Packing Light?

In two weeks time I leave for the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Chicago. I know I’m a little early but I am having a weeklong side-trip to New Orleans before flying on up to the Windy City. My mind is full of the possibilities of travel what will I do, where will I go and above all, what will the weather be like? This leaves me with a problem… two different climates. Packing might be an issue…

Having said that, packing is ALWAYS a problem for me.

How do you light packers do it? Part of my problem is that I am a planner, seriously, lists and schedules are my thing. I am not physically capable of leaving things to chance. I get cold sweats just thinking about it. I will have to pack for hot and cool plus stuff for the RT Con and any other eventuality that comes to me meantime. I have dresses, shorts and jeans and costumes and swag to think about. Then there’s medication, migraine, asthma, allergies….then there were those times when I got tonsillitis so maybe I should bring antibiotics… Shoes! Sneakers, walking shoes, heels sandals to wear with those dresses and shorts. Jewellery, gotta be blinged out. Also toiletries cos I have my favourite brands of everything and god knows I can’t leave those at home. Electronics, of course those all have to be in my carry on with the jewellery. Netbook, ereader (thank GOD for the ereader cos books were another packing issue), camera, phone and all the assorted chargers. There’s no WAY I can fit all that in one 20kg bag! I say it again, how do you people manage to pack light?

What a week!

I'm late posting because I've been ill. But I'm feeling much better now and today my email brought me something worth celebrating!

You have perhaps read of PayPal's recent decision to stop allowing its services to be used by companies that sell certain kinds of erotica. If the companies did not censor their offerings, PayPal would no longer do business with them. 

Further information then came out that PayPal's change in their Terms of Service (TOS) was actually dictated to them by the credit card companies and banks who decided THEY didn't want to have dealings with certain kinds of erotica. It was the financial institutions who put PayPal in the middle and PayPal made a decision based on their own best business interests.

Enter Mark Coker of Smashwords. In my blog post on this earlier last week, I said that, "If I were an artist, I'd draw him as a knight standing before a pile of books, wielding a sword of words against bankers and investment firms who stand ready with lit matches."

Today I'd adapt that picture to one of him beating back the bankers and investment firms, the wind of his sword blowing out their matches because today, PayPal reversed it's decision. They will NOT be a part of censorship of legal fiction in any way.

Does that mean PayPal has put its own business in jeopardy because its standing up for what it has come to understand is right? You betcha. In Mark's words (from his public letter sent today): "This is a big, bold move by PayPal. It represents a watershed decision that protects the rights of writers to write, publish and distribute legal fiction. It also protects the rights of readers to purchase and enjoy all fiction in the privacy of their own imagination. It clarifies and rationalizes the role of financial services providers and pulls them out of the business of censoring legal fiction."

So here's me beating the drum and recommending to all of you who purchase ebooks: Go to Smashwords. Visit the site and look at the offerings. Many of the Scribes have books there for sale, but so do thousands of other writers. Support this wonderful company that went to bat for our right to read what we want without censorship from Those Who Know Better. You won't be sorry...and you'll help send a message that solidifies PayPal's decision that they did the right thing.

Diana

Read an Ebook Week

It's the perfect time to fill up all those Kindles and Nooks and Kobos and Sony Readers and settle in for a day (or two or three) of reading. The Scribes have lots of books to help you fill up those ereaders. Check out all our pretty book covers on our website.

Two of my self-published books are on sale at Smashwords. Normally $1.99, you can buy Anything Goes or Panties Optional this week for only 99¢. Just use coupon code REW50 when you check out. (My other book available at Smashwords, What Are Friends For?, is already 99¢.)

Whether you buy one of my books or one of the other Scribes' books, curl up in your comfy chair and escape for a few hours into our world.

Happy reading!

Lynn

Influential Underwear

Usually when I write, I have revelations about characters or actions but recently I had a revelation about underwear.

My current story (just days from sending to my editor) involves a pair of crimson panties. They appear at various times in the story. My heroine likes to wear sexy red panties under her police uniform. It gives her an extra boost of confidence when she's working with the male officers.

After I wrote it, it made me think: how much influence does my underwear have on my attitude?

I’ll state now, I go for comfort, not style, almost every time. If I have to spend the day readjusting my bra or tugging on my undies, I’m going to be irritated. But I usually try to get something that’s at least pretty.

Recently, I was desperate for underwear and ended up purchasing what can only be called "Granny Panties." Every time I put them on, even though no else is likely to see them, I feel frumpy and bland. I’d throw them away but I’m also a terrible shopper so I need them in my undie rotation right now. But they are always my last choice. And I sigh whenever I see them. Strange how something most people never see influences behavior.

There’s probably some comment on the sexual nature of our society in there but that's not something I can figure out right now.

And just a note, I watch movies and TV shows and whenever a woman is seen in her underwear, it's always sexy and it always matches! I can't believe that's real life--does everyone wear sexy bras and thongs under their work clothes? That’s got to be some male costume designer’s dream right? Who does that? And even when I do wear sexy, they don’t match. I don’t have time for those kinds of complications.

So, no wicked revelations today, just thinking about foundations in writing. (Get it? Foundations? I’m hilarious. I know)

Memories Of That Special One

Today in northern Minnesota, the sun is shining and it’s hard to believe it’s just a little past the middle of February! It’s supposed to be COLD here, not nice to enough to sit out on the deck in sweats with no jacket. But I’m glad it’s nice. I’m glad I had a chance to sit in the sun and reflect on this special day.

For all you animal lovers out there, today is my beautiful yellow lab’s birthday. And you know exactly what I’m talking about if you’re fortunate enough to have had that one special dog in your life time, one that you just can’t forget. I’m sad thinking about her, yet grateful for all the years she graced us with her human-like antics. You know, I’m thinking I’ve written about her before but she was just that great of a dog that she deserves a second go around.

You see, we had to make the decision for Ms. Kaydee to say goodbye to us four years ago. She was twelve and I know if it wouldn’t have been for cancer, we most likely would have had her around for another three or four years. As terrible as this sounds, I remember waking up every morning for six months before her death and actually hoping I’d find her passed and at peace. I did not want to have to make that life/death call in regard to another living spirit, one that I loved so much.

What a clown she was! Not a day ever passed that she didn’t make me laugh. My kids grew up with Kaydee and their fondest memories are times spent with that dog. We have a big yard out here in the country and summer days were spent playing baseball or swimming. My two sons would take the positions of pitcher and catcher and my daughter would be at bat. And there out at the end of the yard would sit Kaydee, playing outfielder. Oh, she knew her position well and took it seriously! The ball would get smacked to the outfield and she’d be there to retrieve and run it back to the pitcher. Dropping it, she’d race back out and assume her position! Not a bird or squirrel could gain her attention. Not when there was a serious baseball game in progress.

We laugh now how swimming as a group was a bit of a problem. That dog loved the water but hated if someone was splashing around. To her it meant one of the kids, or my husband or I, were in danger of drowning. Someone always had to sit and hold her collar or risk actually being drowned when she hit the water at a hundred miles an hour, swam out, grabbed your arm and dragged you back to shore. Kaydee was NOT happy until everyone was safely lined up in the sand and a headcount was taken.

Kaydee was an avid hunter like my husband. They spent a lot of time walking fields, in search of pheasant and grouse. What a great partner she was for him. When she was five and in her hunting prime, she tore all the ligaments in her knee. So we put out the bucks for her to have surgery and she then became my live-in couch potato, a new career that suited her well! Well couch potato or office manager. I still miss having her lay at my feet when I’m working in my office.

So, that fateful time that all dog lovers fear, finally came. I knew I had to make the decision. She was having a difficult time breathing. She fell down the steps three separate times in a week. It was a struggle for her to get up on her own. Being 105 pounds, she wasn’t easy to lift. I guess having to make that horrible decision is a form of absolute love, however. I didn’t want her hurting anymore. I didn’t want her looking with longing out the window…

So I’m sitting here in my office, not quite alone, because she’s still here with me in my heart. My memories are happy ones. Thanks, Kaydee. And Happy Birthday. I miss you!

Brain Freeze Blog

Ever have a day where you just can't think straight?

I've had a busy couple of weeks. So my brain seems addled no matter what I try to do to sort my thoughts. I visited my son last weekend and watched him graduate from bootcamp. It was one of the proudest moments of my life. He is so handsome :)

Since returning, I've had a nasty cold that just doesn't seem to want to go away. And I haven't had a chance to catch up on my writers duties because I've had no time. The day job has ramped up my hours (not complaining) but it cuts into my writing time. Damn sure wish I could hit the lottery, pay off my debts and bring my Sizzling Scribe sisters together for a party. Now that would clear the writing cobwebs from my brain and jump start the creative juices again.

I've got a story I want to finish soon and get to my editor but can't seem to concentrate. I've been tossing around different scenario's for my story in the Sweet Spot Series that the Sizzling Scribes are creating and self-pubbing. This is going to be a phenomenal collection of stories from a great group of authors and I'm proud to get the chance to be included.

I have decided that no matter how crummy this cold makes me feel I plan to go to jazzercise in the morning. Hopefully getting back on the path of exercise and eating healthy will help me focus on the projects I want so desperately to complete.

I'm sitting here on the couch and I can't believe it's snowing. Not much, just a dusting but it's still snow :) I like snow. Just not alot of it.

I'm sorry this blog is so disorganized. I guess I shouldn't write while on cold medicine. LOL.

Super Bowl Sunday

So I'm on my couch, chips are on the counter, a beer is in my hand and pizza is in the oven. My husband is clued to the pre-game show and every last move each player has made since kindergarten is being analyzed.

And I really couldn't care less. Don't get me wrong, I love Tom Brady, any time I can watch good looking men in tight pants, I'm all for it, but really, after two weeks of hype, all I really care about now are the commercials.

So, if you're watching the big game, whether by choice or by marriage related pressure, here is something to keep you interested in if the game gets dull. . .

Count how many gratuitous cheerleader cleavage shots are shown.

Make an over/under guess as to how many beer commercials are shown

See if you can guess how many of the players on the field actually know who Madonna is

Calculate how much hairspray is used for this one game by the broadcasting crew

Oh, and maybe root for one of the teams. I'll be going for the one with the cutest quarterback. . .