Uhm…It IS Monday

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Silver James

funny-pictures-my-official-monday-face[EDIT: Yeah..I sorta forgot a subject/title line *headdesk* Which means WordPress grabbed the first line…] Time just keeps marching inexorably along, doesn’t it? Ah, well. How was your weekend? Mine…was. It’s never long enough, which is weird because I work most weekends. 🙄 What should it matter, right?

So, here’s what I did…

I celebrated the acceptance of COWGIRLS DON’T CRY. Next step is line edits and getting on the production schedule. 🙂

I discovered that the first three chapters for the proposal for COWGIRLS SWEETHEART aren’t the first three chapters at all. So…more work. I also figured out I really hate writing a synopsis for a book I haven’t written yet. I don’t write linearly and writing a synopsis is too much like doing an outline. *shudder* Ah well. I shall persevere.

The family celebrated Baseball Boy’s birthday at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill. Giant chicken-fried steaks. And cheese fries. Yeah, no dinner for me! We got to see (and HOLD!) Bean Sprout. He slept through lunch. He’s such a goo’ boy!

Oh, and I discovered a new-to-me author. I should not read blogs listing ebooks on sale. I found one where the blurb intrigued me. It was .99 so why not? I mean, it’s not like I don’t have 5 books to read for contests or already have 100+ books on the TBR pile. Nope. Had to go buy a new one. And then get stuck in a long checkout line. Without the contest book I’m reading. So what did I do? I pulled up that 99 center on my iPhone. And couldn’t frickin’ put the book down. Grrrr. And then downloaded the second book and had to read it. Instead of working. Or read contest books. *headdesk* The author is Dannika Dark and the book is SEVEN YEARS. It’s about Shifters. She’s funny but knows how to be dark. I’ll have quotes on Wednesday.

Today, I HAVE to get SWEETHEART sorted out. I have to hide my Kindle. And at some point, I should consider doing housework…or not. shifty-eyes-ani2faster

Who had fun and what do you have planned for the week?

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Friday Fun – Maks and Meryl

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Silver James

I’ve been amazed by the level of competition in this season’s Dancing With The Stars. Here’s the long version of the foxtrot Maks and gold-medalist Meryl Davis did for week 3’s Most Memorable Year show. Watch the story and then the dance. And people wonder why I have such a crush on Maks!

FYI, Maks has long been the human model for a Victorian Gaslight story on my back burner. Watching him with Meryl? I’m probably going to have to change Aggie’s description. *nods*

Happy Friday! And Happy Birthday to my favorite son-in-law, Baseball Boy!

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Universal Insider

Posted on April 3, 2014 by Silver James

universeI’m normally pretty even keeled. No great highs or lows. Usually. Sure, I get depressed (clinical diagnosis once upon a time). And I get sillily happy and prone to Snoopy dancing when good things happen. But by and large, in my day-to-day life, I’m mostly mellow. I smile. I’ve been known to sniffle over a book, a commercial, a TV show. I laugh at silly internet memes.

When the Universe popped in with this, I wasn’t too surprised, being mostly self-contained. But it bears repeating.

Silver, all that you need, to have all that you want, lies inside of you, right now.

Everything.

The Universe
© http://www.tut.com ®

Silver, what a package!

We are what we are and we each have the capacity to decide and go after what we want. All we need do is look inside. Do you know what you want and need?

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Wednesday Words – Writing

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Silver James

Create definitionFor those of you who follow my author page on Facebook, you know that I’m wont to post funny “ecards”, pictures, and other Pinterest type things that have to do with writing. Today, I’m sharing some of my favorites, at least the words, if not the pictures. 😉 Starting with the one pictured here.

And these:

Writer’s Block: When your imaginary friends stop talking to you.

I love being a writer. It’s such a convenient excuse for avoiding housework and laundry.

Why I Write: Because kidnapping people and forcing them to act out your interesting make-believe worlds is technically illegal.

With a pencil and paper, I create worlds. What do you do for a living?

Do you have some favorites? Share them so I can pin them!

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April Fool’s Day Pie

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Silver James

Happy April Fool’s Day! Since it’s Tuesday, I thought I’d kill two birds with one blog. Today’s Tuesday Treat is Apple Pie My Eye, a dessert perfect for April Fool’s Day. You’ll understand once you read the recipe.

True story. When I was a kid, I made this pie and entered it in the county fair. Imagine my surprise when I discovered I’d won a blue ribbon–for best FRUIT pie. Seriously! And the recipe was even attached to my entry. Go figure! 😆

Apple Pie My Eye
In a 2 quart sauce pan, add ingredients and stir.
2 cups water
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 stick margarine or butter
Bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes.

In a bowl, break 21 soda crackers into 3rds. Sprinkle with
1 1/2 teaspoon cream of tarter
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg

Drop mixture into boiling syrup and push down with spoon. Boil another 3 minutes WITHOUT stirring.

Pour into unbaked 9-inch pie shell and top with a second crust. Bake in preheated 450 degree oven for 20 minutes.

Here’s a quick and easy pie crust recipe:
1 3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup corn oil
Blend in a bowl. Add 3 tablespoons water. Mix and form into two balls. Roll out each ball between two pieces of wax paper. Don’t use flour when rolling out.

Note: I haven’t made this pie using the Pillsbury refrigerated crusts but I can’t imagine they wouldn’t work, too, for really easy peasy.

I dare you to make this pie and see if people realize it’s not apple pie! 😀
apple-pie-my-eye

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Monday – Deja Vu

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Silver James

funny-pictures-i-know-those-feels-monday-catWhere did the weekend go? How can it be Monday? Where’s my coffee? Who had fun this weekend? Go on. Don’t be shy. Raise your hands. Yeah…that was pretty much my weekend, too. At least the weather was more springlike. I’m in the middle of contest/judging season. I caught up on some unpubbed entries for a contest. I’m always interested in the range of expertise. The stories were interesting but it’s fairly easy to spot the beginners from the ones who’ve learned the craft. I’m going to read Allison Brennan’s new book, NOTORIOUS, before I get back to the pubbed entries.

Work continues on the proposal for COWGIRL’S SWEETHEART even though I haven’t updated the word count. And speaking of updates, over the next few months, I’ll be revamping this site. Right now, it definitely leans toward the dark side. 😆 I need to lighten up the header on the welcome page and this page (blog). Not sure what I’ll do. The Only and I are tossing some ideas around. Suggestions are welcome.

And now for some total randomness:

Did I mention Game of Thrones starts next week?

I did a Thursday Threads flash fiction word prompt last week for 250 words on BLUE MOON, which is Antoine and DJ’s story. I need to get through the proposal and FAERIE FREE (which might be FAERIE FEUD and/or A VERY FAERIE CHRISTMAS) that’s going in a Christmas anthology.

I’m out of Cafe Du Monde coffee. This necessitates a trip to the Vietnamese grocery store.

Today is opening day. Baseball, people. Baseball! Go Cardinals!!!

How was your weekend? And are you ready for the week?

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Friday Night Cruising

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Silver James

Winter is being a tenacious witch. Mother Nature is bi-polar running cold then hot then cold then…well, you get the idea.

Every time I hear this song, I think about warm weekend nights back when I was in high school and had, rather than a candy-apple red rag top, a lemon-creme yellow one. Of course, I remember cruising the main drag on Christmas night with the top down, heater and 8-track blasting, too.

Anyway, I’m ready to at least pretend warmer weather is on the way so sit back and enjoy a little Friday Night with Eric Paslay.

Anybody have big plans? Little ones? Me? I’m working and reading contest entries. It’s that time of year… 😉

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Universal DNA

Posted on March 27, 2014 by Silver James

universeThe whole family is analysing the Magic Bean Sprout to see who he looks like. Until he’s like 16 or something, he’ll look like everyone. 😆 Needless to say, when the Universe dropped this into the inbox, I couldn’t resist.

A coincidence?

Silver, do you think it’s just a coincidence that you look exactly as you do?

Do you think your height, the color of your eyes, or the sound of your voice were accidents?

Do you think your insights into life, your gifts of perception, or your sense of humor were the result of random genetics?

No. You are exactly as you now are, with every freckle, trait, and charm, because they all added up to how you could make the biggest difference with your life in time and space, while having the most fun.

In appreciation,
The Universe
© http://www.tut.com ®

And, Silver, you’re doing it.

Well, that certainly explains things, but how the heck did the Big U know I have freckles?!?

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Wednesday Words – Coffee and Texts

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Silver James

coffee faeToday is all about coffee. Well…mostly. Here, have a couple of quotes about my favorite beverage.

If you want to improve your understanding, drink coffee; it is the intelligent beverage. ~Sydney Smith (English wit, writer and Anglican cleric)

Coffee comes in five descending stages: Coffee, Java, Jamoke, Joe, and Carbon Remover. ~Glory Road by Robert A. Heinlein

I haven’t read GLORY ROAD in ages. I need to go back and reread it!

Have you ever wondered where the term “cuppa Joe” came from? According to my sources, the US Navy once served alcoholic beverages onboard ships. However, when Admiral Josephus “Joe” Daniels became Chief of Naval Operations, he outlawed alcohol, except for very special occasions. Coffee then became the drink of choice, hence the term “cup of Joe.”

And finally, a liquids alert before you click on this link. Don’t drink and read, but take the time to go read. The texts are too funny. Seriously. You want to click. Do it! Do it now! MOMS TEXTING

Happy Hump Day!

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Tuesday Treats – Family Favorite Hershey Pie

Posted on March 25, 2014 by Silver James

hershey pie ingredientsNow that Magic Bean is here–and I suppose I should find something else to call him so I don’t give the kid a complex though I figure The Little Prince is probably too much 😉 –I went back through the family recipe box(es). I inherited handwritten recipe cards from both sides. When my niece married, I put together a cookbook of family favorites. I did the same when my brother-in-law married–for my new sister-in-law, though BiL actually cooks as much as she does. When Baseball Boy joined the James Gang, I did the same for him–since he cooks more than The Only.

Anyway, I came across one that I make on holidays for the BiL. Welcome to the southern treat of Hershey Pie!

Ingredients:
12 large marshmallows
4 regular size Hershey’s Chocolate with Almonds candy bars
1/4 cup milk
1 cup Cool Whip
1 graham cracker crust

Combine marshmallows, chocolate, and milk in a medium pan. Stir over low heat until chocolate and marshmallows are melted. Cool. Fold in Cool Whip. Pour into pie shell. Chill before serving.

You can serve plain or with dollops of Cool Whip on each slice. It tastes a lot like S’mores, only cold. 😀

Who is the repository of your family recipes?

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