Boston's North Shore. With a new job as pastry chef at Dazzle's bakery and an old house inherited from her Aunt Ophelia, her life is pretty much on track …until it's suddenly derailed by a guy named Diesel, a rude monkey, and a ninja cat.

Lizzy can handle the monkey and the cat. She's not sure about Diesel. He's offering up his own set of unusual talents, promising to protect her from Grimoire. The kind of protection that Lizzy suspects might involve guarding her body day and night.

The Seven Deadly Sins are pride, greed, lust, envy wrath, sloth and gluttony. That pretty much covers everything that is wicked. Diesel thinks it also pretty much covers everything that's fun. And Lizzy thinks Diesel and the Seven Deadly Sins cover everything her mother warned her about.

I hope it's a fantastic weekend for everyone!! I'll be writing, making sure I keep up with my NaNo goals. If anyone wants to do timed writings, hit me up on FB or send me an e-mail and we'll figure out a way to get together and write.

Peace and love,
Alannah

Superman's Sidekick

Isn't it funny how one thing leads to another leads to another? Franny Armstrong was doing an October writing contest, in which the winner would receive "a package of goodies as well as a glossy, 8x10 image of Jimmy Thomas on the cover of Extrasensory Elements Series Book 1-Author's Demise autographed by Jimmy AND Franny!"

Well...being the Jimmy fan that I am, I had to enter this contest! LOL

Below is the story that I entered.

Superman’s Sidekick


“Seriously?” I grumbled, crawling into the passenger seat of my partner, Jimmy’s, red vet. “This is your idea of a comfortable ride? Seven hours of this, I’ll feel like I rode a jack-hammer to Tucson.”

Jimmy grinned and winked.

“I know,” I said, buckling up. “It’s all in how she’s handled.” We’d only been partners a few months, but I’d already learned there was nothing Jimmy couldn’t…handle.

I used to want to be Wonder Woman. Mostly, I’d wanted big boobs, a tiny waist and an invisible plane. But I’d also liked the idea of saving the world. Unfortunately, I hadn’t gotten Wonder Woman’s equipment, and I hadn’t saved the world.

At least not on my own.

Instead, I was Superman’s side-kick, working Security Expert Detail (SExD) for foreign dignitaries. I was pretty sure Jimmy wasn’t really Superman. I suspected some of his abilities had been overstated, and I’d never seen the cape and tights. But he still made a kick-ass partner who had, on occasion, saved the day.

His chocolate gaze turned soft and gooey, and he leaned toward me. “What’s on the plate?” He lifted the foil from my No-Pudge Fudge Brownies, and the fresh baked smell permeated the car’s small interior.

“Fuel,” I said, snatching the plate away. “My fuel. I know you can rock all night. But we mere mortals… sometimes…need an extra boost.”

Jimmy smiled and settled back into his seat. “They’ll be mine before we hit Riverside.”

Yeah, probably. He always got what he wanted.

All of the entries were sent to Franny, who then forwarded them on to Jimmy without names. Even though he didn't KNOW who wrote each story, when he read Superman's Sidekick, he told Franny it had to be mine.

Ahh...that elusive "voice" that I've struggled so hard to find with my current wip!

As a result of that contest, the fun that I had writing that story, and the positive feedback I received on it, I've scrapped the entire manuscript that I've struggld with for the past 18 months.

I'm now using NaNo to re-write my current story in the same first person voice I used on this short story.

Wish me luck! I think I'm gonna need it!! :)

Happy Thursday - only 1 more get-up this week!!
Peace and love,
Alannah

I was somewhere around Wytheville, VA yesterday when I realized I hadn't scheduled a blog post for Tuesday. Hopefully this hump day humor will make up for my slackness.


A 54 year old woman had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital.

While on the operating table she had a near death experience. Seeing God, she asked, "Is my time up?"

God said, "No, you have another 43 years, 2 months and 8 days to live."

Upon recovery, the woman decided to stay in the hospital and have a face-lift, liposuction, breast implants and a tummy tuck.

She even had someone come in and change her hair colour and brighten her teeth! Since she had so much more time to live, she figured she might as well make the most of it.

After her last operation, she was released from the hospital. While crossing the street on her way home, she was killed by an ambulance.

Arriving in front of God, she demanded, "I thought you said I had another 43 years? Why didn't you pull me from out of the path of the ambulance?"

(You'll love this)

God replied: "Hell! I didn't recognize you."

Happy Hump Day!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

Roger, 85, married Jenny, a lovely 25 year old.

Since her new husband is so old, Jenny decides that after their wedding she and Roger should have separate bedrooms, because she is concerned that her new but aged husband may over-exert himself if they spend the entire night together.

After the wedding festivities Jenny prepares herself for bed and the expected knock on the door. Sure enough the knock comes, the door opens and there is Roger, her 85 year old groom, ready for action. They unite as one. All goes well, Roger takes leave of his bride, and she prepares to go to sleep.

After a few minutes, Jenny hears another knock on her bedroom door, and it's Roger, Again he is ready for more "action." Somewhat surprised, Jenny consents for more coupling. When the newly weds are done, Roger kisses his bride, bids her a fond good night and leaves.

She is set to go to sleep again, but, aha, you guessed it - Roger is back again, rapping on the door and is as fresh as a 25-year-old, ready for more "action." And, once more they enjoy each other.

But as Roger gets set to leave again, his young bride says to him, "I am thoroughly impressed that at your age you can perform so well and so often. I have been with guys less than a third of your age who were only good once. You are truly a great lover, Roger."

Roger, somewhat embarrassed, turns to Jenny and says, "You mean I was here already?"

hehehe

Happy Hump Day!!!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

"Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."

Joseph Sugarman
Marketing Expert

Have a great Tuesday!

Peace and love,
Alannah

Change of Program

I said yesterday that HelenKay would be visiting with us today, but she's under the weather and wasn't able to get me her blog post. As soon as she's better, we'll reschedule - hopefully one day next week.

So, what am I reading?

J.R. Ward's CRAVE!!!!

My awesome friend, Liza, was kind enough to get me an autographed copy at the Kentucky booksigning. I managed to wait an entire twenty-four hours before starting on it.

Now, the real test will be...can I use it as a reward for getting my writing done each day. Or will discipline totally fly out the window and I won't write another word until after I've finished the book? LOL

Anyone want to take bets on which way it goes?

Have a fantastic weekend!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

I wish I was this quick-witted!!

Best Comebacks Man: “Haven’t we met before?”
Woman: “Perhaps. I’m the receptionist at the VD Clinic.”

Man: “Haven’t I seen you someplace before?
Woman: “Yeah, that’s why I don’t go there anymore.”

Man: “Is this seat empty?”
Woman: “Yes, and this one will be too if you sit down.”

Man: “So, wanna go back to my place ?”
Woman: “Well, I don’t know. Will two people fit under a rock?”

Man: “Your place or mine?”
Woman: “Both. You go to yours and I’ll go to mine.”

Man: “I’d like to call you. What’s your number?”
Woman: “It’s in the phone book.”

Man: “But I don’t know your name.”
Woman: “That’s in the phone book too.”

Man: “So what do you do for a living?”
Woman: “I’m a female impersonator.”

Man: “Hey, baby, what’s your sign?”
Woman: “Do not Enter”

Man: “How do you like your eggs in the morning?”
Woman: “Unfertilized.”

Man: “Hey, come on, we’re both here at this bar for the same reason.”
Woman: “Yeah! Let’s pick up some chicks!”

Man: “I know how to please a woman.”
Woman: “Then please leave me alone.”

Man: “I want to give myself to you.”
Woman: “Sorry, I don’t accept cheap gifts.”

Man: “I’d go through anything for you.”
Woman: “Good! Let’s start with your bank account.”

Man: “I would go to the end of the world for you.
Woman: “Yes, but would you stay there?


Please be sure to stop by tomorrow and say hello to my Writing With the Stars mentor, HelenKay Dimon!!

Have a great Thursday!

Peace and love,
Alannah

Hump Day Humor....

During one of her daily classes, a teacher, trying to teach good manners, asked her students the following question:

"Michael, if you were on a date having dinner with a nice young lady, how would you tell her that you have to go to the bathroom?"

Michael said, "Just a minute I have to go pee."

The teacher responded by saying,"That would be rude and impolite. What about you Sherman, how would you say it?"

Sherman said, "I am sorry, but I really need to go to the bathroom. I'll be right back."

"That's better, but it's still not very nice to say the word bathroom at the dinner table. And you, little Johnny, can you use your brain for once and show us your
good manners?"

"I would say: Darling, may I please be excused for a moment? I have to shake hands with a very dear friend of mine, whom I hope to introduce you to after dinner."

Gotta love little Johnny!!

Happy Hump Day!

Peace and love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

"There's plenty of intelligence in the world, but the courage to do things differently is in short supply."

Marilyn vos Savant
Columnist, Author and Lecturer


I'm guest blogging today at HelenKay Dimon's, talking about my years as a Mary Kay lady, and the awesome compliment my son gave me this weekend. Please drop by and say hi to me over there if you have a chance. Thanks!!

Have a fantastic day!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

Begging for Votes for a friend

One of the coolest things about being a finalist in the Kensington Brava Writing With the Stars contest is all the new friends I've made. Not only other contestants in this contest, but contestants in other contests, as well.

One of those friends is Romance Diva Kat Cantrell.

Kat is a finalist in the Mills & Boon New Voices Contest. Voting for that contest ends tomorrow (Sunday) night.

Please go vote for Kat's story, Thigh Noon.

Thank you!!!!!

Have a fantastic weekend!
Peace and love,
Alannah

LAST CALL Excerpt

There had been some question as to whether or not we could post an excerpt from our contest entry. The powers that be have said we can, so here is the scene where my characters realize they're on opposite sides of the fence. It's the same excerpt that was posted on Mia Marlowe's blog earlier this week, so if you popped over there, you've already seen it. I'll see if I can do another excerpt next week.

Excerpt from LAST CAL:

“I’m looking for A. L. Black.”

Sunny narrowed her eyes on him like he was a bug that needed squashed. “Why?”

He took a step closer. “I work for Holden Enterprises. We...Max Holden is interested in buying this property. All of his phone calls have gone unreturned, so he sent me to find the owner.”

In the blink of an eye, her demeanor shifted from guarded to combative. Her pupils narrowed to pinpoints. Her lips compressed around the sucker stick, and the rapid rise and fall of her chest had him a concerned she might hyperventilate.

In response to her anger, Gavin’s heart rate picked up, and sweat broke out on his forehead. He didn’t like upsetting Sunny. But her fiery passion, even in the form of anger, cranked his libido into orbit.

“The property isn’t for sale.”

He really wanted to loosen his tie, but that would send a clear signal he was hot and bothered, and it was imperative he gave nothing away. “Mr. Holden is willing to pay a generous sum. More than enough for…” He hesitated, wanting to refer to A.L. as “mister,” but knowing in his gut, he was staring straight into Ms. Black’s gunmetal gray eyes. “The amount would be more than enough to purchase another building, and move the bar to that location.”

Sunny stepped down to the floor and stalked toward him, stopping only when they were toe to toe. Her head barely reached his neck, so she had to crane her neck back to look him in the eye.

But the size difference didn’t matter to her.

She threw her shoulders back, and glared with unyielding determination. “You can tell Mr. Holden this property isn’t, nor will it ever be, for sale. Regardless of his generous amount.”


Have a fantastic weekend!!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

Please Welcome Meredith Simmons - WWTS Finalist

One of the things I've most enjoyed because of the Writing With the Stars Comtest is all the great, new friends I've made. Meredith is one of the finalists, who also happens to live 45 minutes from me!! Merry is an experienced traveler and she's here to give us a few trips on taking amazing vacations on a budget. Please give her a warm welcome!



Goin’ Places


I was really excited when Alannah asked me to do a guest blog, and then I realized I wasn’t an expert on anything. When it comes to writing, I’m still in learning mode and what I don’t know, I make up as I go along. I didn’t feel competent to give advice there.

The one thing I do enjoy, and do a lot of, is travel. The problem with having an unquenchable desire to see what is on the far side of every hill is that it costs so darned much, so I’ve learned how to go places on the cheap. Now, the use of the word “cheap” is relative, but travel can be much less expensive than you think.

Last year, my husband and I made a cross-country road trip. It was the third such trip in the past 4 years and we’ve now visited or re-visited all 48 contiguous states. We live in such an amazing and gorgeous country, it is not to be missed. We drove about 7,500 miles on this particular journey, which took a month.

Our average cost per night for a room was $67, which I think falls into the cheap category. Now, I will admit we didn’t stay in any 5 star hotels recommended by Conde Nast, but all our accommodations were clean, well-appointed, and had great beds. The secret – research and staying in small towns instead of cities or those motel villages that have grown up around interstate intersections. In small towns, there are still charming mom-and-pop motels, lovingly maintained with the owners frequently living on-site. They take great pride in what they offer. They can also point you to the best local restaurants. Some of these are places you might have driven by looking for a national chain, but both the food and the prices are usually better in recommended restaurants. And there are often additional perks. I’ll never forget the Halloween night we had dinner at a very small restaurant in a very small Texas town and had a fantastic floor show as every child in the county tromped in to show off his costume and get a small pie.

To find these more out-of-the-way motels, you have to spend time on the internet doing research, but not only can you find such places, there are even reviews available. And always, always make reservations. If you just drive in to any motel along the road, I promise you will pay the highest price. This particularly holds true if you do stay in a metropolitan area. For this I recommend Hotwire. There may be other websites that are as good, but I’ve never had any problem with a Hotwire hotel. Yes, it is irritating you don’t know the name of the hotel until you book, but all the amenities are listed and the basic location given, so what’s in a name? In a few weeks, we’re flying in and out of LAX and needed a hotel at the airport. We’re staying at a Radisson Hotel on the way out and at a Sheraton on the way back – and yes, they were both under $70 a night. Thank you Hotwire.

If you’re traveling in the US, you should consider getting an America the Beautiful Pass to all the National Parks and Monuments. This pass, which gives the car and everyone in it access to the parks, costs $80 for a year. If you can mange to be in a car with someone 62 or older, you can get the Senior version of this which is an amazing $10 for life. Okay, I admit we use the $10 version, and have seen some of the most amazing sights in the world. The National Park system is on one the jewels of the US and there’s something to interest everyone. One hint is to visit the parks slightly off season. Yellowstone in the spring is wonderful – lots of animals and no traffic. In the summer, it’s a different story. Plus, the surrounding motel rooms are more expensive “in season.”

A road trip is always filled with adventures. This last one had more adventure than we anticipated. On a winding mountain road in Wyoming, a large deer leaped over a barrier and appeared right in front of our car. We couldn’t avoid hitting him. Unfortunately, the deer lost the encounter, but our car was also very damaged. We pounded on a lot of sheet metal and used a lot of duct tape, but we got the car drivable and proceeded on. You see, there was this other tall hill and I wanted to know what was on the other side.


Bio -

Meredith Simmons is one of the excited finalists in the Brava/RT Writing with the Stars contest. She’s previously published short fiction, primarily science fiction and fantasy. Her eleventh published short story recently appeared in the June Realms of Fantasy.

When she’s not chasing elusive words around on her computer keyboard, she’s off on adventures. Her latest trip will be a month-long cruise to the islands of the South Pacific. Just look for the woman singing “Bali Hai.” You can always find Meredith at her website www.meredithsimmons.com. The theme there is, unsurprisingly, a journey.


Me again....What a great article, Merry!!! Thanks so much for sharing your trip tips! It's been a long time since I drove across the country - '92, to be exact - but you've made me want to get in the car and go!

Thanks for joining me today. Please come back and share the details of your month long trip to the S. Pacific. I'm sure you'll have fabulous stories to tell!

How about you guys, do you have any questions?

Have a great Thursday!
Peace and love,
Alannah

Hump Day Humor....

I got nothing!! I tried to download some funny pictures from an e-mail my mom sent me, but my computer won't cooperate.

So, I was thinking we could do something a little different.

Can you guys share a joke with me? Or something that has made you laugh in the past week?

Next week I'll do better. I promise! :)

Have a great hump day!!
Peace and love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

"Determination and perseverance move the world; thinking that others will do it for you is a sure way to fail."

Marva Collins
Educator


I'm guest-blogging at two different places today. If you have a chance, drop by and visit with me there.

The first is with Kensington author, Mia Marlowe. I'll be talking about Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and the influence he had on me getting LAST CALL written. Seriously. LOL

The second place I'll be hanging out at today is RomRevToday.com,

I hope it's a fantastic Tuesday for you!!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

Love Story

I've been wrapped up in a couple of projects so I haven't started anything new. Since that's the case, and we're all lovers of romance, I thought I'd share with you this love story of Ralph and Edna.



Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool Ralph suddenly jumped into the deep end.

He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there.

Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled him out. When the Head Nurse Director became aware of Edna's heroic act she immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as she now considered her to be mentally stable.

When she went to tell Edna the news she said, 'Edna, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged, since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of the person you love. I have concluded that your act displays sound mindedness.

The bad news is, Ralph hung himself in the bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he's dead.'

Edna replied, 'He didn't hang himself, I put him there to dry. How soon can I go home?'

I hope you have a fantastic weekend!!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

Where Did Piss Poor Come From?

This is all very educational... and sometimes funny! Enjoy :)

Interesting History

They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & sold to the tannery.......if you had to do this to survive you were "Piss Poor."

But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn't even afford to buy a pot......they "didn't have a pot to piss in" & were the lowest of the low.

The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s:

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June. However, since they were starting to smell. Brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water!"

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof...Hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, "Dirt poor."

The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way. Hence: a thresh hold.

Getting quite an education, aren't you?)

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire...Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinnerm leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while.

Hence the rhyme:
Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old.

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat.

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust. Lead cups were used to drink ale or whiskey. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days.

Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a dead ringer.

And that's the truth....Now, whoever said history was boring!!! :)

Happy Thursday!!
Peace and love,
Alannah

Hump Day Humor....

If you're friends with me on Facebook you might have already seen this video. Or, if you're friends with Monica Burns you might have seen it. She's the one who originally posted it and I stole it from her.

I have watched this video over and over and over and I can't help but LMAO every time! This kid's eyes, the way he moves his head and shoulders. All of it make me roll with laughter every time. And the longer the song goes, the more into it he gets. It gives new meaning to dance and sing as if no one is watching (but millions have watched!)

I hope it makes you laugh, or at least smile, too!



Happy Hump Day!!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

Through my RWA Online chapter, a group of us are doing The Artist's Way together. I've started it too many times to count, but I've never finished it. This time, I'm going to finish!! Dammit!!

We're in the first week, so I'll keep you posted on how I do. :)

There was a quote that caught my eye today and really resonated with me, so I thought I'd share it with you.

Man is asked to make of himself what he is supposed to become to fulfill his destiny. ~ Paul Tillich

A little long and wordy, and takes reading a few times to really get, but I really, really liked it. Hope you do too.

Have a fantastic Tuesday!!
Peace and love,
Alannah

I really enjoy Nina Bangs' books, and it's been a while since I read one. Here are the details from her website for the one I'm reading now.



THE ELEVEN—an alliance of ultimate predators. Primal, lethal, irresistible.

THE PROPHECY—an ancient Mayan prediction that the world will end on 12-21-12.

THE PREY—where can you hide from pure evil?

Lies. He’s been promised a new life as the hunter he once was. But Al soon learns that all the rules have changed. Now he must control his most basic urges—the need to kill, to feed, to mate. And the woman he wants looks at him with both heat and fear in her eyes. Jenna Maloy doesn’t buy the story that he’s come to Philadelphia to save souls. She seems to see through the layers of deception to the primitive heart of him. With her beside him, Al stalks the dark forces that crouch in the city’s night shadows. But the real battle rages in his heart. Love is a formidable opponent. How can he ask her to stay with him after she’s seen the savagery of his beast? He only knows that if she turns from him he’ll be cursed with an Eternal Craving.

Eleven Gods of the Night…
The only creatures more deadly are the ones they’ve been summoned to destroy.


The rains have stopped, and I'm looking forward to a beautiful weekend. I hope it's fantastic for all of you, as well!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

A Day In The Life....

Since I've been doing a "day in the life" kind of thing on Thursdays, I thought I'd stick with that today and show you what we're dealing with.

I posted a few of these pics on FB but thought I'd share them here too. The first picture was taken about 9:00 Wed. morning. If you look at the pond, you can see how low the water level is (which is actually much higher than it was before we got 5" of rain on Monday).












The second picture is taken from the same place, but two hours later. Yay, our pond is full. LOL In fact, our pond runeth over.












The third was taken from the pond, looking back toward the house.





I'm actually posting this at 10:35 on Wed., so I'll give ya'll an update when I wake up Thursday morning.


Have a great day!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

Hump Day Humor....

This has gone around for a while, but I still like it. :)

Bottle of Wine

A woman and a man are involved in a car accident on a snowy, cold Monday morning; it's a bad one. Both of their cars are totally demolished, but amazingly neither of them is hurt. God works in mysterious ways.

After they crawl out of their cars, the man is yelling about women drivers.

The woman says, 'So, you're a man. That's interesting. I'm a woman. Wow, just look at our cars! There's nothing left, but we're unhurt. This must be a sign from God that we should be friends and live in peace for the rest of our days.'

Flattered, the man replies, 'Oh yes, I agree completely, this must be a sign from God! But you're still at fault...women shouldn't be allowed to drive.'

The woman continues, 'And look at this, here's another miracle. My car is completely demolished but this bottle of wine didn't break. Surely God wants us to drink this wine and celebrate our good fortune. She hands the bottle to the man.

The man nods his head in agreement, opens it and drinks half the bottle and then hands it back to the woman.

The woman takes the bottle, puts the cap back on and hands it back to the man.

The man asks, 'Aren't you having any?'

The woman replies, 'No. I think I'll just wait for the police...'

MORAL OF THE STORY:
Women are clever, evil bitches.
Don't mess with them.

Have a great hump day!!!
Peace and love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

"Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential."

Sir Winston Churchill

This is a refreshing thought. I don't have to be the smartest gal in the group, and I'll NEVER be the strongest, no matter how much I work out. But I can still succeed. :) I like to hear that!

Hope it's a great Tuesday!!
Peace and love,
Alannah

What I'm Reading....

You will never believe this, but I'm STILL reading Sin Undone! *gasp*

I know!!

Things have just been so hectic - mostly due to my serious lack of organization - that I haven't had a chance to read much. I did read for the entire 1.5 hour wait time at Duke and am far enough into it now, that I'll probably make it a priority.

Even over my own writing. LOL

How about you? What's on your reading list for the weekend?

I hope it's a great weekend for everyone!!
Peace and love,
Alannah

Duke Day

Hubby had his MRI about 3 weeks ago (because he was having seizures and really not feeling well they bumped it up ahead of schedule), so we already know everything should be okay with this appointment.

But...prayers and good thoughts would be appreciated anyway if you can spare them. :) I know they won't hurt.

I'll give you guys an update when I get back this evening.

Until then, I'll leave with another day of humor.

"THE BLONDE AND THE COW"

A blond City girl named Amy marries a Colorado rancher.

One morning, on his way out to check on the cows, the rancher says to Amy, "The insemination man is coming over to impregnate one of our cows today, so I drove a nail into the 2 by 4 just above where the cow's stall is in the barn. Please show him where the cow is when he gets here, OK?"

The rancher leaves for the fields. After a while, the artificial insemination man arrives and knocks on the front door.

Amy takes him down to the barn. They walk along the row of cows and when Amy sees the nail, she tells him, "This is the one right here."

The man, assuming he is dealing with an air head blonde, asks, "Tell me lady, 'cause I'm dying to know; how would YOU know that this is the right cow to be bred?"

"That's simple," she said. "By the nail that's over its stall," she explains very confidently.

Laughing rudely at her, the man says, "And what, pray tell, is the nail for?"

The blonde turns to walk away and says sweetly over her shoulder, "I guess it's to hang your pants on."


(It's nice to see a blonde winning once in awhile.)


Have a great day!!!
Peace and Love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

"We often think of enthusiasm as caused by an external event. However, it can be generated from within, becoming an intentional action for transforming virtually anything in our lives. Enthusiasm can take the seemingly small, dull, boring, or unimportant and turn it into something new and magnificent. Learn to strengthen the muscle of your enthusiasm, letting the tiny become great, and you will reclaim your energy and passion." -- Anat Baniel


Liza - you and your family have been in my thoughts.

Have a great Tuesday everyone!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

What I'm Reading...

Here are the cover and details from Brenda Novak's website:

White Heat Paradise? In name only…

Nate Ferrentino and Rachel Jessop are operatives for Department 6, a private security company, and they’re going undercover to expose a new and dangerous cult.

This group has taken up residence in the Arizona desert, in a ghost town called Paradise. Members worship at the feet—and in the bed--of its charismatic leader, Ethan Wycliff. On his orders, they tried to stone a woman to death. And they’re implicated in the disappearance of a teenage girl.

To expose the Church of the Covenant, with its arcane rituals and debauched practices, Nate and Rachel must pretend to be married. That’s the only way they can get in—but being Nate’s “wife” is the last thing Rachel wants. She and Nate have a one-night history that’s just an embarrassment to her now. But they don’t have a choice. Wycliff has to be stopped.

I'm not very far into it, but so far it's great! The reviews for it have been awesome so I expect it to only get better. :)

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!
Peace and love,
Alannah

Meet The Ten Finalists

Maeve Greyson, one of the competitors in the Kensington Brava competition "stumbled" across this. She posted it on Twitter, and I hijacked the link. LOL

Romantic Times has posted the photos and bios of the ten finalists in the Writing With the Stars Contest. If you have time, drop by and check it out.

Silver, I hope you use the day to recover so you'll be ready to go again tomorrow!!

Have a fantastic Thursday everyone!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

Food for thought...

"History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats."

Bertie Charles Forbes


Peace and love,
Alannah

A Day In The Life....

Today, I thought I'd share a story (or two) about my uncle. I tried to load a picture I had taken yesterday, but apparently Blogger doesn't want you to see it.

If we're FB friends, you might have already seen the first one. The second, I probably should tell - or admit that he's my uncle - but I'm going to anyway. LOL

We were watching the news the other night and they were talking about the terrible drug war in Mexico. From out of the corner of the room, I hear, "Your Uncle Larry spent a night in a Mexican jail once."

I whip my head around so I'm facing him and said, "No, you didn't?"

My mom (his sister) and his wife start nodding their heads and he's grinning from ear to ear. "Yeah, I did."

"Why?"

"hehehe...for cheering for the bull. We damn near started a riot."

Today, I found out he also spent a weekend in a county jail in Kentucky. Believe it or not, my uncle spent years and years and years in law enforcement. LOL But this was back when he was young and really stupid.

He got caught driving under the influence on his way back to Fort Knox. They threw him in the county jail early one Saturday morning. And he didn't see anyone again until Monday morning!! Whoever was supposed to come in and feed him over the weekend, never showed. LMAO

Needless to say, the judge let him go and squared everything with his commanding officer at Fort Knox to get the AWOL charges dropped too.

All day, every day, is one story after another like that. That's why I always have my tape recorder at the ready. You never know when a gem of a story is going to get told.

Have a great day!!
Peace and love,
Alannah

Hump Day Humor....

An elderly couple, Margaret and Bert, moved to Texas.

Bert always wanted a pair of authentic cowboy boots, so, seeing some on sale, he bought them and wore them home.

Walking proudly, he sauntered into the kitchen and said to his wife, "Notice anything different about me?"

Margaret looked him over. "Nope."

Frustrated, Bert stormed off into the bathroom, undressed and walked back into the kitchen completely naked except for the boots.

Again he asked Margaret, a little louder this time, "Notice anything different NOW?"

Margaret looked up and said in her best deadpan, "Bert, what's different? It's hanging down today, it was hanging down yesterday, it'll be hanging down again tomorrow."

Furious, Bert yelled, "AND DO YOU KNOW WHY IT'S HANGING DOWN, MARGARET?"

"Nope. Not a clue", she replied.

"IT'S HANGING DOWN, BECAUSE IT'S LOOKING AT MY NEW BOOTS!!!!"

Without missing a beat, Margaret replied, "Shoulda' bought a hat, Bert. Shoulda' bought a hat."

LMAO!!!

Have a great Hump Day!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

"Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself. You must be able to sustain yourself against staggering blows. There is no code of conduct to help beginners. That is why some people with mediocre talent, but with great inner drive, go much further than people with vastly superior talent."

Sophia Loren

AMEN!!! LOL

I hope everyone has a great Tuesday. I'm traveling today, a bitter-sweet trip. I'm headed to Ohio to see my uncle. My mom is there, and we always have a great time when we all get together, laughing, joking, telling stories.

But it's very likely this is the last time I'm going to see my uncle and that realization is about to break my heart.

So...if y'all wouldn't mind sending me some good, positive thoughts and virtual hugs while I make this drive, I'd be most appreciative. Once I get there, I'm sure it'll be easier. It's just the drive, and way too much time to think, that's going to be rough on me.

Hugs to all of you!!
Peace and love,
Alannah

What I'm Reading...

This is sort of a repeat from last week. Last week, I was wishing I was reading SIN UNDONE. I went to B&N this week and got it, but I haven't had a chance to read much of it yet. I mean, in 3 or 4 days, I've only read about 20 pages. :(

I got my challenges back from HelenKay today, so I'll be working on those this weekend, getting everything wrapped up and ready to submit by the beginning of next week. Hopefully, I'll be able to sneak in a little reading time betwen rewrites. That'll be my motivation for getting focused and getting them done. LOL

How about you? How many books have you read since last week? LOL

Have a great Labor Day Weekend everyone!!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

So What Happens When...

Thanks again to everyone who came out and helped me celebrate yesterday. I had way too much fun. No, really...I had way too much fun! LOL

I didn't have time to get a blog post together, and this morning I'm feeling the after-effects of all the celebrations. *grins* So, to keep it simple, I'm going to share with you what's on my mind, and what I'll be doing today.

Most of you know that I'm extremely fortunate and live in eastern North Carolina. My permanent home is in inland about 40 miles, but we also have a river cottage on the Pamlico River, about 3 miles inland from the Pamlico Sound. About 30 miles due east of Cape Hatteras - that's the important marker for all this. LOL

If you don't watch the news on a regular basis you might not know about Earl. A powerful Cat 4 hurricane headed in our direction. The official forecast has it staying about 50 miles off-shore, but this storm is so big I don't think the residents of Hatteras are taking much comfort in that 50 mile cushion.

How does this affect me?



See that beautiful pier? In the past, when a storm has approached and been forecast to hit the coast from the south, we've taken that pier up. It's built in 4' sections, so we start at the end by the big deck, unbolt it, load it on a handtruck, wheel it up to the edge of shore where it's loaded onto a trailer and moved to our back lot across the road.

If we don't do that, and we get it with pounding waves, we lose the pier.

But this is Labor Day weekend, and we don't want to have to spend a full day putting the pier back down. So...SIL, FIL and I, are going down this morning to get the boat and jetski out of the water, secure everything outside, then spend the day tracking the storm.

If it shifts to the west, we'll spend the evening taking up the pier. If it maintains its current track, and really does seem like it's going to stay off-shore, we're going to cross our fingers and hope the water rise in the Pamlico is slow and gentle enough that it comes over the pier without beating against it.

I hope everyone all along the eastern seaboard stays safe with this storm. We've been through enough of them (as many as 2-3 in one year!) to know they can be unpredictable and no fun!


On a side note: Some of you know my hubby has been sick for the past week. As a precaution, they did his MRI 3 weeks early, just to check and make sure everything was okay (He's been having some blurry vision, headaches, nausea). The MRI looked great! They now think it could be the new medicine they've put him on that's making him sick. I just wanted to go ahead and give that update while I was thinking about it.

So what does everyone else have going on?

UPDATE: Pier is now coming up. *sigh* I'll check in tonight when I get back.

Have a great Thursday!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

"You can conquer almost any fear if you will only make up your mind to do so. For remember, fear doesn't exist anywhere except in the mind."

Dale Carnegie
1888-1955, Speaker and Author


Thanks for all the birthday wishes yesterday. You guys are the best!! And...y'all HAVE to come back here tomorrow! There is going to be a party!! I can't tell you why, not until tomorrow. But I can tell you it's going to be HUGE and you won't want to miss it! :)

Have a great day!
Peace and love,
Alannah

What I WISH I was reading...

Here's the cover and deets from Ione's website:

HER TOUCH IS DEADLY

As the only female Seminus demon ever born, master assassin Sinead Donnelly is used to being treated like an outcast. She spent decades enslaved, and now vows she’ll die before she’ll relinquish her freedom again. Then Sin’s innate ability to kill her enemies goes awry: She creates a lethal new werewolf virus that sparks a firestorm of panic and violence.

HIS HUNGER CAN’T BE DENIED

Half-werewolf, half-vampire Conall Dearghul is charged with bringing in Sin to face punishment for the plague. And she’s no stranger: He’s bound to her by blood, and the one sexual encounter they shared has left him hungering for her raw sensuality. Worse, Sin is the underworld’s most wanted and Con soon learns he’s the only one who can help her . . . and that saving her life might mean sacrificing his own.


Has anyone gotten this yet? A FB friend found it at Wal-mart last week and said it was awesome. Not that I expected anything less. I've been busy working on a few projects and have intentionally not gone to B&N to pick up this book because I KNOW it'll get me into trouble. LOL

If anyone else has read it, please let me know.

Have a great weekend!!
Peace and love,
Alannah

Hump Day Giggle...

Random Thoughts for the Day:

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this -- ever.

15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

18. My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the hell do I respond to that?

19. I think the freezer deserves a light as well..

20. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.

Have a fabulous Hump Day!!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, and catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

--Mark Twain

I absolutely love this quote!!

Explore! Dream!! Discover!!!

And have a fantastic Tuesday!
Peace and love,
Alannah

What I'm Reading...

Here's the information from her Jessica Bird website:

A beautiful woman pursued by a serial killer. A hard-hearted bodyguard. A passionate love that changes the course of two lives.

Grace Hall lives in the lap of luxury, surrounded by gorgeous things and glittering people but when a serial killer marks her for death, she finds herself totally alone.

She hires John Smith as her protector and finds a passion she never dreamed of, in a tough man from a different world. Beneath his brash self-confidence, she sees the potential for true love in him and it becomes clear that, although he's nothing she's ever wanted before, he's everything she needs.

At first, Smith is convinced Grace is only what she appears to be - rich, pampered, beautiful - so he isn't concerned about the hot desire he feels for her. He's a man with total faith in his self-control and he has no intention of getting involved. She's a client, she's in danger and she's not his type, anyway. But the longer he's with her, the more he's impressed by her courage and strength, tested by her honesty and intelligence, tempted by her very presence. Soon, he realizes he'll never find another like her and he's caught between what's professional and what he wants.

As the killer gets closer, and the emotional stakes get higher, Grace and Smith face a crucial choice. Whether to follow the rules or follow their hearts.

I can't begin to tell you how glad I am I picked up this book. It's good, but it's nothing like the BDB books. Her voice is soooo different, and it all gives me hope. Maybe I really can get better over time! LOl

Have a fantastic weekend!!
Peace and love,
Alannah

Food For Thought...

"The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: decide what you want."

Ben Stein


*nods head* This is so true!!

Have a fantastic day!!

Peace and love,
Alannah

What I'm Reading...

Here's the deets from Lois Greiman's website:

A homicide detective Jack Rivera has a killer body, a wicked smile, and a velvet touch. Just ask Christina McMullen. The cocktail-waitress-turned-psychologist has handled obsessed patients, love-struck drunks, and her own guilt-tripping mother with aplomb. But when it comes to the lieutenant, Chrissy has an old-fashioned case of irresistible attraction—until things turn fatal when Rivera is accused of murder!

Not only was Rivera found unconscious next to a dead woman, but the victim was his beautiful ex-girlfriend—who left Rivera for his wealthy dad. Chrissy detects a few father-and-son issues—along with plenty of evidence that her would-be boyfriend is guilty. But when she starts looking into the dead woman’s past, a rich senator’s connections, and Rivera’s relationship with his mother, will she discover there’s hope for her and Rivera after all? Or will her curiosity have deadly consequences?



I read the first two in this series years ago, and have just now gotten back to it. They're great fun,, and if you like the Stephanie Plum series, I think you'd like these. The voice is similar (very similar, imo) and the characters are fantastic.

I hope you have a fantastic day and a great weekend!!! Oh, and don't forget to watch the night sky for the meteor shower (midnight until sunrise is supposed to be the best time).

Peace and love,
Alannah