BoucheronChocolate

I've been tagged by my niece to play one of the name games. I'll give it a whirl. Really, I'll try. Be warned my tongue is planted firmly in my cheek.


1. Given name: Debora Watson
2. Witness protection name:(mother and fathers middle names) Shirley Dale
3. NASCAR name:(first name of your mother's dad, father's dad) Joseph Leo You think I could get away with Joseph? Maybe Joey.
4. Star Wars Name:(the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your
first name) Watde
5. Detective Name:(favorite color, favorite animal) Red Mutt. Actually this name has possibilities. Rather noirish.
6. Soap Opera Name:(middle name, town where you were born)Jean Michigan
7. Superhero Name:(2nd fav color, fav drink, add "THE" to the beginning)
The Teal Scotch Really? Oh hell no. Imagine my costume? No, let's not, or at least let's order a drink first.
8. Fly Name:(first 2 letters of 1st name, last 2 letters of your last name)Deon
9. Street Name:(fav ice cream flavor, fav cookie)Chocalate Thin Mint Hope the superhero costume is spandex, otherwise I need to pick a different icecream/cookie name, something healthy, Carrot Patty. Oh yeah, I'll get street creds with that name.
10. Rock Star Name:(current pets name, current street name)Gandalf Gwinnett
11. Porn Name: (1st pet, street you grew up on)Tammy Allover
12. Gangsta Name:(first 3 letters of real name plus izzle)Debizzle
14. Goth Name:( black, and the name of one of your pets)Black Gandalf
15. Stripper Name:(name of your fav perfume/cologne,fav candy)Boucheron chocolate

Tag now your it. What's in a name?

LoveIsMurder

Chicago is cold this time of year, but next week-end, February 6-8, there will be plenty of heat at the Love Is Murder Conference held at the Chicago Westin.

The headliners include Jeffery Deaver,(Lincoln Rhyme series) Alex Kava,(Maggie O'Dell series) Sharan Newman,(Levendeur series) and Steve Berry.(The Cotton Malone series)

The local guest of honor is Raymond Benson. Ray has been an author, composer, computer game designer, stage director, film historian, and film genres instructor for over thirty years. He is also the fourth official author of the James Bond 007 novels. Plus a very cool guy to hang out with at the bar.

Got a novel, but not a editor, agent or publisher? You have the opportunity to pitch your manuscript to several literary agents and editors during our Pitch-a-Palooza to be held three times during the weekend.

I'll be there in the Newbie author breakfast panel on Saturday. Give me a wave, better yet let's meet in the bar Friday night. I've attended last the last two of LIM conferences. It's a first class conference, great way to mingle with other fans and authors. Rob Walker summed it up nicely when he said,"so what if it's in Chicago in February, how else can you gonna keep the bodies on ice?"

The full online registration price of $290 includes ALL the food--from Friday evening's dinner to Sunday morning's breakfast, as well as a High Tea on Saturday afternoon, and admittance to ALL the workshops from Friday at 11:30 a.m. to Sunday at noon. The Pitch-a-Palooza is extra for $55.

Hope to see you there.

ByTheSword

Believe it or not I was held captive by little people. They wanted to be played with and fed. They also wanted 24/7 attention.

Did you know the new Mario has three worlds on a DS player? News to me, but I'm sure if you have small people around all the time this isn't an earth shattering news flash. Oh well, needless to say my reading was curtailed.

I'm having an affair with Jack. Even though we havn't formally been introduced he's got my mind occupied with his antics. F. Paul Wilson's Repairman Jack is one bad boy in his lasting outing By The Sword.

Jack lives off the grid and has no identity. He's an anarchist, an urban mercenary. Jack fixes those problems the establishment can't. I love a character who walks the edge of the envelope between good and evil and battles back when I would under the same circumstances turn into a ball of goop.

In By The Sword Jack must find a legendary sword stolen (kanta) from the Hiroshima Peace Museum. Unfortunately a cabal of Yakuza ganesters, an order of mystical monks, the Kickers from previous novels, and let's not forget his supernatural nemesis Rasolom are all also trying to retrieve the sword. Talk about your bad day at the office. The bodies do pile up in this one. Jack uses his brain more than brawn. A nice cross between the original Bond and MacGiver. I'm amazed at how Jack extricates himself from his latest assignment.

Then there is the whole "otherness" and "ally" tug of war going on to boot. Unfortunately you can't really jump into the middle of this series, although F.Paul believes it can. I think they need to be read in order. BTW F.Paul has started a trilogy for young adults The reader meets Jack as a teen, his mother and father, big sister Kate, his bully of a brother Tom, even an old lady with a dog. (Yikes!) Great escapism.

Czarina’s Christmas Rules

Where you going with the gun Deb?

Across the street.

Why do you need a gun to go across the street?

Shoot out the blue Christmas lights.

Only the blue lights offend your sensibilities?

Yes. Obviously they didn't read the memo. One must only use white lights for display outside of the house.

Miss Scrooge, what happens if someone puts out multicolor?

Rules. One must follow the Czarina's Christmas Rules. Only white lights for display. Simple, perfect, pure white light. (Pacing Now) If you absolutely must be a non conformist and use a colored light then those lights can only be multicolored strings. NO all red, NO all green, and especially NO NO blue lights. Rules.

Dare I ask what happens to the offender who puts out multicolor and white lights in the same display?

Their plug is pulled. Permanently.

What about those plastic Toy Soldiers, Santas, and Reindeer exhibits? Or those lighted balls in the trees? Better yet what happens to the violator who plays soothing Christmas carols for all to enjoy as they drive past your house to view the Christmas holiday array?

OH, HELL NO.

Who you calling?

The Marine forward air controller. I'm ordering a laser guided smart bomb.

Easy Babe. Deep Zen breathes, honey. Put the phone down. I'll trade you, a valium for the pistol.

Your an elf. A CIA-Santa planted happy Christmas Elf.

Easy babe, it's only a few more weeks and it'll all be over. Here's a martini to chase the valium. Don't worry I've got plenty of gin.

HistorialEsther

My niece was complaining about school the other day. They had been “forced” to read The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.

Had I read it? Yes.

Did I like it? Yes.

Did I EVER learn anything worthwhile in seventh grade? Well, I had to confess yes I did.

I read Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes when I was in Junior High School. At thirteen I didn’t care if the novel had won the Newberry Award in 1944. Nor did I give a hoot that Johnny was involved in the Revolutionary War. Worse of all it was a guy book. I complained bitterly to anyone who would listen that my seventh grade teacher Mr. Nolan was a liar. He had promised the story was exciting, a great adventure, and we’d love it.

NOT.

At age thirteen I loved gothic novels (aka romance reader.) I slugged through Johnny’s adventure kicking, screaming and whining until I got to the description of bundling. I read with delight and desire the detailed description of the colonial courting ritual about BUNDLING. Parents who wrapped each adolescent in a different blanket. Parents who then put them both in the same bed, so they might talk through the night. My heart was racing, my hands were sweating and I reread that particular passage until the print began to smudge. How cool were revolutionary parents?

Woo Hoo! What a great idea. A blanket, my boyfriend, and a bed and we got to talk all night. Oh yeah. My hormones were in overdrive. I was ready to go and put this old ritual into modern practice. I even had new pajamas.

There was however, a fly in the proverbial ointment, MY parents. They knew me too well. NO blankets if a boy was involved. And OH HELL NO, I was getting within sight of a bed if there was a guy in the house.

Well Esther made me appreciate history that year and I'll give props to Mr. Nolan for having us read the book. My niece hasn't been seen for days. She's looking through all my book boxes for the my well worn copy of Johnny Tremain.

Friends

I'm a lucky gal. I've got friends on both sides of the aisle so to speak. Although we may not always agree on a topic, we always agree on our friendships. A rare and precious commodity I cherish more as I get older.

We've argued over politics, teased about politics, and agreed on politics. Although I have said very little on this blog about the election, I've found myself smiling and invigorated over Obama's campaign. I haven't felt this way since Robert Kennedy. The mood at Obama Headquarters in Indianapolis was light, bright, and party-like. (Dare I say hopeful.)

I've got a special Republican Friend who is all sunshine and light, at least she's practicing long deep chi breaths since election night. She even grinned when I told her I would miss President George Bush like an abscessed tooth. It's good to be able to disagree and still be friends. I miss her dearly, especially our bi-weekly lunches at Panera. So in honor of her new light and sunshine here's a special video to help her reach her zenith.


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Here Comes The Sun - INDIVO
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TheKeepsake

I'm bleary-eyed today because I spent most of the night reading The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen. I know better than to start her books at bedtime, I rarely can put them down until I've completed the entire novel.

I marvel at her writing. She is one of the few authors whose characterization doesn't suffer from a swift pace. Tess also has the ability to take a well traversed subject such as stalking, and explore it from a new perspective. I know, I'm gushing, but I enjoy a well written novel.

The Keepsake revolves around a forgotten mummy is rediscovered in a museum basement. Dr. Isles determines that the century old relic however is rather a modern day murder. While following the numerous plot twists, I'm was delighted Gerritsen provides me with medical insight without beating me over the head with 'geek-speak' which often distracts me from the mystery. Like I said earlier there's not much about her writing I don't like. So whose writing skills do you wish would magically materialize inside your brain? Now, just to wait patiently for the next episode in the series.